How to get into Data Science with no prior experience
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EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Chan With A Plan, host Max Chan speaks with Alyssa Fedgo, a professional that started her career in a non-technical role as an Office Manager for a health startup, to building up her skills and making the right career moves over the years to be able to get into her dream field of Data Science. She shares her journey in hopes of providing insight and guidance for other professionals looking to make the same move into Data Science and do it successfully without all the trial and error that comes with changing career paths. 

QUOTES

“[Once you’re finished a bootcamp or certification] if you stop learning, you are going to be kind of stunted in your career growth, especially in data science.” - Alyssa Fedgo [12:06]

“[When it comes to building my skill set to get into data science] making sure that I’m learning Python because Python or R is key in data science.” - Alyssa Fedgo [17:11]

“As a Data Scientist from my experience, you also need to have more skills in the planning of an entire system, so you need to understand how the data is structured and stored, is there a better way for it to be stored, is there a better way for it to be queried”  - Alyssa Fedgo [24:49]

TIMESTAMPS

[1:12] Meet Alyssa

[3:36] How Alyssa started her career

[5:06] Learning curve from going from a non-technical role to a technical role with no formal training

[6:46] Going from Office Manager to Data Analyst at Alyssa’s 1st company

[8:37] Learning lessons in Alyssa’s 1st data oriented role

[12:13] Advice on what to do after you finished your bootcamp or certification to continue growing your skills and being marketable as a data scientist for the long term

[13:23] Resources to build your SQL and SAS skills if you decide to start as a Data Analyst 1st

[13:55] Making a move from Data Analyst to Data Scientist

[15:54] Main differences between Data Analyst and Data Scientist

[16:43] Skills Alyssa built up to prepare her to become a Data Scientist

[18:40] Alyssa’s process on learning Python

[19:43] Why Alyssa took the self learning route then taking a data science bootcamp to build her skills

[21:17] How Alyssa pivoted from a Data Analyst role to a Data Scientist Role

[21:51] Walking through Alyssa’s experience interviewing for a Data Scientist position and how she was able to showcase her abilities successfully without prior formal Data Scientist experience

[24:22] Major difference between being a Data Analyst and being a Data Scientist that Alyssa has experienced since starting her journey in data science

[25:25] Discussing what a Data Scientist actually does, compared to what people perceive a Data Scientist does

[27:30] Battling imposter syndrome when Alyssa was starting as a Data Scientist

[28:58] Continue to build your skill set as a Data Scientist if you don’t have as much opportunity to do so at work

[30:29] Discussing whether Alyssa could have went straight to Data Science from an Office Manager or she needed the Data Analyst role 1st to successfully move to Data Science

[32:03] Data Visualization and what tools to learn

[33:06] Managing expectations of your hiring manager on what you can and can’t do as a Data Scientist when you start off in your 1st role in the field

[34:22] Advice on how a professional can go from a non-technical field to a technical field such as Data Science

[35:40] Soft skills you need to succeed in Data Science

[36:18] Common mistakes entry level Data Scientists make when starting their career

[37:28] Alyssa’s career goals in Data Science in the next few years

[39:46] Data Science trends professionals should watch out for

[40:47] Biggest career challenge Alyssa had to overcome to get to where she is today

[41:33] What to do when a piece of programming code is not working and how to resolve it

[43:00] Contacting Alyssa

[43:40] Outro

RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS

• Alyssa Fedgo on LinkedIn)

• Chan With A Plan)

• Chan With A Plan Facebook Group)