Career Opportunities in Python: Everything You Need To Know [2024]

Updated on 18 April, 2024

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Career Opportunities in Python

Python is not only one of the most popular programming languages across the globe, but it is one that offers the most promising career opportunities as well. This demand for Python developers is increasing every year. There is a reason why this high-level programming language is so popular.

Let’s read about the different Python careers that are opened up for candidates with knowledge of this language!

It ensures better and more concise codes with faster readability, something that no other programming language can offer.  It does not have a large syntax optimization and is beginner-friendly making. Even a shorter code written in python can deliver better designs. Python is also one of the best tools for creating dynamic scripts on large as well as small scales. 

Python can be used in several areas, including testing, web development, app development and upgrades, and scriptwriting, to name a few. Python’s automatic memory management and dynamic type system support different programming standards. If you acquire this skill, you will have more Python career opportunities than you can imagine. Python opens for you several avenues that no other programming language can.

You can become a software developer who excels in python or a data scientist who uses this language to make data more valuable for businesses. Whether you are an experienced Python developer or someone who has just completed education, you will never be out of opportunities. 

Our focus in this blog will be to discuss the opportunities that a career in python offers you. We will study the different career options that you will have open before you after acquiring this skill. 

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Why should you make a career in python?

The biggest thing that most developers love about python is how quickly they can learn this programming and scripting language and how easily they can use that learning in actual projects. It is a programming language that significantly cuts down on the total development time. No other programming language offers this benefit.

Besides, the language has a large community base. It is universally used by a swathe of developers, making lives easier. The presence of third-party modules alongside open data sources helps the developers design a code much more feasible manner. It majorly focuses on code readability which is the sole purpose of the language. Moreover, the Python community is large and active. The developers are always at bay to help one another. The scope of Python is large and can really benefit us in the long run. With the development of the concept of AI, Python will also reach its greater heights. 

In addition, python has several APIs and libraries to support a lot of other things than development, including data manipulation, data analysis, and data visualization, amongst others. No wonder Python is so popular not only amongst the developer community but also amongst professionals associated with other fields, such as data analytics and data science. 

Python is found to one of the most popular programming frameworks for data science across the world. It is also one of the best programming languages when it comes to adaptability. However, there is still a significant gap between the supply and demand of professionals skilled in python. This skill gap not only exists in India but across the world. 

Must read: Data structures and algorithm free!

Even the most popular software development companies in India don’t have the required resources that are skilled in python. While the language is gaining popularity, there is still not enough interest in pursuing a course or certification in acquiring this skill to start a career. It is a lucrative career option that more and more people should think about pursuing.

 Python future scope is extremely high, which thereby poses better jobs with Python. But, since people have not gained enough knowledge regarding this particular discipline, Python careers need to be addressed to people at greater intensity. 

Let’s now add a little weight to what we have been saying. 

Our learners also read: Free Online Python Course for Beginners

Python Job and Salary Trends in India

Source

You can also check out our free courses offered by upGrad in Management, Data Science, Machine Learning, Digital Marketing, and Technology. All of these courses have top-notch learning resources, weekly live lectures, industry assignments, and a certificate of course completion – all free of cost!

So the average salary of a software developer with Python skills is around 5,80,000 per annum. This figure can go way beyond Rs 1,000,000 per annum if you have the right experience and additional skills. Other important things that matter include your job location, relevant certifications, and employer. In 2022, the salary has now changed to Rs.5.4LPA

If you are able to strike a balance, you will not have to think too much about your salary after that. You will have the opportunity to work with the world’s most popular names, such as Amazon, Accenture, Cognizant, Tata Consultancy Services Limited, and others. Your career will continue to grow as you gain more experience. 

A senior software developer as much as Rs 2,000,000 per annum, provided they also have team and project management capabilities. Web developer with Python skills can also earn in the range of Rs 8,00,000 per annum. Other related job roles include lead software engineer (up to Rs 2,000,000 per annum), data scientist (Rs 7,00,000 per annum), machine learning engineer (Rs 6,70,000 per annum), data analyst (4,17,000 per annum), and more. 

In 2022, however, data for jobs with Python has changed to a great height. An average salary of a Senior Software Developer is Rs.9.94LPA. Data Scientists earn up to Rs.8.73LPA on average. A Machine Learning (ML) engineer earns up to Rs.7.34LPA on average. A Data Analyst, however, is lagging behind the salaries of these people. They earn up to Rs.4.7LPA on average. The above data can thereby present to you the standpoint of Python and how amazing the career opportunity is and what potential Python future scope holds. 

The popularity of python can be gauged by the fact that it is used by some of the biggest names in the world – Facebook, Netflix, Google, and Spotify, amongst others. This points towards one thing – As a professional skilled in python, you will have your chance of working with one of your dream companies. 

So as you can clearly see, the scope of python is not only all the various career options available in front of you but also the salary you have the chance to earn. As we have talked about the salaries that you can expect to earn with this skill, let us now take a look at all the career opportunities available for you to choose from.

Several blogs and forums run by the developer community have given python the heads up when it comes to the top languages to learn. It has consolidated its position over the years. Python is a versatile programming language that can be used in a variety of fields, such as software development, government administration, business, science, arts, education, and others.

According to Naukri.com, there were more than 75,000 open jobs for Python developers in India at the end of 2019. Similarly, the open jobs for Python web developers were around 7000 around the same time. The job portal also reported around 108k open jobs for a software developer with Python skills.

Other job roles include data scientists (58,000 open jobs), business analyst (98,000 open jobs), and machine learning engineers (64,000 open jobs). Clearly, a professional skilled in python will have several job opportunities to choose from. If you have this skill, you will never be out of work.

In 2022, more than 11,641 Python job opportunities opened up, according to Indeed. The job openings are increasing in this field rapidly and have been providing us with new ways to upscale our careers. Python related jobs are significantly growing and so are the related salaries. 

Eager to put your Python skills to the test or build something amazing? Dive into our collection of Python project ideas to inspire your next coding adventure.

Let’s now discuss a few job profiles that require Python skills.

