FAQ’s for aspiring Machine Learning Engineers
By: Tech Talk With Tyler
Tags: Machine Learning, Career Advice, Beginner

Hello! I teach Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Python Coding Language.

Every time I post on Reddit about something new, my inbox gets flooded with questions, many of them asking the same thing. Here are some of those questions, along with some answers:

How can I get started in Machine Learning?

I would recommend this course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/machine-learning

It is the most popular course on machine learning on the internet, and it has made its teacher, Andrew Ng, one of the most famous names in the field. I have not taken the class myself, but many consider it to be a great starting point.

After that, find an online program that lasts 3 months to a year, which gives you a full background in AI. Courses should include these topics:

Intro to AI

Python for Data Science

Essential Math for Machine Learning

Ethics and Law in Data and Analytics

Data Science Research Methods

Principles of Machine Learning

Deep Learning Explained

Reinforcement Learning Explained

Computer Vision and Image Analysis

Professional Capstone

EDIT: I’ve been told one such good course is this one, and the class list looks great: https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/ai-engineer

If you don’t understand what you are learning in online courses, some other great resources on YouTube are SentDex: https://www.youtube.com/user/sentdex

And DeepLizard:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4UJ26WkceqONNF5S26OiVw

Deep Lizard is the absolute simplest way to learn Deep Learning, and I love the channel because of its truly simple explanations.

2. How long until I can get a job as a Machine Learning Engineer?

Most employers want to see 3–5 years of experience.

3. What kind of projects should I do to boost my resume?

Don’t do what everybody else does. Don’t make a mask detector or use common datasets. Do something that is uniquely, originally you. For instance, if you love to dance and you also love machine learning, create an algorithm that grades your dance score, or that composes dance moves for you. If you love cats, create an AI that allows you to interact with your cats in better ways. Those are the kinds of projects that get attention.

Also, it doesn’t hurt to make some real-world projects that clients might ask for, so that you can say you have experience doing that. (https://www.reddit.com/r/learnmachinelearning/comments/kezvtr/actual_reallife_machine_learning_projects_clients/)

4. How can I make money as a Machine Learning Engineer?

As I mentioned, most companies want to see ML engineers with 3–5 years of experience. When you are just starting out, have really low standards. Post your resume on classifieds sites like Craigslist, and charge less than the market rate for an engineer. When I was starting out, on the west coast in the US I was charging $25/hr. Many people are curious about Artificial Intelligence and what it can add to their business, so they may hire you to see what you can do. If you charge less than the market rate, they can’t get mad at you for taking longer and making a few mistakes along the way :)

Also work with sites like fiverr.com, freelancer.com, and upwork.com. I get all of my clients through these sites.

5. Do I need to learn lots of math?

No. I always use this example: in order to be a car mechanic, you don’t need to know how your tools are made, you just need to know how to use those tools. If a client wants you to automate their workflows, they will usually not ask you if you understand the math behind it. They just want to make sure you provide results.

However, if you want to earn a masters in Machine Learning, you will likely have to learn lots of math for that.

6. Should I learn Python?

YES. Python is the most popular language for AI and Machine Learning. It has millions of users and so any problem you have with it, it has already been answered by someone else. There are tons of online courses for learning Python, but I recommend datacamp.com

7. Do I need a degree in Computer Science?

No. There are lots of people fresh out of college with a computer science degree who can’t get any jobs right now. You can learn everything you need to know online.

8. Some other tips:

If you want to work for a company, it is important to learn to code in ways that companies need. Study using Leetcode.com and read about unit testing. Also reading about code formatting is a good idea.