Zhang Jiaming\u2019s career journey into data science began with a diverse background and a rich skill set, including experience in both the government and commercial sectors.<\/p>\n
But, like many others during the pandemic, Zhang found himself job-hunting.<\/p>\n
This challenging period exposed him to the harsh realities of job security and the importance of resilience in one\u2019s career.<\/p>\n
Motivated by a desire to build transferable skills and secure a robust career regardless of the job climate, Zhang decided to take action.<\/p>\n
He enrolled in the Institute of Data\u2019s Data Science & AI Program<\/a>, determined to transform his career trajectory.<\/p>\n Read on to learn more about Zhang\u2019s journey, his experiences with the program, and his recommendations and words of encouragement for anyone considering a career in data science.<\/p>\n I live in Singapore.<\/p>\n My interests are quite varied, including anime, video games and theology.<\/p>\n I\u2019m a Christian and enjoy Bible studies. In my spare time, I enjoy writing fiction.<\/p>\n I also pay attention to artificial intelligence (AI) trends<\/a> and how they can assist me in my work and daily activities.<\/p>\n I graduated from the National University of Singapore with a major in economics around the time the Lehman Brothers problems occurred<\/a>.<\/p>\n The job market at the time was stagnant, but eventually, I found work at the government Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), assisting with data analytics.<\/p>\n In that role, I learned how data is analysed and presented to decision-makers.<\/p>\n Some people may be very clear about what they want their career to be, but I am not one of them.<\/p>\n My career moved from government data analysis to handling government programs and financial analysis.<\/p>\n Although my roles have been varied, allowing me to gain valuable experience and see different perspectives, they have not been particularly useful for my career progression.<\/p>\n Technology and data science are the current frontiers<\/a> of what will be trending in 2024 and beyond – It\u2019s difficult to avoid them!<\/p>\n I consider technology an enabler. I like the analogy of using a rice cooker, for example, as it drastically reduces the bar and skills required in cooking rice.<\/p>\n Data science is a tool that can assist us in every area of life. It can help senior management make decisions or help politicians better gauge the sentiment of the voters they represent.<\/p>\n What I find interesting about technology, especially data science, is its importance to our everyday lives and how data and its findings can improve them.<\/p>\n My main motivation was necessity.<\/p>\n I enrolled in the Institute of Data\u2019s Data Science & AI Program<\/a> during the most severe period of COVID-19, which just happened to be when I was searching for work.<\/p>\n Circumstances led me to review my options critically, and I assessed that I needed more specialised skills for my career to be more resilient<\/a>.<\/p>\n Given my economics and data analysis background, data science looked to have the most synergy and potential.<\/p>\n There were two main advantages the Institute of Data\u2019s Data Science & AI Program<\/a> had over its competitors.<\/p>\n The first reason was timing. The program was about to start just as I was considering what course to take.<\/p>\n Secondly, the Institute of Data\u2019s Data Science & AI Program<\/a> did not involve a barrier to entry. No qualifications were necessary, and applicants were not required to take additional tests (though there is pre-course work to complete).<\/p>\n Choosing the Institute of Data with these two advantages over other providers was an easy decision.<\/p>\n I found the program overall well executed. Highlights included the presentation and how well-organised the course materials were.<\/p>\n The trainer and trainer\u2019s assistant were excellent at guiding us through the material, and I didn\u2019t feel helpless or unable to progress at any point.<\/p>\n That\u2019s crucial when you are learning a new skill. The guidance by the teaching staff helped make all the difference to the learning experience.<\/p>\n I found the trainer\u2019s industry experience particularly useful. He was able to link our lessons to real-world experiences he\u2019d encountered in the industry.<\/p>\n This was a real advantage to our learning.<\/p>\n It kept our lessons grounded in practical applications, and we were encouraged to find realistic, commercial applications for the material we learned.<\/p>\n This led to lots of interesting and practical projects proposed by our class.<\/p>\n The trainer and trainer\u2019s assistant were very approachable and available.<\/p>\n It was very helpful to be able to contact them with any issues or ideas we had about projects.<\/p>\n We were also given comprehensive tutorials to review, and an answer key was provided for us to compare with our answers.<\/p>\n Seeing past projects helped us with inspiration for what we could do for our projects.<\/p>\n The Job Support Program<\/a> guided many of us on current job search trends, which I found very useful.<\/p>\n I work at the Building and Construction Authority and assist in data analysis and presentation.<\/p>\n My role uses, in particular, the data preparation and visualisation aspects of the Institute of Data\u2019s Data Science & AI Program<\/a>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a supportive role, and I enjoy turning raw data into something my supervisors can understand and use to make better decisions.<\/p>\n I enjoy being mostly focused on computer work. I find it more relaxing than managing multiple stakeholders, which I experienced in some of my previous roles.<\/p>\n The skillset we acquired during the Institute of Data\u2019s Data Science & AI Program<\/a> was comprehensive and a great starting point.<\/p>\n Your future goals may require more specific skills, which you can learn independently once you identify them. I\u2019m still working on that myself.<\/p>\n I\u2019m interested in learning more about visualisation and artificial intelligence (AI) research, and I\u2019m considering further studies in statistics.<\/p>\n The Institute of Data\u2019s Data Science & AI Program<\/a> is an excellent way to get started.<\/p>\n The program is aimed at both novices and those experienced in data science. So, depending on your background, you may need more time on pre-course work, but it is achievable.<\/p>\n I\u2019d like to encourage anyone out there struggling with job searching to know that the Data Science & AI Program<\/a> is an excellent launch point and might just be the program you\u2019re looking for. You should check it out!<\/p>\n I hope to become more specialised and expand into AI, which seems to be one of the more in-demand skill sets.<\/p>\n This will require specific additional skills that I am working to acquire.<\/p>\n I hope to have a resilient and stable career in five years that will allow me to support my loved ones.<\/p>\n If you\u2019d like to learn more about our Data Science & AI Program<\/a>, please consider downloading a course outline<\/a>.<\/p>\n Alternatively, you can speak about the program directly with a team member by booking a career consultation<\/a> to start your journey with an actionable plan.<\/p>\n1. Zhang, please tell me a bit about yourself.<\/h2>\n
2. Can you tell me about your career before you moved into Data Science?<\/h2>\n
3. How did you first become interested in technology?<\/h2>\n
4. What motivated you to study Data Science & AI, then?<\/h2>\n
5. Why did you choose to study Data Science & AI with the Institute of Data?<\/h2>\n
6. How did you find the program overall?<\/h2>\n
7. Was there anything else that stood out to you about the program?<\/h2>\n
8. Can you tell me about your current role?<\/h2>\n
9. Do you have any advice for those applying for jobs after graduating?<\/h2>\n
10. Do you have any advice for those interested in joining the Data Science Industry specifically?<\/h2>\n
11. How do you envision your professional future?<\/h2>\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n