Data science

[RandomName39]

I am at a bit of a crossroads - I've had a very difficult year for personal reasons but also am looking to face the fact that at nearly 40 I really have no interest in my current role (qualified accountant for the last ten years). I am very lucky in that I would have the opportunity to consider a career change, but obviously this is a big step. I'd be interested in hearing if anyone has retrained in data science and what sorts of roles they have? I have a first degree in an arts subject. Thanks in advance.

Hi @RandomName39 Sorry to hear you've had a difficult year. I'm a teacher a few years older than you and am just about to start an online MSc in computer science and data analytics. The plan is to do this whilst still working, but I'd also really like to hear how people have successfully retrained in data/computer science roles. Do you know what sort of role you want to go into?

Hi @Whatstheweatherlike interesting that you're in a similar position. Are you doing the York masters? How exciting! I'm at a very early stage of thinking although I can see there are some civil service roles that I might be interested in. I got pretty burnt out in my current role and trying to get to the stage where I can think clearly before taking any big steps.

Data science was hot a few years ago but I'd be wary of doing a masters or bootcamp and trying to break into the career in our late 30's/early 40's. The uni's are happy to take your money for the masters but there's absolutely no guarantee of a career afterwards and you're competing with a much younger group. I have a second degree from the OU in a related field (1st class) so not without knowledge.

It is possible, so don't give up but.........research it first

Do you enjoy coding? Data science is very much crossed over with computer science. Primarily using Python and R. If you don't think you'd like that then I'd rethink as it's not really just about mathematics and statistics nowadays. It is a bit age discriminatory in the fact that you'll be up against bright young things also with Masters and PhDs, however I do think it's good to have a dose of common sense in the field which tends to come with age! My first degree was Statistics.

@DataCrunch @saladcruncher thanks very much. I have to say I don't have coding experience (my background is in accounts and tax) and I am very wary of paying for a masters and finding nothing at the end of it - i have a young child so do have constraints. I might have a look at a mooc and see how I get on.

Yes, it is the York masters! I've applied for the AI/data science scholarship with them which would cover the fees, but I won't find out if I've been successful for a couple of weeks.

I can relate to the burn out as that's where I am with teaching. I hate what the job has become and know without a shadow of a doubt that I need to get out. I've known for a while though, so have spent quite a bit of time researching jobs and have learnt to code (just Python so far!).

Have you looked at the Women in Data website?
https://womenindata.co.uk/
It's a good place to explore different areas and there's lots of information about supportng women in the data workforce.

I'd like to join this chat please! Had my children late (am early/mid 40s and still one in nursery for three more years!) and looking to slowly retrain over the next few years as I think my job (copywriting) is going to become harder and harder with AI. I'm certainly finding it harder to get work.
I'm looking at data analytics things and will do the free courses to try and swot up. I'd also love to do a masters and have savings but as said previously don't want to waste money on something that doesn't have guaranteed value!

Another one here! I've considered data science for some time. I had a data scientist the other day and he thought that for my wants DS was overkill and what I really wanted was analytics. He suggested I took online courses and see where they took me.

I’ve done this - retrained seven years ago, doing a conversion masters based on an arts-based BA. I found work in analytics in the same field I previously worked; easier to change role than change field in the same move.

I have honestly felt out of my depth sometimes and don’t enjoy the stats side much. Stem graduates are at an advantage. Many courses have sprung up to teach the skills but check the destinations of their graduates. Be honest that you have the interest and aptitude to build the technical skills. As an accountant, you will be numerate already! The job market for good opportunities is tight though.

@Whatstheweatherlike thanks for the link to Women in Data and good luck with the scholarship!

Nice to see others are looking at this route and @dotdotdotdash thank you very much for sharing your experience retraining. I'll have a go at an online course and see how I get on.

This might be of interest - Government Data Science apprenticeships

https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/1000229402

@Turkeyhen thank you very much for posting.

Just wondering how folks who started this thread are getting on with their career change into data (science)? I'm nearly 50 and half way through a data science conversion MSc. I've come from a 15+yr career in a totally unrelated field. No tech background or contacts. I took redundancy last year (from a well-paid job, but in a dying sector, which was slowly crushing my soul) with the desire to retrain and move into something data related. I'm really enjoying the MSc, although finding it hard. I'm also currently in a massive self-doubt spiral that I've done the wrong thing and that I have no hope of such a drastic career change at this ripe old age and that I've totally screwed myself. I need to be working again by September at the latest (that's the longest I can stretch out my redudancy pay-out).

Has anyone managed this (or an equally drastic) career change successfully?

I complete my data science masters, but couldn't find a data science role that would take me at the salary level I required. I'm working data science adjacent now as a business analyst, in a role I already had experience in. I'm hoping to transition in to roles that use my degree more in the future, but for now I don't think it has opened any doors for me.

My degree and much of my career were in Early Years education, but I became good at data analytics, evaluation and measuring, evidencing outcomes, and that's what I've been doing for a few years. I'm the Head of Data for a national charity and don't believe you need a masters. You do need to understand the systems, PowerBI, tableau and all the various CRMs out there, but you can self study a lot of these. A PP has mentioned Women in Data, I too would recommend signing up and accessing the webinars and just harnessing the experience. There are tons of jobs in data, so consider what industry you want to work in, the voluntary sector is always advertising roles.

@LetMeGoogleThat that's interesting... I'm doing the DS MSc because it was free and given that I had no background in tech or data, seemed like way to get a foot into that world.

Your job sounds great - in fact, exactly like the kind of thing I'd like to do. As I'm getting more into the MSc I'm realising that it's the data analytics I enjoy more than the predictive/ modelling stuff. Would you mind if I DM'ed you to pick your brain about what you do and how you got there?

I started working in data science a couple of years ago - I already had a background in stats and this was a path that opened up to me by chance. I love it but the difference between me (over 40) and all the 20-somethings coming into the department straight from uni and MSc courses is huge. They almost seem 'natural' at it while I have to work very hard to keep up and there are depths I know I'll never get to which they understand with ease. It's a huge divide and I've had to accept it's probably not something I'll ever overcome!

No problem!