Career

Who says you cannot have a happy hour while working from home? At Data Science Dojo, we have cracked the code on how to chat, laugh, and connect – virtually! No more worrying about awkward small talk with the boss’s boss – we are all on the same virtual playing field.  

Every now and then, our talented team at Data Science Dojo – from data scientists, content wizards, and marketing heroes to HR (Human Resources) specialists, product operations pros, and all those who run the show – put down their data-crunching hats and pick up their party hats. Here’s a sneak peek of our virtual happy hour shenanigans: 

The core purpose of Happy Hour 

At Data Science Dojo, we know that connecting with our colleagues is essential to fostering a strong and productive team. That’s why we look forward to our virtual happy hour as a time to let loose and have some fun while also building meaningful relationships with our teammates.  

The core purpose of Happy hour is to come together to laugh, chat, and bond over common interests outside of work. It’s the perfect opportunity to connect with new team members and learn what makes each of us unique.  

Advantages of Happy Hour 

With remote work blurring the lines between work and home life, happy hour can help create a clear separation between the two, promoting a healthier work-life balance. DSD Happy Hours is a time to take a break from the monotony of repetitive work patterns and connect with colleagues in a more relaxed and informal setting. It allows coworkers to bond over common interests, share stories, and enjoy each other’s company. If you are wondering why you should join the DSD Happy Hour, here is a plethora of reasons: 

1. Encourages social connections 
2. Promotes work-life balance and boosts team morale 
3. Fosters creativity and innovation 
4. Improves communication and collaboration 
5. Provides an opportunity for team building 
6. Reduces stress and promotes well-being 
7. This can lead to increased productivity and job satisfaction

Relax, Unwind, and Recharge: The positive impact of DSD Happy Hour 

Data Science Dojo tribe are staunch believers of the notion that teamwork makes the dream work! That is why we host happy hour events that provide an opportunity for our employees to relax, unwind, and recharge. But beyond the social benefits, our happy hour events also have a positive impact on collaboration and communication within our team.

When we take the time to connect with our colleagues outside of work, we gain a better understanding of their personalities, interests, and strengths. This deeper level of knowledge helps us to work more effectively together and accomplish our goals with greater ease.  

In addition to the social and professional benefits, our happy hour events also help to create a more positive and relaxed work environment. When our team members feel supported and connected, they are more likely to bring their best selves to work each day, which leads to better performance, increased creativity, and more innovative ideas. 

In short, our happy hour events are about much more than just spilling the beans on future endeavors or chatting with colleagues – they are an essential part of our company culture and a valuable tool for building a strong and successful team. 

Why DSD values employee collaboration  

Our employees are the heart and soul of DSD, and we are committed to helping them succeed. We value collective growth and collaboration helps us learn from each other, encourages personal growth, and makes it possible for us to reach business goals more quickly as well. At DSD, we prioritize our employees’ well-being by adopting a people-first approach. This initiative reflects our commitment to creating a comfortable work environment. 

January 2023 – DSD Happy Hour 

In January 2023, the team at DSD gathered for a virtual happy hour to catch up and share some laughter. We all shared our wittiest pieces of advice, such as “never trust a skinny cook, they may not be sampling their dishes” and “confuse them if you can’t convince them.” But the moment of truth came when someone revealed that the only advice they have been getting lately is “get married!” We all had a good laugh about that one. 

The conversation shifted to our aspirations, with one colleague dreaming of becoming a professional traveler and blogger, and another of a career in sustainable farming and dance club. And do not even get us started on the pet talk. Cat person, dog person, we all had a blast discussing our furry friends. And can we just talk about the hilarity of shoes being stolen outside mosques and temples? Overall, this virtual happy hour was a vibe, bringing our team together and bonding us despite working remotely. 

 Wrapping up 

In conclusion, virtual happy hours at DSD have proven to be a wonderful way to bring colleagues together, build team morale, and promote a sense of camaraderie in a remote work environment. So, let us raise a toast to virtual happy hours at DSD! Not only are they a great way to connect with your colleagues, but they are also a fun and enjoyable way to unwind after a busy workday. Cheers to building stronger bonds and creating a more positive work culture, one DSD happy hour at a time! 

Landing a job that you love can be tough, especially if you’ve graduated amidst a pandemic or during the global recession that followed it. Even for more experienced people, the landscape of the job market is at an unprecedented speed and the future looks uncertain. This blog outlines some basic tips that will position you ahead of the curve and increase your chances of getting hired.   

With scores of resumes in front of them, recruiters only spend a few seconds reviewing each resume and making a decision, so if you’ve landed an interview, you’ve probably done something right. However, the actual recruitment process is much longer and usually very rigorous to ensure that the candidate is a good fit for the company. Let’s look at some of the things you can do to improve the likelihood of getting an offer.  

 

 

1. Know the recruitment process 

Every company has a standard process for vetting candidates. This could vary for each company, but it is usually a mix of a few or all of the following components. It is important to note that all these components have a specific purpose and aim to understand different sides of you. 

