Bridgewater vs NSA vs Amazon
I am graduating from my Master of Data Science program directly after an engineering undergrad. I currently have a Data Associate offer from Bridgewater (TC 125), a Data Scientist offer from Amazon (TC 160), and a Data Science Development Program offer from the NSA (TC 85). I'm not sure where I want to go in my career and am really just looking for a first job that will accelerate my professional journey with regards to knowedge gained, experience had, and opportunities opened. Does anyone have any advice? I am also open to continue job searching. Thank you. YoE: 0 TC: 0 Location: NYC, willing to relocate
100% Amazon
Bridgewater presumably pays the most, so I would go there. NSA sounds cool too to satisfy any curiosity.
The NSA is you spying on your fellow citizens. Why do you want to join all the illegal activities Snowden exposed?
What was it that Google does again?
Don't completely disagree, but people at least can see how Google uses their data and give it voluntarily in exchange for services. I didn't sign a EULA with the NSA, who continually lies to Congress and violates the Constitution.
Go to Amazon hands down. Amazon will open way more doors. No idea about Bridgewater. Your work at the NSA will be more operational and not as research despite whatever you've heard. WLB will be good, but politics and internal advancement is tough. Plus the pay sucks and benefits really aren't that competitive anymore, like we have a fair few former gov/intel agency folks at my job, an FFRDC, and we're not exactly paying well but are somehow an improvement. There's probably a large breadth of work at the NSA, more than at Amazon, but Amazon would teach you more useful skills relative to the tech world as a whole. If for some reason later on you want to go back to the gov or defense world, it'll be easy. There's always a shortage of qualified and smart people who actually want to work in this space. Source: am a data scientist/ML researcher at an FFRDC, have talked to and interviewed with these agencies, am casually looking to move into the tech industry. Edit--feel free to dm or ask if you have more questions about what I wrote.
Amazon, at least you’ll probably learn something useful.
Join the dark side! Well I guess the NSA is dark side too. Join the better paying dark side! RIP government pay.
Amazon, then leave for M$FT in 2 years.
If msft is better, should I apply now?
NSA if you want job security and WLB and govt perks Amazon for career advancement
What are the cities for these offers? I believe that Bridgewater is in westport, CT. It’s a beautiful town, COL isn’t too high. If you want to go to finance, I’d strongly consider Bridgewater as it’s one of the most successful Hedge fund. The culture is better than Amazon.
TC and location? Also add a poll.
Updated 👍
Thanks. Gonna need offer details if possible.