Switching Careers - Confused

fomskie

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So, I studied Accounting and have practiced IT Audit for 10 years. I now want to switch to a core IT area. My interest lies more in Software. I’m wondering whether an MSc in Data Science or Data Analytics would help bring about this change. Ive also been taking a look at the Software Engineering & Database Technologies MSc at NUI Galway...
Please I need help in making the right decision.
 
Software Developer and Data Analyst are two very different roles. I don't think an MSc in Data Science or Data Analytics will be of benefit if your real goal is to be a software developer writing code and creating new applications and software packages. For that, you would need to do the Software Engineering course, but then you will be looking for a junior starting position in software development. That could be a shock to the system from your current level.

Possibly you will be able to leverage more of your experience and soft skills if you focus on financial data anlaysis through the Data Analytics course, but it could be a bit of a specialised role - not sure.
 
What exactly do you want to do, and what industry is your experience in?
I'm an accountant, but I work in IT.

Accounting is a great door into some areas, without taking a big pay cut.

For example I know people who have successfully transitioned into Business Intelligence / reporting platforms. Not hard core programmers, but working with SQL, ETL and reporting tools.

Similarly people who work with package implementations. You might be half way to being a great ERP expert already.

I work more in large scale change / transformation, and while I design / test / implement solutions, I don't write code. Never have. There's lots in this area: business analyst / test / project manager.

You need to work out first what you would like to do, and then it's easier to figure out a path to get there.
 
Similarly people who work with package implementations. You might be half way to being a great ERP expert already.
I think its likely you will have reasonable experience here in functional requirement gathering or pre-sales activities. Most ERP systems are highly configurable at this stage so the traditional implementation role will be reduced over time. Companies are no longer as keen to pay System Integrators large sums of money to configure the highly configurable platform they have purchased - in general !!

I work more in large scale change / transformation, and while I design / test / implement solutions, I don't write code. Never have. There's lots in this area: business analyst / test / project manager.
I work in a similar area, although I imagine in a different industry to RedOnion. I have seen considerable change in the way these large scale transformation programmes have been run and managed over the last 5 years.
The days of implementing monolithic core platforms are quickly disappearing, and the shift to the cloud is very evident. The traditional role of solution architects not getting their hands dirty with code is disappearing and technical skills are necessary in those roles. Same applies with design resources, although they were more hands-on always. Business Analysts of old are being replaced by more agile focused Product Owner roles where design and analysis skills are needed. Yes, PM's normally sit about the technical stuff but they are becoming a dine a dozen ! QA/Test roles are still relatively technical with SQL/Unix skills an essential part of the role.
Enterprise Architects mostly don't get involved with code level, but are expected to know and understand the industry very well and is not an entry level position.
I have managed to spend the last 15 years moving away from code, and probably not writing a line of it for the last 12 or so - but slowly I find myself needing to brush up on the technical skills again to make myself relevant in the marketplace. My latest dip into the market was a major shock to me as to how things had changed/moved on in the last few years. Ways of working in IT is rapidly changing at the moment, and is likely to continue !

You need to work out first what you would like to do, and then it's easier to figure out a path to get there.
Absolutely, and once you work that out, also look at job specifications for the role you are aiming for. You might be surprised at the requirements for the job.
You will also find crossing industry is tricky enough without a very transferable skill.


The other option to consider is joining a consulting company and seeing what exposure you can get and see what you best like? This is not for everyone, but is a decent option for some.

Good luck with it all
 
So, I studied Accounting and have practiced IT Audit for 10 years. I now want to switch to a core IT area. My interest lies more in Software. I’m wondering whether an MSc in Data Science or Data Analytics would help bring about this change. Ive also been taking a look at the Software Engineering & Database Technologies MSc at NUI Galway...
Please I need help in making the right decision.

If you are genuinely interested in IT or Data Analytics you should have done some little projects yourself. Maybe automating some tasks, you do at work, or reporting etc. So if you have done anything like that, it should point you at he direction you want to go in. There IT people who don't do this, its just a job. That's also valid. But it will make it harder task to switch.

I couldn't start over a the bottom of the ladder. If I was you, like has been suggested I'd leverage your financial experience.
 
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