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In a world dominated by technological innovation, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are the two pillars for building a successful career. The number of startup tech companies are continuously growing due to the fast-paced changes in technology, making people with excellent logic and programming skills in demand.. With the AI sector increasing to a USD 5.05 billion industry by 2020, the sooner you start learning about this upcoming field, the better it will be for your engineering profession.
Kickstarting your career in AI and ML is now easier than ever thanks to the endless variety of online platforms giving machine learning courses. These courses are specially designed to help you understand the intricacies and concepts of AI and ML. However, do you know the correct path to climb the professional ladder? Fret not!
Let’s take a look at the top tips and tricks to help you kickstart your career in ML and AI.
Understand The Basics
ML and AI are relatively new technologies and will continue to develop in the future. Therefore, acquiring critical information about the industries is imperative for your job growth. Since ML and AI are rapidly evolving with new languages, frameworks, and techniques, it has become essential for professionals to understand the basics of AI & ML. Starting with how predictive algorithms work is a great way to grasp an understanding of how AI and ML operate at a preliminary level. The extent of training never stops in ML and AI, so to fit the bill, having a sound understanding about what is already present in the field will not only give your career an extra boost but also give you competitive edge amongst your peers.
Select The Apt Job Role
It is essential to understand that the ML & AI industries are two very dynamic domains, and thus, they offer a lot of different job opportunities. From machine learning engineers, data scientists, research scientist, to statisticians, data engineers, etc, there are endless job roles to pursue. Therefore, you must research and prepare accordingly for the kind of job responsibilities and skill set that these jobs demand. One thumb rule is to select the one that aligns with your education and professional experience.
If you’re confused or overwhelmed by the multiple choices, you can take guidance from an industry expert or a reliable mentor to help you get access to an outsider’s perspective and determine the role that fits you best.
Learn Programming Languages
To have mastery over ML & AI skills, you can learn several programming languages which can present you with lucrative job opportunities. R and Python are two most commonly used languages in writing codes, but having a good knowledge of Javascript and C++ will also help you in dealing with certain application fields such as the development of AI frameworks. Learning these programming languages will also help you grasp information about other surface languages of different interfaces such as Prolog, Lisp, or Haskell. If you find yourself getting overwhelmed by the excess amount of data that you need to read, simply focus on the languages that are the most important first. Moving further, you can learn other languages depending on the functional domains you wish to undertake.
Take Relevant Courses To Hone Your Skills Further
As a professional, your ultimate goal should be to diversify your AI and ML-based skillset to have a thriving career. To achieve this, concentrate on mixing books and publications with online artificial intelligence and machine learning courses. To develop a strong ML & AI foundation, try and absorb as much theory and knowledge that is being provided to you. For instance, if you aspire to be a machine learning engineer, you can take up a course and follow the material provided in the course diligently. This not only includes the coursework but also the case studies present in the course. These are as important as going through the educational videos as they help you get a clearer picture of the field.
The Importance Of Data Analysis
Most of the ML and AI applications are run by data, thus, if you’re aspiring to become a successful ML and AI engineer, it is best to have some basic knowledge of how data analytics functions. Simply familiarise yourself with how the information can be shared and visualized by business partners of the project. A job function that deals with ML and AI require an analytical mindset, so prepare yourself accordingly to deal with the consequences your job may have on certain business developments. The ability to recognize a complex situation will help you in offering more deep business insights.
Practical Application of Machine Learning
Applying machine learning and AI algorithms in practical situations can help you build a strong personal portfolio of projects associated with the field. If you’re not inclined to take the leap for a full-time machine learning positions, then start by working on new projects and get involved with data-driven communities and civic hackathons to get a better understanding of the technological space. By doing so, you will be able to blend analysis, statistics, and algorithms collectively. Remember to stay focused on the technology and implement the practical application based on the operational principle. This skill to address a business query efficiently with a technical and mathematical solution will drive your career to a new height.
If implemented correctly, the tips mentioned above will give your ML & AI career a boost and help you establish yourself in these technological domains efficiently. Furthermore, LinkedIn’s Emerging Jobs Report claimed that data scientists and ML engineers are the top two fastest-growing professions in the U.S. Hence, now is the right time for people to determine what role in ML and AI they could pursue and take proactive actions to start a successful career.