When you’re searching for a data job you want your resume to shine. And while tailoring yours to the job description is a good way to go, you know you’re not the only person who’ll do that. Having experience in a data job is ideal, of course, but not everyone has time for a data-specific job or internship.
Well, one great way to get a jump on the competition is by completing a Forage data job simulation. You’ll get to see what it’s like to work in the field, strengthen your skills, and show the recruiter or hiring manager that you’re the right person for the job. Here’s everything you need to know about data job simulations.
Why Should I Enroll in Data Job Simulation?
Completing a data job simulation is an opportunity to experience what it’s like working in a data job — whether that’s data science, data visualization, or as a data analyst — before committing to something larger (like an internship). You’ll complete several typical tasks that someone working in data science might complete in an average day.
As you work through the tasks, not only will you get a feel for what it’s like to work in data science, you’ll also build practical skills you’ll need on the job. For example, you’ve probably analyzed data sets and presented your findings for a class. But the types of analyses and presentations you do for school are very different from those you do in a business setting. Job simulations let you experience the difference.
And while you aren’t graded on this job simulation (which also means no homework, quizzes, or tests!) completing a data job simulation is a lot like doing extra credit. Finishing one demonstrates to employers that you’re motivated, curious, and dedicated to learning all you can about data science career paths.
When you finish a data job simulation, you’ll get a certificate for your LinkedIn profile and resume. You’ll also get a resume snippet you can use as a template for describing what you accomplished during the data job simulation. In addition, we’ll give you tips and tricks for talking about each data job simulation in an interview.
>>MORE: 5 Ways to Leverage Forage for Career Success
Top Data Job Simulations
Below are Forage’s data job simulations listed alphabetically by company. While each data job simulation has between two and six tasks, within each task, you may have to complete multiple steps. Some of those steps are the background information and details of the entire task, and other steps may be a quiz or place to upload your work.
1. BCG X Data Science
Number of tasks: 4
Time to complete: 6 to 7 hours
>>MORE: Learn what it’s like working at BCG.
Discover what it’s like to work as a “BCGer” in BCG’s Data Science job simulation. You’ll tackle and solve real-world problems as part of the BCG X data science team and learn how companies like BCG X use data science to transform outcomes and improve performance. By the end of the simulation you’ll have learned how to balance your customer’s desires with the viability and feasibility of implementing a solution.
Skills you’ll build:
- Strategy consulting
- Data visualization
- Exploratory data analysis
- Hypothesis framing
Task One
In the first task, you’ll learn how to frame hypotheses in the context of solving business problems. You’ll meet your new client, and explore what problem they’re trying to solve. Then, you’ll decide what data to analyze to get to the bottom of things and write a proposal to your supervisor explaining why you’re using this approach.
Task Two
In task two you’ll conduct exploratory data analysis using Python to determine whether or not price changes are causing customers to leave your client. Once you’ve completed the data analysis, you’ll create several data visualizations to help you interpret what the data says.
Task Three
In the third task, you’ll evaluate how well your model is performing. You’ll learn how feature engineering is used to test hypotheses, then use Python to build a new feature for your analysis. You’ll also analyze the data to find trends and predict how likely it is a customer will leave your client.
Task Four
In the last task, you’ll build a predictive model using the random forest technique to predict probable customer churn and write an executive summary of your findings.
2. British Airways Data Science
Number of tasks: 2
Time to complete: 3 to 4 hours
>>British Airways is the largest international airlines in the UK.
In the British Airways Data Science data job simulation, you’ll learn how companies like BA use the breadth and depth of their data across all business areas to solve business problems. In this data job simulation, you’ll flex your data analysis skills and help the company learn more about their customers and what they’re looking for in an airline.
Skills you’ll build:
- Web scraping
- Python
- Data manipulation
- Machine learning
Task 1
In the first task, you’ll help the team learn more about what customers think about the airline. You’ll have to scrape, clean, and analyze third party data and use that to uncover new insights that can help the team make data-driven decisions.
Task 2
In the second task, you’ll use the same dataset to build a predictive model to help the airline forecast how many seats they’ll sell during the holiday travel season. You’ll prepare your data, train a predictive model, then present your findings to the executive team.
3. Commonwealth Bank Introduction to Data Science
Number of tasks: 4
Time to complete: 3 to 4 hours
>>Commonwealth Bank is an Australian bank that provides integrated financial services.
In the Commonwealth Bank Introduction to Data Science data job simulation, you’ll experience what it’s like to work on the data science team at Commonwealth Bank. Working with a large dataset, you’ll learn how to aggregate, analyze, and anonymize it then explore ways to leverage social media for additional insights.
Skills you’ll build
- Statistics
- Working with unstructured data
- Data set schema
- APIs
Task One
In the first task, you’ll create a data engineering pipeline for a data set. This will help you understand the importance of data engineering and analysis in a long term vision. You’ll analyze a supermarket’s data set, document your process, and answer key business questions.
Task Two
The next task stresses the importance of anonymizing data. In addition to learning why it’s important, you’ll discover different techniques to anonymize data while preserving the important parts and learn more about attacks on anonymous data. Then you’ll anonymize a data set using some of those techniques.
Task Three
The third task teaches you how to leverage insights using social media data. Using CommBank’s X (formerly known as Twitter) account, you’ll learn how to extract data from an API, learn the difference between structured and unstructured data, and create a proposal for something?
Task Four
In the last task, you’ll learn how to design a database with an emphasis on reducing redundancy and ensuring data integrity. You’ll then propose a structured database for storing tweets from the Commbank X account, including defining tables, fields, keys, and relationships. You’ll also create a database structure.
