What is 'Data Science' and what does a Data Scientist do?

Hi 👋

I work at Artefact's Paris office.

My work involves providing solutions to clients based on data. This can include developing predictive Machine Learning (ML) models.

⏳ Hours

Typically, I work 9am - 6:30pm each day.

Some days may be busier than others. As I am dealing with clients, I may end up having lots of meetings on certain days, which can take up a lot of time. I normally never work later than 8pm.

🗓️ Typical day-to-day tasks

50% of my time is spent coding: working on data-based applications and machine learning models (e.g. XGBoost) that help solve the client’s problems.

Note: Choosing which application or model to use can be the easy part of the job! Understanding the client’s needs and deciding how they create real value for the client can be a lot harder.

50% of my time is spent in, or preparing for, meetings: these may be meetings where I am presenting my work, or they could be sessions where I am expected to provide feedback on what other colleagues are working on.

🪜 Expected career progression

The great thing about the data science industry is that there is new ‘stuff’ (models, applications, methods) coming out pretty much every day.

The key to progressing in this industry is being able to understand and apply the latest methods into your workflow to achieve even better results for your clients. I’ve found that you can progress up the ladder fairly quickly if you’re genuinely curious about the industry (e.g. you’re reading relevant papers that are published).

The more senior positions in my team are required to spend more time ‘framing’ problems with the clients, coordinating progress within the team, reviewing the output the team provides before it is showcased to clients, and building client relationships. Junior team members still have some exposure to clients, but there is definitely increased responsibility and accountability for the success of the project as you get more senior.

In my firm, there is a performance evaluation every 6 months. You can progress very quickly because of the quick cadence.