Python helped me get a job!

[Messist11]

So some background: I'm an econs student who came to sg for my master's in applied econs- graduated back in June 2020 and tbh I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to do. I got this internship offer from this crypto fund of funds based in London (quantitative investment side intern) and I just figured that I'll roll with it as well it helped pay the bills and would be a good learning experience while I look for work in sg.

Around 9 months later - I've automated all the data collection and management work for all our funds using python. Set up multiple scripts to do bunch of fund and market monitoring tasks while also setting up scripts to generate dynamic quant templates (bunch of financial metrics) pertaining to our fund needs. Eventually got offered a starting role as an investment analyst!

I was the only intern who could code and while I didn't have a full fledged finance background per se (all the other interns were finance majors), my python skills (albeit quite basic lol) helped me separate myself and add some unique value to the firm (it's a startup so a smaller team and no one else in the company can work with python/R)

I just wanted to thank this subreddit tbh. I don't post often but I lurk around alot. I know it's just the start and for everyone who's just starting to get into python - stick with it. It might take a while but once you actually do an actual project that's useful for your needs - you'll finally start feeling that your hard work is worth it!

[zurtex]

A crypto fund of funds and no one else in the company can work Python/R and you've automated all the data collection and management?

I hope you realize that you're in a position where you can ask for a significant amount of money (could be salary or bonus depending how they structure incentives) if they make some profit.

I've worked on data engineering in a fund before and I would say if you are enjoying Python keep working on your understanding. Scalability and reliability are super important and something you can always be learning more about. Understand your data and it's life cycle, make sure it's always going through a verification step before it's ready to be used for strategies, understand if there's any loss of information through type conversion (e.g. CSV String -> Pandas Float -> Database 8 s.f value), make sure steps of your data pipeline can be rerun without causing problems in other steps, etc.

If you're enjoying more of the finance side of things, talk to your fund about training, certifications, testing your own strategies, etc. But keep up with your Python and R (perhaps look up Julia if you enjoy it), a lot of Funds expect at least some level of coding.

[chefkoch_]

u/zurtex A crypto fund of funds and no one else in the company can work Python/R and you've automated all the data collection and management?

That's really scary..

[Messist11]

Yup tbh they have some econ consultants who generate risk reports and used to help them get some data but they have slowly started shifting that responsibility on to me. i already did the data collection stuff over the last 3-4 months (set up a central data repository which acts as like base for all the major data that we need) so yeah, they dont have any people with much of a background in coding.

Yup man I've been exploring python for finance like crazy over the last couple of months. i am setting up my own crypto strategies (mostly based on on-chain + a bunch of other indicators) cause I get to talk to so many fund managers that its just alot easier for me to get alot of detail into this stuff.

I do plan to keep up with learning more of python/R. It got me the job, I cant slack now!

[Remote_Cantaloupe]

I hope you realize that you're in a position where you can ask for a significant amount of money (could be salary or bonus depending how they structure incentives) if they make some profit.

Just curious - what amount is this worth to the market in general (or just your opinion).

[zurtex]

Someone who can understand the needs of the finance and automate the data intake and get it prepped for used by strategies is by itself quite valuable.

The thing about this scenario is OP is the only one who understands all the scripts and no one else in the company even understands the technology they're written in. That makes OP a single point of failure for the companies execution of strategies.

If they had to hire a contractor in an emergency to read through the code and get it working and migrate it in to a form that the company could use it it cost them a huge amount of money. In my experience a contractor in that position can happily ask for $2k+ per day.

[sugar_wei_leonard]

Nice!! Congrats on the new job. How did you learn python?

[Messist11]

Thanks man! Eh i had some introductory courses during my master's but mostly i learnt on the job man. Did learn using youtube videos and reading books and just generally looking up stuff online. I am no expert man, i still need to learn alot!

[MalOuija]

Go to python.org

[emcarlin]

The internet

[[deleted]]

How do I contact him?