Python Career Opportunities

So what are the options in front of you when you complete your Python learning? Here are a few job roles that you can fill:

  • Python developer: This is one of the most direct jobs that you can expect to land after acquiring this skill. The stats that we shared in the last section clearly tell you that you will always have open Python developer positions to fill. What does a Python developer do? Here are a few key responsibilities: 
  1. Build websites
  2. Resolve problems related to data analytics
  3. Write codes that are both reusable and efficient
  4. Optimize data algorithms
  5. Implement data protection and security

Source
Python Developer Salary based on Locations:

City Salary
Bangalore ₹ 6.3 Lakhs
New Delhi ₹ 5.9 Lakhs
Mumbai ₹ 6.6 Lakhs
Hyderabad ₹ 6.1 Lakhs
Pune ₹ 6.2 Lakhs
Chennai ₹ 6.2 Lakhs
Noida ₹ 6.2 Lakhs
Gurgaon ₹ 6.4 Lakhs
  1. Python Developer Salary based on Experience:

    Experience Salary
    1 Year ₹ 3.4 Lakhs
    2 Year ₹ 4.6 Lakhs
    3 Year ₹ 6.0 Lakhs
    4 Year ₹ 7.5 Lakhs
  • Data analyst: This is a very interesting opportunity. It is especially for those who like working with huge amounts of data and finding meaning in that data. This is again a very popular job role. There are many companies that are looking for people who can work with the large sets of data that they have access to. These companies are looking for people skilled in Python because Pandas, SciPy, and other Python libraries come in very handy in accomplishing this task. No wonder more and more companies are looking for data analysts with experience in python to fill open positions.

Source
Data Analyst Salary based on Locations:

City Salary
Bangalore ₹6.9 Lakh
Mumbai ₹6.7 Lakh
Hyderabad ₹6.6 Lakh
Chennai ₹6.6 Lakh
New Delhi ₹6.7 Lakh
Pune ₹6.4 Lakh
Gurgaon ₹7.1 Lakh
Noida ₹6.7 Lakh
Kolkata ₹6.6 Lakh

Data Analyst Salary based on Experience:

Experience Salary
1 Year ₹4.6 Lakh
2 Year ₹5.3 Lakh
3 Year ₹6.0 Lakh
4 Year ₹6.8 Lakh
5 Year ₹7.7 Lakh
  • Product manager: Product managers have a very important role to play when it comes to helping businesses to understand the market and why building one product will be better than building another. They study the market, research for new features related to a particular product or category, and advocate the building of certain products with facts. Data is a very important part of the work they do. This is why most companies today are looking for product managers that are skilled in python.

Source
Product Manager Salary based on Locations:

City Salary
Bangalore ₹23.0 Lakh
Mumbai ₹19.8 Lakh
Gurgaon ₹23.6 Lakh
New Delhi ₹20.4 Lakh
Hyderabad ₹22.4 Lakh
Pune ₹20.4 Lakh
Noida ₹23.0 Lakh
Chennai ₹22.4 Lakh
Kolkata ₹18.6 Lakh

Product Manager Salary based on Experience:

Experience Salary
2 Year ₹15.1 Lakh
3 Year ₹17.2 Lakh
4 Year ₹18.4 Lakh
5 Year ₹19.3 Lakh
7 Year ₹20.3 Lakh
10 Year ₹23.0 Lakh
12 Year ₹24.2 Lakh
  • Machine learning engineer: If you don’t already know, then let us tell you that the job postings for this position have increased by more than 330% in the last couple of years. If you are skilled in python, you will be given preference over other candidates. A machine learning engineer builds and trains machines, programs, and other computer-based systems to apply their learned knowledge for making predictions. Python’s ability to work with data automation and algorithms makes it the ideal programming language that can be used in machine learning.

Source
Machine Learning Engineer Salary based on Locations:

City Salary
Bangalore ₹10.5 Lakhs
New Delhi ₹9.2 Lakhs
Mumbai ₹8.6 Lakh
Hyderabad ₹10.1 Lakh
Pune ₹8.4 Lakh
Chennai ₹8.8 Lakh
Noida ₹9.0 Lakhs
Gurgaon ₹10.6 Lakh

Machine Learning Engineer Salary based on Experience:

Experience Salary
1 Year ₹7.0 Lakh
2 Year ₹7.8 Lakh
3 Year ₹9.4 Lakhs
4 Year ₹12.2 Lakhs
5 Year ₹15.1 Lakhs

Must Read: Python Interview Questions

What does the future have in store for Python professionals?

Businesses not only in India but across the world are looking for skilled Python professionals who can make the difference when it comes to coming up with solutions that fall exactly in line with the needs of their clients. The popularity of python is for everyone to see, and the competitive edge it has been able to gain over other programming languages in recent years says a lot about its capabilities. 

Data science, big data, and networking are three areas in which the application of python is expected to grow in the times to come. However, you can’t just limit its growth to just these three areas. All the three areas that we have mentioned above are areas that are amongst the most popular these days.

So the salaries that you can expect when employed in one of these roles can go beyond the salaries of the jobs that require proficiency in other languages. Even if you are a freelancer, you can earn what your skills and experience warrant. And if you don’t have this popular skill, you should spend more time in adding it to your arsenal. This skill on your resume will help you get hired quickly as opposed to others. 

It is important that people get to know about Python and how amazing the job opportunities are in this field. The field provides exceptional Python job opportunities that are not stagnant but are subjected to change based on the higher level of certificate courses which will help you upscale in your field. For being a good Python developer, you need to have a keen knowledge not only in the field of coding and web development but also requires communication skills as well at large to perform well at Python jobs. This will later help you to perk up your future skills in management. You can be given a team to manage where you need to impose your assertion to the team by making stern addresses. To have an enticing career with Python related jobs, it is also important that you keep yourself updated with the dynamic changes that are made and learn them with your quick thinking and proper decision-making skills to keep up with the changing Python jobs.

Conclusion

In this blog, we have discussed various aspects of a career in python. We have provided you information about the salaries that you can expect to earn in different job roles requiring Python skills as well as a lowdown on the number of job opportunities available. We also discussed the options that you can choose as a skilled Python professional depending on your interests.

If you are curious to learn about Python, everything about data science, check out IIIT-B & upGrad’s Executive PG Programme in Data Science which is created for working professionals and offers 10+ case studies & projects, practical hands-on workshops, mentorship with industry experts, 1-on-1 with industry mentors, 400+ hours of learning and job assistance with top firms.

Check out all trending Python tutorial concepts in 2024

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Python worth learning and if yes what are the career opportunities it provides?

