Need career advice Is it too late to switch to Data Engineering?
Hi everyone,
I need some career advice.
I've been working at the same company for the last 7 years (currently earning 18 LPA). The biggest challenge is that the company uses its own in-house technology, which isn't really useful outside the organization. The only transferable skill I've gained is SQL, and I'd say I'm quite comfortable with it.
About 3 years ago, I decided to switch to a data-related career. After doing some research, I chose Data Engineering because it seemed like a good fit. I enrolled in a Data Engineering course from Scholarnest Academy, completed it on time, and prepared for interviews.
Unfortunately, a serious medical emergency in my family happened around the same time, so I had to put my plans on hold and never got the chance to attend interviews.
Things are stable now, and I'm preparing for a job switch again. Before I invest the next few months into interview preparation, I wanted to ask people who are already in the industry:
- Is Data Engineering still a good career choice in 2026?
- Is the demand still strong for someone trying to break into the field?
- Or would you recommend considering another role instead?
For context, I have strong SQL skills and I'm currently brushing up on Python, Spark, Databricks, and cloud concepts.
I'd really appreciate any honest advice, especially from people working as Data Engineers or those who recently switched into the field.
Thanks in advance!