For several women, the time during
their pregnancy is one of overwhelming happiness, and at times, worry. We worry about things like childbirth and not knowing what to do with our baby after he or she is born. Women with careers have an added worry; we think about how this adorable new addition to our family will impact our careers.
One thing that I’ve discovered over the past four years is that having certain skills can reduce uncertainty around our careers. I’m a mom of two little girls and have a career in data that has provided me with the more flexibility and less stress. Below, I outline the three reasons why mothers should consider a career in data science.
Work from home
Working with data may lead to opportunities to work from home, also called working ‘remotely’. This option is becoming more popular driven by the technological advances that allow individuals to communicate efficiently when not working in-person, coupled with the higher costs of renting office space. I’ve been working from home for over four years (ever since my first child was born) and I’m not going back!
The ability to work from home provides several perks. In addition to saving time and money on commute every day, I am also able to spend more time with my children. I am there when they wake up in the morning and we are able to have breakfast together. My oldest, now four, is in pre-school and I’m able to drop her off and pick her up from school; a time I cherish dearly. I found that I’ve been able to increase my focus on work and accomplish more in less time; with the reduced distractions that I normally had in the office.
Job security
We have heard of the three Industrial Revolutions that have impacted mankind: 1. steam and water power, 2. electricity and assembly lines, and 3. computerization. We are on the cusp of the Fourth Industrial Revolution; which is bringing new technologies that are eliminating and transforming some existing jobs and creating new ones. It is predicted that this disruption will have a disproportionate impact on women, slowing and potentially reversing their progress in the workplace.
This revolution is expected to impact all disciplines, industries, and economies. As technology continues to evolve, those with the right skillsets will be in a position to capitalize on opportunities that arise. According to IBM, by 2020, the number of available data science jobs is projected to grow by nearly 364,000 listings to approximately 2.7 million; that’s a 28% increase in demand. Since I’ve started working with data, the number of opportunities that has come my way has increased. I’ve received several job-offers and consulting projects, and have been contacted for speaking opportunities and other exciting prospects.
Get paid well
Financial stability was always important to me. I realized early on that I didn’t want to be financially dependent. Working with data has allowed me to earn enough to be financially secure.
According to Robert Half’s tech guide, the annual base salary of US-based survey respondents is between $109,000 and $153,750. In order to help compare to others.
I’m hoping that this inspires mothers to consider a career as a data scientist. The flexible work location, increased level of job security and competitive compensation is the perfect fit for a busy working mother juggling family, home, career, and other activities.
@noeliagorod 