To quit job to retrain in tech?

[Toleaveornot]

I'm 41 and stuck in a job that feels totally wrong for my personality. I'm managing a small team in a fast moving, high pressure environment, with lots of demanding clients and a director who is unclear about what he wants and constantly changing his mind.

I hate being a manager, I'm just not suited to it, or to such a high stress environment. I'm much better having space to concentrate and do detailed, quality work, rather than constant firefighting.

I have in the past done business analyst type roles but without any significant tech skills (just Excel and some bespoke business intelligence software). I'm trying to apply for those type of roles but I think I need to upskill. Also I think my current job title is one that's not easily recognisable to recruiters. So I'm not having much luck.

I also have a three month notice period.

Would I mad to quit, take a breather and brush up on my tech skills? Maybe even do some more intensive data analyst training, as I feel this is the kind of area where my strengths would lie. I have savings to last me almost a year and a supportive husband in a steady job.

Scared to leave without another job to go to but I feel like this job is going to give me a nervous breakdown soon, I just can't hack it for much longer. Is it career suicide or does this sound like a reasonable idea?

"I'm managing a small team in a fast moving, high pressure environment, with lots of demanding clients and a director who is unclear about what he wants and constantly changing his mind."

You have just described being a manager or senior engineer of a software engineering team.
I wouldn't say going into tech is a mistake, but it won't get you away from the constant changing requirements

I take your point but I'm not looking to be a manager again or to be a software engineer.

I'm looking at data analysis. I like problem solving, I'm analytical and I'm at my best doing in-depth work rather than managing the work of others.

To be honest, being a data analyst is much the same kind of culture and work just different tools

That's really not true, analysts work across a broad range of companies in just about every sector imaginable. It's a different skillset to management (though of course there can be some overlap).

I've worked as a business analyst in the transport sector and it certainly wasn't fast paced.

Would love to hear from anyone who has done similar.

Also anyone working in data analytics.

The tech job market isn’t as buoyant as it was. But this is not a bad plan. If you want a head down, just do the detailed work job then you are likely to find you struggle to progress beyond mid-level jobs if you really really don’t like any kind of management responsibility. If you have client-facing skills that will be valuable, even if you don’t want to be in a primarily client facing role.

Some tech companies offer internships or academy programmes, where you get on the job training and then progress to an entry level position. Career switchers are as welcome as new grads. It will be harder to find programmes offering data or business analyst roles than software development, but worth investigating. Maybe try the British Computing Society (BCS)?

Depending what other skills and interests you have you might find data-related work in areas like search engine optimisation and digital marketing could work too. If you’re happy to use your project mgt and client handling skills in the interim you might find an “in” that way.

personally I’d be wary of the “boot camp” type intensive programmes just cos so many of them are a rip off. But there are lots of good value, self-directed learning resources available via platforms like Udemy.

I would recommend looking for networking events near you for tech companies and IT. Look on LinkedIn, Meet-up and Eventbrite. Chat to people in person about the kind of jobs available and what you are looking for, and also the skills you can offer.

Thanks so much @Daffidale that's really helpful.

I did wonder if the bootcamps were any good, big promises but big prices too. I have applied to do a Code First Girls course in Data and SQL so I'm hoping to get started with that.

I think I could potentially be a manager in a different environment though it's definitely not something I'm actively seeking.