How I became a Data Scientist at Big 4

Engineering Days

I began my quest of becoming a data scientist long before it was promoted as the hottest job of the century. I had no idea I was on the path to becoming a Data Scientist. It all started in my second year of B.Tech. I began to consider which career option to pursue next. I was fairly certain that I would not continue my engineering studies. Then, Actuarial Science was suggested to me, and I realised that this may be an interesting career for me. But I abandoned the notion because it required years of writing countless exams. At that point of my engineering, my thoughts were that I am done with my education, and now it was time to start my profession and start making money. How wrong was I!!

CFA Level 1

I started looking for jobs that required Maths. It was always in the back of my mind that if Actuarial Science was necessary for the job, I could pursue it. Later, I realised that Finance will have a lot of Mathematics that I will enjoy, so I passed CFA level 1. CFA level 1 provided me with sufficient finance knowledge, and I was not applying the knowledge in my everyday job position, so I saw no use in pursuing any further levels.

ISI and CMI

I was thinking about the ISI MSQE programme at the same time. This is a Maths & Economics course, and after passing the CFA Level 1 exam, I learned that Economics is the science of Finance. 

I arrived at ISI for MSQE programme after a lengthy delay. I studied quantitative economics, and this was one of the few correct steps towards becoming a Data Scientist. Though, this is not a straight path. 

I had also qualified for the CMI data science course when I first joined ISI. But I chose ISI Kolkata over CMI because I wanted to study at ISI. The fact that MSQE offers courses in Math, Economics, Statistics, and Finance and they are related to Data Science, was another logical justification.

Becoming a Data Scientist

I gave numerous internship interviews at ISI before receiving a Data Science internship at a gaming company. I then started to apply for jobs, and I eventually got a Data Science position at a consulting firm. Although I wouldn't describe myself as an experienced Data Scientist at that point of time, but I was always crunching numbers in some capacity. Any kind of data analysis be it in Finance, or Economics or hardcore Data Science, can be referred as a Data Science, and data was involved in my work. The work you perform in the course of your employment determines whether you are a Data Scientist or not, not your job title.

I therefore became a Data Scientist after receiving education and training in Engineering and Economics, and this is what happens for many other people as well. In most cases, they are not trained to be Data Scientists; instead, they become one.