
EXPERT ANSWER
Nov 28, 2019 - 11:18 PM
The way to start a career in machine learning is to set yourself up with as many different options as possible. Your career can take many turns, even in the early stages, and so you want to be in a position to pursue good opportunities when they arise. Get solid in the fundamentals, build up your business skills, and become a subject matter expert.
Chances are you are already mastering the fundamentals: coding, mathematical modeling, and algorithms. Take advantage of all your school has to offer, and consider taking online courses or attending bootcamps to round out your hard skills.
Build up your research skills as well. You will constantly be needing to sharpen your powers of investigation and observation as your career advances. Developing good habits early on will be crucial as you work on more complex problems where the unknown is far greater than the known.
Start training yourself to solve real world business problems. Become conversant with business analysis techniques, and try to gain some subject matter expertise in industries you think you might enter. Finally, develop your communication, presentation and writing skills. You will be working in collaborative work environments throughout your career, and will regularly need to share your work, and persuade peers and managers of its merits.