Writing Is Thinking

Data scientist Egor Howell shares his journey into machine learning without a traditional computer science degree, inspired by DeepMind's AlphaGO. Drawing from over 80 data science interviews, he emphasizes that interviewing is a skill requiring preparation, strong soft skills, and concise communication. Howell advises aspiring professionals to build impactful, personal portfolio projects that take significant time and effort, rather than using common shortcuts. He also discusses the realities of the job, such as spending significant time on model maintenance, and expresses skepticism about the current AI hype, preferring to focus on foundational areas like statistics. For those feeling stuck, he recommends a focused, step-by-step approach to career progression, tackling projects, resumes, and interviews sequentially.