[Career advice] Machine learning jobs

post by outlier · 2011-05-31T09:27:20.419Z · LW · GW · Legacy · 9 comments

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9 comments

I'm about to get my masters degree in computer science. I've been interested in AI for a few years, studying mathematics and machine learning. I'm pretty sure that I would like to work as machine learning specialist. The question I have for you is: how do I do that?

I live in Szczecin, Poland. It's just 150km from Berlin and I am willing to move there if necessary. My current plan is:

I'm still unsure if I should get phd. I don't know if machine learning jobs are common in private sector, but I think they will be in near future (am I wrong about this?). What do you think?

9 comments

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comment by XiXiDu · 2011-05-31T10:16:51.887Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Learn German in Berlin? I know that many people here who want to learn French or Spanish do it by moving to France or Spain to work or study there.

Given your qualification you will very likely be able to earn money in Berlin without speaking any German. And everything else won't be a problem either, since you speak English.

Also see here. Sounds a bit weird, since as someone from Poland you won't need any "integration" assistance, but those courses are free, or very cheap, and help you to learn German. And as a citizen of the European Union you are not obliged to anything, so you can leave if you don't like it.

Replies from: XFrequentist, outlier
↑ comment by XFrequentist · 2011-05-31T14:40:07.617Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Seconded; move to Germany to learn German, not the reverse.

I spent torturous years studying French in school, had tutors, went to camps, and still spoke embarrassing broken anglo French. One semester living in France (studying Biostatistics, not French) and I'm comfortably fluent.

Note: This is about language learning only. I don't know enough to comment on the other aspects of your decision.

↑ comment by outlier · 2011-05-31T10:46:29.613Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I know German good enough to communicate (I make a lot of mistakes though). It's not the main factor holding me from moving there right away. The reason I'm planning to work as Java programmer in Poland is to earn some money. I will need it to rent a living place and survive first months before i find a job.

Replies from: rwallace
↑ comment by rwallace · 2011-05-31T11:58:16.488Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

On the bright side, you can start your search for a job in Berlin, from Poland; you don't need to wait until you've moved there. I'd recommend going ahead and making phone calls or sending e-mail to potential employers and recruiting agencies immediately, in parallel with your current plans.

comment by [deleted] · 2011-05-31T11:11:19.378Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I kind of don't understand why people would want to move to germany. Maybe it's just a grass-on-the-other-side kind of thing, but my impression is that germany is falling behind rather quickly. For IT related stuff, I'd say Luxembourg is the place to go in Europe.

Replies from: rhollerith_dot_com, outlier
↑ comment by RHollerith (rhollerith_dot_com) · 2011-05-31T14:57:51.160Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

my impression is that germany is falling behind rather quickly.

To help us decide how much weight to assign to that impression, please tell us whether you've lived in Germany and whether you've worked in IT in Germany.

Replies from: None
↑ comment by [deleted] · 2011-06-01T11:48:42.842Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I am german and working in IT, that's why, on second thought, I guess my initial assessment was based on availability bias. I have no direct comparison.

Replies from: rhollerith_dot_com
↑ comment by RHollerith (rhollerith_dot_com) · 2011-06-01T12:13:17.873Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I guess my initial assessment was based on availability bias. I have no direct comparison.

I take your assessment seriously even though you have not lived or worked in a country other than Germany. (I cannot explain why, but I do.)

↑ comment by outlier · 2011-05-31T11:19:09.742Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I live in Poland, so the grass is really more green on the other side (or at least it gets 3-4 times more water ;)). I also want to keep in touch with my friends and family and Berlin is within 2h car trip, so I could come back for a weekend once in a while.