I think it's harder but still feasible to obtain a job in data science, after the first job things will roll a lot quicker. What a self-taught DS would need to

I think it's harder but still feasible to obtain a job in data science, after the first job things will roll a lot quicker. What a self-taught DS would need to do in order for me to feel comfortable hiring them is have a public body of work that I find impressive. There are a huge number of publicly available datasets packed full of interesting information. Someone that shows they can do the work with a few findings on their github would be equivalent to a degree on a resume.