Ask HN: I realise data science is not for me and feel depressed

Agree except possibly the 'good grades' part. I'm self-taught and work at a FAANG. I'm also a technical interviewer. I have never once asked for or looked at a candidate's GPA.

Looking at someone's GPA honestly wouldn't help me much at all. It's not like I know how rigorous 's math or economics departments are.

Unless you went to a college that's a household name in your geographical region (for example, Harvard in the United States), I'd leave off the GPA from the resume.

Try to learn as much as you can, but don't fret about getting the best grades. Very few people will honestly care about your grades; they care that you graduated and whether you have the technical and interpersonal skills to fit on the team. If a person won't hire you because your don't have a 4.0, trust me that's not someone you want to work for in the long run.

How did you go about doing this? I'm most the way through a masters in Theoretical Physics and Applied Mathematics, and am going to be looking for jobs here in Ireland soon. My courses this term are pretty much all mathematical modelling over data science because they seemed more interesting, though I've also taken a module specifically on data programming with Python and one with Machine Learning with Python. Currently taking Advanced Computational Science, which is basically solving PDEs and models, as well as Climate & Weather Numerical Modelling course. I dropped Statistical Modelling and Maths of Machine Learning. My masters thesis is kinda a mixture between the two, making a model of how we can use statistical physics to predict collective behaviour and then testing it and validating it, etc. (though that latter might change given that it was supposed to be focused on Ukraine, where my supervisor had done it before after the 2014 annexation of Crimea).

I'd much rather do modelling than DS, even though I feel it'd be much harder to get a job with that. Or if I wanted to move into engineering. Basically, just looking for any advice for how you went about it.

I can work in Python and know enough JS to be dangerous. Built some stuff in the past for Irish-language learning, but it's all old and poorly implemented. Would also be willing to do other stuff for portfolio, etc.

Sorry for hijacking your comment, it's just what I'm struggling with now.

It sounds like you'd very much enjoy working as a data engineer. Data engineers are actually more in demand than data scientists in most place right now, so you're in a good position if you choose to go down that path.

I think some of the other posts have covered advice regarding the transition to SWE very well.

You write you are: > in the process of receving EU passport

This threw me off somewhat. Does this mean you're an EU member state citizen currently living in Russia and applied for a passport in your home country? I'm not sure I understand what you mean otherwise. Aquiring citizenship (for a passport) is either very expensive or requires permanent residency for a number of years.

[edit] For clarification I changed EU citizen to EU member state citizen.

As someone who made a similar transition but in the opposite direction, (from iOS to web frontend to ML), it seems like the best thing is just to start doing more SWE work. It feels like there is neverending demand for entry level SWE in the US, and any background that can pass the interview is welcome. I don't know what the market is like in Europe, but I would not worry about being able to pivot.

The work you did was almost certainly not a waste. The SQL you learned is going to be incredibly valuable to small companies looking for "fullstack" or backend roles too. Definitely puts you above bootcamp grads that only know how to put together a UI. And understanding statistics let's you run proper A/B experiments at large companies, or apply to "data engineer" roles building critical data infrastructure.

All these things are also just valuable even if all they taught you early in your career is that you liked doing something else. Some people get PhD's before realizing they hate the field and then the sunk-cost-fallacy (or student loans) force them to pursue a career in it anyways, it's wonderful to have clarity on what you like so young.

I would probably just finish your degree if you are close, because I think it could make getting visa sponsorship in some countries easier, but I would just read some tutorials for the kind of SWE engineering you want to try on the side, and build a small portfolio project with the tech. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just a to-do app even if you want to do web frontend in a popular framework like React, for example. I think there are probably MOOCs to look into that pick a project and walk you through it even, but I don't think you have to go that route. Just a little effort to demonstrate to employees you understand the tech you chose, and for you, to make sure you actually enjoyed worked with the tech. I am thinking on the order of 1 weeks work. Throw that on your resume and just apply to the kinds of jobs you want. You are almost certainly over-qualified for many.

The good news is that the worst is probably behind you. In my experience (in the US), SWE is way way easier to break into than data science, you just need to finish a small minor project. This wasn't wasted effort, it's a small part of your overall career and it taught you valuable study skills and how to do hard work!

I will also close by saying, I imagine things can be rough in Russia right now. It is possible the depression you are feeling has multiple contributions and will pass when you change your environment, or your environment evolves, and is not all from the work you are doing. These last few years have been rough for a lot of people around the world. I would say you have built up valuable skills that you will almost certainly use again in your career, and not attribute all of the reasons to feel bad to your early career just yet. You have some excellent experience going for you.

Good luck! Let me know if you choose web development and want any advice on that career in particular. I would look into fullstack or data engineer roles personally. My email is my username at hey if you want to chat more.