The combination of artificial intelligence and big data is profoundly changing how industries operate and make decisions. From recommendation systems to self-driving cars, from smart customer service to financial risk control, these technologies increasingly rely on solid engineering skills and data support. For those aiming to enter this field, it’s essential not only to grasp the theory but also to gain hands-on project experience and understand technical details.
In AI roles, common positions include machine learning engineer, algorithm developer, and NLP researcher. Many companies expect candidates to have clear modeling approaches, coding ability, and some data analysis experience. Simply having “learned” a framework isn’t enough—employers want to see if you’ve trained and tuned models, faced performance issues, and how you addressed them.
Big data roles focus more on system stability and efficient data flow. For example, data engineers often build or maintain big data platforms, handle high-volume requests, and manage ETL task scheduling. Tools like Kafka, Spark, and Airflow are common, but what matters more is understanding when and how to use them together. Being able to explain how you solved specific data bottlenecks carries more weight than listing keywords.

When preparing your resume and interview stories, focus on concrete tasks rather than vague claims like “participated in a project.” For instance, describe how you used XGBoost for anomaly detection and improved accuracy compared to an old model, or how you optimized a batch processing job that took hours into a near-real-time workflow. This kind of detail better demonstrates your real skills.
Most companies’ hiring processes include online coding tests, technical interviews, and in-depth project discussions. The goal isn’t just to check if you “know” something, but if you can get things done. Even for junior roles, candidates who clearly explain their problem-solving steps and reasoning behind technical choices usually stand out.
Whether in AI or big data, technology evolves quickly, but strong fundamentals and logical thinking remain key. Instead of chasing flashy buzzwords, it’s better to deeply understand your own experience, organize it clearly, and build solid skills through projects. This kind of preparation is what holds up under interview scrutiny and real-world challenges.