Python is one of the most popular languages of the decade and if you have a good grasp of its basic concepts you can bag various high paying jobs. Some of these career opportunities are listed below: You can be a Python developer right after acquiring the Python knowledge. Python developers are responsible for building websites, optimize data algorithms, or write clean and efficient Python codes. A data analyst has to deal with large sets of data, analyze them and make them visualized. If you are a Python geek and love to play with data then this job is for you. Project management is in high demand as a project manager is highly responsible for the business and marketing of the companies.

2. What are the common resume mistakes that Python developers usually make in their CV?

The following are the most common mistakes that Python developers usually make in their CV: Not highlighting all your accomplishments or neglecting their worth is something that many people do. You should always highlight your achievements with some numbers. For eg. Among the top 5 among 1000+ participants. Candidates often add extra skills or projects that they don’t really know much about. This mistake can affect their interview process as the interviewer can quickly judge this. You should always use some grammatical checkers to avoid any kind of errors in your resume.

3. Does work experience really matter while applying for jobs?

Work experience highly affects the kind of job you will be getting as well as how much you will be paid. For instance, a fresher or entry-level Python-dev earns 35% less than the industry average. On the other hand, mid-level and senior Python developers earn up to 38% and 192% more than the industry average.
However, the effects of the work experience can be lessened by some factors like how well you perform in the interviews, the depth of your knowledge, or your hands-on experience on Python projects.

Did you find this article helpful?

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma is the Program Director for the UpGrad-IIIT Bangalore, PG Diploma Data Analytics Program.

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As far as we are concerned, the arrival of data science represents the natural progression of “analytics”, that will use the “data” to create value, the same way Metro is creating value out of railroad and train coaches or Uber is creating value out of investments in road and cars or Singapore Airlines creating value out of airport infrastructure and Boeing / Airbus planes. More important, the shift from “carrier” to “content” to “control” also presents economic opportunities that are much larger in size. We do expect the same from Analytics as the emphasis shifts from Computer Science to Data Science to Analytics. Computers originally created to “compute” mathematical tables could be applied to a wide range of problems across every industry – mining and machinery, transportation, hospitality, manufacturing, retail, banking & financial services, education, healthcare and Government; in the same vein, Analytics that is currently used to summarize, visualize and predict would be used in many ways that we cannot even dream of today, the same way the designers of computer systems in 60’s and 70’s could not have predicted the varied applications of computers in the subsequent decades. We are indeed in exciting times and you the budding Analytics professional could not have been more lucky. Announcing PG Diploma in Data Analytics with IIT Bangalore – To Know more about the Program Visit – PG Diploma in Data Analytics. Top Data Science Skills to Learn to upskill SL. No Top Data Science Skills to Learn 1 Data Analysis Online Courses Inferential Statistics Online Courses 2 Hypothesis Testing Online Courses Logistic Regression Online Courses 3 Linear Regression Courses Linear Algebra for Analysis Online Courses upGrad’s Exclusive Data Science Webinar for you – ODE Thought Leadership Presentation document.createElement('video'); https://cdn.upgrad.com/blog/ppt-by-ode-infinity.mp4 Read our popular Data Science Articles Data Science Career Path: A Comprehensive Career Guide Data Science Career Growth: The Future of Work is here Why is Data Science Important? 8 Ways Data Science Brings Value to the Business Relevance of Data Science for Managers The Ultimate Data Science Cheat Sheet Every Data Scientists Should Have Top 6 Reasons Why You Should Become a Data Scientist A Day in the Life of Data Scientist: What do they do? Myth Busted: Data Science doesn’t need Coding Business Intelligence vs Data Science: What are the differences? Our learners also read: Free Online Python Course for Beginners About Prof. S. Sadagopan Professor Sadagopan, currently the Director (President) of IIIT-Bangalore (a PhD granting University), has over 25 years of experience in Operations Research, Decision Theory, Multi-criteria optimization, Simulation, Enterprise computing etc. His research work has appeared in several international journals including IEEE Transactions, European J of Operational Research, J of Optimization Theory & Applications, Naval Research Logistics, Simulation and Decision Support Systems. He is a referee for several journals and serves on the editorial boards of many journals.
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by Prof. S. Sadagopan

