Data analysis skills are one of the hottest skills that have been in high demand on the job market for the past few years. A "data analyst" job title is not new to the market, however, due to the growth of data generation and the facilitation of data storage provided by cloud computing, many companies have now the capabilities to store their big data and to derive insights and value from it. Data analysis has been and will stay a fundamental skill to have for most jobs. In the following, I will discuss how to start a career as a data analyst and how I was able to secure a job as a data analyst at a reputable company. Disclaimer Prepare yourself for the worse; learn more about that here . You should read it if You are looking for an internship or a junior opportunity as a Data Analyst. Data Analyst Trends A simple search of the term " Data Analyst " on google trends can show us a graph with a positive trend of the frequency of searches. We can observe that from 2...
Datacamp is an educational platform that teaches coding. However,
unlike other coding platforms, the focus of datacamp is on data-related
topics. Its mission is to improve the data literacy of practitioners and
professionals who are exposed to data (excel files, databases…) on a
daily basis. To improve how people deal with data, DataCamp has created
a wide range of courses, ranging from working with basic excel sheets to
creating deep learning models. Continuing from my previous post, I decided to write an honest review on Datacamp in 2021. While you are reading, keep in mind that this is not a
sponsored post by Datacamp.
Disclaimer
Prepare yourself for the worse; learn more about that here.
This is for you if
You are interested in improving yourself as well as your data literacy
skills.
My introduction to DataCamp
As a Master of Artificial Intelligence student
at KU Leuven, I needed to improve my coding skills to increase my chances in the
job market. Our courses at the university were mainly theoretical and
lacked heavy coding.
One way to tackle this problem was by watching YouTube videos. However, the problem was the lack of practice. Watching and copying the code of the YouTuber is not as practical or beneficial as directly learning something and applying it in a real exercise or a case study. Luckily, at my university, we had a Datathon, which seemed like a golden opportunity for me to improve my skills and to add some spices to my CV. Once my registration for the Datathon was confirmed, I received a free 6-month subscription on DataCamp.
One way to tackle this problem was by watching YouTube videos. However, the problem was the lack of practice. Watching and copying the code of the YouTuber is not as practical or beneficial as directly learning something and applying it in a real exercise or a case study. Luckily, at my university, we had a Datathon, which seemed like a golden opportunity for me to improve my skills and to add some spices to my CV. Once my registration for the Datathon was confirmed, I received a free 6-month subscription on DataCamp.
Baby steps...
The first thing I did was to understand how the site works and how I
can get a certificate.
Since the term 'Data Scientist' is booming, I did not think twice before clicking the "Data Scientist track with Python". I had no idea why I am choosing it other than the two words "Data Scientist".
Here starts the adventure...
Since the term 'Data Scientist' is booming, I did not think twice before clicking the "Data Scientist track with Python". I had no idea why I am choosing it other than the two words "Data Scientist".
Here starts the adventure...
Data Scientist Career Track With Python Review
First Experience
DataCamp courses always start with an introductory video about the topic.
A professor or an expert in the field starts by explaining the course
using a PowerPoint presentation with the needed theory and code snippets. Once the video is done, it's
time for your first interaction: the first quiz in many cases is just to confirm that you understand what
the topic is about (multiple-choice, no code) and in some cases a direct
coding exercise.
So basically, they are expecting you to know a thing or two about coding, however, they are not expecting you to be a master, but you should have basic experience in coding languages.
The Data Science track was very interesting, yet very long. It takes around 100 hours to finish. Yes, 100 hours! No escape. But! You are literally learning new things.
So basically, they are expecting you to know a thing or two about coding, however, they are not expecting you to be a master, but you should have basic experience in coding languages.
The Data Science track was very interesting, yet very long. It takes around 100 hours to finish. Yes, 100 hours! No escape. But! You are literally learning new things.
Main Focus
The main focus of this certificate is Machine Learning; I would say that the ML courses had 30-40% of theoretical
explanations and the rest is dedicated to the scikit-learn package, or in other words the direct application: ML CODING.
