Data Analysis as a new career

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Salvadore

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Grateful for any advice. I'm in my early 50s and considering a career change. I'm currently a senior manager in the public sector.

I've done a bit of research into data analytics and its place in the future and I feel it's an area I'd be good at and would enjoy.

Financially, it wouldn't matter so much if I had to take a step back if it meant I could continue working for another 10 or 15 years.

My reservation is probably social. Is it a "young person's" gig? Would I look like an elderly lemon in a google-type environment? Would I be required to wear low-hanging jeans with my underwear visible to the world?

You get my concerns. :) Grateful for any insights.
 
You handy with databases / excel. Willing to be able to keep up to date with technologies. Look into masters or other courses that are about before you make the leap.

Best of luck with your decision!
 
I don't think it's a young person's gig - that would be more coding and scripting. With Data analysis, having a background in using the data that you are analysing is usually seen as a good thing.
 
You what ? I am 50+ and write reams of code every day for which I am handsomely remunerated :)
 
Go for it. Bear in mind that Data Analytics can encompass anything from glorified database admin to statistics and machine learning. You'll need to figure out what you're aiming for. You're never too old. I'm 50+ and just getting into machine learning for analysing stellar spectra to plot the chemical evolution of our galaxy, from hydrogen to hippopotami. (Perhaps I should say I'm about to find out if I'm too old :eek: ). Unfortunately you probably are too old for the visible underwear unless you're a contractor working alone. :D
 
seamless said:
You what ? I am 50+ and write reams of code every day for which I am handsomely remunerated :)
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Yes but you're not starting at square one surrounded by coders straight out of college at same pay as you...

ps although if you are writing reams of code I hope they aren't paying you by line...
 
Thanks for all the replies guys. Very encouraging. Couple of courses in DBS I’m thinking of looking at.
 
odyssey06 said:
Yes but you're not starting at square one surrounded by coders straight out of college at same pay as you...
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That's a positive though; people should be paid for how good they are at doing their job, not for how long they have been doing it. I hate the idea of pay increases being linked to how shinny the This post will be deleted if not edited to remove bad language of your trousers is.
 
Purple said:
That's a positive though; people should be paid for how good they are at doing their job, not for how long they have been doing it. I hate the idea of pay increases being linked to how shinny the This post will be deleted if not edited to remove bad language of your trousers is.
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I was thinking more along the lines of shock to the system of going from a senior position, to a starter position surrounded by people of a different generation... those starter positions would typically be a "young person's gig" which the OP seems to be concerned about.
 
odyssey06 said:
I was thinking more along the lines of shock to the system of going from a senior position, to a starter position surrounded by people of a different generation... those starter positions would typically be a "young person's gig" which the OP seems to be concerned about.
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True, but as long as you are a reasonably confident that shouldn't be an issue.
 
Depending on where you plan to work, my experience now is that IT is a middle age world. The whippersnappers from college are only interested in joining Google, Facebook and Twitter. Most other places are full of 30 to 50 year olds. I started in my mid 30's and found it no problem. Just don't expect to be able to order people around and you'll be fine.
 
I am in my mid 40's. I went back to college to do a Masters in Data Science. Just finished year 1 and I have been offered a job within my existing company in this field and on higher money. Most people on the team are in their mid to late 40's. It might be wise to decide whether you want data analysis or data science as they are different and so is the pay gap.
 
[QUOTE="alexandra123, post: It might be wise to decide whether you want data analysis or data science as they are different and so is the pay gap.[/QUOTE]

Thanks again everyone for your interest.

Alexandra, I’ve seen both terms used, almost interchangeably, without getting any clear sense of what the difference is.

I don’t have a strong IT background although I’m pretty good at maths-based work which I understand is very relevant.
 
Best of luck with whatever you decide but I do think there is a big difference between mid 40s and mid 50s when it comes to job hunting. I know it's only based on my own personal experience and of small town Ireland, probably much easier in the cities, but I found once you were old enough to be the interviewer's parent you were going nowhere!

I was offered jobs where the interviewers were similar in age to myself, so depends probably on the management age profiles in companies you are likely to be applying to.
 
For what it's worth ..

My recent experience of looking for a suitable position led me to conclude that age is a factor. I have made many applications for jobs whose description could have been lifted off my CV. Each of these were through recruitment agencies and none of them resulted in an interview.
Money wasn't a factor because I didn't set an expectation, nor was I asked.
Experience wasn't a factor; I have way more than was specified.

This led me to believe that my age was being held against me. I didn't give my date of birth but did claim over 30 years experience in IT.

I'm now on a daily-rate contract 'til the end of this year that I got through personal contacts. If I'm back out on market next year, I'll be claiming "over 10 years experience".
 
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