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Recruiting new members to your workforce is always an important task. The right fit must be found, and a detail-oriented process is compulsory.
Some roles can be more important to get right than others. Data scientists, for example, play enormously important roles within a business. Their role involves extracting and analysing huge quantities of data from various sources. They’ll utilise artificial intelligence, algorithms, statistics tools, machine learning, and data mining to interpret data and present it to businesses.
Without the input of a qualified data scientist, modern business firms can operate aimlessly. Consequently, it’s imperative that you onboard a new data scientist in the most efficient ways possible.
Only attracting the best available talent will suffice here. Read on for some tips to help you during this particular hiring process.
Tips For Hiring A New Data Scientist
1. Prepare for Competition
The hiring process has become more competitive of late. The stakes have never been higher for finding the right talent, irrespective of industry. You must adopt an impervious attitude if you hope to make progress in your hiring processes.
Data scientists are in high demand and high paying job across almost all sectors. They work in government roles, finance, education, consulting, manufacturing, and elsewhere. These versatile experts play a crucial role in the functioning of many institutions and can likely afford to avoid a lousy recruitment process and the half-hearted company behind it.
Moreover, 80% of employers plan to hire this year, attempting to counter a shortage of workers in the highest recruitment intention in 8 years. Therefore, you can likely expect to fight tooth and nail for these highly skilled professionals. Companies are pulling out all the stops to survive or thrive, and data analytics plays a huge role in both aims.
2. Value Education
Most data scientists have degrees, with very few of them trying to scrape by in the profession without. Such a qualification can certainly vouch for their hard and soft skills. Moreover, data scientists will often have a Master’s and a PhD, adhering to the highest education standards.
The qualifications must come from reputable institutions too. The data science courses from Stirling uni are a good example of the calibre of undergraduate and postgraduate learning you should be looking for in your candidates. Their team of academics are involved in crucial research in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and more. 90% of their research in Computing Science and Mathematics is also graded as ‘Internationally Excellent’, with the top 5% deemed ‘World-leading’.
Try to understand better what a quality data science course entails. Put yourself in the ideal candidate’s shoes as best you can. It can all give you an insight as to what their mindset should be, helping you make more impactful recruitment decisions.
3. Write an Impactful Job Description
Data scientists are enormously influential within a firm. Their work is immensely important, so vague job descriptions won’t entice them to join the fold.
The basic roles for job descriptions apply here. Prioritise the use of clear and succinct language. Bullet-point key responsibilities. Avoid attempting to scare off ‘lesser’ candidates by using jargon. Ensure that every reader knows where they stand. For example, mentioning the need to collect, clean, and validate data is enough and working as part of a team. Details can be discussed at a later stage.
It would help to emphasise the impact that you’re hoping the potential data scientist will have on your business. Most of them are eager to make a real difference to a company’s prospects and certainly don’t wish to fade into the background. Appeal to that healthy ego and attract data scientists hoping to innovate in a new role.
4. Ask the Right Questions
Data scientists know their skills are in demand, so they’re unlikely to suffer fools or disappointments. Remember that job candidates are more aware of what’s fair in these processes, so a diligent and focused approach is crucial.
The most useful questions you can ask a prospective candidate for a data science role include:
- Have you created an original algorithm? Gain insights into the candidate’s breadth of knowledge around database and table design. It should also give you an impression of how much they’ve contributed to other workplaces in the past.
- How did you solve challenging issues in past data projects? Problem-solving skills should be mentioned here, such as cleaning data sets. You should also have an insight into how flexible and composed the candidate is during a crisis.
- Which encountered data professionals inspire you most? Can you cross-reference any mentioned qualities with staff members already in your employ?
- What coding languages and analytics tools are you experienced with? The candidate should ideally mention Java and Python. Consider whether you’re willing to train the candidate up should they display any gaps in their knowledge but are committed to further learning opportunities.
There are plenty more questions to ask to hire a right employee. The ones bullet-pointed above should open up the floor best and facilitate further discussion. Set your candidates up for success and avoid tricking them. Help them speak for as long as possible and either talk themselves in or out of a job.