11 May'16
Enlarge the analytics & data science talent pool

5.19K+

Enlarge the analytics & data science talent pool

Note: The articlewas originally written by Sameer Dhanrajani, Business Leader at Cognizant Technology Solutions. A Better Talent acquisition Framework Although many articles have been written lamenting the current talent shortage in analytics and data science, I still find that the majority of companies could improve their success by simply revamping their current talent acquisition processes. Learn data science courses online from the World’s top Universities. Earn Executive PG Programs, Advanced Certificate Programs, or Masters Programs to fast-track your career. We’re all well aware that strong quantitative professionals are few and far between, so it’s in a company’s best interest to be doing everything in their power to land qualified candidates as soon as they find them. It’s a candidate’s market, with strong candidates going on and off the market lightning fast, yet many organizational processes are still slow and outdated. These sluggish procedures are not equipped to handle many candidates who are fielding multiple offers from other companies who are just as hungry (if not more so) for quantitative talent. Here are the key areas I would change to make hiring processes more competitive: Fix your salary bands – It (almost) goes without saying that if your salary offerings are outdated or aren’t competitive to the field, it will be difficult for you to get the attention of qualified candidates; stay topical with relevant compensation grids. Consider one-time bonuses – Want to make your offer compelling but can’t change the salary? Sign-on bonuses and relocation packages are also frequently used, especially near the end of the year, when a candidate is potentially walking away from an earned bonus; a sign-on bonus can help seal the deal. Be open to other forms of compensation – There are plenty of non-monetary ways to entice Quants to your company, like having the latest tools, solving challenging problems, organization-wide buy-in for analytics and more. Other things to consider could be flexible work arrangements, remote options or other unique perks. Pick up the pace – Talented analytics professionals are rare, and the chances that qualified candidates will be interviewing with multiple companies are very high. Don’t hesitate to make an offer if you find what you’re looking for at a swift pace – your competitors won’t. Court the candidate – Just as you want a candidate who stands out from the pack, a candidate wants a company that makes an effort to stand apart also. I read somewhere, a client from Chicago sent an interviewing candidate and his family pizzas from a particularly tasty restaurant in the city. I can’t say for sure that the pizza was what persuaded him to take the company’s offer, but a little old-fashioned wooing never hurts. Button up the process – Just as it helps to have an expedited process, it also works to your benefit is the process is as smooth and trouble-free as you can make it. This means hassle-free travel arrangements, on-time interviews, and quick feedback. Network – make sure that you know the best of the talent available in the market at all levels and keep in touch with them thru porfessional social sites on subtle basis as this will come handy in picking the right candidate on selective basis Redesigned Interview Process In the old days one would screen resumes and then schedule lots of 1:1’s. Typically people would ask questions aimed at assessing a candidate’s proficiency with stats, technicality, and ability to solve problems. But there were three problems with this – the interviews weren’t coordinated well enough to get a holistic view of the candidate, we were never really sure if their answers would translate to effective performance on the job, and from the perspective of the candidate it was a pretty lengthy interrogation. So, a new interview process need to be designed that is much more effective and transparent – we want to give the candidate a sense for what a day in the life of a member on the team is like, and get a read on what it would be like to work with a company. In total it takes about two days to make a decision, and there be no false positives (possibly some false negatives though), and the feedback from both the candidates and the team members has been positive. There are four steps to the process: Resume/phone screens – look for people who have experience using data to drive decisions, and some knowledge of what your company is all about. On both counts you’ll get a much deeper read later in the process; you just want to make sure that moving forward is a good use of either of both of your time. Basic data challenge – The goal here is to validate the candidate’s ability to work with data, as described in their resume. So send a few data sets to them and ask a basic question; the exercise should be easy for anyone who has experience. In-house data challenge – This is should be the meat of the interview process. Try to be as transparent about it as possible – they’ll get to see what it’s like working with you and vice versa. So have the candidate sit with the team, give them access to your data, and a broad question. They then have the day to attack the problem however they’re inclined, with the support of the people around them. Do encourage questions, have lunch with them to ease the tension, and check-in periodically to make sure they aren’t stuck on something trivial. At the end of the day, we gather a small team together and have them present their methodology and findings to you. Here, look for things like an eye for detail (did they investigate the data they’re relying upon for analysis), rigor (did they build a model and if so, are the results sound), action-oriented (what would we do with what you found), and communication skills. Read between the resume lines Intellectual curiosity is what you should discover from the project plans. It’s what gives the candidate the ability to find loopholes or outliers in data that helps crack the code to find the answers to issues like how a fraudster taps into your system or what consumer shopping behaviors should be considered when creating a new product marketing strategy. Data scientists find the opportunities that you didn’t even know were in the realm of existence for your company. They also find the needle in the haystack that is causing a kink in your business – but on an entirely monumental scale. In many instances, these are very complex algorithms and very technical findings. However, a data scientist is only as good as the person he must relay his findings to. Others within the business need to be able to understand this information and apply these insights appropriately. Explore our Popular Data Science Courses Executive Post Graduate Programme in Data Science from IIITB Professional Certificate Program in Data Science for Business Decision Making Master of Science in Data Science from University of Arizona Advanced Certificate Programme in Data Science from IIITB Professional Certificate Program in Data Science and Business Analytics from University of Maryland Data Science Courses Good data scientists can make analogies and metaphors to explain the data but not every concept can be boiled down in layman’s terms. A space rocket is not an automobile and, in the brave new world, everyone must make this paradigm shift. Top Data Science Skills You Should Learn SL. No Top Data Science Skills to Learn 1 Data Analysis Online Certification Inferential Statistics Online Certification 2 Hypothesis Testing Online Certification Logistic Regression Online Certification 3 Linear Regression Certification Linear Algebra for Analysis Online Certification upGrad’s Exclusive Data Science Webinar for you – Watch our Webinar on The Future of Consumer Data in an Open Data Economy document.createElement('video'); https://cdn.upgrad.com/blog/sashi-edupuganti.mp4 Read our popular Data Science Articles Data Science Career Path: A Comprehensive Career Guide Data Science Career Growth: The Future of Work is here Why is Data Science Important? 8 Ways Data Science Brings Value to the Business Relevance of Data Science for Managers The Ultimate Data Science Cheat Sheet Every Data Scientists Should Have Top 6 Reasons Why You Should Become a Data Scientist A Day in the Life of Data Scientist: What do they do? Myth Busted: Data Science doesn’t need Coding Business Intelligence vs Data Science: What are the differences? Our learners also read: Free Python Course with Certification And lastly, the data scientist you’re looking for needs to have strong business acumen. Do they know your business? Do they know what problems you’re trying to solve? And do they find opportunities that you never would have guessed or spotted?
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by upGrad

14 May'16
UpGrad partners with Analytics Vidhya

5.69K+

UpGrad partners with Analytics Vidhya

We are happy to announce our partnership with Analytics Vidhya, a pioneer in the Data Science community. Analytics Vidhya is well known for its impressive knowledge base, be it the hackathons they organize or tools and frameworks that they help demystify. In their own words, “Analytics Vidhya is a passionate community for Analytics/Data Science professionals, and aims at bringing together influencers and learners to augment knowledge”. Explore our Popular Data Science Degrees Executive Post Graduate Programme in Data Science from IIITB Professional Certificate Program in Data Science for Business Decision Making Master of Science in Data Science from University of Arizona Advanced Certificate Programme in Data Science from IIITB Professional Certificate Program in Data Science and Business Analytics from University of Maryland Data Science Degrees We are joining hands to provide candidates of our PG Diploma in Data Analytics, an added exposure to UpGrad Industry Projects. While the program already covers multiple case studies and projects in the core curriculum, these projects with Analytics Vidhya will be optional for students to help them further hone their skills on data-driven problem-solving techniques. To further facilitate the learning, Analytics Vidhya will also be providing mentoring sessions to help our students with the approach to these projects. Our learners also read: Free Online Python Course for Beginners Top Essential Data Science Skills to Learn SL. No Top Data Science Skills to Learn 1 Data Analysis Certifications Inferential Statistics Certifications 2 Hypothesis Testing Certifications Logistic Regression Certifications 3 Linear Regression Certifications Linear Algebra for Analysis Certifications This collaboration brings great value to the program by allowing our students to add another dimension to their resume which goes beyond the capstone projects and case studies that are already a part of the program. Read our popular Data Science Articles Data Science Career Path: A Comprehensive Career Guide Data Science Career Growth: The Future of Work is here Why is Data Science Important? 8 Ways Data Science Brings Value to the Business Relevance of Data Science for Managers The Ultimate Data Science Cheat Sheet Every Data Scientists Should Have Top 6 Reasons Why You Should Become a Data Scientist A Day in the Life of Data Scientist: What do they do? Myth Busted: Data Science doesn’t need Coding Business Intelligence vs Data Science: What are the differences? Through this, we hope our students would be equipped to showcase their ability to dissect any problem statement and interpret what the model results mean for business decision making. This also helps us to differentiate UpGrad-IIITB students in the eyes of the recruiters. upGrad’s Exclusive Data Science Webinar for you – Transformation & Opportunities in Analytics & Insights document.createElement('video'); https://cdn.upgrad.com/blog/jai-kapoor.mp4 Check out our data science training to upskill yourself
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by Omkar Pradhan

