Interesting Puzzles To Prepare For Data Science Interviews !

A Data science career is a lucrative opportunity with many young professionals opting for it. With the easy accessibility to data science courses, the number of professionals pursuing it is rising. There is a huge demand for expertise in this area and it has been voted as the best career by Glassdoor in the United States.

Though there is a need for professionals in this field, it is often not easy to get into. Organizations look for problem-solving and analytical skills in their potential employees and judge them based on creative and logical reasoning ability.

Having a different approach towards a problem and solving it in a unique way can help one stand out from the crowd. It isn’t a cakewalk to master these abilities. One has to practice and try to improve their skills. Solving puzzles is a way to test the individual’s ability to think out of the ordinary and also puts to test problem-solving skills.

The interviewers while hiring fresher especially give them puzzles to solve during their interviews. Due to the pandemic, many companies now have a stricter policy when it comes to choosing the right candidate for the job. It is challenging and the chances of selection are less compared to earlier.

Data Science Career Interview

Some are even assessing the candidates based on their coding skills. To provide an insight into what is in store for the candidates, below mentioned are some of the commonly asked puzzles during a data science job interview.

  1. There are 4 boys A, B, C, and D who are supposed to cross a rope bridge. It is very dark and they have just one flashlight. It is difficult to cross the bridge without the flashlight and the rope bridge can only stand 2 people at once. The 4 boys take 1, 2, 5, and 8 minutes each. What is the minimum time required for the four boys to cross the rope bridge? 

Sol:

This is a question that is most repeated and has an easy solution. A and B are the fastest boys and can cross the rope bridge first. They take 2 minutes. B stands on one side and A returns with the flashlight in 1 minute. So the total time taken is 3 minutes. After that, C and D have to cross the rope bridge. They have taken 5 and 8 minutes each. The total time taken is 8 minutes.

When we add the time taken by all, it is 3+8 which equals 11 minutes. C and D stand on the other side and B takes 2 minutes to return. Hence the total time that is taken by all is 11+2 which equals 13 minutes. At last, A and B will cross the rope bridge and will take 2 minutes and that adds the total time to 13+2 which is 15 minutes. So the time required by all the 4 to cross is 15 minutes.

  1. A person is in a room with the lights turned off. There is a table. A total of 50 coins have been kept on the table. Out of the 50, 10 coins are in the head position while the other 40 are in the tails position. The person has to segregate the coins into 2 different sets in a way that both sets have equal numbers of coins that are in the tails position.

Sol:

Segregate the coins into two groups, one with 10 coins and the other with 40 coins. Turnover the coins of the group that has 10 coins

  1. A bike has 2 tyres and a spare one. Each tyre can only cover a distance of 5 kilometers. What is the maximum distance the scooter will complete? 

Sol: 

To simplify the problem, we will name the tyres X, Y and Z respectively. 

X runs 5 kms

Runs 5 kms

Z runs 5 kms

Initially, the bike can cover a distance of 2.5 kms with tyres X and Y

X=2.5 kms, Y=2.5 km, and Z=5 kms

Take off tyre X and ride the bike with YZ another 2.5 kms

Remaining X= 2.5, Y=0 and Z=2.5

Take off tyre Y and ride the bike with XZ another 2.5 kms

Remaining X=0, Y=0 and Z=0.

Hence, the total distance covered by the bike is 2.5+2.5+2.5 = 7.5 kms

The more an individual practices such puzzles, the better the chances of landing a data science job.

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Why It Is Right Time To Pursue A Career in AI, ML and Data Science?

Introduction

The world is all set for a digital transformation. New technologies are disrupting how business is being conducted on a day-to-day basis. Among the most notable of these technologies are Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Data Science.

These technologies are constantly restructuring the landscape of different economies throughout the globe, as it provides tremendous career opportunities. Moreover, these technologies are also interrelated which gives an individual a chance to build a holistic, well-paying, and satisfying data science career.

Career In Data ScienceWhy now is the Right Time?

We are living in the age of the fourth industrial revolution where everything is expected to be data-driven. Moreover, the pace at which the volume of data is growing is simply astonishing.

According to an IBM survey, 90 % of the data available has been created in the last two years. Technological devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops have revolutionized the way users interact with the internet, and this number of users is also increasing at an exponential speed.

Now, accumulating data is not enough. An analysis of data is required to produce insights that can help in the curation of actionable results. This is exactly where the tools of AI, ML, and Data Science become relevant. These tools leverage various techniques from mathematics, statistical modeling, data engineering, data visualization, computer programming, cloud computing, etc.

