Caitlin MacGregor

I graduated from UCL in 2021 with a degree in Geophysics and was hired to work at a Cloud Engineering Consultant by Kubrick shortly after. I was motivated to pursue a career in data and technology during my master’s project, which foregrounded data processing and analysis as applied to earthquake prediction tools. I decided that I wanted to work in an industry which deployed those skills in a more concentrated, practical way and after researching a number of organisations, Kubrick seemed like the perfect place to build the skills that could turn my aspirations into reality.

During the 15 weeks of training, I helped set up the infrastructure for an internal website and built APIs and web scraping for a leading pharmaceuticals company. I also developed further technical skills as well as project management skills which have been invaluable to my work as a Cloud Engineer.

In my current role, I am creating a data warehouse to enhance the data analysis capacity for my client, driving their efforts to become a more tech-driven company. A typical working day as a Cloud Engineer involves a mixture of concrete problem solving and computing work. It also involves working as part of a team for longer-term planning regarding the incorporation of skills and platforms to make data useful to everyone in the company. Moving forward, I will increasingly work with both new hires and existing employees to help bring them onboard with what I am doing so they understand the value of data science to their role, and the broader company.

Being in a job where you have the opportunity to solve problems and create new solutions for your company is incredibly rewarding. Working in a growing industry can mean that you are the only person who has your skill set which can sometimes be challenging when you are uncertain of what you need to do, but it also gives you the opportunity to rapidly learn on the job, gain new skills and independence, and grow your career.

The biggest lesson I’ve learnt in my career so far is that collaboration is imperative. It’s only possible to get the most out of your technical skills by bringing people with you and working with other people to ensure that the work you do works for everyone. Anyone can change career paths and there are always opportunities to do so; the most important thing is to learn what it is about the industry that you want to move into that you’re interested in, and to take the initiative to reskill and upskill.

Data-driven technology is a rapidly growing and ever-changing industry, and as the importance of technological skills in the workplace so does the skills gap. Most people are not given the computing skills required for the future of work and it is important in the future that both employers and employees move towards increasing those skills. The data industry is rapidly growing, and it is becoming increasingly important for companies to be competitive in the 21st century. However, there is a massive skills gap when it comes to people with data and technological skills, meaning that as we move forward it will become ever more important and valuable for people to train in the areas and to be a part of that work.

For those who already have the relevant skills, I would take an optimistic view that you can take some time to choose a sector that really appeals to you! From using data analysis to better-predict and prevent player injuries in football, to helping Netflix digest their colossal user dataset to drive and target new content, there’s room for a skilled data scientist in just about every industry! For those that are interested - don’t be intimidated! Given the prevalence of the data science skills gap there are so many online resources, and lots of companies will support you to become data-literate, too. If you’re analytical and enjoy practical problem-solving, you can move into this space in such a rich variety of ways.

I would recommend Kubrick as a particularly good option for graduates and junior professionals as it promises great career development opportunities and is equipping its hires with the skills to thrive in a rapidly-expanding industry. It particularly excels by offering paid training to everyone, including those from non-traditional backgrounds, which emphasises how keen it is to make data accessible to all. Personally, I think Kubrick has been an excellent first step in my career and would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone.