Every day, organizations are creating more and more data, yet struggling to tap into and ultimately benefit from this vast amount of information due to the lack of talent available in the field. A study from McKinsey found that the U.S. alone could face a shortage of 150,000+ data analysts and an additional 1.5 million data-savvy managers by 2018. And, according to LinkedIn, statistical analysis and data mining were the hottest skills that got recruiters' attention in 2014. Glassdoor ranked data scientist as the number one job to pursue in 2016. Harvard Business Review even called it the sexiest career of the 21st century.

Got your attention yet? For those interested in tapping into this in-demand and potentially lucrative career, there are some best practices to ensure you are set up for success before applying for jobs in the field.