Hard time finding ML jobs in FAANG
I feel stuck in my job. Changing jobs is one option. I am thinking joining full time grad school (again) to study detailed ML course. Dont want to part time school. Plus i like to pursue detailed research oriented coursework. Have any sde's successfully done that in blind community? Great ML opportunities in FAANG seem to be going to fresh MS/PhD grads specializing in ML. And experienced sde's around me seem to be stuck in a rut. Some non-degree side courses in ML haven't helped me so far with interviews for ML positions in FAANG and tier 1 software employers. Yoe 3 Tc 160k
Exactly in the same scenario. However due to my visa issues I cannot change jobs and my employer won’t even give me a raise. Looking for jobs outside US and the market is much worse
ML projects are usually bad for your career development. There are considerably more uncertainty involved in many of them. This means you can easily fail when everything you did is perfect. Such situation are far more rarely in other engineering projects, be it product or infra centric. On the other hand, say your project was successful, the reward for you is not much bigger than non ML projects, if bigger at all. Besides, ML projects are usually more involved, they are not necessarily more advanced technology, just more tedious and harder. Data is way harder to debug than logic. If you are interested in the technology, just learn it. If you want it help you to grow, it’s unlikely to happen.
Said the guy who was against innovation because it was too risky.
I would suggest either go all-in and pursue an ML masters/PhD, or focus on getting a better job at what you’re already good at. Software engineering is such a huge field, if you don’t like your current job, learn a new programming language/environment that you enjoy, work on some side projects, and get a new job that uses it! And of course you won’t be able to get a FAANG ML job after taking some online course. That’s like expecting to get a job at Facebook after completing some coding bootcamp. ML is a highly advanced subject, it can take years to get good at it. Either give the subject the time and respect it deserves or don’t bother.
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I don’t understand why ml is considered to be such a big deal. Why not continue to work the way you are or prepare for regular swe roles in other companies. Ml won’t take away our jobs. And it is not mandatory to have ml skill set. It is just a buzz
What do you want to achieve as a long term goal that your current trajectoey does not support? I don't suggest going back to school to study ML, because ML is the cool new thing. Do it only if it helps you achieve goals. If your reasons are TC related, there are many high paying none-ML SWE roles. Remember you lose YOE of all the grad school years.. be wise
Get ML experience outside FANG, then apply to FANG
This is the best way if you're really into ML.
Also you're 3 years ahead of fresh ms/PhD grads in terms of programming. They cannot code and this is very bad. So just do some side projects with ML and you're good to get hired
Get into FANG as s/w engg, demonstrate good applied knowledge of ML in side projects or hackathons or office projects and then start changing teams wisely to reach a team you like..Just like gradient descent tries to do. Don't get stuck in local minima for too long.
I honestly don’t think another grad degree is what you need. 3 yoe is not that much where you should just be landing ML jobs at FANG left and right. Keep working hard. Get jobs at companies that are doing interesting ML work. Try to get good ML projects on these teams. Keep studying on the side and you will be ok