Questions tagged [careers]

For questions about skills that statisticians, data scientists, etc. should have to be successful in their careers. When asking a question with this tag, make sure that it is of general interest, rather than seeking advice about your particular situation.

This tag encompasses questions about skills that statisticians, machine learners, data scientists and other related occupations should have to be successful in their careers. When asking a question with this tag, please make sure that it is of general interest, rather than seeking advice about your particular job situation. Questions about work environments in different sectors that employ statisticians, machine learners, data scientists and other related occupations can sometimes be meaningfully asked on the Academia website or the MathOverflow website, although you would still have to work hard to keep your question relevant and open.

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What is a data scientist?

Having recently graduated from my PhD program in statistics, I had for the last couple of months began searching for work in the field of statistics. Almost every company I considered had a job posting with a job title of "Data Scientist". In fact,…
RustyStatistician
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Mathematician wants the equivalent knowledge to a quality stats degree

I know people love to close duplicates so I am not asking for a reference to start learning statistics (as here). I have a doctorate in mathematics but never learned statistics. What is the shortest route to the equivalent knowledge to a top notch…
John Robertson
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Having a job in data-mining without a PhD

I've been very interested in data-mining and machine-learning for a while, partly because I majored in that area at school, but also because I am truly much more excited trying to solve problems that require a bit more thought than just programming…
Charles Menguy
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Statistics interview questions

I am looking for some statistics (and probability, I guess) interview questions, from the most basic through the more advanced. Answers are not necessary (although links to specific questions on this site would do well).
shabbychef
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Things to consider about masters programs in statistics

It is admission season for graduate schools. I (and many students like me) am now trying to decide which statistics program to pick. What are some things those of you who work with statistics suggest we consider about masters programs in…
30
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What theories should every statistician know?

I'm thinking of this from a very basic, minimal requirements perspective. What are the key theories an industry (not academic) statistician should know, understand and utilize on a regular basis? A big one that comes to mind is Law of large…
bnjmn
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What is the daily job routine of the machine learning scientist?

I'm a master CS student in a German university now writing my thesis. I will be done in two months I have to make the very hard decision if I should continue with a PhD or find a job in the industry. My reasons for doing a PhD: I'm a very curious…
Jack Twain
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What do statisticians do that can't be automated?

Will software eventually make statisticians obsolete? What is done that can't be programmed into a computer?
Adam
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Is it important for statisticians to learn machine learning?

Is machine learning an important subject for any statistician to become acquainted with? It seems that machine learning is statistics. Why don't statistics programs (undergraduate and graduate) require machine learning?
user20616
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Doing correct statistics in a working environment?

I am not sure where this question belongs to: Cross Validated, or The Workplace. But my question is vaguely related to statistics. This question (or I guess questions) arose during my working as a "data science intern". I was building this linear…
3x89g2
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Programmer looking to break into machine learning field

I am a software developer (mostly .NET and Python about 5 years experience). What can I do to help me get a job in the machine learning field or really anything that will get me started in that field? Is post-graduate degree a hard requirement?
user10459
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How far will self study get me?

I have never taken part in an official or structured data analysis or machine learning course (other than recent online offerings) and have learned most of what I know from reading and trying things out. I know I am far away from being able to get a…
The_Cthulhu_Kid
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What areas of mathematical statistics are highly employable?

I'm about to finish my honours in statistics, and I really want to do a PhD because I find mathematical statistics extremely interesting. Areas of research I most want to do a PhD in are stochastic processes and time series. However I also want to…
Patty
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What is it that a statistician does?

When I tell my non-statistical friends I am a grad student pursuing a PhD in statistics they naturally say "oh so you want to be a professor?". I tell them no I actually plan to work in industry. Then they respond with, "and do what?". I have not…
Glen
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Do private-sector statisticians try to determine causality?

Academic econometricians are often interested in determining causality. It seems like all the private-sector statistical/ data science jobs I hear about are only looking for predictive models. Are there any jobs in the private-sector (or government…
Michael Webb
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