Bootcamp, how does it work?

Maximilian Koch Oct 28 '18 ・1 min read

#discuss #beginners #career #bootcamp

I myself don't have a CS degree, but did a German Apprenticeship which teaches software development skills over 3 years.

Recently, I see more and more people going for something called a bootcamp. From what I understand, you go to some remote place for 3 months and only learn about coding for the entire time. And at the end you get to meet company representatives to get contacts to find a job afterwards.

Sounds cool! I think, with the right attitude and the right employer this can work. You need to have an employer who allows you to make mistakes, you wouldn't do with some experience otherwise. But also to learn some other CS fundamentals around the job. I believe that it can work and that you don't really need to have the CS degree. I mean I don't have it. 😅

The three months things makes me a bit sceptical and the promise of a job as well.

How good do bootcamp graduates feel prepared for a job?
Do bootcamp graduates get a bit help from the employer to deepen their knowledge?
What are the expectations from the employer side to a bootcamps graduate?
What is the biggest pitfall or misbelieve?

I'd be nice to hear some stories from both sides. Bootcamp graduates and employers.

Ah, and before I forget:

Just in case, I'm also looking for someone who would like to talk a bit about this topic in a German speaking podcast. The podcast is called: @codestammtisch. Just give us a heads up on twitter. :)

DISCUSSION (2)

Maximilian Koch

Alex

Oct 28 '18

I did a bootcamp with no CS degree. I came from a background of technical support, so I was already familiar with the concepts I would be learning. In the bootcamp I learned enough to get a freelance gig, which led to a job, which led to more jobs.

I think bootcamps work well for people who learn quickly (they move through material really fast) and already have a good understanding of technology and computers. I saw some people really struggle in the class, and they never ended up in a development job. I also saw lots of people thrive and land jobs quickly.

The right employer is also a good point. The companies that expect you to solve algorithms on a whiteboard in your interview probably won't be a good fit for a bootcamper, as we don't learn those skills and will need a bit of extra on-the-job support in those areas. However, an employer that values fast learners, who are excited about their new skills and are looking to grow, it's a good match.

My co-worker is German, and I don't think he did a bootcamp, but he does have a lot of interesting experience (moving to Canada and getting a dev job here, for example). He might be good on your podcast! I'll give him your Twitter handle.

Cheers

Maximilian Koch

Dec 13 '18

Just in case you're interested in that topic and are able to understand some German. We managed to find someone who wanted to talk about Bootcamps in our Podcast. In CST17, we talked with him about questions like: