Big Data Specialist: Make Millions with Analytics

At the end of this material, you will find a quiz together with case studies to assess your readiness to become a data specialist. After completing it, we will recommend several free courses to improve your skills in this professional area.

A data specialist is a big data analyst. A data scientist is a big data specialist, often in charge of code. What about a Data Processing Specialist? Exactly the same? Yes, there are many names for virtually the same job. The responsibilities of a data scientist can vary from company to company since Russia has not yet developed a culture of hiring these kinds of professionals. However, the need for data-savvy people is increasing monthly, so we expect this kind of culture to establish very soon. Therefore, today we are talking about one of the major professions of the future - the data specialist.

What are the responsibilities of a data specialist?

Analysing a large amount of data, of course! It is not simply about a couple of document tables but about 500-1000 rows of information in 10 columns. They check the information, search for it, analyse it, draw conclusions, and make decisions. They have to be able to work with automated data archives because it is impossible to gather all the information they need themselves (at least for a brief time.) This specialist brings together many skills, from (which is logical) an analyst to a marketer, project manager, and even a programmer.

What exactly can a data scientist do?

• Visualise data.

• Assess data and models built based upon them (often financial.)

• Searches for hidden patterns while studying information.

• Data cleansing and searching for additional large sources of information.

• Implement new infrastructure solutions.

• Develop decisions that are based on the results of analytics.

• Creates reports and forecasts.

• Helps marketers with analysis of any user actions.

• Assess potential customers and identify their hidden needs.

• Supply chain management.

• Find potential errors and takes measures to eliminate them.

• Consults managers based on the data received.

How much does a data scientist earn?

The average salary for a data specialist in Russia starts from 100 thousand roubles. That is in the worst-case scenario! Interns can earn 70 thousand roubles at the start of their career, and junior specialists - 100-120 thousand. Professionals at a "mid" level receive 150-170 thousand roubles, and seniors - 250-300. Of course, the amounts differ from industry to industry; in some cases, seniors are offered 200 thousand and some 500 thousand roubles. Suppose you become the head of a data department. In that case, you can virtually put yourself into a top management category - a particularly important department whose decisions affect the vector of movement for the whole company. Industry-leading managers overwhelmingly earn impressive amounts with many zeros.

Would you like to become a data specialist? Then, take our mini-quiz and find out if you can achieve a starting position in the industry tomorrow!

1/6

Quiz

take the test

You must process two thousand rows of information in Excel. Processing the data means searching for rows that match specific criteria and their systematisation. You have an hour to accomplish this. What will you do?

• I will use VPR. No wonder I did not learn Excel formulas for nothing!
• I will search using keywords. Unless, of course, there is something to calculate.
• I will google the formulas and solve the problem according to that. It will take me an hour.

Next

The data you need to organise is all over the place. It would help if you could give some employees of the company access to all the data and the rest — just some of it. What tool will you use?

• Python
• Java
• SQL

Next

You must present a vision of your management solution. Which visual method will you choose?

• I will develop a presentation with static graphs
• I will create graphs in Excel and demonstrate how they can change depending on the difference in the input data in real-time
• Are graphs required? I will make a compelling presentation

Next

The marketing manager has asked you to help them understand why half of the potential buyers "drop off" at some point in the sales funnel. Which of these will you do first?

• Explore the sales funnel
• Ask what their theories are
• Examine the customers who are "dropping out."

Next

Depending on your decision, the marketing department has created a few new product prototypes. How would you recommend assessing these prototypes?

• Standard A/B Testing
• CustDev of course
• Launch the prototypes on some target audience groups

Next

Your boss asks you to complete a task you do not understand. What would be your first question?

• Why am I doing this?
• How will this help the business?
• Is it possible to redevelop the task?

See my result

Your results

Quiz

Take the test again