Elizabeth’s Experience
Elizabeth NyikosS2DS Alumni 2021I owe my successful transition from academia to Data Science to S2DS. I completed the virtual programme in April 2021 and have been working as a Data Scientist ever since. Looking back, I can think of three reasons why S2DS is the perfect commercial experience for those trying to break into the industry.
1. S2DS is a real-world business experience
Prior to S2DS, I applied for many jobs and internships in Data Science. My programming skills in Python/ML were strong but the feedback I kept getting in interviews was that I didn’t have any business experience. The S2DS experience is a real-world problem, with all that entails. You may need to work with messy data or source further data to supplement what your client has provided. You may need to pivot direction partway through the programme based on your client’s needs. You will definitely need to learn to adjust and listen to your client. During my S2DS programme, this meant changing our models from running on a specific dataset to be more general-purpose half-way through the programme. Learning to navigate real-world business problems and unexpected challenges was an important part of my Data Science journey, and made all the difference in my pre- and post-S2DS interviews.
2. S2DS prepares you for being part of a data team
One of best aspects of the S2DS experience is that you get to work as part of a team. I was familiar with git before but learning how to handle multiple branches and conflicts during S2DS helped me to develop good collaborative software development practices. Familiarising myself with working in an agile environment allowed me to hit the ground running once I joined my current company. Now I use tools like Jira, Confluence and Miro on a daily basis and continue with the best practices I learned during my time at S2DS. Learning to work remotely as part of a team has also proven valuable. Even though my company is based in London, we still work remotely for half the week. Pivigo are experts at remote work: during our programme we used Slack, Zoom and Google hangouts for scheduled talks, meetings and team activities plus Hopin and Gathertown for socializing and networking until it became second nature to use these tools. I actually prefer my remote-working days now, as I feel I am much more productive and able to transition quickly from meetings to project work, thanks to my experience with S2DS.
3. The post-S2DS Pivigo network is a powerful way to get your foot in the door and jumpstart your career in Data Science
In my opinion, the opportunities Pivigo offer after S2DS are just as valuable as the bootcamp itself. When I finished S2DS, I took part in S2DS Fast Track, a partnership Pivigo organizes with companies, where for a probationary period you provide freelancing services for a company through Pivigo, potentially ending in a full-time position with the company. This experience introduced me to my current company, a customer insights and reviews platform where I have enjoyed further developing my skills in ML and NLP. Beyond these opportunities, I’ve really appreciated Pivigo’s regular Hopin events where you can network with other S2DS alumni. There are also private S2DS channels for fellows on LinkedIn and slack, where past S2DS alumni can post jobs. I made it to the final round with a company as a result of another S2DS fellows’ recommendation - it can be a great way to get your application noticed at some amazing companies (which is often half the struggle). Most importantly, through the S2DS community, I have found colleagues who understand and support my journey. The friends I made during those five weeks are now a Data Science community that I look to for advice and tips, news, resources, fellowship and Data Science memes.
