Entry Level Jobs In Data Science
Data scientists are in high demand in the market today. They are responsible for collecting, analyzing and interpreting data to solve problems and make decisions. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for a statistician was $81,100 as of May 2017. The BLS projects that employment in this field will grow by 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, which is much faster than the average for all other occupations, at 7 percent.
The following are some of the entry-level jobs available to aspiring data scientists:
Data Analyst
A data analyst is responsible for analyzing data, creating reports and communicating findings to management teams. This position requires a bachelor’s degree in computer science or statistics along with at least one year of experience working with data sets. Most companies prefer candidates who have an advanced degree such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Data Scientist
A data scientist is responsible for developing solutions based on big data that provides insights into customer behavior or business processes. A bachelor’s degree in statistics or computer science along with at least three years of experience working with large datasets is required for this position. Candidates should also have strong analytical skills
Entry Level Jobs In Data Science
data entry clerk is a member of staff employed to enter or update data into a computer system.[1][2] Data is often entered into a computer from paper documents[3] using a keyboard.[4] The keyboards used can often have special keys and multiple colors to help in the task and speed up the work.[5] Proper ergonomics at the workstation is a common topic considered.[6][7][8]
The data entry clerk may also use a mouse,[9][10] and a manually-fed scanner may be involved.[11]
Speed and accuracy, not necessarily in that order, are the key measures of the job.[12]
Contents
1 History
2 Examples
3 Optical character/mark recognition
4 Job requirements, security, and pay
5 Education and training
6 References
7 External links
History
Keypunch operators at Volkswagen in 1973
The invention of punched card data processing in the 1890s created a demand for many workers, typically women, to run keypunch machines. To ensure accuracy, data was often entered twice; the second time a different keyboarding device, known as a verifier (such as the IBM 056) was used.
In the 1970s, punched card data entry was gradually replaced by the use of video display terminals.
Examples
For a mailing company, data entry clerks might be required to type in reference numbers for items of mail which had failed to reach their destination, so that the relevant addresses could be deleted from the database used to send the mail out. If the company was compiling a database from addresses handwritten on a questionnaire, the person typing those into the database would be a data entry clerk. In a cash office, a data entry clerk might be required to type expenses into a database using numerical codes.
Optical character/mark recognition
With to the advance of technology, many data entry clerks no longer work with hand-written documents. Instead, the documents are first scanned by a combined OCR/OMR system (optical character recognition and optical mark recognition,) which attempts to read the documents and process the data electronically. The accuracy of OCR varies widely based upon the quality of the original document as well as the scanned image; hence the ongoing need for data entry clerks. Although OCR technology is continually being developed, many tasks still require a data entry clerk to review the results afterward to check the accuracy of the data and to manually key in any missed or incorrect information.[13]
An example of this system would be one commonly used to document health insurance claims, such as for Medicaid in the United States. In many systems, the hand-written forms are first scanned into digital images (JPEG, png, bitmap, etc.). These files are then processed by the optical character recognition system, where many fields are completed by the computerized optical scanner. When the OCR software has low confidence in a data field, it is flagged for review – not the entire record but just the single field. The data entry clerk then manually reviews the data already entered by OCR, corrects it if needed, and fills in any missing data[13] by simultaneously viewing the image on-screen.
The accuracy of personal records, as well as billing or financial information, is usually very important to the general public as well as the healthcare provider. Sensitive or vital information such as this is often checked many times, by both clerk and machine, before being accepted.
Job requirements, security, and pay
Accuracy is usually more important than speed, because detection and correction of errors can be very time-consuming.[12] Staying focused and speed are also required.[14][13]
The job is usually low-skilled, so veteran staff are often employed on a temporary basis after a large survey or census has been completed. However, most companies handling large amounts of data on a regular basis will spread the contracts and workload across the year and will hire part-time.
The role of data entry clerks working with physical hand-written documents is on the decline in the developed world, because employees within a company frequently enter their own data, as it is collected now, instead of having a different employee do this task. An example of this is an operator working in a call center or a cashier in a shop. Cost is another reason for the decline. Data entry is labor-intensive for large batches and, therefore, expensive, so large companies will sometimes outsource the work, either locally or to third world countries where there is no shortage of cheaper unskilled labor.[15][16][17]
As of 2016, the median pay was between $19,396 and $34,990 in the United States.[18]
As of 2018, The New York Times was still carrying ads for the job title “Data Entry Clerk.”[19][20]
Education and training
For the job as a data entry clerk, one must possess competent math and English skills.[21] The worker will need to be very familiar with office software such as word processors, databases, and spreadsheets.[21][18] One must have quickness, focus, and great customer service skills.[21]
Education higher than a high school diploma is often not required, but some companies require a bachelor’s degree.[18] Companies also hope the worker will have one year of experience in a related field.[18]
References
“Data Entry Clerk job description template”. 2015-12-11. We are looking for a Data Entry Clerk to type information into our database
“Technology and Its Impact on Employment”. 1990. Data entry is now accomplished via a system of terminals or other input devices
“Data entry clerk”.
“What is a Data Entry Clerk?”.
“Data Entry Clerk”. Michigan Jobs Portal.
S. O. Sigurdsson (2012). “Motivating Ergonomic Computer Workstation Setup”. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics. 18 (1): 27–33. doi:10.1080/10803548.2012.11076912. PMC 3985273. PMID 22429527.
“Office Ergonomics” (PDF). WA.gov.
“Computer Workstations: Design & Adjustment” (PDF). UQ.edu.au.
J. F. Thomsen (2008). “Carpal tunnel syndrome and the use of computer mouse and keyboard”.
Cut&Paste/Copy&Paste Data Entry jobs were listed as a category on Indeed.com, a jobs site. There were 244 entries on Aug. 10, 2018 – compared to about 1300 of the type/keyboard types of jobs. “Copy Paste Data Entry Jobs, Employment”. 244 Copy Paste Data Entry jobs available on Indeed.com
