To wonder how to break back into my old career after 20 years.

[mrsbaffled]

I used to work in data analysis until I left to have my children 20 years ago. I was an expert in my field. I was unable to return to my original job as my children have SEN and would never have settled in a nursery or childminder. I chose to be a SAHM and when they were older I ended up in an unrelated field which I have really enjoyed until recently (been there ten years).

I now feel it’s time to move on and feel the call back into data. I have a very good degree and feel that I have ‘wasted’ it. Last year I did a codecademy python course to refresh my coding skills.

AIBU to wonder how to get back into the field. I would like to break back into data science - would it be worth doing an MSc, more courses like Codecademy or just try applying for jobs? I love learning, but don’t want to spend time on something that I don’t have to.

Thank so much in advance - I feel at a bit of a crossroads at the moment … if I don’t jump now I feel like I will never do it and be stuck in what I am doing now forever.

Don't waste your time on a masters / further education, as others have said you have relevant experience, you just need to update it a bit :) Do you want to work on data manipulation, business intelligence / data science and similar roles or something else?
After Python, R is a good language to look at, and (though in parts a buzzword and I don't know about that side of it a lot) AI, LLMs (aka data version of chat gpt) data interpretation too.