Many people daily search on Google how to become a freelancer data scientist. But now you should relax because your search ends here. In this blog, we develop a guide to becoming a freelance data scientist. So, take a back seat and read the blog carefully.
During Covid – 19 restrictions forced companies to lay off their employees, and millions of people lost their job and decided to become a freelancer. The same situation holds for employees working as data scientists. Initially, pursuing a freelancing career as a data scientist is not rewarding, but with time it will be a fruitful career option in the long run. As a freelancer data scientist, an individual must spend dedicated hours working and managing a lifestyle.
However, according to 6Figr, freelancer data scientists earn 12 lakhs to 23.9 lakh annually. These statistics will clearly show how much a data scientist freelancer career is monetarily beneficial. So, if you are interested in exploring a freelancing data scientist job, let’s move ahead and engage till last.
How to become a Freelancer Data Scientist?
Starting a career as a freelancer data scientist may be difficult. The market is saturated, and it takes a lot of time and patience to break into the industry successfully. However, we are not gatekeepers; instead, we aim to provide genuine advice on starting your freelancing journey as a data scientist.
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Build Online Presence
You need to be visible to be hired as a freelancer data scientist. So, the first and significant step is to create a strong online presence. Usually, freelancers create their website and promote it. Thus, it is helpful for freelancers to have a presence on social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, GitHub, etc.
- Write case studies to demonstrate your approach to the problem–solving and working style, etc.
- Regularly update LinkedIn profiles and shows your best data scientist certifications.
- Show your experience and skills clearly; including programming language and tools you are an expert in.
- Create a portfolio section to show your skills and experience.
- If you are a roster of recognizable companies as clients, including their names.
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Select Niche
When companies look for a freelancer data scientist, they want them to hit the ground immediately. Organizations expect freelancers to understand the industry, market, business landscape, and data science skills in-depth. For instance, if a financial services company is looking for a freelancer data scientist, it requires having experience in banking and stockbroking, etc. Therefore, it is advisable to select a specific niche.
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Obtain Industry Experience
It takes time to get noticed on freelancing platforms. Many other data scientist is offering the same services as you. Thus, it is imperative for you to obtain data science certification and complete a few jobs before the profile ranks highly and is visible to employers. Due to this, the candidate should select the project wisely and choose the task that aligns with the skill set.
If you find a suitable position, send them a proposal demonstrating how you can accomplish the task.
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Ability to Work on Various Projects Can be Beneficial
You acquire knowledge from your education, professional experience, or volunteer work. If you’re beginning, you can earn experience by offering services to local businesses. You’ll work for a company while learning about freelancers. However, you’ll need the knowledge required to show that the company would be willing to hire you. This can be done mostly remotely.
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Build Strong Portfolio
Freelancing is different from a traditional full-time position because of a lack of job security, and candidates need to source new opportunities constantly. However, to stand out from the crowd, you need to build a strong portfolio that resent your skills and capabilities. If you worked on any data science project, share it with the people and on social media platforms.
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Start Small
If starting as a data scientist on a contract basis, you should focus less on monetary benefits and on developing your skills. In the beginning, don’t feel discouraged even if you believe you’re not earning enough. The path ahead is rewarding and worthwhile.
When applying for jobs as a data scientist on websites such as LinkedIn, Indeed, Naukri and others will give you that boost to your career. You can also look into dedicated data scientist sites for freelance work, such as Upwork, Toptal, and Fiverr along with Data Science Central, which will assist you in landing your first data science-related freelance work.
After you’ve served only a handful of clients and have diversified your experience enough, could you include them in your portfolio? You can also ask your clients to give you feedback to add them to your portfolio to attract more clients.
Conclusion
The above analysis demonstrates that freelancing can be a viable career choice suitable for Data Scientists. Data scientists are highly sought-after, so that you will gain invaluable experience in your field. Those looking to become data scientists or are already working in this field can choose.