Job hunting - data qualifications
Discussion
I’ve been at my current firm for 15 years and feel I need a change. I’m in no hurry to go anywhere but I am starting to have itchy feet.
I was brought over into my current role 8 years ago to help to set up the department. It’s been a blast, even the tough bits, and as things have grown, I now manage 4/5 of the department ( data scientists, BI developers and BAs). I am also responsible for numerous strategic projects. I’ve learnt a lot and really love my peeps. But salary hasn’t kept up with the role, and that’s unfortunately a non negotiable as far as senior management goes. Oh and now the department head has gone they’re not planning to replace them in a hurry.
I don’t have a computer science or data degree. I’ve managed to get quite a few of my colleagues onto level 4-7 data apprenticeship courses but could never justify doing it for myself (on the basis that I was not doing their jobs). I have done a few certifications in my own time (I enjoy studying). I’m reasonably proficient in SQL, regex, R. I’m a metadata, lineage and data modelling nerd. I’m also a fairly experienced public speaker and people / change manager.
The business uses Qlik rather than power BI so that is something I am learning in my own time with a view to taking the certification exam in the summer.
I am quite excited to find that data management is now a ‘thing’. It’s something I gravitate towards. So I have joined DAMA. Is their certification program worth doing?
I’ve had a couple of interviews so far but haven’t heard anything back yet.
Is there anything else I can do to make myself more marketable? Head of roles seem to attract 100s of applicants, and the expectation for many of the roles I have seen is that many employers want data scientists/engineers to actually do the doing, whereas I’ve had to delegate all that in order to make sure things run ok.
I was brought over into my current role 8 years ago to help to set up the department. It’s been a blast, even the tough bits, and as things have grown, I now manage 4/5 of the department ( data scientists, BI developers and BAs). I am also responsible for numerous strategic projects. I’ve learnt a lot and really love my peeps. But salary hasn’t kept up with the role, and that’s unfortunately a non negotiable as far as senior management goes. Oh and now the department head has gone they’re not planning to replace them in a hurry.
I don’t have a computer science or data degree. I’ve managed to get quite a few of my colleagues onto level 4-7 data apprenticeship courses but could never justify doing it for myself (on the basis that I was not doing their jobs). I have done a few certifications in my own time (I enjoy studying). I’m reasonably proficient in SQL, regex, R. I’m a metadata, lineage and data modelling nerd. I’m also a fairly experienced public speaker and people / change manager.
The business uses Qlik rather than power BI so that is something I am learning in my own time with a view to taking the certification exam in the summer.
I am quite excited to find that data management is now a ‘thing’. It’s something I gravitate towards. So I have joined DAMA. Is their certification program worth doing?
I’ve had a couple of interviews so far but haven’t heard anything back yet.
Is there anything else I can do to make myself more marketable? Head of roles seem to attract 100s of applicants, and the expectation for many of the roles I have seen is that many employers want data scientists/engineers to actually do the doing, whereas I’ve had to delegate all that in order to make sure things run ok.
Actually quite the opposite. I don’t have a technical background. I moved over from an intelligence analysis role, where I’d already been managing a team of 10. But I’ve always been interested in databases and had a bit of a side hustle trying to get my team better access to data. This meant having to learn SQL etc initially because it appeared to be the only way to get my foot in the door, and also putting business cases together to get the ETL side of things sorted out.
So that’s how I got into data. My job title is not very common, but I am basically covering the head of data analytics role unofficially at the moment. My day is programme meetings, training plans, procurement, workload management/target. operating models, reporting to senior management etc. I’ve been a people manager for more than a decade.
So that’s how I got into data. My job title is not very common, but I am basically covering the head of data analytics role unofficially at the moment. My day is programme meetings, training plans, procurement, workload management/target. operating models, reporting to senior management etc. I’ve been a people manager for more than a decade.
Edited by oldbanger on Tuesday 6th May 09:54
Chimune said:
What is your current role ?
Reading between the lines you were techie, moved to product owner/manager and are at the crossroads of 'move more into management/tech sales' or 'return to technical'.
One of these pays more than the other.
Just to add, I really enjoy the people management and strategy side of things. Reading between the lines you were techie, moved to product owner/manager and are at the crossroads of 'move more into management/tech sales' or 'return to technical'.
One of these pays more than the other.
If you've been client-side and have hands on experience of delivering projects that fix real world problems, have you thought about roles at a data-related software vendor? That's the path I took, changing from what's sounds like a similar role to working as a pre-sales consultant at various software companies (including a brief spell at Tableau). Other roles may alongside pre-sales or consulting may be options - customer success, technical account manager etc.
You'd be surprised how many people don't have the practical chops which it sounds like you have... and if you get in at a software company on the up the pay can be quite favourable.
You'd be surprised how many people don't have the practical chops which it sounds like you have... and if you get in at a software company on the up the pay can be quite favourable.
trashbat said:
What do you currently get paid / expect to get paid / would tolerate getting paid in such a role?
