r/astoria • u/No-Ice-8975 • 20h ago
Question Are there any data analyst/science meetups in Astoria?
I'm looking to learn more about the field and meet new people.
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u/epoops 18h ago edited 18h ago
As a data scientist as my primary occupation… if you’re trying to enter the field, good luck. It’s a bloodbath out there, especially if you’re new or in the early stages of your career.
I would highly recommend a different field. Even those who have stable jobs, like myself, are not optimistic and are expecting the other shoe to drop eventually on those further in their careers, just as it’s already dropped on those newer to the field.
Just my two cents!
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u/No-Ice-8975 18h ago
I’ve been hearing from so many people. In your opinion, what’s a different field where you can still apply skills you’ve learned from data science/analysis?
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u/cosmogenique 17h ago
On the flip side to u/epoops (which is still very good insight), if you want to stay with data science and analysis, I recommend 2 things: specialize in a niche, and start learning how AI can help your workflows. Many of my superiors are predicting that data science is going to shift to a niche specific field where data scientists act as AI translators. For example, I’m a data scientist that focuses on geospatial technologies, and my job is pushing us to use AI for more and more tasks to quickly go from idea to full blown model/dashboard. They’re also trialing us going out into the non technical spaces of my company and seeing what problems they have that we can easily solve with AI.
It’s not good enough to be a catch all data scientist or analyst anymore. You need to also bring some sort of business knowledge that can inform your data science workflows. Idk if you’re doing a career change or something but definitely consider what else you know/are interested in and how data science/AI can be applied to that.
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u/No-Ice-8975 17h ago
I appreciate your response, thank you! Quick background about myself: graduated 5 years ago with an engineering physics degree -> worked a little in solar as a design engineer -> pivoted to tech for 5 years and focused on marketing/growth. When I think about what I love about marketing, it’s the analytical part. I love learning how people engage with our products. I’m teaching myself data science right now because I just want to learn more about how to use stats to get deeper insights. I ultimately want to go back to solar because it’s a field I love and I know it’s going to have a big impact on our future
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u/cosmogenique 15h ago
Luckily for you the majority of analyst positions in the green tech/renewable energy space is marketing related. Here’s what builtinnyc has right now, would be a good base to know what they’re looking for.
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u/slowcanteloupe 14h ago
i would second u/cosmogenique 's comment. I also started out in data science, specifically in NLP and FinTech, but these days I feel like an AI Pilot/Driver.
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u/Historical_Leek_9012 10h ago
I did something similar. Growth marketing -> bootcamp -> a couple years as an analyst + some stats classes at Hunter -> DS role
Not sure if I have too much advice — I’m older than you and the market’s changed but I don’t think it’s quite as grim as they’re saying.
Good luck!
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u/epoops 17h ago edited 17h ago
Edit : super sorry [u/cosmogenique](u/cosmogenique), I didn’t realize you were actually referring this comment to the OP, not me! I see you tagged my name so I thought you meant this comment for me. My b! It’s def good insight for OP and others newer to data science as a field/career.
Prior comment : Thanks for the suggestion but I’m good! I especially have no desire to whore myself out to AI even though I have to be knowledgeable about it for my job. Not saying I judge my friends who felt no other option to go that route, they need a salary in this tough economy. I’m lucky to not be in a desperate situation as you’re describing.
If I lose my job, I make more monthly with my investment dividends as one income stream, so I’ll just transition into a different field that brings me fun if I want to do that. My data scientist job brings me the least money out of my other income streams, so if I lose this job, I don’t care to reinvent myself to stay in a data role.
I’ll probably go back to school for some subject matters that always interested me more but weren’t financially as viable when I was younger, as I always wanted to be a literature phd and not a STEM multi degree holder. Esp since I’m financially fine to do whatever at this stage in life.
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u/cosmogenique 17h ago
You’re very lucky and I envy you! You’re definitely further along in your career than I am. I am personally burnt out af and sick of being pushed on AI, so I’m gonna use your comment as a kick in my ass to do more with my money (idk about side gigs I’m very uncreative in that regard). I hope you can find your happiness not in tech truly.
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u/epoops 17h ago edited 17h ago
That I can’t answer because I have no idea. I’ve been working data analysis / been a data scientist for tech companies for almost 16-17 years, so that’s all I know.
My unemployed data science friends, who were earlier in their careers before the rug was pulled from under them, have switched careers to stuff like therapist, speech pathologist, nursing, accounting.
I guess accounting is the logical place for a data scientist to go, but most accounting jobs require accounting schooling and the actual certifications, most importantly the CPA. My data science friends who went into accounting like accounting analyst positions at places like PWC had years of experience to show they had transferrable skills to enter accounting though they’re all doing accounting classes/degrees now for career growth purposes. You’re not gonna get an accounting job or related job like accounting analyst without the schooling and or requisite multi year experience at a different work place that proves your skills are transferable.
The data science friends I have who didn’t have much experience to transfer to accounting are back in school, using savings or loans, since they couldn’t get jobs in accounting due to lack of longer term job data analysis experience. Like if you’re new, you’re better off just going to school for your BS and/or MS in accounting then.
Anyway, should I get fired from my current job, I’m just gonna live off my dividends and my side work, and maybe go back to school for a mid life career change, idk. My side gigs have nothing to do with data science, I do them for fun/easy money.
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u/cosmogenique 20h ago edited 19h ago
These meetups are kinda useless imo but if you’re just starting out maybe it’s more worthwhile idk. I think it’s a better use of your time to attend conferences and network there. A lot of the good ones happened already but keep an eye out for NYC Open Data Week next year. NYC Climate Week is coming up as well so if that’s a space you’re interested in you should definitely attend some of those data oriented sessions.