Is there a skill you can learn in 400 hours of self-study to get a job?
December 13, 2021 1:31 PM Subscribe
I'm feeling like I've stagnated in my career a bit, and I'd like to learn a skill that I can immediately apply to a new job. I did the math and I spent about 800 hours playing video games over the last year - so I figure if I can do that, I can spend half that time in dedicated study. A list of some things I've thought about after the jump.
The main constraint is, it does need to be a job that mostly takes place at a computer, with nothing that requires in-person interaction. I don't mind going into an office, but I'd rather not have a job as e.g. a bartender.
Self study is an important qualification for this because my available free time is a bit variable right now and I can't start a course right away. I'm willing to pay for materials, as long as the first 50-100 hours can be self-directed.
I've got a lot of basic-level tech experience to bootstrap from: basic programming experience in a variety of languages, very good Excel skills, but there's nothing I specialize in.
Project management: I think this is a good skill to have that's generally applicable, but I'm not sure how to actually develop the skill without being in a project management position already. I can manage any number of personal projects, but when you're doing it professionally it's a somewhat different set of skills.
Data visualization/business intelligence: This seems like a fun field to get good at; I don't really know the field that well but it's something I'd like to do.
A busking skill: This isn't quite the same as the above, and it's certainly not the same as a salaried job, but I know some buskers can do a decent business on a good day and it could supplement my current job, instead of being a new career path, and I think I would like that.
I should emphasize, though, I'm open to things outside of this general space too - and if there's something that's under 400 hours to study that can turn into a job, I'd love to consider that as well.
The main constraint is, it does need to be a job that mostly takes place at a computer, with nothing that requires in-person interaction. I don't mind going into an office, but I'd rather not have a job as e.g. a bartender.
Self study is an important qualification for this because my available free time is a bit variable right now and I can't start a course right away. I'm willing to pay for materials, as long as the first 50-100 hours can be self-directed.
I've got a lot of basic-level tech experience to bootstrap from: basic programming experience in a variety of languages, very good Excel skills, but there's nothing I specialize in.
Project management: I think this is a good skill to have that's generally applicable, but I'm not sure how to actually develop the skill without being in a project management position already. I can manage any number of personal projects, but when you're doing it professionally it's a somewhat different set of skills.
Data visualization/business intelligence: This seems like a fun field to get good at; I don't really know the field that well but it's something I'd like to do.
A busking skill: This isn't quite the same as the above, and it's certainly not the same as a salaried job, but I know some buskers can do a decent business on a good day and it could supplement my current job, instead of being a new career path, and I think I would like that.
I should emphasize, though, I'm open to things outside of this general space too - and if there's something that's under 400 hours to study that can turn into a job, I'd love to consider that as well.
Best answer: Back when I was working (I'm retired now), there was a LOT of excitement about Microsoft PowerBI. It requires some SQL skills to do anything important (PowerBI requires data to be presented "just so.") But the cabinet-level folks really liked it, enjoying graphs that responded to their clicks. (PowerBI was originally designed to be a presentation layer atop Excel. It does a lot more than that now, but it's roots are obvious.)
posted by SPrintF at 1:50 PM on December 13, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by SPrintF at 1:50 PM on December 13, 2021 [3 favorites]
I would suggest that you be guided by your actual interests so that you're spending this significant amount of time enjoying the things you're learning, and wanting to continue along this path rather than lose steam/focus.
There's also a lot to be said for doing something different with your mind and body, e.g. if your regular job involves sitting at a desk staring at a computer then your side hustle ideally shouldn't.
For both these reasons, this question is better asked of yourself than of us. I will also add: you can learn to do damn near *anything* well enough to earn a supplemental income if you devote 400 consistent hours of study or preparation towards it! Seriously.
posted by MiraK at 2:42 PM on December 13, 2021 [1 favorite]
There's also a lot to be said for doing something different with your mind and body, e.g. if your regular job involves sitting at a desk staring at a computer then your side hustle ideally shouldn't.
For both these reasons, this question is better asked of yourself than of us. I will also add: you can learn to do damn near *anything* well enough to earn a supplemental income if you devote 400 consistent hours of study or preparation towards it! Seriously.
posted by MiraK at 2:42 PM on December 13, 2021 [1 favorite]
I'm not a huge fan of PowerPoint but there is work for people who can do the higher-end stuff with it, like – as you say – data visualization, and some of the more arcane animation options. You could sign up for lessons on lynda.com (also available via LinkedIn if you use it).
posted by zadcat at 3:13 PM on December 13, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by zadcat at 3:13 PM on December 13, 2021 [2 favorites]
I am just dipping my toe into the waters myself, but if you already have basic programming skills, you could become a bioinformatician. I have had the Biostar Handbook recommended and it seems like a good thing so far.
posted by 8603 at 3:23 PM on December 13, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by 8603 at 3:23 PM on December 13, 2021 [1 favorite]
How about learning to speak another language? Or sign language.
posted by NotLost at 6:43 PM on December 13, 2021
posted by NotLost at 6:43 PM on December 13, 2021
I’m an Analytics Engineer where I model data and I got here by working an operations job at a start up. Then I was the best person at Excel. Then I learned sql and analysis. Then data modeling. I did it all on the job over several years.
What Id recommend is looking at different job postings and see if they are roles you think you might enjoy and what skills gap you have.
One of the more entry level data jobs is a workforce analyst. They generally work at places that need to balance staffing properly to cover peak hours. So it would be calculating demand (“we get 55 calls per hour on Wednesday at 2pm”) with supply (“our typical rep can handle 10 calls per hour”) and SLAs (Service Level Agreement, or the expected level of service “we answer 85 percent of calls”). In my experience, this role is given to someone that is “good at Excel” which means they know how to calculate all the above.
posted by Monday at 7:49 PM on December 13, 2021 [5 favorites]
What Id recommend is looking at different job postings and see if they are roles you think you might enjoy and what skills gap you have.
One of the more entry level data jobs is a workforce analyst. They generally work at places that need to balance staffing properly to cover peak hours. So it would be calculating demand (“we get 55 calls per hour on Wednesday at 2pm”) with supply (“our typical rep can handle 10 calls per hour”) and SLAs (Service Level Agreement, or the expected level of service “we answer 85 percent of calls”). In my experience, this role is given to someone that is “good at Excel” which means they know how to calculate all the above.
posted by Monday at 7:49 PM on December 13, 2021 [5 favorites]
On the study schedule describe, you can get a foothold in a software product. Many software companies gave self-study courses, and "certificate" programs that give you something to put on your resume. I did this with SAS years ago, and I got far enough along that I was pretty sure I could find a spot in the SAS world. The opportunities are not just in programming but as non-programming users of a big product like PeopleSoft. My wife did something similar taking courses in medical billing at our local community college.
Alternatively, you could expand your formal education using free college courses online. MIT, for example has most of their courses online and free.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:06 AM on December 14, 2021
Alternatively, you could expand your formal education using free college courses online. MIT, for example has most of their courses online and free.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:06 AM on December 14, 2021
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they changed the exam 2 years after i took it, so i cannot recommend any study guides as the ones i used wouldn't be applicable.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 1:47 PM on December 13, 2021 [1 favorite]