I’ve been there too. You’re a data scientist, but your job doesn’t feel like it. You’re stuck doing tasks that don’t utilize your skills, and your yearly reviews are stellar, but promotion seems out of reach. You’ve tried applying for other jobs, but your lack of experience in certain areas holds you back. You’re not alone. I’ve been in similar shoes, and I know how frustrating it can be.
The problem is, your current job doesn’t translate well to other data science roles. You’ve built dashboards and R Shiny apps, but they don’t demonstrate the skills that other companies are looking for. And to make matters worse, your company doesn’t do the kind of work that you want to do, like AB testing or ML experience.
So, what can you do? One approach is to start working on personal projects that showcase your skills in the areas you want to move into. This can be a decent way to demonstrate your abilities to potential employers. However, some people argue that personal projects don’t carry much weight. Another option is to improve your coding skills, especially in areas like ML and AB testing. This can be tough, especially if you’re not great at coding interviews on the spot.
I’m not going to give you a magic solution that will fix everything overnight. But I do want to tell you that you’re not alone, and there are people who have been in your shoes and have made it out. It takes time, effort, and perseverance, but it’s possible to break free from a dead-end data science job and move into a role that fulfills you.
So, what’s next? Take a step back, assess your skills, and identify the areas you need to work on. Start building personal projects that demonstrate your skills, and focus on improving your coding abilities. And most importantly, don’t give up. You got this!