To extract the insights from data collected by an organization. Now, this insight forms the basis of strategic decision-making in any organization. It is used to create targeted ads, augment customer experiences on company websites, reduce costs, forecasting demands, and so on. Therefore, the application of predictive algorithms like AI, ML, and data sciences are pervasive throughout different functional domains.

Again, these tools are used across different organizations as well. Governments, Corporates, Brands all are leveraging the advancements in technology to create an entire automated, data-driven ecosystem. Therefore, naturally, there has been an upsurge in the demand for data science courses in India and data science jobs across industries and functions. It is estimated that in India close to half a lakh positions have opened up.

Data Science CareerFrom an Indian context only, a typical data scientist is expected to receive a salary of around INR 9 lakhs p.a. Similarly the salary figures for AI and ML engineers would lie at around INR 5.5 lakhs p.a. and INR 11 lakhs p.a. respectively. Therefore, a six-salary figure makes a career in these disruptive technologies even more attractive.

With the pandemic changing the operation models across industries and functions, it can be safely assumed that technology is going to become even more relevant. Data Science, AI, and ML have a steep learning curve more and more organizations are adopting newer and agile techniques.

From expensive platforms, SPSS, SAS, etc. and organizations are now moving to open resource platforms like python and R. Therefore, technology is no more the future anymore; it is here and those who are passionate about it can find a lucrative career opportunity in AI, ML and Data Science.

Data Science and Analytics Career Trends for 2021!

A career in data analytics and/or data sciences is presently in extreme demand. This is due to the need to optimize new modes of data collection to identify large-scale problems and find solutions in a world after Covid-19, despite a minor drop in job openings at the start of the worldwide lockdown.

data analytics career

There are several trends that one must look out for if he/she wishes to pursue a career in data sciences and/or data analytics, including and beyond ones that involve adjusting to the ‘new normal.

It can be argued that 90% of data that is generated and collected were over the past 3 years. The demand for data science and analytics is therefore only going to grow in demand, at least for the next 10 years (and probably more). To ride this wave of opportunities in jobs and research and beyond, one must keep up with career trends relating to these fields.

What are the trends one must keep up with to enter a career relating to data?

  1. Understanding Data Collection

One must take a look at the avenues which entertain the possibility of data collection – preferably in new, never-before-seen ways. One may look to his/her area of expertise and collect data on it while combining newly learned data management skills to become a data analyst and/or scientist. This may definitely be aided by undertaking programs like data analytics courses at Imarticus learning.

  1. Analytical Problem Solving

In addition to hands-on experience, data analytics online learning may cover various fields relating to data. One must learn the basics like spreadsheet management in order to tabulate data more efficiently for analyst work.

Data Analytics Career

It is a useful skill to know what to recognize as possible data and convert that into an absorbable format, which will ensure later calculations, problem identifications, and solutions.

  1. Understanding Data Management Tools

If one is more interested in being a data scientist, then he/she must work to observe trends in big data. This involves learning big data management tools like Hadoop to find newer frameworks to collect, store and make sense of data. With earning SQL and no-SQL programming in addition to managing databases, one may find new problems to solve, whether for research or for aiding a business (or one of the myriads of other uses).

  1. Machine Learning

This is further aided by mastering other tools like machine learning and artificial intelligence. There are various tools that one may incorporate into his/her data studies, be they included in basic data science and/or data analytics courses or not. Undertaking this endeavor will allow one to master various avenues for finding and exercising ideas, which the world will go on to greatly benefit from.

  1. Communication

A possibly surprising trend that can be observed in regular data analysts and data scientists is the presence of soft skills. Someone dealing with data is required to regularly articulate and advertise new ways of improving things in his/her burgeoning field. Skills like effectively communicating one’s ideas and building useful chains of interpersonal relations go a long way in aiding the career of a data analyst and/or scientist.

  1. Artificial Collection of Data

One must find ways for his/her data collection and processing models to work without his/her presence. This process involves training replacements – both artificial and human. Ideally, a data scientist is expected to design systems that function without his/her interference, not only to undertake routine tasks but also to identify new problems and calculate possible solutions. A noted data trend is the undertaking of this process.

Conclusion

In conclusion, one can say that he/she must observe several trends relating to data on a regular basis, to adapt and grow into the self that can make a huge impact on this frontier field.

Data Analytics CareerData science and analytics are making strides in the tech market, and it is clearly the future. So, a career in data analytics can be really fruitful in the long run.