I’m 27, working in the automotive industry as a quality engineer, but my heart isn’t in it. I’ve always felt like I’m just going through the motions, handling paperwork, production support, and operator follow-ups. It pays the bills, but it doesn’t feel meaningful or technical enough. I’ve always been drawn to problem-solving and making sense of complex data, and recently, I got a taste of data analytics at one job. I worked with Python, pandas, Excel, and data visualization tools, and for the first time, I felt like I was doing something I truly enjoyed.
Now, I’m considering switching my master’s from engineering management to data science. I’m not chasing big tech; I’d be happy as a supply chain analyst, quality/data engineer, or in healthcare/government – as long as I get to use data to solve real problems. But I have some questions:
Is data analytics too saturated to realistically break into by 30-31, even with solid skills and a portfolio? Does my quality background actually count for anything in data roles, or have I just been ‘fluffing’? Has anyone made a late 20s/early 30s transition into data? What helped most? Any other career paths worth exploring for someone who loves numbers, analysis, and real-world problem-solving?
I’d love to hear your stories or any advice you have.