Changing Careers
Any advice on how to switch careers? I’m 4 years into a lending underwriting career and am looking to move into a more data-heavy role. I am not challenged enough by my current position but I lack the experience for most data positions, even with a stats and economics degree.
Where are you located? There should be plenty of job looking for a candidate like this. Maybe stack on a more robust language too, python is becoming dime a dozen
Located in NYC. Which language would be a good one to learn?
Java, it's not a hype language but most system backbones are built on it. Gives you a great understanding of architecture too. NYC you should find a job fast, I'm a CTO in the area. I always recommend Rutgers python/data boot camp to friends... Always get hired if you put in work. Apply for non entry jobs/reach out to managers not HR, your business skill is valuable - anyone can code. Most of my team is like you
Try out the DataCamp Python Data Analyst and Data Scientist courses. Those are both great starting points. After that build a couple free dashboards using Google Data Studio and BigQuery public datasets to put in your portfolio. With that combination you’ll have transferable dashboard and ad-hoc analysis skills to start applying for entry level/junior data analyst positions. I found that those courses are the most applicable in my job as a data analyst.
This is true
Thank you!
Have you looked into structured credit investing? I interviewed with Wellington's CLO investing team some time ago and they were looking for someone with solid credit experience (and python skill was an added bonus). My colleague also interviewed with Bain Capital's CLO investing team and another PE firm's CMBS investing arm and they were looking for someone with credit and python experience. Structured credit tends to be a little more data heavy than traditional corporate credit.
I actually was pretty far into the interview process for a position in structured credit, but they went with the other candidate who specifically had experience with those loans. Maybe I will search for other positions like this, thanks
How do you hear about these positions? I am interested as well, including credit risk roles for AAA investors.
Im in a similar position. CRE is just so simple and boring. I have learned Python and SQL and made a static blog with a few posts showing code and explaining it. Interviewing now. I'd recommend using a Mac for all of the above as Windows will slow you down immensely with all the extra crap you have to do to get various technologies up and running.
Yes I can’t imagine underwriting CRE loans for my whole life, so boring. Did you teach yourself? Any recommendations for where to learn? I have intro knowledge of both python and SQL as well as Java, JavaScript, HTML, and C
I did teach myself. For basics I used Python Crash Course and loved it. Then I used Python for Data Analysis by Wes Mckinney who is the creator of Pandas. But I did too much textbook practice, you learn more by doing/building things. I wanted to pursue Data Science but I feel like after learning some of the mechanics behind it that it is less applicable and exciting than I thought. Not to mention you need a masters in stats/compsci to work on meaningful work. So im hoping to use a data engineer job as a stepping stone for software engineering (practicing leetcode in the meantime while building some neat apps to show off/get hired).