Is Switching from Project Management to DevOps Worth It?

Just to give you an alternative perspective, I’d suggest considering data engineering instead of strictly DevOps. Since you have a background with data, it might align better with your interests. It's a great field and there are plenty of opportunities. Have you thought about which languages or tools to learn?

Transitioning to DevOps can be tough, especially if you don't have a solid technical background. From my experience in DevOps for over 15 years, I've seen few people make the jump from Project Management without prior coding or sysadmin experience. When I interviewed for a DevOps role at a major tech company, I was tested on low-level computing topics and collaboration across various technical fields. To succeed, I recommend picking a technical lane, gaining hands-on experience, and then targeting a junior platform or Site Reliability Engineer role. It usually takes around 6 to 12 months of learning AWS, Linux, and basic networking, plus a coding language like Python. Use your PM skills, like incident coordination and documentation, to your advantage.

Honestly, if you haven’t written code or don't have sysadmin experience, jumping into DevOps might not be the best move. You'll need a lot of hands-on experience in various technologies and tools to be effective. Operating at that level requires years of knowledge accumulation. It might be worth looking into career paths where your Project Management skills can also shine.

It's definitely possible, but you've got to have a strong foundation first. Many successful DevOps professionals have either an operations or development background. I started with networking, Linux, and virtualization before moving into DevOps, and it’s essential to learn from both sides. If you’re coming from PM and lack coding or sysadmin experience, consider developing those strong skills first.