12 YOE ETL/Data Test Lead feeling stuck and frozen by upskilling. Looking for roadmaps, advice, and a study partner to figure it out with
Hi everyone,
I’ve been a Test Lead for over a decade, mostly focused on backend database and ETL validation in banking, insurance, and retail. On paper, it looks like a solid career. In reality, I feel like the ground is shifting under me, and I don't know how to keep up.
My strength is SQL and data logic, but even my confidence there has taken a hit lately. I’ve found myself leaning on AI tools to write scripts for me instead of doing it manually, which makes me doubt how sharp I actually still am. Meanwhile, job postings want Selenium, Playwright, APIs, BDD, CI/CD, and AI certifications... I have surface-level exposure to some of it, but no real depth.
Every time I sit down to try to plan how to fix this, I completely freeze. There are too many directions, too little time, and life doesn't pause for upskilling. I don't even know where to start or what a realistic plan looks like without burning out completely.
I'm posting because I need help getting out of this rut:
- If you transitioned from ETL/Data testing into modern automation, how did you do it? What did you focus on first, and what tools actually matter vs. what is just keyword hype?
- How do you structure learning when you're already exhausted from work? Any tips for breaking the paralysis?
- Does anyone want to tackle this together? I don't have a concrete plan yet—I want to build one based on the feedback here. If you are also a mid-to-senior QA feeling lost and wants to connect, build a roadmap together, and keep each other accountable, please let me know.
I’d genuinely love any suggestions, course recommendations, or just to connect with anyone else who is trying to reinvent themselves right now. Would mean a lot to know I'm not doing this alone.
