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Yayun Jin, Ph.D.ML Engineer at Reddit | Ex-Microsoft & Workday | Mentoring 200+ Engineers into ML Roles

Model Training

In this segment, we cover model training, a phase where many candidates fall into autopilot. To stand out, we need to show thoughtfulness, adaptability, and a clear connection between our choices and the problem at hand.

  • Mediocre performance involves picking a default model (e.g., logistic regression or random forest), using out-of-the-box settings with no tuning or justification.
  • Strong candidates choose models deliberately, explaining how their selection fits the data characteristics, business goals, or system constraints.
  • We improve performance through hyperparameter tuning, using techniques like grid search or informed manual adjustments based on EDA insights.
  • When appropriate, we apply ensemble methods (e.g., boosting, bagging, stacking) to push performance further.
  • Most importantly, we demonstrate that our modeling choices are intentional and grounded in context, not just rote or random experimentation.

If you want to learn even more from Yayun: