The Great Switch is a series featuring those who have transitioned careers during the pandemic. We hope their stories can serve as inspiration for those who are considering a career switch. Now, more than ever, companies are focusing on employee engagement, shifting to remote or hybrid work models, and employees are prioritizing their careers and health. This is the future of work.
Meet Melody Niere, a teacher who pivoted to a data analyst during the pandemic.
- What were you doing before the pandemic? What are you pursuing now?
I was a high school math and computer science teacher. I am now pursuing a data analytic career. - What was the turning point for you in which you decided to pivot?
My turning point was talking about diversifying the tech industry at SXSW Edu. I realized as a queer person of color I wanted to be part of the diversity. - What lessons have you learned during this process?
The biggest lesson I learned was to ask questions and continue to learn. Without asking questions, learning is extremely difficult. - Have you dealt with imposter syndrome since switching? If so, how did you overcome it?
I overcome my imposter syndrome but telling myself I can learn anything. I’m only an imposter until I understand what I need to do. - What tips would you give someone who wants to pivot?
My advice to someone pivoting is to take advantage of free courses online! While tech boot camps are great, they can be costly. Everything I learned in my boot camp, I could have learned online. Bootcamps are valuable if you need a community to learn. Also if you are interested in a tech boot camp, look for free ones or ones that offer scholarships.
