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Any insights/opinions on living in Toluca Lake?
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As a student the Big 4 on the resume will look great but in reality PWC isnt a good spot for data science. If the smaller firm is data science focused I would go there.
Outsourcing the most client facing aspect seems backwards.
Depends on the "smaller" one, but for the most part I'd say B4 is the safest bet. I could give you a more nuanced answer if you provide some further context, including your goals and career plan.
Yes the smaller firm is 100% in data science. I did my last internship there and the salary offered is higher than pwc!
My career goals is to work on many projects in data science and go either CTO/CDO in a company or some freelancing (still not clear rn)
I also want to join quantum black or BCG Gamma! (I think it's more interesting for a beginner)
I'd avoid Pwc like the plague, in case it's pwc. Big4's toxic culture is not worth it altogether
There are some nice outliers, yes, but I stand strong with my opinion. Also the internal retention data is just horrible and reflects my sentiment
Accenture is the best firm for Data and AI…sorry a little biased but if it’s not an option I would recommend going with the smaller firm. How much is the pay difference?
Those paths are actually divergent:
If you want to work as a pure Data Scientist, or to enter BCG Gamma, probably the boutique is your best option. But then you are choosing the "specialist" track, and although you might end up making really good money, it is unlikely you'll make CDO or CTO. The natural way forward for that role would be something like "Principal Data Scientist", "Head of AI", etc.
If you take the B4 D&A career, chances are you're gonna get exposure not just to Data Science, but to many other areas within the Data & Analytics vertical: Data Strategy, Data Management & Governance, etc. For sure you can become an specialist, but most likely you'll end up being a jack of all trades. And as a generalist, you will have a much more clearer path towards a CDO position.
But in any case, you are just starting the journey and you'll have a lot of time to pivot down the line, so don't worry too much about this: you'll be fine in any case.
Within B4, I'd say EY based both on personal experience and market benchmarks. Accenture would be a good option, too. I was in PwC in the past, and wasn't as good. In which country are you?
I would avoid Pwc and go to the smaller firm. You won’t do real data science there, just be a poorly paid pivot table maker