When you use LinkedIn, Carson Chen \u201915 makes your results better. The senior data scientist researches how to make the best matches possible for companies and job applicants, as well as how to create the best results for LinkedIn\u2019s own engagement and success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After majoring in economics and mathematics at Macalester, Chen spent three years as an economic consultant conducting quantitative analysis for lawyers. Eager for a more long-term position, he became intrigued by doing data science for a product, rather than a client, running experiments that would \u201canticipate what users would do differently with a new version and seeing if it makes a product better.\u201d He earned a master of science in analytics at Northwestern University and started working at LinkedIn in 2020. Chen shared some of the lessons he\u2019s learned in his career journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I graduated, data science wasn\u2019t commonly understood. Now the industry has settled on what data science means and why data scientists are needed, but at that time it wasn\u2019t clear. I really like to explain things quantitatively. I want to see a problem that\u2019s happening, understand it using quantitative methods and logical reasoning, see what\u2019s causing it and what can we do to improve it. That\u2019s what I went for at Mac. As data science became more formalized in institutions, in companies, and in schools, my career path was natural because what I did in math and economics was totally related.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In data science, you need to have intuition to know whether a problem is worth studying or not. Once you start a study, it takes a lot of time. The result may go as you wish or it may go in a totally different direction. People with great foresight know areas of opportunity. This is something I\u2019m still trying to figure out, and it\u2019s not really a science but an art. To work on a problem is difficult, but to know whether a problem should be worked on or not is a next-level thing that can make the most out of your efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my career, I like the approach of thinking \u201cWhat am I?\u201d in terms of my interests, abilities, and past experience. I\u2019ve been very flexible with the directions I can go, but very firm on what type of things I want to do. I wasn\u2019t led by something like, \u201cNow data science is the hottest job and everyone should do it.\u201d I know where my strengths lie and where my interests lie. I\u2019m enjoying the process and enjoying what I\u2019ve been doing. I\u2019ve always been going in the right direction, but I didn\u2019t force myself for the sake of career progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the business world you don\u2019t have maximum time to work on one thing. There is always a stopping point. There may be something you can still explore, but it\u2019s actually a good time to stop because the return on investment to go deeper might not be that great. You can get a final answer, but you can get a 95 percent answer that\u2019s actually going to have the maximum impact with the level of input you have and then embark on another area. This has taken some time for me to realize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a lot of things, half is how well you do it, and half is how well you ensure people understand what you do. Most people don\u2019t get the gist of it, so you need to make sure that is addressed. Always presume that what you have communicated has been under-communicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are just about to graduate, or new to the job market, remember that your career is a long process. I was an international student and finding a job was very difficult and could be depressing. Anticipate the difficulty, but believe that Macalester has set you up for success. Believe in your own ability and passion. The only thing you are lacking is experience, but you can do a lot of things much better than experienced people in the industry. Our education has prepared us for challenges in the workplace. The beginning might be hard, but the future is bright.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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