Data Science Interview Prep: 7 Tips to Break Into Tech! (2023)

This post may contain paid links to my personal recommendations that help to support the site!

Landing a data science job is no easy task. It takes hard work, determination, and most importantly, preparation.

In this blog post, we will outline seven useful data science interview preparation tips that will help you break into the tech industry as a data scientist.

By following these tips, you will be one step closer to achieving your goal and increase your chances of landing your dream job!

So, without further ado, let’s get started!

What Are Some Data Science Interview Prep Tips?

Tip #1: Do Your Research

It is important to do your research before applying to data science jobs, especially during a phone call screen.

This means familiarizing yourself with the company’s culture, their products, and their target market.

When you know more about the company, you will be able to ask more informed questions during the data science interview and show that you are truly interested in the role.

Here’s a list of company-related questions you can use to prepare for:

1. How would you improve on our flagship product?
2. How would you approach your data science projects to fit our business needs?
3. Given our small company size, how would you manage your workload when things get busy?

Tip #2: Practice, practice, practice

Another important tip is to practice, practice, practice. Do this way before your data science interview.

You’ll need to look up some practice questions used in data science and practice speaking them out loud to someone confidently.

To tackle this issue of practice, you can ask a friend or family member to conduct mock interviews with you.

This will help you identify any weak areas and work on them before facing the hiring manager at your data scientist interview.

If you’re at the next data science interview stage where things get more technical, I’d recommend checking out this next tip!

Tip #3: Be Prepared to Answer Technical Questions

In the later stages of data science interviews, you can expect to be asked technical questions about data analysis and statistics.

It is important to brush up on your knowledge and be prepared to answer these questions. In addition, you should also be prepared to code on a whiteboard or in a live coding environment.

This means practicing your technical data science skills through common data science interview questions that require coding.

For technical interviews, make sure to cover the following areas:

• Linear regression
• Logistic regression
• Statistical analysis
• Data visualization
• Machine learning
• Data structures

The extent of practice can vary according to your experience level.

First-time data scientists, you just need a basic level of programming knowledge and statistical concepts.

Experienced data scientists, you’re probably going to require more technical knowledge. You’ll need to have extensive knowledge of machine learning algorithms and their implementations using programming.

Here’s a quick list of common tools used by data scientists:

1. Python
2. Java
3. NoSQL
4. SQL
5. Excel
6. Tableau

Of course, you’ll have to pick the right tools to practice for your data science interview according to the job description you’ve been provided.

To get started, I’d recommend honing your technical skills using a coding interview prep platform.

I really like using Stratascratch, which will provide you with exposure to common interview questions from big tech companies.

By doing this, you’re likely going to encounter similar questions during your preparation for your technical interview, which is great!

This can help you appear confident and composed during the actual interview! Your answers will sound more polished and thought out too.

Tip #4: Highlight Your Data Science Projects

One way to stand out in a data science interview is to highlight your data science projects. Many hiring managers are data scientists themselves and can’t resist a unique data science project!

This is a great opportunity to showcase the work you have done and demonstrate your skills.

To start with, can publish your projects on these platforms:

1. Your personal blog
2. Your LinkedIn page
3. Your GitHub Repo
4. Your Medium Page

Do include the links to these pages in your resume too! These platforms are a great way to get hiring managers to relook at your application.

Remember – they’re busy and you’ll need all the time you can get for them to look into your application.

When discussing your data science projects with the interviewers, be sure to emphasize the problem you were solving, the data you used, and the results you achieved.

Tip #5: Ask Questions To Show Your Enthusiasm

Asking questions is a great way to show your interest in the company and the data science role.

Prepare a few questions ahead of time and make sure to ask them during the data science interview. This will show that you are truly interested in the position and that you have thought about it carefully.

Tip #6: Follow Up With Your Interview Well

Last but not least, don’t forget to follow up after your data science interview!

This is a great opportunity to thank the interviewer for their time and reiterate your interest in the role. A short thank you email will do the trick.

Tip #7: Seek Out Data Science Mentorship

One of the best ways to prepare for data science interviews is to seek out data science mentorship.

A mentor can provide you with guidance and support as you navigate the data science job market.

They can help you polish your resume, hone your interview skills, and give you insights into the data science industry.

Moreover, they might also point you in the right direction on skills to learn within the industry.

If you don’t have a data science mentor, consider joining a data science mentorship program like Springboard’s.

Alternatively, you can ask a senior colleague at your organization or reach out to someone on LinkedIn to source mentors.

With the right mentorship, I’m certain your data science job search will be accelerated to the next level.

With the help of a data science mentor, you’ll be well on your way to impressing in data science interviews and landing your dream job!

Conclusion

By following these data science interview prep tips, you will be one step closer to breaking into the tech industry as a data scientist!

We hope you found these data science interview preparation tips to be helpful!

Breaking into the data science field is no easy task, but with hard work and dedication, anything is possible.

So don’t wait – start preparing for your data science interview today!

Thanks for reading!

Good luck in landing your dream data science job!