Big data is big business. Right now, experienced and qualified professionals who know how to use data to determine the information that is commercially useful to a company are enjoying a higher rate of demand than ever before, as companies collect increasingly large amounts of data on their target audiences and customers at an ever-growing rate. Around the world, companies are relying more and more heavily on data scientists and other professionals in the fields of data science and business intelligence to assist them with uncovering important insights and utilizing the data collected to be competitive and profitable.
Often, business analysts and data scientists work together to transform raw data into actionable, useful information for a company. Both professionals work in different roles but work towards fulfilling similar goals. Both lines of work are in higher demand than ever before right now with companies in all industries and of all sizes using data for making important decisions that relate to every aspect of the business.
The Difference Between Data Science and Business Analytics
While the goals are similar for both of these professionals, the two roles are usually different within a company. Both work together to help a company ensure that they have the resources and information that is needed to fully make use of the data that is being constantly gathered. Business analysts tend to focus on interpreting data that has been collected and making sense of past trends to determine the facts, while data scientists are likely to be in a role where they are tasked with extrapolating past data to make more accurate future predictions for the company.
How High is the Demand?
Whether you choose business analytics or data science, you can be sure of one thing – you’ll be entering a role that has a very high demand. No matter which of the two roles is the most appealing to you, you will have the chance to find a wide range of excellent opportunities and career prospects in a wide range of industries. Both data scientists and business analysts are needed by companies in diverse industries around the world, with data collection now a key part of everyday operations. If you want to get into a career where it will never be difficult for you to find work, either data science or business analytics is an excellent choice.
What’s the Earning Potential?
How much you’ll be able to earn when working in your choice of career is often one of the biggest questions that you will have when choosing a work pathway for your future. Working in big data is typically an ideal way to access generous salaries, even at the entry-level. The average starting salary for working in these roles is currently at around $70-80k per year, with plenty of opportunities to increase this as you gain more experience in your role.
If you want to start out in a career with a starting salary that is as high as possible, working as a business analyst rather than a data scientist might be a better choice for you since the barriers to entry are lower in this position. To work as a data scientist, you will usually be required to hold a doctorate, however, you can get into a career as a business analyst with a bachelor’s degree or online masters in data science such as this program from Baylor University.
The Pathway to a Career in Big Data
Whether you want to work as a data scientist, business analyst, or conduct another type of work in the industry of big data, it’s important to understand the best way to get there. To succeed in a career in big data, consider the following:
Undergraduate Degree
If you’re heading to college and wondering what subject is best to major in for a big data career, you should go for something that is relevant to the field such as data analytics, business analytics, data science, mathematics, economics, or computer science.
Work Experience
You will usually be required to have some experience of the role when applying. This can be tricky if you are newly qualified and just starting out. However, a high demand for people to work in big data means that there are also lots of internships and other positions available that are well-suited to students who want to eventually get into a role in big data. An internship will not only help you get the relevant experience that you need but can also help you build your professional network and even provide a step into your future career.
Professional Certification
When working in the field of big data, getting professional certification is an important step to consider. You can get certification from a range of professional organizations as a way to demonstrate your expertise, knowledge, and skills when it comes to working with and interpreting data. While professional certifications are not always needed to work in this field, they can be an ideal way to make sure that you stand out from the crowd when you are looking for work.
Continuing Education
Many positions working in big data will require you to gain an advanced degree. This is often especially important for people who want to work as a data scientist, with many positions requiring you to have at least a master’s or doctoral degree to be considered for the role. On the other hand, working as a business analyst might be easier with a bachelor’s degree in data analytics or similar subjects. However, getting an advanced degree can make it easier for you to find work along with boosting your career opportunities and increasing your salary in the future. Getting a master’s or doctorate allows you to focus more on a certain topic that you are interested in and develop more specialist skills.
Today, jobs in big data including data science and business analytics are plentiful, with data quickly becoming the most important asset that a business can own. Either of these career paths can be an ideal choice if you want to get into a lucrative industry with high demand for your knowledge and skills.