4. PwC Switzerland Digital Intelligence
Number of tasks: 6
Time to complete: 8 to 9 hours
>>MORE: Learn about working at PwC.
In the PwC Digital Intelligence data job simulation, you’ll help engineer company-wide change. You’ll be charged with creating and implementing changes based on your data analysis, and you’ll learn how PwC uses technology and data to power change management and produce real-time insights.
Skills you’ll build
- Classification modeling
- Defining data strategy
- Modeling
- Predicting
Task 1
You’ll start with an introduction to the data job simulation, which explains why organizations value data-driven decision-making and explores some of the ethical concerns using data and artificial intelligence.
Task 2
The second task is more hands-on. In this task, you’ll build a Python classification model and analyze which features impact the model’s decisions. Then you’ll create a visualization and explain your findings.
Task 3
The next task focuses on quant financial modeling. You’ll value the loan portfolio of an e-commerce company by creating a valuation document analyzing historical data. Then, you’ll calculate repayment rates, forecast cash flow, and find the portfolio present value.
Task 4
Task four is all about strategizing. You’ll learn why businesses prioritize data and data strategy in their planning. Then, you’ll learn how to develop a data strategy and collaborate with team members to create one for a client.
Task 5
The next task focuses on predictive healthcare. You’ll analyze and compare the adverse effects of pain medications then suggest what else should be investigated based on your findings.
Task 6
In the final task, you’ll predict damage risks at waste management sites. You’ll learn more about predictive modeling for insurance, calculating aggregate claims, and how to find the value at risk (VaR). Once you’ve run your analysis, you’ll suggest ways to enhance and improve the model.
5. PwC Switzerland Power BI
Number of tasks: 4
Time to complete: 5 to 6 hours
In the PwC Power BI data job simulation you’ll help your client solve a business problem using PowerBI. Working with a telecom company, you’ll explore the data to help your client discover new insights about the customers and employees. Then you’ll design a PowerBI dashboard to help your client identify when clients and employees are most at risk of leaving the company.
Skills you’ll build:
- Data cleaning
- Data wrangling
- Data visualization
- Defining KPIs
Task 1
The first task is a self-reflection exercise for you to explore what you want from a data career. You’ll learn about PwC’s digital accelerator program and why it’s critical for companies to embrace digital change and make data-driven decisions.
Task 2
In the second task, you’ll study and analyze the behaviors of customers and agents in a call center for your client, who wants to track specific key product indicators (KPIs) and other metrics. You’ll use PowerBI to create the relevant dashboard and data visualization to help predict which clients and employees might be thinking about leaving the company.
Task 3
Task three focuses on customer retention. This time, it’s up to you to define the KPIs and create the relevant dashboard. Then, you’ll draft an email that explains your findings and why the existing dashboard needs to be changed.
Task 4
In the final task, you’ll help HR better understand how they’re performing against benchmarks in DEI. You’ll help define the appropriate KPIs, create the dashboard, and then identify possible explanations for why certain goals aren’t being achieved.
6. Quantium Data Analytics
Number of tasks: 3
Time to complete: 4 to 5 hours
>>Quantium is an Australian data science and artificial intelligence company.
In the Quantium Data Analytics data job simulation you’ll learn how to leverage data to discover new possibilities for your clients. You’ll learn how your insights can help your clients make data-driven decisions and provide them with actionable information.
Skills you’ll build
- Data analytics
- Software engineering
- Statistical testing
- Commercial thinking
Task 1
In the first task, you’ll analyze your client’s dataset to identify customer behaviors and provide strategy recommendations. You’ll find trends and inconsistencies, develop metrics to better understand sales performance, and create visualizations that best represent your recommendations.
Task 2
Building on your analysis from task one, in task two, you’ll identify the best-performing stores and use them to test the impact of new store layouts on customer sales. You’ll define metrics to select control and experimental stores and use R/Python to analyze the data and visualize the findings.
Task 3
Finally, you’ll take everything you’ve done in the previous tasks and use them to prepare a report that incorporates your visualizations, insights, and recommendations.
7. Tata Data Visualization: Empowering Business With Effective Insights
Number of tasks: 4
Time to complete: 3 to 4 hours
>>The Tata Group is an Indian conglomerate that provides services in everything from aerospace to tourism.
In the Tata Data Visualization data job simulation, you’ll learn how Tata tries to make sense of the “mountain of data” that’s generated everyday. Working as a data visualization analyst, you’ll use predictive analytics and machine learning algorithms to address the needs of various stakeholders.
Skills you’ll build:
- Storytelling
- Data cleanup
- Charts and graphs
- Visual basics
Task 1
In the first task, you’ll learn how to anticipate questions company leaders may ask. To prepare for a meeting with the CEO and CMO, you’ll create some questions you think they’ll ask to help you better understand and anticipate how the company uses your data and insights.
Task 2
Task two teaches you how to translate data into action and communicate your findings clearly and concisely. You’ll learn which visuals are more effective and impactful than others in certain situations.
Task 3
Next, you’ll use Tableau or PowerBI to create data visualizations that answer specific questions the CEO and CMO asked.
Task 4
Lastly, you’ll create and upload a video presentation for the CEO and CMO to explain your findings.
What’s the Best Job Simulation for You?
Enrolling in one of these free data job simulations can help you build the practical skills you’ll need and jumpstart your data career. But if you’re not sure data is the right career for you, consider one of our other job simulations. We have hundreds of job simulations in all kinds of industries. Check them out today!
Image credit: Canva
