Hey everyone, I've been working as a machine learning engineer for over 2 years after getting my start during an internship at my company. Unfortunately, I still struggle with coding and rely heavily on tools like Copilot to get by. I've tried interviewing for other positions but have faced numerous rejections, which has really impacted my confidence. I'm starting to wonder if I should consider shifting to a different role, maybe in project management, or if getting certifications would help. Has anyone else been in a similar situation? I'd appreciate any advice or insights! Thanks in advance!
3 Answers
Have you had any previous coding experience before your current role? It takes time to get comfortable in coding, especially in a specialized field like ML. Companies often expect junior programmers to be ready to hit the ground running with skills they still need to learn. Maybe focus on boosting your knowledge in ML-specific areas and some more foundational coding skills—this might help.
First off, do you actually enjoy coding? If you find it fun sometimes when things click, that's a good sign! It sounds like you might just be feeling overwhelmed at times. Maybe try giving yourself some dedicated time to work through problems without relying on tools like Copilot—this can really help develop your skills and build confidence!
It might be worth allowing yourself to struggle with coding instead of running to Copilot immediately. I found that setting aside "no AI helper" days helped boost my problem-solving skills. It's okay to feel stuck; just try to use those moments as learning opportunities!
Yeah, I did an applied stats major with a CS minor and a master's in Bioinformatics. I know some Python but it doesn't spark joy for me, and I often lean on tools like Copilot to help.