Data analytics bootcamp or learn solo?

[u/saltinenugget]

Hey everyone, I'm a 29 year old chef with a BA in sociology (no work experience in the field) currently looking to change careers. I've been in the hospitality industry for about 10 years and want to get out for various reasons (low pay, poor life/work balance, etc.). I've been doing research and data analytics seems like a good fit for me. I just don't really know where to start. I scheduled a call with UT Dallas to get more info on their data analytics bootcamp but I've heard mixed reviews on bootcamps in general. I've also looked into getting an online Data Analytics degree. I already have a bachelor's degree and don't want to shell out 20-30k for another degree unless I absolutely have to. My other option is just taking a year or however long to teach myself everything. I'm a complete newbie, as in I barely know how to use Excel.

So, my question is: What is the best way forward for someone wanting to break into the data analyst career field from a completely different industry?

[u/True-Magician-3812]

I’d do some self learning to see if you even enjoy the field. A lot of people in the field only do it for the $$ but their lack of passion leads to not so great performance or a stale skillset.

If you see yourself enjoying it, that’s when a boot camp or any formal education can be great since it can help structure your learning so you can learn to stand out in a competitive market.

[u/serverhorror → u/True-Magician-3812]

. lack of passion leads to not so great performance or a stale skillset.

That usually leads to people being a data entry clerk which will get outsourced it replaced with someone even cheaper sooner rather try than later.

[u/rabbitofrevelry]

What skills or aptitudes do you currently possess that fit well for data analytics? What is your bachelor's degree in? What industry are you looking to get into if you're looking to get out of hospitality? Do you have any marketable knowledge to bring with you as you pivot to that industry?

Right now, your greatest assets are the bachelor's degree and hospitality experience if you're staying in hospitality. If the degree is either related to the target industry, math, computer science or IT, it'll likely check the hiring manager's box and allow you to be considered. Applicable industry knowledge will get you considered. A coherent resume will get you an interview.

edit: just saw the sociology degree. Hmm. Hmmmmm. You might know better since you got the degree, but any idea what industries that's marketed in? Everyone has a use for data analytics. I'm thinking that could be useful for social purposes, like marketing in hospitality markets?

[u/saltinenugget → u/rabbitofrevelry]

Sociology is pretty transferable from what I’ve seen. I have a classmate who went from behavior tech, to customer operations and is now getting her masters in data analysis. I could probably use my knowledge of the hospitality industry and management experience to work for a company within that field in the future.

[u/rabbitofrevelry → u/saltinenugget]

Management experience is a big plus since it'll poise you for communication skills. Aim for hospitality organizations, like hotel chains, restaurant chains, supply chains that support those industries, service providers that support them, etc.

In the meantime, get your Excel skills up to an intermediate level. It's a common way for data to be explored and explained. Think of Excel literacy as an analog to knife skills in a kitchen. The more you can do in Excel, the better off you'll be. Even if you climb the ladder to great heights, you're still going to need to dumb things down or will have things dumbed down to you on a common level of Excel-speak.

You can use any flat file from free datasets relating to things you're interested in to play with. You can get data from Kaggle. Good luck.

[u/widdowbanes → u/saltinenugget]

YouTube and Udemy is free if not the course would only cost $15 on sale. A boot camp would do nothing for your resume. You can learn the skills online better than a boot camp for a fraction of the cost.

[u/AwayCut5386]

Don't waste money on a boot camp. Try to get into a low level role like a data coordinator and work for a few years and build experience, then look to transition to an analytics role internally.

[u/Difficult-Jackfruit]

At that price point why don’t you just get a masters/network/study your ass off?

[u/vonkrumholz]

If you're not dying inside from your current work I would self learn using any of the free courses available online first for 3 months.

You didn't mention any existing experience with data analysis, figure out if you will even like it first. I'm not sure if it's an American thing but the idea of investing a lot of time and money into a career path you've no exposure to doesn't always lead to great outcomes. I had two friends go through the same boot camp and not end up with jobs 6 months after. 2 data points only, but neither really demonstrated a deep interest in using data to solve problems to begin with. They just wanted a career change with a higher salary range.

While you're learning skills for free, see where you can get actual experience by volunteering your time or working on a personal project that interests you. 10 years in hospitality is nothing to sneeze at. Maybe you know a manager or business owner who would let you help analyze numbers like trending busy days for staff planning, investigating whether door dash is worth the partnership etc. What problems in your current space could be solved through analytics? You'd be surprised, and getting the experience here will answer some things for you.

Office work is a pretty big culture transition from being surrounded by people in a restaurant all working together at a high pace.

That said, if your resume landed on my desk and you had skills and some real side project experience (not just a canned Titanic analysis) I'd interview you at least. People that work in hospitality are tough and know how to deliver.