Looking for a stable career change? We get you.
It’s no secret that nearly every industry is undergoing rapid change thanks to the introduction of AI into the job market. For many reasons, some of us feel unsure about what the future of most industries will look like.
If you’re looking to use this time as an opportunity to enter a new industry (but are unsure where to start), you’ve come to the right place.
It’s tough to imagine a job that offers long-term growth, remote work opportunities and the potential to earn six figures only a few short years into your career. Especially one that won’t compromise your morals. Thankfully, there are a rare few job opportunities out there that will let you find a solid life balance with a livable income. One such job is data science.
Data science has become one of the most in-demand skills on the job market today. If you have a knack for recognising trends and successfully communicating them to people, you might be able to make it your day job.
The folks at Coder Academy have also just launched a new Diploma of Data Science course. The course is designed with complete beginners in mind, so all you’ll need is a laptop and an interest in the field to get started.
Here’s everything you need to know about what data scientists do and if it might be the right field for you.
What do data scientists do?
Data scientists extract actionable insights from large datasets to solve complex problems and drive industry decision-making. Their work involves a blend of technical, analytical, and communication skills tailored to organisational goals. Basically, you’re the big brain everyone goes to when they need an idea.
Your role will be to combine that data and form a solid business plan. You’ll look at a wide variety of data to uncover trends that might be helpful to you. These can range from numbers to social media videos of people going crazy over the Minecraft movie.
Most importantly, you’ll have to communicate this data in a way anyone can understand.
Why become a data scientist?
So, why become a data scientist, you might ask?
You’ll be setting yourself up as an in-demand talent in a highly specialised field. With the rapid growth of AI, the need for experts who can understand and break down information has become all the more desired. In fact, stats confirm that demand for data scientists is expected to grow by 35 per cent by 2032, far outpacing average growth in other sectors.
In other words, data scientists aren’t locked into one specific industry. They can work in a wide variety of sectors, including healthcare, finance, and government.
If that sounds too straight and corporate for you, don’t worry. There are plenty of niche and fun opportunities as well. These can include a fashion e-commerce analyst, a baseball analyst, or a psychometrician, (AKA someone who’s really good at analysing Meyers-Briggs test results).
Aamod Paudel, an academic at Coder Academy, says that data science is the perfect role for someone attuned to pattern recognition.
“If you like solving problems, spotting patterns, asking, ‘What does this really mean?’ or ‘What would it look like in the future?’, you’re already thinking like a data scientist,” says Paudel. “You don’t need to be a numbers whiz — just someone who enjoys learning and figuring things out.”
What if I want a career in tech, but data science isn’t for me?
There are tons of different avenues for you to choose from. One avenue that’s booming right now that will let you flex those creative muscles is web development.
Web development is a solid career path for any visual thinker who loves to build pretty websites (and get paid to do it). It is also one of the most accessible and creative paths into tech. Alex Holder, an academic at Coder Academy for Web Dev, agrees.
“We view web development as an entryway into numerous areas of computer programming, so you don’t need any prior knowledge about coding or information technology,” says Holder.
Like data science, web development is one of the most in-demand roles right now and offers plenty of opportunities to work in various fields. Every business needs a website and someone who can make it look slick and easy to use.
What do web developers do?
As you can guess, web developers are responsible for everything to do with someone’s website. There are also tons of different specialisations a web dev can choose from, depending on what areas they like more.
These specialisations break down into ‘front-end’ (the interfaces you interact with in web browsers), ‘back-end’ (the servers and software that connect websites) and ‘dev-ops’ (the systems in place to allow your front and back ends to scale as a business grows) roles.
Holder told us that front-end jobs are best suited to devs who love solving people-facing problems like designing websites for improved accessibility or usage on different devices.
Alternatively, back-end developers prefer working on software behind the scenes. “The back-end is all about creating consistent behaviours in software for other software to use – many like this area because it has different features to build and more straightforward problems to solve”.
Dev-ops is a bit unique, but it’s the most fun for pro web devs. As Holder puts it, dev ops like “shiny new things”, making it the perfect role for someone who loves creating or orchestrating big, complex systems (couldn’t be me). If you’ve ever set up a hectic Redstone machine in Minecraft, dev-ops is essentially the website-building version of this. You set up a system, and watch all the different parts of that system operate.
Most courses will prepare students to become generalists, able to decide on what specialty they’d like to take up as they start their careers in web dev.
So, if you’re like me and think we peaked with the original ’90s Space Jam website (flaming gif at the bottom of the page and all), now’s your chance to be the change you wanna see.
Is it worth transitioning from one industry to another?
Transitioning into a different career is tough, that’s for sure. But when the itch comes to spread your wings and try something new, it’s hard to ignore it.
When it comes to in-demand jobs like data science or web development, the biggest barrier is interrogating your motivations for wanting to pivot. You’ll also want to consider the length of time it’ll take to upskill. Some professions could take one to several years to build up a new portfolio for yourself.
With data science and web development, while some courses focus on the theory, others prioritise setting you up with a portfolio so you can hit the ground running.
Paudel says that for their course, they wanted to introduce students to real-life scenarios to prepare them for the outside world.
“[Our] course is designed to be as practical and hands-on as possible. We focus on applying skills in real-world scenarios. You’ll work on projects, collaborate in live sessions, and get plenty of support along the way.”
To help students prepare for the wider tech industry, Coder Academy also contacts industry experts to share insights, trends, and career advice.
“We’re not guessing what’s in demand,” says Paudel. “We’re hearing it directly from the people doing the hiring.”
Anyone who’s been to university can already tell you it can feel like a full-time job. One of the toughest barriers people face when pivoting into a new field is finding the time to learn while paying the bills. (Thank you, cost of living crisis).
Keeping this in mind, and to tailor the experience to people looking to transition, Coder Academy designed its courses to allow students to complete them 100 per cent online, which is nice. Especially if you want to avoid lugging yourself around the city to attend an early morning lecture.
Because it’s also an online experience, Coder Academy ensures that students have plenty of ways to connect with alumni and support systems.
“Our partnerships team is there to help with resume reviews, interview prep, and portfolio feedback –– all geared towards helping students feel confident when they’re applying for roles,” says Paudel.
“While we don’t guarantee job placements, optional industry placement opportunities are available through the partnerships team for eligible students who want to gain more hands-on experience,” says Paudel. Talk about a great way to hit the ground running, right?
The tech field is booming right now and is expected to grow continuously in the future. A tech role is a great move if you’re getting the itch to change from whatever role you’re in for something more analytical with a solid work-life balance.
If you’re serious about levelling up your career, check out Coder Academy’s hands-on 100 per cent online courses, which can help you turn your passion for tech into a real-world career. If you’re curious, be sure to download their Data Science or Web Development course guides to see if it’s the right fit for you.
The post Wanna Start A Career In Tech While Working Full-Time? These Courses Can Get You Started appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