• Screening – This initial step is a short interview, usually with the recruiter, to evaluate your basic skills and to validate the qualifications mentioned in your resume. The most common questions are regarding your educational and work background, availability, salary expectations, and reason for applying for the job.  
• Case studies – Some companies employ case studies to evaluate core knowledge and skills related to the job. They help employers identify how candidates manage uncertain situations, their logical and analytical reasoning, problem-solving skills, and creativity among other things.  

• Intelligence testing – IQ tests commonly measure cognitive skills. A well-rounded candidate is expected to display not only technical but critical thinking capacities and IQ tests are standardized ways of measuring that. 
• Panel interviews – To get a holistic understanding of a candidate’s capabilities, the hiring manager usually interviews them along with a few other teammates to not only assess their technical expertise but also if they would fit in with the company culture.  

 

Knowing what the recruitment process looks like at a company could help you in preparing for it better and reduce your anxiety about what will come next. Therefore, when an HR representative reaches out to you, always ask about the next steps and the average time to run the complete recruitment cycle.  

 

2. Do your research  

Before walking into the interview, learn all about what the company does, its background, and how it has grown in the past. A simple LinkedIn search could also lead you to posts by employees where you can learn about their experiences. More importantly, read the job description carefully, so you know what the role requires and how your experience can contribute to your success there.  

It also helps to know a bit about the interviewers, including their career history and role in the company. This will give you a good idea of the type of questions a particular interviewer will ask, i.e., technical or related to soft skills.    

 

3. Know what you are looking for 

One question that interviewers use to gauge how passionate you are about the position in hand, is, “Why do you want to work with us?”. While there may be many variations of this question, your answer needs to be personalized and authentic. Generalized answers like the prestige of the company and gaining work experience won’t cut it.

With all this information, you will be able to formulate a personalized answer to why you chose to apply to the company which may include the culture, growth opportunities, and specific industry leaders you might want to work with among others.  

Not only this but, it will also mean that you will be applying for the right reasons. Being clear about why you are working at a company will keep you focused and motivated. In general, keep a list of things you are looking for in a company and target those that you feel would provide those to you. 

 

Read about: Data Analyst interview questions

 

4. Prepare for different interview questions 

Prepping ahead of time plays a vital role in making you feel confident and ready for an interview. You may want to role-play with a friend to practice how you would respond to various prompts that might be asked of a data scientist. While it is impossible to know the exact questions that would be asked, you can dig deeper, prepare answers for frequent questions and not get tongue-tied in the interview. Different areas are assessed using the following diverse types of questions: 

• Knowledge-based – These questions tend to be more direct and help to see if the candidate would be able to perform well at the job they are being hired for.  
• Introspective – Companies want to hire self-aware people who not only know their strengths but also their weaknesses so they can work on them. Presenting a perfect self will not help here – it is important to reflect and be honest. 
• Hypothetical – Using hypothetical scenarios, interviewers can assess your potential to make quick decisions and give them an insight into your process of getting there.  
• Behavioral – Questions about how you handled certain situations in the past are behavioral questions. This gives the interviewers a sense of how you approach problems, conflicts, and relationships at work, which eventually helps them understand if you would fit into their team. 

 

5. Ask questions  

At the end of each interview, candidates are asked if they have any questions from the interviewers. This is a great opportunity to get more context on the role, the team, and the company and make an informed decision. Prepare a set of questions beforehand that could include areas like working hours, policies, team structure, or specifics about the function and role. 

As a data scientist, it is important to know about the projects you will be involved in working on. Learn about the expectations during the question-answer session in your interview.

Remember that this could be a future place of work for you, and you are evaluating it as much as the interviewer is assessing you. Moreover, it will help build your interest and motivation if it is the right place for you.  

 

6. Plan ahead for the day of the interview  

The way you act during the whole recruitment process, especially on the day of the interview, factors into your evaluation as a candidate. So, always stay professional, check your emails for errors before sending, and be courteous. For some things, you will need to plan:  

• Your outfit for the interview to make a good impression, 
• Being on time: if it is an on-site interview, make arrangements for transport,  
• Check your internet connection and laptop battery for remote interviews,  
• Choose a peaceful spot for virtual interviews, 

• Have a wholesome meal and stay hydrated to avoid lethargy.  

 

7. Highlight your uniqueness  

It is easy for someone to check all the boxes for the requirements of a role, but out of many that do, only one has to be hired. So, what is it that helps you cut? Your genuineness and uniqueness. Every person has a different journey and distinct experiences meaning everyone has something different to offer. Being able to reflect on these to understand your unique superpowers and highlight them will help the recruiters see your real potential.  

To do this, answer questions with examples of what you have done in the past and how you faced challenges. For example, a fresh graduate may not have past work experience, but you may show how good you are at teamwork by talking about a time when you delivered a team project in college.

More importantly, don’t just say that you are willing to learn and come with a growth mindset, share tangible examples that showcase your curiosity and effort. Another great way to make an impression is to share something that is not explicitly mentioned in your resume. For instance, when the interviewer asks you to introduce yourself, talk about a multi-faceted you to bring your human side to light.    

