Going back to tech

Hi guys,

I have a degree in ML from tier 1 uni, I’ve been working in finance for 2 years but I want to go back to ML because that is what I’m truly passionate about. I applied for PhDs and tried to lateral to ML in my current company but was rejected everywhere. Feedback is usually that because I worked at a PE megafund I am just supposed to do finance for the rest of my life and stop chasing crazy dream to become ML Research Scientist.

Anyone ever felt this way or managed to make a move?

Thank you!

6 Comments
 

Exact same boat as you, and curious to see replies… we really messed up choosing industry haha!!

 

I’m not an expert but I heard a significant amount of students/experienced professionals with ZERO coding experiences or no Computer Science degree finally got software engineering jobs through some coding boot camps or some master programs ( from Northern East University perhaps).

Despite that they did that mostly in 2020-2021 when demand in tech pulled forward, I think there are definitely ways to switch. Maybe not DIRECTLY from finance to tech especially when plenty tech workers are laid off now.

 

99% of those bootcampers went for frontend roles ( building UIs or some unimportant internal apps ). ML is different ballgame. If you look at the MLE job postings from reputable tech companies, the requirement is master minimum + PhD preferred + paper publications + top internship + github side projects + expertise in both mathematics and coding …. And even with these ridiculous requirements, thousands of people applied in several hours. That being said, a top PhD can get OP foot in the door but competition will be INSANE.

 

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