09 Oct'16
Data Analytics Student Speak: Story of Thulasiram

5.69K+

Data Analytics Student Speak: Story of Thulasiram

When Thulasiram enrolled in the UpGrad Data Analytics program, in its first cohort, he was not very different for us, from the rest of our students in this. While we still do not and should not treat learners differently, being in the business of education – we definitely see this particular student in a different light. His sheer resilience and passion for learning shaped his success story at UpGrad. Humble beginnings Born in the small town of Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, Thulasiram does not remember much of his childhood given that he enlisted in the Navy at a very young age of about 15 years. Right out of 10th standard, he trained for four years, acquiring a diploma in mechanical engineering. Thulasiram came from humble means. His father was the manager of a small general store and his mother a housewife. It’s difficult to dream big when leading a sheltered life with not many avenues for exposure to unconventional and exciting opportunities. But you can’t take learning out of the learner. “One thing I remember about school is our Math teacher,” reminisces Thulasiram, “He used to give us lot of puzzles to solve. I still remember one puzzle. If you take a chessboard and assume that all pawns are queens; you have to arrange them in such a way that none of the eight pawns should die. Every queen, should not affect another queen. It was a challenging task, but ultimately we did it, we solved it.” Navy & MBA At 35 years of age, Thulasiram has been in the navy for 19 years. Presently, he is an instructor at the Naval Institute of Aeronautical Technology. “I am from the navy and a lot of people don’t know that there is an aviation wing too. So, it’s like a dream; when you are a small child, you never dream of touching an aircraft, let alone maintaining it. I am very proud of doing this,” says Thulasiram on taking the initiative to upskill himself and becoming a naval-aeronautics instructor. When the system doesn’t push you, you have to take the initiative yourself. Thulasiram imbibed this attitude. He went on to enroll in an MBA program and believes that the program drastically helped improve his communication skills and plan his work better. How Can You Transition to Data Analytics? Data Analytics Like most of us, Thulasiram began hearing about the hugely popular and rapidly growing domain of data analytics all around him. Already equipped with the DNA of an avid learner and keen to pick up yet another skill, Thulasiram began researching the subject. He soon realised that this was going to be a task more rigorous and challenging than any he had faced so far. It seemed you had to be a computer God, equipped with analytical, mathematical, statistical and programming skills as prerequisites – a list that could deter even the most motivated individuals. This is where Thulsiram’s determination set him apart from most others. Despite his friends, colleagues and others that he ran the idea by, expressing apprehension and deterring him from undertaking such a program purely with his interests in mind – time was taken, difficulty level, etc. – Thulasiram, true to the spirit, decided to pursue it anyway. Referring to the crucial moment when he made the decision, he says, If it is easy, everybody will do it. So, there is no fun in doing something which everybody can do. I thought, let’s go for it. Let me push myself — challenge myself. Maybe, it will be a good challenge. Let’s go ahead and see whether I will be able to do it or not. UpGrad Having made up his mind, Thulasiram got straight down to work. After some online research, he decided that UpGrad’s Data Analytics program, offered in collaboration with IIIT-Bangalore that awarded a PG Diploma on successful completion, was the way to go. The experience, he says, has been nothing short of phenomenal. It is thrilling to pick up complex concepts like machine learning, programming, or statistics within a matter of three to four months – a feat he deems nearly impossible had the source or provider been one other than UpGrad. Our learners also read: Top Python Free Courses Favorite Elements Ask him what are the top two attractions for him in this program and, surprising us, he says deadlines! Deadlines and assignments. He feels that deadlines add the right amount of pressure he needs to push himself forward and manage time well. As far as assignments are concerned, Thulasiram’s views resonate with our own – that real-life case studies and application-based learning goes a long way. Working on such cases and seeing results is far superior to only theoretical learning. He adds, “flexibility is required because mostly only working professionals will be opting for this course. You can’t say that today you are free, because tomorrow some project may be landing in your hands. So, if there is no flexibility, it will be very difficult. With flexibility, we can plan things and maybe accordingly adjust work and family and studies,” giving the UpGrad mode of learning, yet another thumbs-up. Amongst many other great things he had to say, Thulasiram was surprised at the number of live sessions conducted with industry professionals/mentors every week. Along with the rest of his class, he particularly liked the one conducted by Mr. Anand from Gramener. Top Data Science Skills to Learn to upskill SL. No Top Data Science Skills to Learn 1 Data Analysis Online Courses Inferential Statistics Online Courses 2 Hypothesis Testing Online Courses Logistic Regression Online Courses 3 Linear Regression Courses Linear Algebra for Analysis Online Courses What Kind of Salaries do Data Scientists and Analysts Demand? Get data science certification from the World’s top Universities. Learn Executive PG Programs, Advanced Certificate Programs, or Masters Programs to fast-track your career. Read our popular Data Science Articles Data Science Career Path: A Comprehensive Career Guide Data Science Career Growth: The Future of Work is here Why is Data Science Important? 8 Ways Data Science Brings Value to the Business Relevance of Data Science for Managers The Ultimate Data Science Cheat Sheet Every Data Scientists Should Have Top 6 Reasons Why You Should Become a Data Scientist A Day in the Life of Data Scientist: What do they do? Myth Busted: Data Science doesn’t need Coding Business Intelligence vs Data Science: What are the differences? upGrad’s Exclusive Data Science Webinar for you – ODE Thought Leadership Presentation document.createElement('video'); https://cdn.upgrad.com/blog/ppt-by-ode-infinity.mp4 Explore our Popular Data Science Courses Executive Post Graduate Programme in Data Science from IIITB Professional Certificate Program in Data Science for Business Decision Making Master of Science in Data Science from University of Arizona Advanced Certificate Programme in Data Science from IIITB Professional Certificate Program in Data Science and Business Analytics from University of Maryland Data Science Courses “Have learned most here, only want to learn..” Interested only in learning, Thulasiram made this observation about the program – compared to his MBA or any other stage of life. He signs off calling it a game-changer and giving a strong recommendation to UpGrad’s Data Analytics program. We are truly grateful to Thulasiram and our entire student community who give us the zeal to move forward every day, with testimonials like these, and make the learning experience more authentic, engaging, and truly rewarding for each one of them. If you are curious to learn about data analytics, data science, check out IIIT-B & upGrad’s PG Diploma in Data Science which is created for working professionals and offers 10+ case studies & projects, practical hands-on workshops, mentorship with industry experts, 1-on-1 with industry mentors, 400+ hours of learning and job assistance with top firms.
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by Apoorva Shankar

