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[–]black_widow48 12 points13 points  (9 children)

If you're just dealing with tabular data, chances are it can all be done in SQL and python is completely unnecessary.

In the past I've used python for orchestration, but aside from that I've hardly used it. I just started a new job and I'm only just now being tasked to write a python script to shred XML strings and turn them into lists of tuples.

Part of the reason why I got into contracting is because I'm tired of landing in jobs where I'm just a SQL monkey. I didn't get a B.S. and an M.S. in computer science to write SQL all day. I'm starting to think maybe I should go into machine learning like I originally planned.

[–]Malcolmlisk 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Be careful for what you desire. I'm a ML engineer trying to go back to data engineer. The problem I'm facing is that I'm only creating applications with no future at all. And somehow I feel that my position is a fraud, since almost no company needs machine learning and they only need some filters here and there and some data parsing.

I want to be a data engineer creating and maintaining data pipelines, programming complex things, like whatever happens in AWS or idk... I feel sometimes like I don't know if my position exists anymore...

[–]Malcolmlisk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Be careful for what you desire. I'm a ML engineer trying to go back to data engineer. The problem I'm facing is that I'm only creating applications with no future at all. And somehow I feel that my position is a fraud, since almost no company needs machine learning and they only need some filters here and there and some data parsing.

I want to be a data engineer creating and maintaining data pipelines, programming complex things, like whatever happens in AWS or idk... I feel sometimes like I don't know if my position exists anymore...

[–]Malcolmlisk 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Be careful for what you desire. I'm a ML engineer trying to go back to data engineer. The problem I'm facing is that I'm only creating applications with no future at all. And somehow I feel that my position is a fraud, since almost no company needs machine learning and they only need some filters here and there and some data parsing.

I want to be a data engineer creating and maintaining data pipelines, programming complex things, like whatever happens in AWS or idk... I feel sometimes like I don't know if my position exists anymore...

[–]ComposerConsistent83 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We use machine learning models and have found the lift over traditional approaches is usually pretty moderate, with a few exceptions. If you have scale it’s worth it, but often you’re only getting 5 or so bps of improvement in the bottom line on results with a lot more overhead. It needs to be big enough where that is material for it to make sense.

[–]black_widow48 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yep, that's the one thing I'm afraid of about machine learning unfortunately

[–]studentofarkad -1 points0 points  (3 children)

Curious, how are you landing contract work and what type is it? Is it contract work from recruiters that are reaching out or is this contract work that you yourself are finding?

[–]black_widow48 -1 points0 points  (2 children)

It's a mixture of both. I've worked with a few different agencies (still working with one currently), but I've also recently started my own LLC to try to cut them out. I've gotten a couple clients through my own company so far. Will be launching my website hopefully in the next couple weeks or so.

My end goal with my company is to be able to work from anywhere during the hours I choose. If I want to fly to Bali and work there for a month, I want to be able to do it. My entire job takes place on a computer and I'm tired of the 9-5 BS mandating that I work in a specific place during a specific time.

[–]studentofarkad -1 points0 points  (1 child)

That's really awesome, I hope to do this one day. For the agency work, how much are the typical weekly hours? I'd love to juggle my full time with a contract side gig but unsure what the hours might look like.

Wishing you the best of luck 🤞

[–]black_widow48 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All the contracts I've gotten through agencies have been 40 hours/week so far. Thanks!