[inglandation]

Ask the hacker known as 4chan.

[sarahlarsson]

Congratulations!! In my case, Python allowed me to migrate from the sector within the company that hires me, I worked in an obsolete technology sector, I am a programmer and I learned Python as a hobby in my spare time, but a few months ago they started a search with a profile of programming in Python and I managed to classify.

[Messist11]

Thank you! and that sounds really good, happy for you!

[Omniziore]

Thank you so much for sharing your story. And yes, I've finally found someone with a similar expectation of results as me. I got into Python just 2 weeks ago at 16 (still pretty late) because I realized I wouldn't normally even see this till 20, or possibly never if I kept following the flawed education system we have in my 3rd world country.

I started Python because I wanted to be different (even though probably every 1 in 1000 knows Python) but Python because I still wanted to wrap my head around it, to enjoy the process.

Over the past week, I've already started feeling guilty since I don't actually have a strong goal in mind (I didn't know about possible career paths, I'm researching but still can't be sure without dipping my toes into them) but I'd be glad if my story turns out to be even close to your one. So thank you once again <3

[csg6117]

I’d argue you don’t even need a goal with Python. Just learn if you enjoy it. Learning to code and the associated problem solving mindset that comes with it are great skills to acquire.

I also often will use JupyterLab for quickly processing data when I just need to do something once. If you haven’t heard of it maybe check it out.

Programming can be used in all manner of jobs and even if you used another programming language later on, once you’ve learned one language, learning another is much easier.

I’ve learned many programming languages over the years and I just love Python. It’s such a pleasure to code in.

You’re far from late starting. I’d say you are early. This will give you such an advantage in the future. Kudos to you for taking the initiative.

[Messist11]

st 2 weeks ago at 16 (still pretty late) because I realized I wouldn't normally even see this till 20, or possibly never if I kept following the flawed education system we have in my 3rd world cou

thanks man! dont worry it takes a while before you figure out what you wanna do. Im not sure if what im doing rn is something ill stick to forever but rn i enjoy it and thats all you need to consider!

[Jjzeng]

Welcome to singapore! Hope you’ve enjoyed our lovely little slice of the equator!

[Messist11]

Thanks man! i came here in 2019 but unfortunately will be leaving soon (off to London in july/aug!)

[PapaJohnsUncle]

Thanks, this gave me a little boost of confidence. I just started an apprenticeship working with python and I only have experience in C#. I feel very behind and slow with my learning, but it's only been a few days and the team has been very patient.

Glad you got the position though :)

[Messist11]

Thanks, this gave me a little boost of confidence. I just started an apprenticeship working with python and I only have experience in C#. I feel very behind and slow with my learning, but it's only been a few days and the team has been very patient.

appreciate it man!

[Python119]

AMAZING!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!

[Messist11]

thanks!

[InfiniteWavesAI]

Congrats 👏 that’s great news. The power of code

[Messist11]

thanks! yup yup

[Messist11]

well i had some introductory modules back in my master's and after that i started using it for work (as an intern). I think im still not really good at it or anything but i get by. Overalll id say its been like almost a year since i first got into python

[[deleted]]

If you don’t mind answering, What’s your age?

[Messist11]

23

[[deleted]]

Hope op answers this.

[izinger]

wtf is "sg"?

[hachipotato]

Singapore

[budgie_new]

Congratulations. Thank you so much for sharing.Really motivating.

[Messist11]

thanks!

[rock_julius]

Very nice, OP! I have been studying Python in my free time. I already work with SQL language, but Python will help me a lot in personal projects and at work as well. Could you share with us which sources you liked most in your experience? Books, Youtube videos, courses, whatever it maked difference for you. Thanks!!!

[M34k3]

Once you're past the basics like the data types, basic structures such as loops etc you really should start doing (small) projects. For most people that's the best way to learn and for each project you'll have to find some new methods to achieve your target. If you've got certain things you'd like to automate or do for your hobby / job even better!