07 Dec'16
Decoding Easy vs. Not-So-Easy Data Analytics

5.12K+

Decoding Easy vs. Not-So-Easy Data Analytics

Authored by Professor S. Sadagopan, Director – IIIT Bangalore. Prof. Sadagopan is one of the most experienced academicians on the expert panel of UpGrad & IIIT-B PG Diploma Program in Data Analytics. As a budding analytics professional confounded by jargon, hype and overwhelming marketing messages that talk of millions of upcoming jobs that are paid in millions of Rupees, you ought to get clarity about the “real” value of a data analytics education. Here are some tidbits – that should hopefully help in reducing your confusion. Some smart people can use “analytical thinking” to come up with “amazing numbers”; they are very useful but being “intuitive”, they cannot be “taught.” For example: Easy Analytics Pre-configuring ATMs with Data Insights  “We have the fastest ATM on this planet” Claimed a respected Bank. Did they get a new ATM made especially for them? No way. Some smart employee with an analytical mindset found that 90% of the time that users go to an ATM to withdraw cash, they use a fixed amount, say Rs 5,000. So, the Bank re-configured the standard screen options – Balance Inquiry, Withdrawal, Print Statement etc. – to include another option. Withdraw XYZ amount, based on individual customer’s past actions. This ended up saving one step of ATM operation. Instead of selecting the withdrawal option and then entering the amount to be withdrawn, you could now save some time – making the process more convenient and intuitive. A smart move indeed, however, this is something known as “Easy Analytics” that others can also copy. In fact, others DID copy, within three months! A Start-Up’s Guide to Data Analytics Hidden Data in the Weather In the sample data-sets that used to accompany a spreadsheet product in the 90’s, there used to be data on the area and population of every State in the United States. There was also an exercise to teach the formula part of the spreadsheet to compute the population density (population per sq. km). New Jersey, with a population of 467 per sq. km, is the State with the highest density. While teaching a class of MBA students in New Jersey, I met an Indian student who figured out that in terms of population density, New Jersey is more crowded than India with 446 people per sq. km!  An interesting observation, although comparing a State with a Country is a bit misleading. Once again, an Easy Analytics exercise leading to a “nice” observation! Some simple data analytics exercises can be routinely done, and are made relatively easier, thanks to amazing tools: B-School Buying Behavior Decoded In a B-School in India that has a store on campus, (campus is located far from the city center) some smart students put several years of sales data of their campus store. They were excited by the phenomenal computer power and near, idiot-proof analytics software. The real surprise, however, was that eight items accounted for 85% of their annual sales. More importantly, these eight items were consumed in just six days of the year! Everyone knew that a handful of items were the only fast-moving items, but they did not know the extent (85%) or the intensity (consumption in just six days) of this. It turns out that in the first 3 days of the semester the students would stock the items for the full semester! The B-School found it sensible to request a nearby store to prop up a temporary stall for just two weeks at the beginning of the semesters and close down the Campus Store. This saved useful space and costs without causing major inconvenience to the students. A good example of Easy Analytics done with the help of a powerful tool. Top 4 Data Analytics Skills You Need to Become an Expert! The “Not So Easy” Analytics needs deep analytical understanding, tools, an ‘analytical mindset’ and some hard work. Here are two examples, one taken from way back in the 70’s and the other occurring very recently: Not-So-Easy Analytics To Fly or Not to Fly, That is the Question Long ago, the American Airlines perfected planned overbooking of airline seats, thanks to SABRE Airline Reservation system that managed every airline seat. Armed with detailed past data of ‘empty seats’ and ‘no show’ in every segment of every flight for every day through the year, and modeling airline seats as perishable commodities, the American Airlines was able to improve yield, i.e., utilization of airplane capacity. They did this through planned overbooking – selling more tickets than the number of seats, based on projected cancellations. Explore our Popular Data Science Online Certifications Executive Post Graduate Programme in Data Science from IIITB Professional Certificate Program in Data Science for Business Decision Making Master of Science in Data Science from University of Arizona Advanced Certificate Programme in Data Science from IIITB Professional Certificate Program in Data Science and Business Analytics from University of Maryland Data Science Online Certifications If indeed more passengers showed up than the actual number of seats, American Airlines would request anyone volunteering to forego travel in the specific flight, with the offer to fly them by the next flight (often free) and taking care of hotel accommodation if needed. Sometimes, they would even offer cash incentives to the volunteer to opt-out. Using sophisticated Statistical and Operational Research modeling, American Airlines would ensure that the flights went full and the actual incidents of more passengers than the full capacity, was near zero. In fact, many students would look forward to such incidents so that they could get incentives, (in fact, I would have to include myself in this list) but rarely were they rewarded!) upGrad’s Exclusive Data Science Webinar for you – Transformation & Opportunities in Analytics & Insights document.createElement('video'); https://cdn.upgrad.com/blog/jai-kapoor.mp4 What American Airlines started as an experiment has become the standard industry practice over the years. Until recently, a team of well-trained (often Ph.D. degree holders) analysts armed with access to enormous computing power, was needed for such an analytics exercise to be sustained. Now, new generation software such as the R Programming language and powerful desktop computers with significant visualization/graphics power is changing the world of data analytics really fast. Anyone who is well-trained (not necessarily requiring a Ph.D. anymore) can become a first-rate analytics professional. Top Data Science Skills You Should Learn SL. No Top Data Science Skills to Learn 1 Data Analysis Online Certification Inferential Statistics Online Certification 2 Hypothesis Testing Online Certification Logistic Regression Online Certification 3 Linear Regression Certification Linear Algebra for Analysis Online Certification Unleashing the Power of Data Analytics Our learners also read: Free Python Course with Certification Read our popular Data Science Articles Data Science Career Path: A Comprehensive Career Guide Data Science Career Growth: The Future of Work is here Why is Data Science Important? 8 Ways Data Science Brings Value to the Business Relevance of Data Science for Managers The Ultimate Data Science Cheat Sheet Every Data Scientists Should Have Top 6 Reasons Why You Should Become a Data Scientist A Day in the Life of Data Scientist: What do they do? Myth Busted: Data Science doesn’t need Coding Business Intelligence vs Data Science: What are the differences?   Cab Out of the Bag Uber is yet another example displaying how the power of data analytics can disrupt a well-established industry. Taxi-for-sure in Bangalore and Ola Cabs are similar to Uber. Together, these Taxi-App companies (using a Mobile App to hail a taxi, the status monitor the taxi, use and pay for the taxi) are trying to convince the world to move from car ownership to on-demand car usage. A simple but deep analytics exercise in the year 2008 gave such confidence to Uber that it began talking of reducing car sales by 25% by the year 2025! After building the Uber App for iPhone, the Uber founder enrolled few hundreds of taxi customers in San Francisco and few hundreds of taxi drivers in that area as well. All that the enrolled drivers had to do was to touch the Uber App whenever they were ready for a customer. Similarly, the enrolled taxi customers were requested to touch the Uber App whenever they were looking for a taxi. Thanks to the internet-connected phone (connectivity), Mobile App (user interface), GPS (taxi and end-user location) and GIS (location details), Uber could try connecting the taxi drivers and the taxi users. The real insight was that nearly 90% of the time, taxi drivers found a customer, less than 100 meters away! In the same way, nearly 90% of the time, taxi users were connected with their potential drivers in no time, not too far away. Unfortunately, till the Uber App came into existence, riders and taxi drivers had no way of knowing this information. More importantly, they both had no way of reaching each other! Once they had this information and access, a new way of taxi-hailing could be established. With back-end software to schedule taxis, payment gateway and a mobile payment mechanism, a far more superior taxi service could be established. Of course, near home, we had even better options like Taxi-for-sure trying to extend this experience even to auto rickshaws. The rest, as they say, is “history in the making!” Deep dive courses in data analytics will help prepare you for such high impact applications. It is not easy, but do remember former US President Kennedy’s words “we chose to go to the Moon not because it is easy, but because it is hard!” Get data science certification from the World’s top Universities. Learn Executive PG Programs, Advanced Certificate Programs, or Masters Programs to fast-track your career.  
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by Prof. S. Sadagopan