The Verdict
Personally, I found the track very interesting and it helped me deepen my understanding of the theoretical components
I learned from my master’s. While I do find some overlap and repetitive coding among the courses,
I felt this overlap and repetitiveness only served to further engrave
the concepts into my mind.
At times, I felt demotivated due to my slow progress, but it felt worth it to push forward regardless. This is further demonstrated by the fact that the knowledge accumulated from DataCamp are what most companies look for when hiring for a Junior or Intern Data Scientist or Analyst.
Additionally, if you are fortunate enough to have a background in computer sciences, I can assure you that securing a good position at a reputable company would be a piece of cake!
At times, I felt demotivated due to my slow progress, but it felt worth it to push forward regardless. This is further demonstrated by the fact that the knowledge accumulated from DataCamp are what most companies look for when hiring for a Junior or Intern Data Scientist or Analyst.
Additionally, if you are fortunate enough to have a background in computer sciences, I can assure you that securing a good position at a reputable company would be a piece of cake!
I love learning but...
... I don't care about certificates. Yes, this is also me after
securing my first certificate. Once I got my first certificate, I
started caring less about finishing the courses and focusing more on
learning new concepts.
Learning is not necessarily about memorizing, it is more about getting exposed to new concepts and packages which I can use down the road with the use of additional resources such as StackOverflow, and I would like to stress the importance of this.
Many computer scientists will agree on the fact that if you know how to google it, you know how to use it. For example, if I know that Decision Trees work in the x, y, z way, I can just google 'Decision Trees scikit learn' and I will get the few lines of code that I need to train a Decision Trees algorithm on a dataset.
Learning is not necessarily about memorizing, it is more about getting exposed to new concepts and packages which I can use down the road with the use of additional resources such as StackOverflow, and I would like to stress the importance of this.
Many computer scientists will agree on the fact that if you know how to google it, you know how to use it. For example, if I know that Decision Trees work in the x, y, z way, I can just google 'Decision Trees scikit learn' and I will get the few lines of code that I need to train a Decision Trees algorithm on a dataset.
Basically, this is HackingDataCamp101 (in a positive way).
DataCamp Updates
Many articles (highly ranked by Google) are very old posts. Therefore,
they are not reliable reviews of DataCamp in its new shape. In fact,
most complaints are related to the fact that the exercises are only 'fill in the blank'.
However, DataCamp updated their website to include Projects, which can be guided or unguided and can be used on your GitHub page as personal projects (to showcase basic to intermediate skills). An unguided project gives you the freedom to write your own code and only your final answers to the questions are tested against the answers provided by DataCamp; in case your final answers are correct, you pass the project. However, the guided projects are similar to the 'fill in the blanks' exercises with more challenges.
Finally, DataCamp offers live sessions (webinars) with their professors where they go through case studies and real-life examples (using legitimate datasets).
However, DataCamp updated their website to include Projects, which can be guided or unguided and can be used on your GitHub page as personal projects (to showcase basic to intermediate skills). An unguided project gives you the freedom to write your own code and only your final answers to the questions are tested against the answers provided by DataCamp; in case your final answers are correct, you pass the project. However, the guided projects are similar to the 'fill in the blanks' exercises with more challenges.
Finally, DataCamp offers live sessions (webinars) with their professors where they go through case studies and real-life examples (using legitimate datasets).
No-code courses
In addition to the coding courses that you are able to take on DataCamp, some no-code courses exist. They are made to gain a general overview or an
intuition about the field of data (data science, data
engineering...).
Other courses are related to Excel and Google Sheets, which can be
beneficial for business professionals (consultants, executives...) who
want to learn how to do data analysis without the coding component.
DataCamp to Infinity and Beyond...
One important thing to mention is that there are courses
on Tableau and PowerBI: the two most powerful dashboarding tools (in my humble opinion). These
courses are fully available only for enterprises, but the first chapter is free for everyone.
So... Is DataCamp worth it in 2021?
