Here’s What Aspiring Data Scientists Are Looking for in Future Employers

“Data scientist” is currently one of the most sought-after positions in the United States.

Companies in nearly every industry have come to understand the opportunities that data capture and analysis offers, and the result has been an influx of employers looking for in-house data scientists.

Positions in data science require a unique set of job skills that many professionals simply don’t possess.  The level of programming knowledge, understanding of statistics and business sense make for a difficult position to fill.

Because of this, many businesses find it difficult to hire appropriately for the position of data scientist. Even once hiring managers are able to determine what skills they need to assess in a potential candidate, they then face the challenge of attracting the right professionals.

So, what are today’s top data scientists looking for in a career? Keep reading to find out.

According to recent estimates, we create approximately 2.5 exabytes of data every single day. However, we aren’t processing, storing or using most of this data efficiently. The bulk of big data is currently going to waste.

While it’s important to use all this information to our advantage, it’s equally imperative for companies to keep the interest and attention of their new data scientists.

Offering competitive pay and benefits is a good start, but most experts in the field are looking for something more worthwhile.

Companies are achieving this goal through various means. Scientists who can create flexible daily schedules, or those who are allowed to work remotely, will often put in additional time in the face of tight deadlines or exciting breakthroughs. Likewise, those who are given the freedom to pursue their own research and directives are often more than willing to put in overtime whenever possible.

Since big data processing and management can be a tedious and monotonous job, and because it’s not an easy opening to fill, companies want to keep their data scientists for as long as possible. As a result, many companies hire from within.