What a Managing Director Quantitative Strategies at O Asset Management Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Industry
Trevor, a Managing Director at O Asset Management, emphasizes the significant hurdle of entering the competitive AI industry without a master's or PhD, sharing that even with a master's, "it was very difficult for me to get the first job." Despite this, the hiring manager highlights the possibility of exception for undergraduates with exceptional skills and achievements such as "a publication at a top venue," suggesting that while advanced degrees are highly advantageous, demonstrable skill and exceptional performance can sometimes outweigh formal qualifications.
Higher Education, Job Market Challenges, Advanced Degrees, Research Skills, Software Engineering
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Trevor Richardson
Managing Director, Quantitative Strategies
O Asset Management
Arizona State University
M.S. Computer Science at Arizona State University
Engineering - Industrial
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing), Technology
Data and Analytics
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. The competitiveness of the AI job market often requires a Master's or PhD for entry-level positions. Even with a Master's degree, it can be challenging to compete against PhD candidates.
2. While advanced degrees are important, they don't always equate to superior skills. Undergraduates can compensate by demonstrating exceptional abilities through publications or strong project portfolios.
3. Exceptional skills and achievements can sometimes outweigh the lack of an advanced degree, although this is the exception rather than the rule in the current job market. A Master's or PhD is still highly recommended for most individuals pursuing a career in this field.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before you entered the industry?
This is especially important for all the undergrads out there. The industry is competitive, and it's very difficult to get certain types of jobs in AI unless you have a master's or PhD.
It was actually very difficult for me to get the first job I obtained with a master's instead of a PhD. I was in my group at the time, and the company was called the Rochester Data Science Consortium before we spun out into FLX I.
I was actually the first out of eight scientists that did not have their PhD. This was definitely a hit on me, and I experienced people treating me as if I came second. Certain scientists treated me at eye level, while others definitely looked down because I didn't have the "right" degree.
In their minds, the right degree was the PhD. That was very discouraging and difficult for me emotionally because I just wanted to make an impact at my first job. It was hard to see others think less of me because I didn't have the right piece of paper.
I think degrees are extremely important, but they only show what a degree can show you. For example, if you have a PhD in computer science from UCLA, you've done incredible work; that's a hard achievement.
However, it doesn't mean an undergrad from computer science at UCLA couldn't be a better fit. It just means the other person has more to show for it. So, if you're coming out of your undergrad and trying to compete with people with master's and PhDs, you'll need to show something extra.
A publication at a top venue like CVPR, if you can pair up with a great professor during your undergrad and get a publication out, can make a difference. These are the little things that can show me, when I'm hiring, that I don't need that degree to prove you have the skills to operate on my team.
I wish someone had really told me how difficult it is, especially in applied research, to be in this industry without a master's or PhD. A PhD is even better than a master's.
I still recommend people get a master's or a PhD if they want to be in this field. If you're in research, you should do a PhD unless you're a savant, in which case Google will take you even without an undergrad.
If you're in applied AI and really good with software, a master's will still benefit you immensely. That doesn't mean I'm not looking to hire an undergrad from Cornell without a master's or PhD.
He's fabulous at deep learning, and I am looking to hire him right now. But that's the exception rather than the rule in this industry.