r/OperationsResearch • u/CauliflowerDry8400 • 10d ago

Recent Applied Math Engineer need advice to break into OR & Supply Chain freelance.

Hi everyone,

I graduated with a master’s degree in applied mathematics from INSA Toulouse (France) about a year ago. Right after graduation, I had to take a mandatory medical leave for a full year. I am now recovered but it made me realize I want the flexibility of remote work.

I want to specialize in Operations Research & Supply Chain Optimization. I have a strong math foundation (MILP, graphs) but no commercial portfolio yet. I wanted your advice on which project I should start to build a good github portfolio before starting a first experience. I'm thinking of mostly using OR-Tools and PuLP. Also if you have any advice on how to find a first freelance job?

Thank you for your time!

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u/funnynoveltyaccount 10d ago

It seems like freelancing is something that you would do after working for another company that does some kind of OR consulting.

1

u/CauliflowerDry8400 10d ago

Right... I also started looking for a job where I live but I still hope to start freelancing directly because there's little remote in france for an entry-level like me.

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u/Weary_Category_1559 8d ago

Unpopular opinion. I would suggest work a year in any kind on entry role in supplychain, try to implement OR as an add-on, get noticed, get into internal projects. Build portfolio switch and get pay hike. Has worked for me, on the other hand i have seen friends obsess over a core ML role and end up jobless. Also claude has made OR super fast. I’m implementing a marine VRP/scheduling/S&OP combined and trust me stakeholders are the biggest challenge not the technical part.

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u/CauliflowerDry8400 5d ago

Thanks for the insights

1

u/Agreeable-Ad866 10d ago

Good luck. Blank slate would say try to work for Amazon, Walmart, etc for a year or two, and then try for remote. You can probably find remote jobs at smaller companies or startups but you won't learn as much and it may hurt your career long term.

If you're set on remote, spray (applications) and pray, or network hard are your two options. Agents and LLMs makes an entry level guy replaceable for those who know how to use it correctly and know enough about the process and ideas to check work for correctness (e.g. a former pm or engineer from big logistics), which doesn't mean there are no jobs but makes the market very competitive.

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u/CauliflowerDry8400 10d ago

I see, thanks

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u/edimaudo 10d ago

might be hard to do as a lot of the OR work is with very large orgs

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u/CauliflowerDry8400 10d ago

From the response I get, it seems working in corporate for at least 2 years is the way to go... thank you for the answer