Data scientist

Data scientists are the masterminds behind smarter business decisions, using data analytics to unlock valuable insights. They help companies understand their customers better, spot product trends and even predict the future. For example, when airlines adjust flight prices, it's data science at work, analysing demand and timing to set the perfect price.

By gathering massive amounts of data from sources like surveys, website analytics and cookies, you dive deep to discover patterns using powerful tools such as AI, machine learning and algorithms. You'll turn those findings into actionable insights, driving smarter decisions and innovative solutions.

Your tasks might include:

• identifying issues or opportunities to use data in an organisation

• collecting and transforming raw data into a useable format

• analysing data to identify patterns and trends

• testing and selecting the best data mining models for the task

• solving business problems using machine learning and statistical techniques

• presenting findings and results to clients or stakeholders

You'll work with a range of programming languages, including SAS, R and Python to analyse data and build models.

You could work across diverse industries such as finance, fintech, academia, healthcare, retail, IT, government and ecommerce. Your opportunities depend on your interests and the available roles.

"Data science was seen as nerdy but now it's creative. Communication matters because you have to sell what you uncover and that means telling stories around data. The future belongs to people with soft skills just as much as to those who master hard data analysis."

Euan Davis

Data Scientist, Cognizant

• The Chartered Institute for IT – discover a career in IT

• GOV.UK – read about the government's data science community

• Get Smarter – learn about careers in financial technology

• Find out more about Barclay's Data Scientist Graduate Analyst roles