I’m on £55k. I’d prefer to be on a bit more than that ideally. I’m aiming for £70-75, though some advertised salaries for ‘head of …’ are far higher than that. Edited by oldbanger on Tuesday 6th May 22:43
TheAardvark said:
If you've been client-side and have hands on experience of delivering projects that fix real world problems, have you thought about roles at a data-related software vendor? That's the path I took, changing from what's sounds like a similar role to working as a pre-sales consultant at various software companies (including a brief spell at Tableau). Other roles may alongside pre-sales or consulting may be options - customer success, technical account manager etc.
You'd be surprised how many people don't have the practical chops which it sounds like you have... and if you get in at a software company on the up the pay can be quite favourable.
I’ve considered pre sales consultant in the past. Will take another look thanks You'd be surprised how many people don't have the practical chops which it sounds like you have... and if you get in at a software company on the up the pay can be quite favourable.
Data scientists seem to get paid a lot but it sounds like you would be playing catchup for a good while.
However if you really want to move (back) into technical then go for it !
Id be tempted to take advantage of the experience you've gained over the past 8 years though and look closer at tech sales/client facing product owner etc.
I think you'll get to 75 a lot quicker
However if you really want to move (back) into technical then go for it !
Id be tempted to take advantage of the experience you've gained over the past 8 years though and look closer at tech sales/client facing product owner etc.
I think you'll get to 75 a lot quicker
There’s the thing. I didn’t come from what would be considered a technical background, in that sense. I wasn’t a business intelligence analyst, but an intelligence analyst (ie NIM), completely different profession.
I’ve dabbled in a lot of things, because I like learning, in order to get on a level where stakeholders take me seriously and in order to manage the teams I have. I wouldn’t say I can demonstrate deep technical expertise in any of it, because I haven’t specialised. I guess my question is, what do I specialise in, if anything?
I’ve dabbled in a lot of things, because I like learning, in order to get on a level where stakeholders take me seriously and in order to manage the teams I have. I wouldn’t say I can demonstrate deep technical expertise in any of it, because I haven’t specialised. I guess my question is, what do I specialise in, if anything?
oldbanger said:
I’m on £55k. I’d prefer to be on a bit more than that ideally. I’m aiming for £70-75, though some advertised salaries for ‘head of …’ are far higher than that.
That's a good starting position to be in, in that you're not immediately expecting enormous money.Edited by oldbanger on Tuesday 6th May 22:43
The approximate pay ranges for a certain public service broadcaster, which generally does not pay especially well, are:
- Data Scientist / Engineer / Manager: £35-53k
- Senior Data Analyst / Manager: £44-66k
- Senior Data Engineer / Scientist: £49-79k
- Principal Data Engineer / Scientist, Lead Data Manager: £65k-100k
- Lead Data Engineer / Scientist: £72-108k
- Head of Data: £100-150k
Hopefully gives you an idea though - your expectations are reasonable if you can find an entry.
I'm my experience (managing investment-related data projects and vendors) career progression for data managers, more than most, is based on reputation and contacts.
So my recommendation is for you to use those soft skills to build relationships outside your organisation by participating in industry events and user groups.
So my recommendation is for you to use those soft skills to build relationships outside your organisation by participating in industry events and user groups.
It’s clear that you’re already strong in what you do which is leading teams and growing organizations. In my view, that’s where your strengths lie and where you can offer the most value. Unless you decide to deepen your technical skills by becoming a top-tier Qlik programmer, your leadership will remain your biggest strength. I would have expected someone in your role to be earning more; perhaps being in the same position for a while has created a lag in your salary vs market rates. I live in the US so somebody else can chime in.
My 0.02c: The tech world tends to favor the young, but those of us with more experience bring value through experience and leadership. Transitioning to a hands on role may bring its own challenges, especially when reporting to younger managers who are still developing in their experiences. They might also hesitate in hiring someone with much more experience.
Wishing you the best of luck in your next steps.
My 0.02c: The tech world tends to favor the young, but those of us with more experience bring value through experience and leadership. Transitioning to a hands on role may bring its own challenges, especially when reporting to younger managers who are still developing in their experiences. They might also hesitate in hiring someone with much more experience.
Wishing you the best of luck in your next steps.
I find that in the Data game it's very hard for people to get themselves off the proverbial junk and a lot of people still love to roll ones sleeves up.
Like I say, data governance/risk is high on any organisations agenda now, you could try moving into Architecture but again you will need skills that are hands off and more about using the experience you have.
Like I say, data governance/risk is high on any organisations agenda now, you could try moving into Architecture but again you will need skills that are hands off and more about using the experience you have.
The predominant roles I recruit for, for the company I work for (think global Social Media Tech) are Data Scientists and Analysts (as well as Marketing Analysts etc)
The key tech stack is always SQL, then Python / R with Power BI/Tableau etc (any decent visualisation tool really; as long as skills are good)
They're mainly contract roles (12 months, PAYE/within IR35) and salaries range from £90k to £140k basic
I'd say that SQL is key; get that strong and that line could be a consideration
The key tech stack is always SQL, then Python / R with Power BI/Tableau etc (any decent visualisation tool really; as long as skills are good)
They're mainly contract roles (12 months, PAYE/within IR35) and salaries range from £90k to £140k basic
I'd say that SQL is key; get that strong and that line could be a consideration
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