Yes, DataCamp is worth it. It provides you with all the basic to advanced skills required for data science, data analysis, and data engineering jobs. It contains a wide diversity of courses that can enrich your theoretical and practical knowledge (statistics, machine learning, deep learning...). In addition, the platform is continuously being updated to improve the user experience and the quality of education.
Are DataCamp certificates legit?
DataCamp certificates are legit. They can be used as proof that you acquire a certain skill set. However, they are not equivalent to a university degree or diploma. You should think of a DataCamp certificate as a coding course that you can take at your university or at your school. Finally, it is highly unethical to skip all the exercises to obtain a certain certificate.
Difference between DataCamp and DataQuest?
The main difference between DataCamp and DataQuest is the teaching experience. DataCamp is accustomed to visual learners (people who learn by watching something). DataQuest is accustomed to readers; you learn by reading a text explaining a certain function and how to use it. Both are high-quality educational platforms, it is a matter of preference.
Can I learn Python from scratch on DataCamp?
Yes, it is possible to learn python from scratch on DataCamp. However, DataCamp is more suitable for people who have a bit of coding experience. A combination of DataCamp and external Python studying can always be optimal to cover all the basics.
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| Python introductory course |
Combining this course with the course on Pandas, you can rest assured that you're a step closer to mastering the basics of Data Analysis.
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| Pandas Fundamentals |
Should I learn Python or R on DataCamp?
Both R and Python are available and fully developed on DataCamp. However, one can argue that starting with R can be easier because it is a narrow or specific programming language. However, Python is a general (multi-purpose) coding language. Therefore, Python can serve more than one task when compared to R.
DataCamp R review
R can be learned from scratch on DataCamp. With no prior knowledge. The
introductory courses are for absolute beginners and can be very beneficial
for someone who have minimal to zero knowledge in coding. The first few
chapters are about using R as a calculator and defining variables.
DataCamp SQL review
SQL is one of the languages that can be learned in totality on DataCamp.
However, it can get really hard at times. Some of the exercises are for
advanced and serious people that are looking to take their skills to the
next level. I believe it is a fortune for future data engineers.
The top SQL skills you can learn are:
- Selecting (basic to advanced, including subqueries)
- Conditional querying (WHERE, HAVING, BETWEEN, LIKE...)
- Grouping by and ordering
- Aggregations (COUNT, MAX, MIN, SUM, AVG...)
- Joining (all of them, inner, outer, cross, left, right...)
- Unions (to combine multiple tables)
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Can you get a job through DataCamp certificates?
In short, yes you can. However, you would need additional proof that you acquired the skills in-depth and not just superficially. It is highly recommended to create multiple projects and showcase them on Github once you finish your DataCamp learning. A rich data science or analysis portfolio is a good indicator that you can use your skills in a real-life application or on the job.
Are DataCamp instructors legit?
Yes, all the instructors are either Masters or Ph.D. level educators (school, university professors...) or experts in the field. You can always refer to the instructor's biography before you start the course. You can also google their names or check them on LinkedIn if you are skeptical about them.
Is DataCamp recognized worldwide?
DataCamp is recognized in many countries. In Europe and the USA, some universities provide their students with free DataCamp accounts to enhance their learning throughout the year. In some companies (Big 4 for example), employees can request free and full memberships sponsored by their company to improve their skills. This reflects the trustworthiness of big companies and universities towards DataCamp's educators and education level.
Current DataCamp Learnings
- Data Engineer With Python (Track)
Final thoughts...
A 2-month subscription
amounting to approximately
$40
is more than enough if a person is serious about improving their coding skills.
Free accounts can be obtained if you are a student through DataCamp-Github or DataCamp-Microsoft.
Free accounts can be obtained if you are a student through DataCamp-Github or DataCamp-Microsoft.
Please feel free to leave your comments or questions in the comment
section.
Read Next 'Is a master's degree worth it? '.
Microsoft VS does not shows the coupon of Datacamp. How can I get that?
ReplyDeleteI shared the link, if it does not work it means they have changed their system. However, I believe it still works, I did it a few months ago (March to be precise)
DeleteThanks!
ReplyDelete