My undergraduate degree was in humanities and social sciences, but after starting my first job I became very passionate about quantitative analytics. I learnt several coding languages and toolkits by myself and landed a job in Credit Risk modelling at a boutique consultancy.
However, soon after starting this job, I realised that the absence of a relevant degree was holding me back, both in terms of technical knowledge and personal credibility when working with clients. So, I made the decision to quit my job and return to university to study a Master鈥檚 in Computer Science at Bath.
Tackling a new challenge
Before I started my master鈥檚, I was worried that, coming from a humanities and social sciences background, I would not be able to compete in the job market against those with four-year undergraduate degrees in computer science or maths. However, when I started speaking to recruiters, I quickly realised that there are a lot of hiring managers looking for people who have the passion and goals to not be afraid to pursue new things and take on the challenge of studying an unfamiliar subject.
I鈥檓 now working at a start-up technical consulting firm with an incredible team and the coolest boss. The master鈥檚 degree opened doors I never imagined鈥攊t built my confidence in coding and AI/machine learning, deepened my technical understanding, and gave me the flexibility to apply these skills to areas I care about. One interview highlight was getting to explain my dissertation project, which used a probabilistic machine learning model (developed by our own Professor!) to uncover correlations in foreign exchange prices and build hedged portfolios.
My favourite memory of my course
I really enjoyed the group project during a software engineering module, where I was very fortunate to have the best teamwork experience I've ever had. We developed a plant management game using React Native which allows plant owners to track the health of their plants as well as learn about them through articles and trivias.
Following my passions
I grew up believing that after graduating university, life would follow a linear career path in whichever field I started in my first job. So, you can imagine how it felt when I hit a glass wall in my first few years of working. Since my master鈥檚, I've stopped worrying about whether I鈥檓 good enough to get a promotion or what kind of corporate position I'll hold in 10 years鈥� time - all that matters is what I choose to do with my life and my goal is to be good at what I'm passionate about, the rest will follow.
I cannot put into words how grateful I am to have done my master鈥檚 at Bath. There was something magical about the environment at Bath. Part of it was meeting a lot of people in my cohort who are on various walks in life, making new friends and hearing their stories. But most of all it was how much positivity we got from the lecturers.
When I quit my job to do my master鈥檚 course, I thought it would just be a stepping stone to a more rewarding and fulfilling career. I did not expect it to turn out to be the most inspiring year of my life so far!