Work profile of a statistician : The Tribune India

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Q.I want to go in for master’s in statistics. What will be the job prospects after that? — Radhika Arora

A.Statisticians help determine sampling and data collection methods; monitor the study and processing of data, and advice on the strengths and limitations of the results. They must understand the nature of uncertainties and be able to draw conclusions in the context of particular statistical applications.

Surveys: Survey statisticians collect information from a carefully specified sample and extend the results to an entire population. Sample surveys might be used to:

Determine which political candidate is more popular; Discover what foods teenagers prefer for breakfast; Estimate the number of children living in a given district etc

Government: Government statisticians conduct experiments to aid in the development of public policy and social programs. Such experiments include:

Consumer prices, Fluctuations in the economy, Employment patterns, Population trends

Statistical Investigators Grade III are recruited by the Staff Selection Commission (www.ssc.nic.in) through a competitive exam. Eligibility: Master’s degree in (Statistics / Maths / Economics).

Scientific Research: Statistical sciences are used to enhance the validity of inferences in:

Radiocarbon dating to estimate the risk of earthquakes
Clinical trials to investigate the effectiveness of new treatments
Field experiments to evaluate irrigation methods
Psychological tests to study how we reach the everyday decisions in our lives
Business & Industry: Statisticians quantify unknowns in order to optimise resources. They:
Predict the demand for products and services
Check the quality of items manufactured in a facility
Manage investmentportfolios

Forecast how much risk activities entail, and calculate fair and competitive insurance rates.

What more you could be doing after your Master's in Statistics? Plenty. Besides becoming a Lecturer after clearing the NET, you can work as a Research Analyst, Associate Analyst / Business Analyst in various sectors like Agricultural Research, Banking and Insurance, Financial Institutions, Statistical Research Organizations.

In the age of Big Data, Data Scientists are in great demand today. They essentially analyse data for business insights. Compared to traditional business analysts, they don’t restrict analysis to data from a single source, but instead, sift through data from multiple sources, discovering hidden insights that can favourably influence a business. Besides expertise in statistics/ maths, they are adept at computing technology, social sciences and business.

Is it possible to make it to DU without coaching?

Q.I will be taking my Board exams this year. I’m very keen to do my BBE from Delhi University. I have not taken any coaching so far. What are my chances? — Tushar Rathod

A.Unlike BBS & BFIA, BBA is offered in a larger number of DU colleges. While coaching may help it’s certainly not an essential prerequisite. You can pick up a couple of prep guides after your Boards or join a crash course, if you must. Earlier that’s what most applicants did. However, this year, you may get a much shorter window. Unlike the last week of May, the admission process for Delhi University is expected to begin earlier than usual for the upcoming academic session – as early as the first week of April.

Guidelines are being framed for making the process more streamlined and easier for students. Computer-based online tests, addressing issues related to ‘moderation’ of marks by various State Boards (to prevent sky-rocketing cut-offs), forensic verification of certificates etc and stronger grievance redressal mechanisms are being set in place. Focus on your Boards for now but do keep an eye on the DU website: www.du.ac.in for further updates. Best of luck!