My experience switching careers after 40!

How is it to move from an established old industry to the young, up-and-coming data analytics industry!

by Mario Payán Frias

After 25 years working in the supply chain and technology sector, managing people, designing and executing sales and operations plans, I decided to change careers. I was going to work in the analytics industry!

As you can imagine I was well after my fortieth birthday, but I was definitely going to make the switch. Some of the motivation for it was the challenge: don’t we need a little of that once in a while? It also had to be interesting, with opportunities to learn. Plus, I wanted to be doing meaningful work for a living. So there they were, the requisites for a new career: challenging, interesting and meaningful.

Analytics has always been there in my career, from my background in economics through every job, I used numbers/data to understand problems, situations, or environments.

So, I thought, I could be good at this!

Starting the move

I thought my first task was to find out if I really was any good, so I enrolled in a couple of courses, read data analysis blogs, & subscribed to Slack and Telegram groups. I was thinking of making a switch, so I thought I should know how the industry works, what the job position required from me and what could I actually be doing every day.

What I found out is that I wasn’t good enough for a job, but that I could be!

A ‘traditional’ analytics job requires strong mathematical skills, knowledge of programming languages (such as Python, SQL & R), technical proficiency regarding databases, proficiency in statistics, etc. Also, some soft skills like problem solving, attention to detail, team-working, communication skills, among others.

Getting those skills.

I enrolled in the Data Analysis Certification by 谷歌 at Coursera . The program is good because of the accreditations, flexibility, and career opportunities it provides. Compared to other similar certifications, it is a cheaper option without compromising quality content.

I also enrolled in a couple of programming courses at DataCamp , such as Python and SQL beginner courses. Datacamp is really good if you want to learn fast.

In order to get the feel and start using the tools, I downloaded and installed Tableau and 微软 Power BI. This turned out to be useful later.

The search

The pandemic struck just as I was seriously beginning to search for a job. This presented a couple of problems, but also opportunities. A problem was the economic downturn that forced us to hold on to what we had (at least for me). On this subject, I’m very grateful to great folks at my last job, they resisted the crisis and held down to us.

Second problem, the fact that we were at home all the time and not outside. You should know that my last job was in sales, managing a group of excellent individuals, trying to get what little was available in the network technology market.

This last ‘problem’ became an opportunity: remote jobs were growing, and international remote jobs were exploding. I felt that if I positioned myself, the jobs were there.

What makes a good job site?

You might think is listing a lot of jobs, good jobs and ultimately getting a job. Well, that’s important, but probably that’s going to take some time, and what should you do in the meantime? I think a good jobs site should be about the candidate, their presentation to potential employers, and growing their brand. Also, it’s great when the sites work with learning resources to improve a candidate’s skills and capabilities. At the end, I got my current job at an on-person event, so you never know!

At the time, my second job (actually third job, but that’s for another time, another conversation) was getting a job, a new job!

I subscribed to countless jobs sites, some of them very good, some not so good.

Starting from scratch

Indeed, beginnings and change are never easy. The extensive number of years I had spent in supply chain, technology and sales had left me slightly hesitant and nervous about whether I could adapt and perform in the data analysis industry.

These, I think, are the three most challenging things about the pivot:

1. Making the decision. Maybe you got it all figured out by now, but for me it was a months long process. In the end, you have to lean on your principles and trust your instincts; that’s what worked for me.
2. Knowing where you are in terms of skills and capabilities, and getting up to speed. Start with some beginner’s courses, that will tell you where you are and kick off your training as soon as possible.
3. Getting the actual job. I was lucky, I know that, but you have to keep trying. Treat it like a second job. You’ll get there.

Now, I find that all my experience and knowledge is going to be useful in any environment I choose to position myself. And I’m sure that my previous experience played a role in me getting hired earlier this year.

At the new job, these first months have been a great experience; lots of learning, working with smart people and striving to be better each day.

Many people ask me if I miss the supply chain industry. My answer is always a resounding, “Not at all!” I don’t at all regret my years in other industries, but I never found it as fulfilling personally as I do with data analysis at Ventagium Data Consulting .

I am certain that the decision was right, especially about the company. Ventagium Data Consulting is a unique kind of company, with great people, great ideas and great ambitions.

The data industry (analysis, science, machine learning and AI) is still growing, and no one knows what’s going to happen in the coming years. But for now I’m enjoying it, being next to great minds and most importantly great people.

Have fun with your pivot and feel free to reach out for advice!

Mario Payán Frias

Analytics Engineer

Ventagium Data Consulting

#Commitment, #fun, #openness, #honesty, #grittiness, #service and #hungerforgrowth