14 Dec'16
Launching UpGrad’s Data Analytics Roadshow – Are You Game?

5.14K+

Launching UpGrad’s Data Analytics Roadshow – Are You Game?

We, at UpGrad, are excited to announce a brand new partnership with various thought leaders in the Data Analytics industry – IIIT Bangalore, Genpact, Analytics Vidhya and Gramener – to bring to you a one-of-a-kind Analytics Roadshow! As part of this roadshow, we will be conducting several back-to-back events that focus on different aspects of analytics, creating interaction points across India, to do our bit for a future ready and analytical, young workforce.  Also Read: Analytics Vidhya article on the UpGrad Data Analytics Roadshow Here is the line-up for the roadshow, to give you a better sense of what to expect: 9 webinars – These webinars (remote) will be conducted by industry experts and are aimed at increasing analytics awareness, providing a way for aspirants to interact with industry practitioners and getting their tough questions answered. 11 workshops – The workshops will be in-person events to take these interactions to the next level. These would be spread across 6 cities – Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai and Pune. So, if you are in any of these cities, we are looking forward to interact with you. Featured Data Science program for you: Master of Science in Data Science from from IIIT-B 2 Conclaves – These conclaves are larger events with a pre-defined agendas and time for networking. The first conclave is happening on the 17th of December in Bengaluru.  Explore our Popular Data Science Online Certifications Executive Post Graduate Programme in Data Science from IIITB Professional Certificate Program in Data Science for Business Decision Making Master of Science in Data Science from University of Arizona Advanced Certificate Programme in Data Science from IIITB Professional Certificate Program in Data Science and Business Analytics from University of Maryland Data Science Online Certifications Hackathon – Time to pull up your sleeves and showcase your nifty skills. We will be announcing the format of the event shortly. “We find that the IT in­dustry is ab­sorb­ing al­most half of all of the ana­lyt­ics jobs. Banking is the second largest, but trails at al­most one fourth of IT’s re­cruit­ing volume. It is in­ter­est­ing that data rich in­dus­tries like Retail, Energy and Insurance are trail­ing near the bot­tom, lower than even con­struc­tion or me­dia, who handle less data. Perhaps these are ripe for dis­rup­tion through ana­lyt­ics?” Our learners also read: Learn Python Online for Free Mr. S. Anand, CEO of Gramener, wonders aloud. Read our popular Data Science Articles Data Science Career Path: A Comprehensive Career Guide Data Science Career Growth: The Future of Work is here Why is Data Science Important? 8 Ways Data Science Brings Value to the Business Relevance of Data Science for Managers The Ultimate Data Science Cheat Sheet Every Data Scientists Should Have Top 6 Reasons Why You Should Become a Data Scientist A Day in the Life of Data Scientist: What do they do? Myth Busted: Data Science doesn’t need Coding Business Intelligence vs Data Science: What are the differences? upGrad’s Exclusive Data Science Webinar for you – Watch our Webinar on The Future of Consumer Data in an Open Data Economy document.createElement('video'); https://cdn.upgrad.com/blog/sashi-edupuganti.mp4   Top Data Science Skills You Should Learn SL. No Top Data Science Skills to Learn 1 Data Analysis Online Certification Inferential Statistics Online Certification 2 Hypothesis Testing Online Certification Logistic Regression Online Certification 3 Linear Regression Certification Linear Algebra for Analysis Online Certification Get data science certification from the World’s top Universities. Learn Executive PG Programs, Advanced Certificate Programs, or Masters Programs to fast-track your career.
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by Apoorva Shankar

15 Dec'16
What’s Cooking in Data Analytics? Team Data at UpGrad Speaks Up!

5.22K+

What’s Cooking in Data Analytics? Team Data at UpGrad Speaks Up!

