Going From Data Analyst to Data Scientist

Good Morning UK Data Analysts!

Recently I’ve had a lot of questions about how UK data analysts can move into data science positions.

Here’s my advice:

1) LLM Exposure

With so many companies and data science teams starting to use Gen AI, showing you’re willing to learn how to use language models is a great way to stand out.

2) Supervised ML

Whilst Gen AI is the ‘new sexy tool’, supervised ML models should be the foundation of a data scientist’s skillset.

Plus, a lot of technical interviews and case studies revolve around building a model and taking an interviewer through it.

If you can’t do any Data Science in your current role, projects are a great way to show you have these skills.

3) Industry Specific Knowledge

Data Science is all about solving business problems with fun models, not just coding stuff for the sake of it.

You never want to forget it’s all about the business problems.

So if you can find an industry you really like, build projects around that and focus your applications and networking there, it’s a great way to stand out.

For example, one of my previous clients had a data analyst role at a University.

She used that education experience to get her first Data Science role at a start-up which produces educational materials for schools.

To recap, if you’re a UK data analyst looking to get into Data Science then focus on

1. LLM Exposure

2. Supervised ML Projects

3. Industry Specific Knowledge

What do you find hard about going from Data Analyst to Data Scientist?

Reply to this email and I’ll give you some (free) advice.

Happy Thursday and God Bless you!

Albert