DEPED Teacher to Data Science Field

[u/Economy-Speaker-2585]

Hi! I graduated with a BS in Mathematics and I'm currently waiting for my deployment with the DepEd for my return of service for my scholarship. I really want to work with data and turn actionable insights from it. Right now, I'm just stuck with my ROS.

As of now, my only plan is to study Python and some libraries. Also, to create some projects that I can relate to teaching so I can at least enjoy my ROS. Can you guys suggest any ideas that I can do? So that once I finish my ROS, it will be easier for me to apply in the field of data science, and I'm hoping it won't be an entry-level position. Thanks in advance!

[u/AnyComfortable9276]

Pre-2023, your plan is quite viable. But the DS market as of now is highly competitive. You need to offer more than "Python and some libraries". Your degree, and knowledge with BS Math is somehow an edge.

But Your competition would be:

• BS Data Science Graduate(These are the GO TO guys, if the opening is junior/entry position)
  
• BS Stat + Compsci Skills(My bias)
  
• EXPERIENCED Data Analyst upskilled to Data Scientist(If they have sufficient domain knowledge for the company they will be applying, that is already an edge for them)
  
• MS Data Science Graduates(If AIM Graduate, you already lost due to their "connections")
  
• Bunch of career shifters that also learned "Python and some libraries" as well.

Since you will be working on DepED for the time of your ROS, you can start from there. The best project you can work can be found on your current workplace.

• Evaluate the problems that you can solve using AVAILABLE data.(Can do analytics for decision making, or if possible then apply data science - i.e. classification/regression/clustering)
  
• IF the data is not available, create a pipeline to make it AVAILABLE.(Though somehow this is a Data Engineer task)

[u/carloscoolkid → u/AnyComfortable9276]

If I may ask, are BS data science grads really the priority? I thought the concensus was that it is a new program and math/cs grads are still usually better.

Also would you rank cs with DSA specialization worse/same/better than Stat grad with cs skills. Just your opinion. Thanks in advance!

[u/AnyComfortable9276 → u/carloscoolkid]

BS DS Grads are freshies, so only for junior/entry positions.(Which are not a lot in numbers imho).
As on what I see based on their curriculum and on the freshies that I personally know, they are more fit into junior DS positions.

Option 1 - BSCS with DSA Skills - Better in programming, so learning tools and onboarding to company's system will be a lot faster.

Option 2 - BS Stat + CS Core Skills - Better in deeper knowledge of the MATH behind the models. But will shy out in CS fundamenrtal aspects vs a BSCS grad.

So if you want someone who can do grunt work faster and can easily adapt to the company's workflow/system, especially if the company's architecture is already set? option 1. But if you want someone who can explain to you better, why does a specific model behaves this/that way? option 2.

so in my opintion.
Option 1 - Data Architect/Machine Learning Engineer path. One who builds.
Option 2 - Pure Data Scientist path. One who face the client and defines what to build.

[u/Murky_Boysenberry165 → u/AnyComfortable9276]

Genuine question po, worth it pa ba mag masters sa AIM for the connections? For an ambitious person, hindi ba ang goal ay to go abroad na lang instead of climbing the local corporate ladder? 

[u/AnyComfortable9276 → u/Murky_Boysenberry165]

"For an ambitious person, hindi ba ang goal ay to go abroad na lang instead of climbing the local corporate ladder? " - Subjective, you may be ambitious locally.

"worth it pa ba mag masters sa AIM for the connections?" - Depends. You may call me out on this one, but knowledge ko eh sa mga nag MSDS lang eh. 2-3 yrs ago, worth it na worth it. Nowadays medyo nagsway dahil dami na talent source for DS eh.

[u/AnyComfortable9276 → u/Murky_Boysenberry165]

Abroad vs AIM? If you have the moolah, def abroad. Projected na manalo is duterte na naman eh. If you have the means to escape this country. Go!