Ask HN: How can reset my career while still providing for my family?
4 comments
Are you saying you want to switch into Machine Learning, but you're assuming you'll have to take a significant pay cut? I'm not sure that assumption pans out. If I were you I would start testing that assumption and find out what kind of a salary you can demand as a ML programmer.
You only have two options: 1) find a niche with your current employer that you can exploit to fulfill your interests; or 2) find a job that will do the same.
The first involves less risk and if your employer is enlightened will most likely welcome it because they will be able to leverage your experience and enthusiasm in ways that an outside hire will not.
I've never had an official "machine learning" or "ai" title but I have done 5 machine learning projects for current and past employers by simply demonstrating skills.
The first involves less risk and if your employer is enlightened will most likely welcome it because they will be able to leverage your experience and enthusiasm in ways that an outside hire will not.
I've never had an official "machine learning" or "ai" title but I have done 5 machine learning projects for current and past employers by simply demonstrating skills.
> machine learning and image processing which I find fascinating.
Start attending meet-ups and conferences in this space.
Connect with other attendees (network).
Find out what other people are working on.
Above all, look for the guy in this space who you can best help.
Start attending meet-ups and conferences in this space.
Connect with other attendees (network).
Find out what other people are working on.
Above all, look for the guy in this space who you can best help.
Maybe you can find an application for ML at your current employer. Gain some experience without starting from the bottom.
The common perception among my colleagues is that this is a good as it can get at our age: yes it’s a life-sucking, mind-numbing job but it pays the bills and leaves you some time to watch television at the evenings. I simply can’t accept that this is not the kind of career I’ve signed up for.
I have been spending a significant portion of my free time keeping in pace with the latest developments machine learning and image processing which I find fascinating. It something would have loved doing as my day job. Which brings me to my question:
what should be my escape plan? If I didn’t have my family depending on me to put food on the table I could have just find another job, compromise on my salary and rework my way up. However, It's not something I can easily do with mortgage payments and getting a child through college.
What are my options?