Asking for a friend. New ID: Xcsdg&45 Background: PHD engineering. Uses Matlab regularly and knows light weight Python coding. Currently working for None FAANG tech company (reputable with 30k employees), YOE 3. Current role is performance analyst but only deals with small data sets and only uses Matlab. Regularly does data visualization and presents to program and higher management. Current role is domain knowledge heavy and data light. Current role is quite demanding in terms of focus and engagement, so not possible to coast and prepare during work hours. Current company doesn’t have real data science competence nor does it have DS ambitions. So no chance to move within company to proper DS role. Goal is to transition into E-commerce or social networking company as a proper data scientist. Location NYC metro Blinds tax: Friend: 3 yoe, TC: 115k (100k base 15k bonus 0rsu). Me: 14 yoe TC: 430k (225k base 45k target bonus 160k rsu) Engineering (not SWE) Any suggestion is highly appreciated. #data #dataanalytics #datascience
Too saturated
Is an understatement. It's a blood bath out there especially for DS roles. Every person and their mom wants to be in DS rn. A fresh PhD could have worked well a few years ago, but not anymore. You need a portfolio and real world experience to get into "entry level jobs".
HMU, I am working as Data Science/engineer for faang
Look into something like SharpestMinds or hiring a mentor to up their SWE game and do some actual Python dev. MATLAB is not useful.
I relayed the message to them. It looks very interesting. Have you used Sharpestminds services?
I do paid coaching for data science. I am also a DS mentor on sharpest minds. Happy to answer any questions. DM me
With a PhD in engineering you are 80% on track for a DS because you can adapt and bears harsh feedback (traits from the PhD itself). You just miss the small but deep remaining 20%. Data science is like the scientific method, doing analytics to propose a hypothesis, design an experiment with scientific statistics and finding solutions. What is often missing? Coding and communication. Just work on then on the side. For code, maybe use kaggle and some CS stuff. For communication, just exposed yourself to business non-technical folks in your company. You’ll be fine down the road (used to mentor folks in this situation)
Thanks for the advice! It is very helpful Gathering from all comments under this topic, I think what they are really missing is coding. Their current role is very communication and influence based. I would say it is substantially more immersive than normal engineering roles. This is due to the nature of the business their company is in. They really need to sharpen Python skills seems like. And everything else you said about PhD background is spot on as well.
Python, python, python, some gitlab portfolio stuff and they’re good.
What are you that’s in engineering but not swe? PE?
EE. Op is me, changed ID
haha sorry but do you mean electrical or enterprise? The former is super interesting to me, that would be awesome tc as an elec eng
Get into a non-reputable company doing DS, then move up the ladder (within company, or move to better company).
Makes sense. I think this route is a lot less resistance than targeting FAANG directly. They have friends who got into Instagram DS team are struggling.
Is your friend in UK?
No US,NYC
Insight data science is good for PhD transitioning to data science
Isn't that program really hard to get into? When I looked, acceptance was ~3%.
It's not free anymore.
"It depends" The number one thing to consider with people like your friend, the stereotypical "Astrophysicist without a comp sci background who hates their job and wants to get into DS because of the hype," is how much they know about the DS hustle. Do they know their stuff, know that DS career often involves a significant amount of "influencing" to get work across the line? Are they across how tricky it is to get the software engineering ducks in a row, are they across the actual data science part? Data science is a really tricky field to break into at the best of times because it's being bum rushed by people exactly like your buddy. I'd diagnose what their plan for the career transition is before deciding. I would strongly consider finding an interim role where they're not using MATLAB, since MATLAB is a career dead end, and joining a WLB snooze fest firm with an appropriate tech stack where they have time to prep. Then be a TeamBlind snake, leave after 6 months with a gig at FAANG or another chase company, burn the bridge and leave it off the resume.
Tl;dr screw MATLAB, gotta bounce asap. You have to use code as your tool of choice, every day, for career growth. Figure out the rest with that in mind.
Thank a lot. It is a lot to take in and I will relay the message. They have connections in DS world (a few friends from college days who converted) so they have some second hand knowledge about how working as a DS is like. Their current role is very heavy towards influence and stakeholder management, which their current company is very heavy on and does very well. At the same time a lot of things you said make a lot of sense to me. Such as don’t get into the field with assumptions and hype. Also the suggestion of getting out of Matlab world makes a lot of sense to me as well. Greatly appreciate your help.