Career Change to Software Engineering

[NeedAChallenge]

Hey.
Looking for a career change and seeking some inspiration and guidance from fellow mumsnetters.
I'm a secondary school computing teacher who's fairly ok at Python. Fed up of teaching and the high expectations / demands placed on teachers for unrealistic results. Looking to go into DevOps / software engineering as I love a problem solving in Python.
Anyone done something similar with any experiences to share?
Thanks

You’ve basically described soft dev. Here “high expectations / demands placed on [teachers] for unrealistic results”. 😂

my degree is software engineering and at 50 I have NO desire to return to the fold. If you thought dealing with a HT/LA/parent body was horse shit - wait until you meet your new SCRUM “master”.

Your mileage of course, may vary.

I'm looking at leaving software engineering ...

Mainly because of this and ridiculously demanding clients Fed up of teaching and the high expectations / demands placed on teachers for unrealistic results

The pressure is horrible and has left me with palpitations, anxiety, depression and I literally feel sick before work every day.

I'm applying for other roles but so are 100s of other people, it seems!

Oh my gosh! Snap!! 😳😳😳🤣

@NeedAChallenge how about looking at database administration (SQL, Pyhton etc). I'm not sure if the pressure is the same but hopefully another poster will know x

Scrum Master here .... and it is not all bad 😀

Scrum Master or project management might be another route to consider. you are still solving problems ... but at a different level. Yes, there will always be focus to deliver against plan... but overall I do enjoy the work.

You can / will meet awful people in all walks of life... but you can also meet great people.!

I do a bit of DBA work these days - it’s pretty mindless, but low-pressure.

My bad attitude 😉 when it comes to “real” soft dev is that agile/scrum flies in the face of “good engineering”. Instead of building the best, most robust software, there’s always pressure for “release any old shite as long as it approximately works and we’ll just tack on some new functionality later” which HURTS my sense of doing it right. 😉 what’s the point of being an engineer when you’re told to just “hack” it? 😔

I moved from dev to PM work and had to order the devs to churn out shite.

Ugh, maybe better software houses than the one I was in of course. Think household name/stuff you use daily. 😉

release any old shite as long as it approximately works and we’ll just tack on some new functionality later

I feel seen.... lol!

Thanks all for your responses. Very helpful. I have considered becoming a Scrum Master and quite attractive as it's more of a project management role and less pressure on the coding side but more about how to manage the project.

@SilverViking any advice for one in my position get into it? Thank you

Given your teaching background I assume you have good people skills, maybe look at product owner roles within IT. I’m essentially a data product owner and it’s good. But it does depend on your stakeholders and your development / scrum team. I’m lucky as both as good - just need a good scrum master now

@Idontgiveagriffindamn thanks for this. Will look into that.
In your industry is it quite easy to move around jobs within a company and do you usually get noticed for your skill set and encouraged to move around based on what you're good at?

@NeedAChallenge

I came into it from software development via project management. Luckily my employer is big enough that it is realitively easy to swap roles ... especially when projects complete

I would say your technical background plus organisational skills will be the core skills that would open the door for employment. For Scrum Master, have a browse through online courses to get a feel for the roll and jargon - what the ceremonies are, who you would interact with, userstories, sprints and tools used to track users stories.

From experience, most organisations have a slightly different implementation of Scrum.. so for us it is transferable skills that are most important.

Are there many jobs in your area? It will depend if companies are looking for experienced Scrum Masters or just people with the skills that could train up.

In our company it is then easy to move into Product Owner roles. There are also occasionally roles/ projects in training ... which could be a strength for you given your teaching background.

Any chance of a hint on which company?

Former Project Manager, had a few years out to parent, now looking to go back to work but with a fresh challenge. Product Owner roles are the ones I keep being told it’s worth looking at with my background.

@GenAndWine unfortunately there is recruitment freeze in UK for foreseeable future, except for Apprentices. Development centres in India are being grown at the moment.

Thanks for responding, all. Definitely given me some points to ponder over.

I was made redundant yesterday! And there are so many recruitment freezes.

I've applied for roles with 1000s of applicants and some of them called me to say that they've removed the job advert due to the economy :(

I'm so anxious about it all. Skills shortage my ass. 🤣

From WFH to local - so so many applicants. I've noticed that salaries aren't as high as what they were 6 months ago!

I posted on LinkedIn about it but it was met by others in the same situation.

@DingleDangleJingleJangle sorry to hear that. Hope you find a suitable role soon and that salaries and opportunities pick back up again. I've heard lots of contractors are now looking to move into permanent roles since IR35 rules changes.

It is worrying isn't it.

Oh @DingleDangleJingleJangle I’m sorry to hear that. I hope you find something else suited soon.

Thanks everyone :)

The irony in me saying I'm looking to leave the industry and then POOFF! My wish came true but not on my terms 😞

I had noted my manager was overly kind and chilled out yesterday before the news broke. Typical Friday redundancy!

what salary range are you wanting, OP?

Hi there,
It sounds like you are looking for a change and are interested in pursuing a career in DevOps or software engineering. Making a career change can be daunting, but with the right mindset and approach, it can also be very rewarding.
It's great to hear that you have experience in Python and enjoy problem-solving. DevOps and software engineering are both fields that require strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work well in a team.
One suggestion would be to start by doing some research on the different roles within DevOps and software engineering to determine which path you would like to pursue. There are many different paths within these fields, such as system administration, cloud engineering, automation, and more.
It may also be helpful to network with people who work in these fields to gain insights into their experiences and to learn more about the industry. You could join online communities or attend meetups to connect with professionals in the field.
Lastly, consider taking courses or pursuing certifications to gain the necessary skills and knowledge for your desired role. Many online resources are available, such as Udemy, Coursera, and edX.
Good luck with your career change, and remember to stay positive and keep learning!