My Blind tech folks and my blind millionaire tech folks, I am a finance guy (CPA, MBA), tired of FP&A, 5 year planning, budget forecasts etc. and I am very interested in tech side of things as I believe it's the future. Actually, I've been interested in tech for 5 years now. I am in my mid 30s and I've completed couple of Data Science certification courses from Coursera and Edx and have basics of Python. I've also completed AI and Machine learning courses from Andrew NG. I want to break into meatier roles in tech in the next 5 years. Do you recommend taking a masters course (online ones available from edx ) or do you suggest I brush up certain coding languages? or do you suggest something else? Please advise, TC: 95k, no RSU, no Bonus, Germany #tech #coding #future
Do a free online course, see if you like it. If you do, enroll in a coding bootcamp and then come work for a Fintech! I know affirm hires bootcamp grads
Thank you. Will enroll for a bootcamp.
If you don’t want to transition to a straight up SWE you can look into what’s called Analytical Lead at Google. They work with sales teams to help present unique insights to clients. Forecasting is still part of the job but not majority.
Thank you. Never knew this. Will check out Analytical Roles.
For web dev try boot camps
Will do. Thank you.
Try to do some coding in your current job, even if it is not required, and during your interviews you tell people you are using this stuff in your job. For example, instead of using excel, use Python, Jupyter notebooks and CSV files to create your forecasts
Thank you. Valuable Insight here.
If you want any tech role, look at Cloud Enginnering/Security/Ops. Too many unfilled roles means a good opportunity for you. If you know enough cloud, you'll get in somewhere.
Thank you. Valuable Insight here.
Happy to help. If you are interested in Security, hmu.
Start building lots of personal projects. Get practice actually making things and get a feel for if it’s something you enjoy doing. And when it’s time to interview, Blind’s gospel is LeetCode.com
I’ve done a couple hundred leetcodes and I didn’t find them useful for any data science OAs. Maybe the math-oriented ones.
Thank you. will check this out.
Kaggle is a good resource for analytics and DS
Thank you. Will check out.
I think those EdX degree programs are a good bet because they’re not expensive (but I hear all higher education in Germany is much cheaper than the US). Combined with an MBA and CPA you should do pretty well. Just be aware that day-to-day data science involves a lot of data wrangling in SQL and Python and is not always about AI/machine learning wizardry.
Thank you. I have basic working knowledge of SQL and Python.
I know this doesn’t answer your question, but if you switch to finance at a tech company you’ll likely double your pay. You’d likely come into FAANGM and make $150-220k depending on experience.
@op is from Germany. I have the impression SWEs in Europe have smaller TC than in US (and @op is considered at most junior at this point). Not saying @op won't be able to make that much eventually, just setting the right initial expectations.
@Payfinmore - Your suggestion is spot on. However, I feel my career progression maybe more with right tech skills than sticking with finance. Maybe something hybrid would be best i.e. use tech skills + finance skills. @Pointless- this is true as well. If i move from finance to tech, i will need to start at the bottom of the pyramid. & yes, I can vouch from my knowledge that salaries in Germany are much lower than the salaries in US or London for similar roles.
There is a basic programming and algorithm course on edx from MIT using python https://www.edx.org/xseries/mitx-computational-thinking-using-python
Thank you. However I have already completed this. And I've couple of similar certificates on R, Python from other Universities thru edx, coursera. Not sure the hiring manager would consider me for tech roles just on the basis of these or similar certificates.
Since you have already done it. So you know the basics. Now using the same programming language learn about web development on pluralsight or udemy. Since you have done python and R learn about Web development using Flask and R-Shiny. Most fintech companies need good business intelligence/analytics people so it’s important for you to know how to project findings. Along with web development learn sql using any database technology. Easiest and widely used will be Microsoft SQL sever or Postgre.