Data science job prospects? Age discrimination?

Ekhert

I keep reading that data science is projected to be the fastest growing job over the next several years. So job prospects in data science are high. And I have the aptitude for it; I used to be a computer programmer, before retiring.


But now my situation has changed, and I need to return to work.


If I get a certificate or master's degree in data science, are people with such skills in so great demand that they could get hired, despite age discrimination? (I’m now 65, but look 8 to 10 years younger.)

Sncjw

How will you find your course and how long will it take to complete.

TELLIT01

That's an impossible question to answer. Even if it was possible to answer about the current job market there is no way of knowing what the situation will be if/when you get certified or obtain a degree.
It would certainly be more difficult to obtain employment at or after state retirement age, but that doesn't mean it would be impossible. Whether or not age discrimination is applicable when applying for jobs at that age, I don't know.

Gavin83

I think IT is an area where age descrimination is rife. It's a fairly new area and I think most people would rather hire someone fresh out of uni with a mathematics related degree than someone pushing 70. They'd likely see someone younger as having more appetite, being more susceptible to change and generally being better with technology, whether true or not. Harsh but probably true.

If you wish to return to an IT role I'd suggest going back to what your experience is in, development.

z1a

What has how old you think you look got to do with it?

Marcon

If you haven't read this you might find it helpful to do so: https://towardsdatascience.com/why-so-many-data-scientists-are-leaving-their-jobs-a1f0329d7ea4

motorguy

Ekhert wrote: »

I keep reading that data science is projected to be the fastest growing job over the next several years. So job prospects in data science are high. And I have the aptitude for it; I used to be a computer programmer, before retiring.


But now my situation has changed, and I need to return to work.


If I get a certificate or master's degree in data science, are people with such skills in so great demand that they could get hired, despite age discrimination? (I’m now 65, but look 8 to 10 years younger.)

How do you know you have the aptitude for it?

Data science work is very different to being a developer.

A certificate or diploma is going to give you no practical experience in data science and you're going to be up against people with recent experience who have maybe several years experience or more in the field or working as a junior in the field. Your competition isnt going to be people fresh out of university its going to be people with relevant experience.

How much do you hope / expect / need to earn? What age do you now want / need to work to?

jonnygee2

Programmers are already in demand. If you are already a qualified and experienced programmer, you'll be able to find work.

How long have you been out of work? And have you kept up to date?

agrinnall

At the age of 50 I gave up working in IT and a couple of years later did a Masters in a subject not dissimilar to Data Science. Despite graduating with Distinction I failed in my attempts to find a job in the field that I had trained for, and in many cases never got selected for interview or even a reply, and I'm convinced that in some of those cases my age was a factor. Fortunately I got a job in a related field through a contact and I'm still in that job 7 years later, but I'm not sure I'd want to be looking at post-retirement age. Although I can understad why you may well not want to go back to what you were doing before in IT you might want to think if there is something that is more closely related that you would be prepared to do where your experience would be a significant factor.

Doshwaster

Marcon wrote: »

If you haven't read this you might find it helpful to do so: https://towardsdatascience.com/why-so-many-data-scientists-are-leaving-their-jobs-a1f0329d7ea4

That's an interesting article.

Data science can be a fascinating area to work in and can achieve results which would have been impossible 20 years ago but there are many "data science" companies out there selling little more than hot air. They litter their websites with buzzwords and promise to solve everything from curing cancer to solving financial crimes but their results don't always live up to the hype.

Programming skills are important but there is also a lot of mathematics and you need to understand the domain you are working in.