I'll just be straightforward. I want to switch careers. It's not that I hate law practice -- actually it's very fulfilling -- but, I just want to be more mobile and flexible with my work. Lawyering is actually a regionalized profession. And since I have dreams working in Europe or Australia (even if remotely for now), I can't do it as a lawyer. Also I'm a Filipino lawyer, so the chances of moving to Europe or Australia as a lawyer would be very small
My research tells me that tech is the most mobile and flexible career path as of this time. I'm actually surprised about the development in tech and how remote work has become more available in the tech industry. I knew people who were moving to Europe and Australia working in the tech industry as well.
I want to dedicate my next 2 years in studying or schooling to get myself a career in tech before I turn 30. But there are just many career paths related to tech. There's data science, web development, software development, cybersecurity, etc. I just want to focus in one strand and be good at it.
So with that, which tech career path would I have a better opportunity to achieve working remotely with European or Australian clients and opportunities to work in those areas in the future? I'm dedicated to put in the hours and work to make this happen. I know that the entry-level and junior job market is saturated but I'll take the risk and gamble. Otherwise, I can just continue with my law practice in my country.
Thank you in advance!
If this helps in providing me an answer: A little bit about me, I graduated with a Math degree in the top school in our country. When the data science industry was still at infancy, my internship introduced me to data science. At that time, we were still working with R programming language. Went to law school a year after undergrad due to some personal reason. I studied in a reputable provincial law school. Passed the bar. I am currently working as a full-time legal VA for a US client and part-time as a practicing lawyer locally.
Although, I am currently working as a Legal VA for a US Client, honestly, graveyard shift is not for me especially that I have kids. In addition to that, I don't find the compensation benefits in the US appealing. Now, why not work as a legal VA for Europe and Australia? Uhmm, I don't see legal VAs openings in Europe, and Australian law firms, more often, work with local VA Agencies with the worst compensation and benefits package. Thus, switching careers is my next best option.
Amidst this hailstorm of career trajectories, I would say check out the data analytics field. Being mathematics graduate, you might already have the necessary skills, and it's a field that will continue to grow as companies realize the substantial benefits of analyzing their data to make informed decisions. However, it's not always easy and glamorous; you may have to start from scratch and learn different programming languages and tools.
This being a digital nomad forum, I suppose you are interested in remote work, right? Well, the only caveat here is that your location might limit the remote opportunities available to you; most companies look for local remote employees because of labor laws or time zones.
And forget about the age factor. You're never too old to learn something new. Who cares if you're nearing 30 or just turned 50? Passion and the drive to learn are what counts. Keep in mind that the tech industry doesn't care much about your age; your skills are what they're after.
In the end, it might work for you, it might not. But isn't life all about taking risks? So venture out, gain a new skill and let uncertainty be your guide. If it doesn't work out, you'll have an extra skill in your portfolio, and who knows when it might come in handy?