Mindless Interview Questions From Real Data Science Job Interviews

Ambiguity into Opportunity: Strategies for Open-Ended Data Science Questions

Adam Ross Nelson
14 min readDec 23, 2023

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As you read below you might think, are these questions for real? And, I promise you, they are.

Embarking on a job search in the field of data science can be a journey filled with mixed emotions. For many mid- and late-career professionals, including those in data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or advanced analytics, facing a job interview can be particularly daunting.

It’s not always the complexity of technical questions that poses the biggest challenge, but rather the simplicity and generality of some queries. These questions, often lacking in specificity, can leave even the most established professionals perplexed and searching for an appropriate response.

Three data science bootcamp classrooms with students at desks.
Image Credit: Author’s illustration created in Canva.

As a career coach and data science bootcamp instructor, I have a unique vantage point on the intersection of career development and technical expertise in the field of data science. Every day, I engage with established professionals who are either entering or leveling up in the world of data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or advanced analytics. This exposure grants me insight into the various challenges and opportunities that arise…

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Adam Ross Nelson

Ask about my free career course. I mentor new (💫) and aspiring data scientists enter (🚪) and level up (📈) in the field.