
**No, thank you for reading.**

*“Hiding within those mounds of data is knowledge that could change the life of a patient, or change the world.” — Atul Butte, Stanford University*

In combating the coronavirus pandemic, big data has been invaluable in understanding patterns in the spread of the virus. It has also helped track the virus in populations, even down to the level of cities and neighborhoods. In addition, big data has assisted with strategic planning and decision-making to predict and anticipate future pandemics.

The coronavirus pandemic accelerated the growth of a lot of digital processes. As a result, several businesses worldwide have been forced to quickly ramp up their digital strategies to survive the new world of virtual business. This acceleration has also led to a further explosion in big data, its usage, and how value can be derived to help businesses forge ahead in this post-pandemic world.


**What exactly is big data?**

To define big data, we need to understand what data is. Data are units of information, often numeric, that are collected through observation. Big data refers to data that is huge in volume yet increases exponentially with time. It is generated on an enormous scale, and it can’t be stored or processed by any traditional data storage or processing units. Big data can be characterized as data with the following features; volume, variety, and velocity.

Data has been defined as the resource that will power the internet economy, power the future, power our lives. It’s why people say the more data you have, the more powerful you are. In some ways, I agree with this. I think the scale of data over the next decades will be one of our most important resources.

**What value does big data bring right now?**

What makes big data valuable is that it is data about different things. It isn’t just that it is made up of numbers; it’s data about human behavior, it’s data about our health history, it’s data about our spending patterns, it’s data about our daily lives.

Before the big data era, businesses assigned relatively low value to the data they collected that did not have immediate value. With the big data era, this investment in collecting and storing data for its potential future value changed. As a result, businesses made a conscious effort to keep every potential type of data. With big data, businesses can now predict their customers' needs, behavioral patterns, pain points, and future complaints. The implications are huge.

Netflix used big data to design the success of the popular show “House of Cards.” Massive amounts of user data collected over the years were used to drive the show's creative direction. So strong was their confidence in the show’s success that they signed off on 2 seasons before the pilot episode. A $100 million vote of confidence because of big data.

Financial institutions still depend on the credit score, credit history, revenue, and banking transactions of users to determine whether they are creditworthy. This is exactly where big data can help, as its application goes far beyond the user's data. For example, loan decision systems are taking help from machine learning to observe the patterns and behaviors that help financial institutions to determine whether a user can really be a good credit customer or not. As a result, big data and machine learning make credit decision systems more accurate and reliable.

**How will businesses thrive in this new world?**

For the third consecutive year, investment in data and AI initiatives has been nearly universal, with 99% of firms reporting investment in data and AI, according to findings from a newly released executive survey from NewVantage Partners.

How will businesses thrive in this new world? By strategically investing in big data and also better data. Data is the raw material of artificial intelligence and machine learning. It is the connective tissue of any digital organization. For big data to deliver value, it needs to be usable; data quality is essential. Businesses need clean, machine-digestible data labeled to train machine learning models with the help of subject matter experts. They require a data storage infrastructure that transcends functional silos within the business and can deliver data quickly and efficiently.

The use of big data has accelerated since the onset of the global pandemic, and there are several lessons to be drawn from the coronavirus pandemic. Perhaps, one of the most critical is the importance of using data to prepare for potential scenarios and enhance our decision-making.
![Example Image](https://www.pexels.com/photo/round-grey-and-black-compass-1736222/)

Businesses seek data-driven insights to advance decision-making at all levels.

Big Data and its Impact in the Post Pandemic World


**No, thanks for reading.**

Joking aside, you do not need a degree to be a web developer for the majority of jobs out there. There will be a few that want a web developer / software engineer with a degree in computer science or related field but more often than not, most companies will be looking at your skills that you can showcase as part of a portfolio than a degree paper that says you attended for 3 years.

## I have a degree in web development

I actually have a degree in Web Technologies but only because I had no idea what I wanted to do when leaving school/college. I originally went to University studying Multimedia as I liked using photoshop but once I discovered web development in my first year I switched degrees and never looked back. Would I do the same in hind-sight? No.

## With hindsight I wouldn't have spent the time/money to get a University degree

Before going to University (2012) I never really knew web development existed, let alone it could be a career funnily enough. If I were thinking about getting into web development now there is no way I would go to University (unless I wanted to get into academia or wanted to live that student life). The takeaway I got from University was that I had a portfolio and this is what helped me land a job straight out of University and not a degree certificate saying I attended for 3 years. My advice to you reading this and my previous self would be to either self teach and build a portfolio or go to a bootcamp and build a portfolio.

## Self teach + build portfolio

If you don't really have the money or time to attend a bootcamp then self teaching is a great way to get into web development. You will need to be self motivated, disciplined and ready to work hard as this isn't the easiest approach. To be able to land a job I would recommend you need to learn the fundamentals of HTML, CSS, JavaScript (also an understanding of frameworks like React or Vue.js). Don’t try and fast track/skip this part, it is so crucial to really understand what is going on and why as it will help interview better and lead to faster growth in the long run. Once you understand the basics you should create your own personal website and create multiple different projects showcasing you know how to use HTML, CSS, JavaScript as this will really help you land that first job.

## Bootcamp + build portfolio

If you have the money or are open to financing then a bootcamp is an absolute no brainer in my opinion. Most of these bootcamps are structured to help you land your first job and often have connections to get you interviews. This is the route I would take if I knew I wanted to be a web developer today as once you complete the bootcamp you will have gained technical experience, built projects and worked within a team environment. These are super valuable skills when you're looking for your first job in web development. A bootcamp will be there to give you support so you overcome the important obstacles early on, quicker.

## Summary

You do not need a degree to become a Web Developer, it can help but there are more time and cost effective ways such as self teaching or attending a bootcamp. In my opinion the best way to become a Web Developer in 2022 is to invest in a bootcamp and after 3-6 months you will be able to land your first junior developer position.

If you are looking to start a career in Web Development or are a Junior Developer looking for a mentor, feel free to reach out via socials and I will help you achieve your goals by using my experience to help guide you.

Do you need a Degree to be a Web Developer in 2022?

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Hi, I'm Jindu 👋

I'm a data scientist, data analyst, and writer.

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Big Data and its Impact in the Post Pandemic World

Do you need a Degree to be a Web Developer in 2022?