[gambler]

Managers frequently wail about skill shortages, but very often it's pure hypocrisy. The real problem is the reluctance to do any training (and I don't mean formal training) combined with the desire to get proven experts in whatever field. Proven experts must have years of experience in applying their expertise. If no one lets people with less experience to work in that field, where the hell would those experts appear from? Another dimension?

Can I be a 80% developer and 20% "data scientist" in your company to try the new role out? The bigger your company is, the less likely the answer to be a "yes". Since Big Data implies a big company, the resulting "shortage" is not surprising. It's self-made.

[ImprovedSilence]

True statement. It seems the trend now days is "get a grad degree, foot the bill and time yourself". Many companies I see and work with tend towards that mentality, as opposed to building a base of highly skilled workers on from the inside. It's easier and cheaper for a company to ask if you have a piece of paper, than for them to train you and get you up to speed.

[paulsutter]

Companies looking for "proven experts" are working on yesterday's problem. Find a better employer. Move somewhere with more choices if you need to.