Is Machine Learning is better Career choice over traditional full stack development?

So you recently passed out Computer engineering with first class division. In your group, there is always one topic for discussion. Which Software stream I should go for? What’s more hot in the market today? Which stream will pay me better salary?

Today, let’s try to dig down and try to explore answer to most asked question among computer engineers today. 

   “Is Machine Learning is better Career choice over traditional full stack developer?”

Let’s discuss answer to question with help of following parameters.

• Your interest 

So interest is key for any learning. You became a computer engineer today over other career fields because that is what interests you. So how one’s interest can help to decide answer to question that we are discussing?

If you like Math’s, statistics and algebra etc. from your school days then chances of your success in Machine Learning stream is higher. Or do you like to create Web applications that will be used by millions of the User’s all over the world? Think about it.

• Complexity 

We should evaluate complexity of particular stream before we decide to choose any stream. Am I capable of winning the race among thousands of other competitor? Do I have required strength, stamina and practice done for that? Or I am just going to run in the race as thousand others are going to run?

Yes, Machine learning is not a cup of tea for everyone to try. It’s definitely complex than full stack software development job.

• Remuneration 

At the end, we all try to excel in our career for the money. At least many of us surely do for that if not everyone. So what about remuneration part?

Of course more complex job you are doing, more remuneration you will be getting. Needless to say that ML field has potential to offer much higher enumeration than Full stack development job. This is true in IT industry for at-least next 4-5 years.

• Old vs New 

Its general tendency that people always try to follow whatever is newer trend in the market. Very rare people do follow old things. There are both pros and cons for each of that. Old technology offers more stability plus support to you but new one offers more challenge, excitement and remuneration. 

ML is latest buzz in market. On other hand it’s been a while, for Full stack developer in the IT market. At least in India, there is lot more demand for ML jobs and many vacant position needs to be filled out. But at the same time there is very minimal support available for ML technology as its new and very few people knew about it.

• Opportunity for jobs

As mentioned earlier, In India there are many IT companies who mentioned that they are not getting Machine learning engineers to be hired. Note that, this does not mean that they will recruit that position with anyone who has just done some course or online certification in ML. What they are looking here is core experience and hands-on ML proficient engineers which is very hard to find till the date.

On the other hand, Full stack developer has number of open positions in India. There are already many big Web applications running live in IT industry. So developers are required there for support and maintenance job. Plus there are many new requirement for Mobile as well as Cloud based web application development. So there is ample amount of job position available in the IT market.

• Predication 

You might be thinking, what about prediction has to do here? How that will help me to decide whether I have to choose ML or full stack development?

Let me ask you one question here. Suppose, you have chosen one of the above stream and also got decent project to work on. Congratulation!  But, what’s next?

Can you say confidently that Machine learning project will get completed successfully within x number of months? Can you even predict whether it will be at least get completed or not? How you will assess its feasibility?

On other hand, if you have to build web application then you can first collect the information like requirement document, technology, available resources etc. Once you have that information in hand you can create design document, project plan etc. and then at-least you can provide some rough estimates for Project end date.

So isn’t risk factor is higher in ML project?

Summary

So, I have listed six parameters here. Based on it, you will have to evaluate which stream you want to go. At the end, either you go in full stack development or Machine learning it’s doesn’t matter. What matters is your dedication toward completing the project successfully at the end. There will be many stakeholders involved when you start working on any project and entire Business success will be dependent of success of your project!