Team Data Analytics is creating the most immersive learning experience for working professionals at UpGrad. Data Insider recently checked in to me to get my insights on the data analytics industry; including trends to watch out for and must-have skill sets for today’s developers. Here’s how it went: How competitive is the data analytics industry today? What is the demand for these types of professionals? Let’s talk some numbers, a widely-quoted McKinsey report states that the United States will face an acute shortage of around 1.5 million data professionals by 2018. In India, which is emerging as the global analytics hub, the shortage of such professionals could go up to as high as 200,000. In India alone, the number of analytics jobs saw a 120 percent rise from June 2015 to June 2016. So, we clearly have a challenge set out for us. Naturally, because of acute talent shortage, talented professionals are high in demand. Decoding Easy vs. Not-So-Easy Analytics What trends are you following in the data analytics industry today? Why are you interested in them? There are three key trends that we should watch out for: Personalization I think the usage of data to create personalized systems is a key trend being adopted extremely fast, across the board. Most of the internet services are removing the anonymity of online users and moving towards differentiated treatment. For example, words recommendations when you are typing your messages or destinations recommendations when you are using Uber. Our learners also read: Learn Python Online for Free End of Moore’s Law Another interesting trend to watch out for is how companies are getting more and more creative as we reach the end of Moore’s Law. Moore’s Law essentially states that every two years we will be able to fit double the number of transistors that could be fit on a chip, two years ago. Because of this law, we have unleashed the power of storing and processing huge amounts of data, responsible for the entire data revolution. But what will happen next? IoT Another trend to watch out for, for the sheer possibilities it brings. It’s the emergence of smart systems which is made possible by the coming together of cloud, big data, and IoT (internet of things). Explore our Popular Data Science Courses Executive Post Graduate Programme in Data Science from IIITB Professional Certificate Program in Data Science for Business Decision Making Master of Science in Data Science from University of Arizona Advanced Certificate Programme in Data Science from IIITB Professional Certificate Program in Data Science and Business Analytics from University of Maryland Data Science Courses What skill sets are critical for data engineers today? What do they need to know to stay competitive? A good data scientist sits at a rare overlap of three areas: Domain Knowledge This helps understand and appreciate the nuances of a business problem. For e.g, an e-commerce company would want to recommend complementary products to its buyers. Statistical Knowledge Statistical and mathematical knowledge help to inform data-driven decision making. For instance, one can use market basket analysis to come up with complementary products for a particular buy. Technical Knowledge This helps perform complex analysis at scale; such as creating a recommendation system that shows that a buyer might prefer to also buy a pen while buying a notebook. How Can You Transition to Data Analytics? Outside of their technical expertise, what other skills should those in data analytics and business intelligence be sure to develop? Ultimately, data scientists are problem solvers. And every problem has a specific context, content and story behind it. This is where it becomes extremely important to tie all these factors together – into a common narrative. Essentially all data professionals need to be great storytellers. In this respect, one of the key skills for analysts to sharpen would be, breaking down the complexities of analytics for others working with them. They can appreciate the actual insights derived – and work toward a common business goal. In addition, what is as crucial is getting into a habit of constantly learning. Even if it means waking up every morning and reading what’s relevant and current in your domain. Top Essential Data Science Skills to Learn SL. No Top Data Science Skills to Learn 1 Data Analysis Certifications Inferential Statistics Certifications 2 Hypothesis Testing Certifications Logistic Regression Certifications 3 Linear Regression Certifications Linear Algebra for Analysis Certifications What should these professionals be doing to stay ahead of trends and innovations in the field? Professionals these days need to continuously upskill themselves and be willing to unlearn and relearn. The world of work and the industrial landscape of technology-heavy fields such as data analytics is changing every year. The only way to stay ahead, or even at par with these trends, is to invest in learning, taking up exciting industry-relevant projects, participating in competitions like Kaggle, etc. How important is mentorship in the data industry? Who can professionals look toward to help further their careers and their skills? Extremely important. Considering how fast this domain has emerged, academia and universities, in general, have not had the chance to keep up equally fast. Hence, the only way to stay industry-relevant with respect to this domain is to have industry-specific learning. This can only be done in two ways – through real-life case studies and mentors who are working/senior professionals and hail from the data analytics industry. In fact, at UpGrad, there is a lot of stress on industry mentorship for aspiring data specialists. This is in addition to a whole host of case studies and industry-relevant projects. Get data science certification from the World’s top Universities. Learn Executive PG Programs, Advanced Certificate Programs, or Masters Programs to fast-track your career. Read our popular Data Science Articles Data Science Career Path: A Comprehensive Career Guide Data Science Career Growth: The Future of Work is here Why is Data Science Important? 8 Ways Data Science Brings Value to the Business Relevance of Data Science for Managers The Ultimate Data Science Cheat Sheet Every Data Scientists Should Have Top 6 Reasons Why You Should Become a Data Scientist A Day in the Life of Data Scientist: What do they do? Myth Busted: Data Science doesn’t need Coding Business Intelligence vs Data Science: What are the differences?   Where are the best places for data professionals to find mentors? upGrad’s Exclusive Data Science Webinar for you – Transformation & Opportunities in Analytics & Insights document.createElement('video'); https://cdn.upgrad.com/blog/jai-kapoor.mp4 While it’s important for budding or aspiring data professionals to tap into their networks to find the right mentors, it is admittedly tough to do so. There are two main reasons that can be blamed for this. First, due to the nascent stage, the industry is at, it is extremely difficult to find someone with the requisite skill sets to be a mentor. Even if you find someone with considerable experience in the field, not everybody has the time and inclination to be an effective mentor. Hence most people don’t know where to go to be mentored. That’s where platforms like UpGrad come in, which provide you with a rich, industry-relevant learning experience. Nowhere else are you likely to chance upon such a wide range of industry tie-ups or associations for mentorship from very senior and reputed professionals. How Can You Transition to Data Analytics? What resources should those in the data analytics industry be using to ensure they’re educated and up-to-date on developments, trends, and skills? There are many. For starters, here are some good and pretty interesting blogs and resources that would serve aspiring/current data analysts well to keep up with Podcasts like Data Skeptic, Freakonomics, Talking Machines, and much more.   This interview was originally published on Data Insider.  
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by Rohit Sharma

23 Dec'16