Career Change - how and why?

[RustyPrincess]

I always compare software development to the legal profession.

In the legal profession, you do get managers, but none of them are "just" managers. They all started as candidate attorneys and climbed the ranks to become associates and partners. You will never ever find a project manager at a law firm who does not have a law degree.

Compare that to software development - it is routine to have software developers be managed by people who are completely lacking in any technical qualification or experience. In fact, having technical ability in some cases prevents you from becoming a manager, because you are seen as valuable for your code output and not for your managerial skill or business acumen.

Anyway, regarding career changes.

I am busy doing two things, of which either one may become a career change.

I am studying data science and machine learning part time. I have chatted with my boss, and the plan is for me to study data science and machine learning a bit more and then see if we can come up with some ideas of how they might help our company. Then I will slowly transition away from development to more of a data science/machine learning role. I know that data science and machine learning are different - right now I aim to study both and then see which one I prefer.

And I am also writing a novel. I hope to publish that later this year. Chances are low that this first novel would be my breakout novel, but one needs to learn how to write somehow. Maybe my first novel will be a stinker, my second novel will stink a little less, and then perhaps eventually I can become a full time novelist.

Where are you studying Data Scince/Machine Learning? Links to online courses that you have done/are doing? This is something that interests me as well

 

[cguy]

While managers may be seen as more competent and valuable than developers, I'm coming to the opposite conclusion.
In my previous company in europe a team lead would need the necessary training and qualifications. Like wise for a manager.
Here it seems you just grow into the position, whether you have the skill set or not. SOME people have the natural talent for it, but not everyone is cut out to be a leader.

Pretty much everywhere I have worked in the US has always promoted from within. Although one has to be careful to promote the right person in the team (best engineer is not necessarily the best manager as you say), not having the domain knowledge of working in the team makes it nearly impossible to manage, so literally everyone from the first level managers to the senior VPs, are ex-engineers.

 

[zippy]

I have had 3 career changes. Each one under different circumstances. The one thing in common with each one though is that as soon as they started making noises that I should be thinking of promotion to some kind of managerial position, then that was usually the cue for me to GTFO

 

[Sinbad]

I see it as, if someone remains in a team for a long team, looking after a specific system, they eventually becomes managers because of their wealth of knowledge of the system.
So at the end of the day, we have managers that are technically strong but not "Soft Skill" strong based on the soft skills that is required to be a manager.

That's me.
Fortunately the company recognizes the need and thus I was on a full year leadership development program, as well as communication skills courses.

 

[Ancalagon]

Where are you studying Data Scince/Machine Learning? Links to online courses that you have done/are doing? This is something that interests me as well

Coursera - Data Science Specialization offered by the Johns Hopkins University
Coursera - Business and Financial Modelling Specialization
Edx - Microsoft Professional Program in Data Science

That is what I am doing right now. Later in this year, I plan to take a 7 course specialization in machine learning also from Coursera.

 

[Cornelius.van.Breda]

Was a music teacher, doing web development now, hoping I can a junior position in the 3 months so I can stop being poor.

 

[Priapus]

Used to be an I.T Technician; for about 7 years. Eventually got tired of the traveling and fixing broken ****. Now a mobile developer. Couldn't have been a better move for me, career and financially, wise.

 

[CamiKaze]

That's me.
Fortunately the company recognizes the need and thus I was on a full year leadership development program, as well as communication skills courses.

I've been on a 6 month soft skill course as well and I was extremely happy with what I have learned about myself and how to treat and communicate with others.
However, company policies always trump soft skills when you are a manager that can't stand on his own 2.
A weak manager that crumbles at the slightest disagreement from HR is bad for both the manager and his/her subordinates as you can't push their career forward in terms of growth.

All companies should recognize the need and importance of soft skills, and this is also why I want to move into a more soft skilled position so that I can be a better, well rounded individual in both my career and personal life.
All my experience will tell you is that I am technically sharp, but not a people's person. That's the barrier that I am trying to break with getting into a soft skilled role.