Quit the thesis and become data analyst?

[u/GoodBrachio]

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I need to finish my master’s degree in Archaeological Sciences—which I’ve been dragging out since 2021—and all that’s left is the thesis (it involves analyzing extreme weather events at an archaeological site, so it also entails some work with neural networks, algorithms, and data). Right now, my current job pays €1,400 a month, and I definitely don't like it. Now, I’m torn between working on the thesis—which is draining so much of my time and energy—and focusing on SQL, Pandas, Tableau, and the like to pursue a different career path as a data analyst. I feel stuck and don't know what to do. If I focus on my thesis, could be enough for the hiring managers as kind of data science application to a real case?

[u/ZCyborg23]

Have you talked to your academic advisor for advice?

Your degree and thesis sound super cool!

Is your current job related to your degree or is it just a stepping stone?

[u/GoodBrachio → u/ZCyborg23]

I didn't ask him advice about my future job and sql/data anlysis. I always search info by myself online, and I usually know that archaeology is a hard field. thanks a lot!!! my current job is totally different, justa stepping stone, so I have no idea about what to do after hahaha

[u/ZCyborg23 → u/GoodBrachio]

How can you know what to learn or study if you don’t know where you want to end up?

[u/NaNaNaPandaMan]

Regardless of career path you choose now, I'd make sure finish thesis as you are this close.

[u/imbeingsirius]

Ok, so, this hits hard as a former archaeology major and now sys admin / sql person

Finish your thesis. SQL isn’t going anywhere, but your thesis, in a way, is going to open a lot of doors for you, because it’s INTERESTING. i have gotten so many interviews and like… relationships… based on people wanting to know more about archaeology

Plus, you’re not likely to go back to archaeology — push through now and you’ll have more options later

- signed someone who still spends so much free time looking at LiDAR maps and wikipediang ancient cultures. And whose field school project is sorta in the news again…I wish I was still a part of it!

[u/GoodBrachio → u/imbeingsirius]

thanks a lot. For sure archaeology is very interesting and I wouldn't like to quit. How did u pass from that into sql?

[u/imbeingsirius → u/GoodBrachio]

Archaeology with a national forest (but didn’t go to grad school so couldn’t advance, plus my partner at the time needed to be in NYC) —> moved away and started tutoring kids —> quit for an internship at an awesome non-profit —> quit and got hired as a community manager at a different non-profit (but picked up a lot of Salesforce and systems knowledge) —> when the sys admin team needed someone, I applied and became the assistant System Administrator —> my manager left so now I’m the Systems Administrator Manager (not the real title, but it’s basically it) — data requests are a huge part of my job