 

Conclusion  

Overall, recruitment is all about finding the right fit on both sides. Before convincing a company to hire you, you must have solid grounds in your mind to believe that you belong there. If so, following the above-mentioned suggestions will assist you in getting there.  

 

Written by: Rameen Tahir

Looking for AI jobs? Well, here are our top 5 AI jobs along with all the skills needed to land them

Rapid technological advances and the promotion of machine learning have shifted manual processes to automated ones. This has not only made the lives of humans easier but has also generated error-free results. To only associate AI with IT is baseless.

You can find AI integrated into our day-to-day lives. From self-driven trains to robot waiters, from marketing chatbots to virtual consultants, all are examples of AI.

We can find AI everywhere without even knowing it. It is hard to explain how quickly it has become a part of our daily routine. AI will automatically find suitable searches, foods, and products even without you uttering a word. It is not hard to say that robots will replace humans very shortly.

The evolution of AI has increased the demand for AI experts. With the diversified AI job roles and emerging career opportunities, it won’t be difficult to find a suitable job matching your interests and goals. Here are the top 5 AI job picks that may come in handy, along with the skills that will help you land them effortlessly.

 

Must-have skills for AI jobs

To land the AI job, you need to train yourself and become an expert in multiple skills. These skills can only be mastered through great zeal, effort, hard work, and enthusiasm to learn them.

Every job requires its own set of core skills, i.e. some may require data analysis, while others might demand expertise in machine learning. But even with the diverse job roles, the core skills needed for AI jobs remain constant, which are:

1. Expertise in a programming language (especially in Python, Scala, and Java)
2. Hands-on knowledge of Linear Algebra and Statistics
3. Proficient at Signal Processing Techniques
4. Profound knowledge of the Neural Network Architects

 

Read blog about AI and Machine learning trends for 2023

 

Our top 5 picks for AI jobs

 

1. Machine Learning Engineer

Who are they?

They are responsible for discovering and designing self-driven AI systems that can run smoothly without human intervention. Their main task is to automate predictive models.

What do they do?

From designing ML systems, drafting ML algorithms, and selecting appropriate data sets, they sand then analyze large data, along with testing and verifying ML algorithms.

Qualifications are required? Individuals with bachelor’s or doctoral degrees in computer science or mathematics, along with proficiency in a modern programming language, will most likely get this job. Knowledge about cloud applications, expertise in mathematics, computer science, machine learning, programming languages, and related certifications are preferred.

 

2. Robotics Scientist

Who are they? They design and develop robots that can be used to perform the error-free day-to-day task efficiently. Their services are used in space exploration, healthcare, human identification, etc.

What do they do? They design and develop robots to solve problems that can be operated with voice commands. They operate different software and understand the methodology behind it to construct mechanical prototypes. They collaborate with other field specialists to control programming software and use it accordingly.

Qualifications required? A robotics scientist must have a bachelor’s degree in robotics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or electromechanical engineering. Individuals with expertise in mathematics, AI certifications, and knowledge about CADD will be preferred.

 

3. Data Scientist

Who are they? They evaluate and analyze data and extract valuable insights that assist organizations in making better decisions.

What do they do? They gather, organize, and interpret a large amount of data using ML and predict analytics into much more valuable perspicuity. They use tools and data platforms like Hadoop, Spark, Hive, and programming languages like Java, SQL, and Python to go beyond statistical analysis.

Qualification required? They must have a master’s or doctoral degree in computer sciences with hands-on knowledge of programming languages, data platforms, and cloud tools.

Master these data science tools to grow your career as Data Scientist

 

4. Research Scientist

 

Who are they? They analyze data and evaluate gathered information using restrained-based examinations.

What do they do?  Research scientists have expertise in different AI skills from ML, NLP, data processing and representation, and AI models, which they use for solving problems and seeking modern solutions.

Qualifications required? Bachelor or doctoral degree in computer science or other related technical fields. Along with good communication, knowledge about AI, parallel computing, AI algorithms, and models is highly recommended for those who are thinking of pursuing this career opportunity.

 

5. Business Intelligence Developer

 

Who are they? They organize and generate the business interface and are responsible for maintaining it.

What do they do? They organize business data, extract insights from it, keep a close eye on market trends, and assist organizations in achieving profitable results. They are also responsible for maintaining complex data on cloud-based platforms.

Qualifications required? Bachelor’s degree in computer science and other related technical fields with added AI certifications. Individuals with experience in data mining, SSRS, SSIS, and BI technologies and certifications in data science will be preferred.

 

Learn core AI skills today! 

A piece of advice for those who want to pursue AI as their career: “Invest your time and money.”. Take related short courses, acquire ML and AI certifications, and learn about what data science and BI technologies are all about and practices. With all these, you can become an AI expert with a growth-oriented career in no time.

 

In this blog, we are going to discuss the leading data jobs in demand for the coming year along with their average annual earnings.

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