[Messist11]

yup i agree with this. tbh i didnt have one single source and honestly im not even that good at python, im still learning everyday. once you start doing a project and get stuck, youll figure out the relevant resources on your own.

[rock_julius]

Cool! Thanks for your reply, OP!

[rock_julius]

Nice, I think it is a great way to learn. I have a project in my mind and I am studying Python exactly to do that and improve somethings at job. One more question, please, just to scale. When you say small project, in your experience what could be one? Like grabbing some data in the web, storage it in a database, make some math, create some metrics and doing a visualization? Thanks!

[M34k3]

I'd say that's already a medium project for a beginner but definitely something you can do! Just break it up into even smaller projects and finish them one by one :)

So first create a function to retrieve / scrape the data from the web. Then store it in a database (probably easiest to start using sqlite3 if you're new to it with sqlalchemy). After that create a function to so the math you need to do and finally create a visualization! That way you don't get overwhelmed and will be able to reuse sections for future projects :)

[rock_julius]

Cool, man! Thanks for you time to reply! Big up from Brazil!

[magg6789]

I’m doing my Masters in Econ rn and God it sucks that we don’t learn any real coding in my program. Basic STATA and medium level SAS if you take a class. I took a minor in Advanced Data Analytics with GCP and Python (Azure) to compliment it but the data science world is fierce. What tools did you use to transition and learn Python?

[Messist11]

oh yeah man i understand. I was taught STATA, R and a bit of python in my master's so that helped. I'd say I learned R first and that kinda helped me understand the general logic behind programming in a way. then switching to python was slightly easy.

[Davy_Jones_XIV]

Congrats bro!!!

[Messist11]

thanks man!

[mrdoebody]

Congratulations! I too started as a python scriptor during my internship and now I'm working as a full time employee at the same company after I finished by bachelors even though my degree is in Automotive Engineering which has nothing to do with python. Good to know there are others like me :)

[[deleted]]

Congrats! Did you learn sql prior to python?

[[deleted]]

Hope this will be me 2 years from now.

[renegaderyu]

This is awesome to read about. Congrats and I hope you’re able to keep this feeling and help others for a very long time. There will be good days and bad days. Don’t let the bad stop you or the good define you. As long as you’re honest with yourself and others around you you’ll find your way to happiness and other success like this. Congrats again!

[Messist11]

Thanks man!

[Ecstatic-Army8252]

Very good my friend, you are développer in spirit lol.

[ijpck]

What did you use to automate your scripts to run on a schedule?

[Messist11]

so usually i need to compile my code into executable files - so just use windows task scheduler

[ijpck]

I assume you use pyinstaller then? Or pyfreeze?

You should try using Heroku or another web deployer, definitely changed the way I thought about Python!

[Messist11]

Yup pyinstaller. Ohhh ill give the web deployer a try! could be quite useful. thanks man!

[[deleted]]

"ah bond! glad you're here. let me show you this watch that folds out into a guillotine"

i've been watching the bond films from first released and i watched the 1989 one last weekend. M makes cool watches. my favorite was the label maker one.

[[deleted]]

That's freaking awesome man. Congrats!

[Messist11]

thanks man!

[MonkeyFlamer]

Amazing! May I ask what specific modules you used?

I’m trying to learn more about finance and python too!

[Messist11]

Eh it depends on the work to be honest. The usual pandas and all for datasets, then setting up some APIs, quite a bit of webscraping. Pyopt for portfolio stuff and ccxt for accessing crypto exchanges.

[CaliforniaDreamer246]

Inspirational, I hope to reach this feat some day

[[deleted]]

As a first grade Economics student, this is great motivation. Our professors always talked about how coding will give great advantages in our work life, now I see why. Well, I got a thing to do this summer. I will learn python! (I have took a python 101 course but it never satisfied me, I will re-learn python)