Data Scientist Mock Interview
Practice 30 Data Scientist interview questions covering machine learning, statistical modeling, and technical problem-solving.
Question 13 of 30
How have past positions unrelated to data analysis helped you in your current profession as a Data Scientist?
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William Swansen has worked in the employment assistance realm since 2007. He is an author, job search strategist, and career advisor who helps individuals worldwide and in various professions to find their ideal careers.
"Data Science involves identifying an issue, determining a methodology to analyze it, collecting data, performing the analysis, and interpreting the results. My first experience with this type of process was while working in a grocery store during high school. My job was to replace items that customers either returned or decided not to purchase while they were checking out. At first, I considered this to be a boring and repetitive job, but then I started to notice patterns in the products I was working with. I began keeping track of the products and looking for patterns. I found that many of the products not purchased or returned by customers had ambiguous pricing information. I shared my charts and conclusions with the store manager, who agreed with my results and took steps to clarify the pricing information. I continued to track the products and found that the changes we made resulted in fewer returns and non-purchases. This sparked my interest in data science and led me to this career."
William Swansen has worked in the employment assistance realm since 2007. He is an author, job search strategist, and career advisor who helps individuals worldwide and in various professions to find their ideal careers.
The purpose of this question is to gain a broader picture of your background and experience. In addition to being able to perform the tasks related to the job you are interviewing for, organizations prefer to hire individuals who can expand the role of the job to accomplish other organizational objectives. They are also interested in your fit and how you may improve the company culture.
William Swansen has worked in the employment assistance realm since 2007. He is an author, job search strategist, and career advisor who helps individuals worldwide and in various professions to find their ideal careers.
"When I was young and still in school, I didn't have the goal of becoming a data scientist. However, I was naturally curious and enjoyed learning new things. I also liked solving problems, especially using numbers and sets of data. One of my first jobs was in a library where I had to reshelve books. I quickly learned that if I spent some time organizing the books before I began placing them on the shelves, I could reduce the amount of time the job took. I challenged myself to continually beat my previous times by devising new ways to organize the books and navigate through the library. I tracked this and charted my progress. This made a routine job more interesting and enjoyable."
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