7 Data Science Jobs for Freshers

Data science is one of the most in-demand careers in India and the world. India has the second largest big data analytics talent pool in the world, and there’s expected to be a demand of over 1 million jobs in the country by 2026 [1].

Data scientists collect, analyse, and interpret data to solve complex problems. A data science job encompasses many things, from data analysis to machine learning to data architecture. Your data science career can start in various industries, including technology, e-commerce, finance, healthcare, and working in the growing field of AI. 

Discover eight data science jobs for freshers you can apply for when you graduate, along with tips on applying for and securing a role. 

Do data science companies hire freshers?

With the growing demand for data scientists, many companies hire freshers as they have ambition, enthusiasm, and up-to-date skills from a degree course and are willing to train. As a fresher, you must sell yourself as a top candidate against those with more experience through your resume and portfolio to showcase your relevant skills, self-directed learning, and certifications. 

7 data science jobs for freshers 

Data science is a large field with several specialist roles under this heading. If you study for a degree in data science, computer science, information technology, maths, and statistics, or something similar with a focus on data science, you’ll have several options for potential freshers in data science roles. 

1. Data analyst

Average annual base salary: ₹6,00,000 [2]

Typical education: A bachelor’s degree in maths, statistics, computer science, engineering, or similar, as well as skills in programming. Some roles may require a specific relevant certification, and management-level roles may require a master’s degree. 

Data analysts collect, clean, analyse, and interpret data to present findings that help businesses and organisations make data-driven decisions. They use data visualisation and data modelling to present findings in a way that is easy to understand. 

2. Data scientist

Average annual base salary: ₹12,00,000 [3]

Typical education: A bachelor’s degree in data science, computer science, IT, engineering, maths, or similar. An internship or experience, along with certifications, is helpful. 

As a data scientist, you study data using statistics, data modelling, algorithms, and machine learning tools to find patterns and trends to build insights and solve problems. Data scientists work in various fields, including finance, healthcare, e-commerce, and marketing.

3. Data engineer

Average annual base salary: ₹8,97,500 [4]

Typical education: A degree in data science, software engineering, computer science, maths, statistics, or similar with relevant technical skills such as programming and cloud technologies. 

As a data engineer, you use your analytical and problem-solving skills to develop the infrastructure for using data, such as collecting, storing, and analysing it. You may also build systems to clean data and models to organise and store it. 

4. Data architect

Average annual salary: ₹28,00,000 [5]

Requirements: A bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or similar. Since a data architect is a more senior position, companies will likely expect some experience in entry-level roles. 

As a data architect, you build, secure, and maintain an organisation’s infrastructure and look after the data management framework. You may lead a team of data engineers and data administrators. 

5. Business analyst 

Average annual base salary: ₹8,25,000 [7]

Typical education: A bachelor’s degree in business, finance, maths and statistics, data science, or similar. A master’s degree and relevant certifications can help you advance.

Business analysts use data to help companies develop and increase revenue. In this role, you’ll analyse data to understand competitors and market trends and analyse past performance. You’ll use this to build new structures and systems.

6. Database administrator

Average annual base salary: ₹7,00,000 [8]

Typical education: A bachelor's degree in computer science or similar, with relevant technical knowledge and database experience. 

As a database administrator, you design, maintain, and ensure the security of databases for a business or organisation. You make sure they run effectively, are secure from threats, and people know how to use them. 

7. Machine learning engineer

Average annual base salary: ₹10,75,000 [9]

Typical education: A bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, or similar, as well as technical programming and algorithm design skills. 

As a machine learning engineer, you write programs and design algorithms using data that use automated technology to train computer systems to learn and predict a course of action. Machine learning technology is growing and used in various fields, from healthcare to finance and cybersecurity.

Top companies with data science jobs for freshers 

Freshers' data science roles are available at many companies. Many of these are large technology companies or multinational companies that see the benefit in hiring and developing freshers' skills. Examples include:

• Amazon

• Google

• IBM

• Microsoft

• Infosys

• Accenture

• Deloitte

• KPMG

• Axis Bank

How to get hired as a fresher

While many companies seek to hire freshers, you may compete against more experienced candidates. With this in mind, how you sell yourself and your skills is essential. You need to show an employer the benefits you bring to a role. 

• Brush up your skills: Without years of experience to fall back on, developing the necessary skills for a role in other ways is more important than ever. Think about boot camps, certifications, voluntary roles, self-directed learning (online courses, podcasts, and events), and personal projects to build your technical and workplace skills beyond your degree. 

• Build a portfolio: A portfolio is a way to showcase your work to employers. You can include degree projects, personal projects, work through internships, hackathons, bootcamps, and work on platforms such as GitHub. 

• Write your resume: A resume is essential, and you must make sure it’s tailored to the type of data science job you are applying for. Use appropriate keywords, highlight your achievements, and focus on your relevant skills. 

• Prepare for interviews: As a fresher, you may need more experience with interviews, so make sure you spend time preparing. Research the company, practice common interview questions, and prepare examples of your work.

Getting started with Coursera

You’ll find data science jobs for freshers in many different forms, from data analyst to machine learning engineer to database administrator. Companies that hire freshers typically expect to provide training and know you won’t have much professional experience. Following your degree, you must hone your skills to suit the direction you wish your data science career to take to prove to employers that you have what it takes.

If you’re looking at starting a career in data science, you might consider an online degree course. You can take a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati. To boost your career prospects, you can also take a master’s degree online, such as the Master of Applied Data Science delivered by the University of Michigan. You’ll find both listed on Coursera.

If you already have your degree, consider boosting your skills with Professional Certificates and Specialisations in data science, such as IBM Data Science Professional Certificate, Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, or Applied Data Science with Python Specialisation.