Coding Bootcamps: Reality Check

Key Takeaways

have you ever come across these videos promising guaranteed ways to learning to code and land a high paying Tech job in record time or these too good to be true today let's unpack why these claims can be misleading and explore if there are actually realistic paths for breaking into AI I recently posted a LinkedIn poll asking are boot camps are a viable way to break into Tech or are they more hyped and help the results were eye opening only 7% said that boot camps actually work and that included some people who attended boot camps themselves so let's talk about boot camps selftaught route and even traditional University route do any of these actually work stick around to the end of the video I'll be sharing what I believe are the best options out there we've all come across influencers showcasing their Tech success stories sometimes making it look really easy boot camps often promise fast track to high paying rules and they can be good options for some people but they might not go deep enough for certain fields or provide enough support for you to actually land a jobs after completing the program because Landing a job in Tech is actually twofolds first part is learning to code but second part is landing the job and they're not always the same not all options offer strategies for both boot camps usually rely on flashy marketing testimonials and certificates but most employers don't really place too much weight on those certificates now don't get me wrong many Engineers have successfully landed jobs after boot camps I have personally seen them and work with them during my time as a software and engineering manager at meta where I worked with lots of Engineers from non-traditional backgrounds including those who joined through the rotational engineering program at meta if you're new to the channel I'm Jean and I've been working in tech for almost 20 years and there's a lot of things that always surprise me one of them is how few people are aware of the real opportunities out there for people without a formal CSD ree but before we get to exploring these paths let's first discuss the boot camp route in the past boot camp grads had an easier time Landing jobs especially with fast growing startups but today the job market has completely changed it is more competitive especially with many experienced workers re-entering the market after the layoffs of 2023 does this mean boot camps are bad choice not necessarily if you're changing careers and need a structured learning environment with mentors ship they can be a solid option but it is important to Choose Wisely Ellen a graduate from Turing School pointed out that while she believes her time at Turing was valuable she would only trust coding boot camps that reports its outcome data to the Council on Integrity in results reporting c iir r in 2020 there were 11 boot camps on the list and that number has dropped to eight in 20121 and in 2023 there are only three left which are Cod Smith code platoon and hative 8 there were some people on the survey who believed that self- teaching route can be a viable option for example SAR a software engineer pointed out on the poll that while boot camps offer structured learning and mentorship they can be expensive and may not always cover topics in depth self-learning can be a coste effective alternative I do agree that the self-taught route is the most coste effective way but there is a cat self-teaching has a high dropout rate for example only about 30% of students finish udmi courses and even if you look at Andrew in's popular mlops course on YouTube which is entirely free you can see that views drop significantly from lesson number one being 154k and by the end of the lessons there are only 11,000 views left if you are disciplined selft tap route can be a good option especially if you have a strong foundation in math and programming is much cheaper than Boot Camp or degree programs but it does require consistent effort over time for most people to make real progress so does this mean a traditional University degree is the way to go while a degree program can be a solid foundation there are downsides to consider for this option as well cost is the obvious one it's a huge financial commitment and there is no guarantee that you will actually land a job right after graduation many graduates especially in this job market struggle to break into the field there's a chance that by the time you've spent years and money on a agree the tech landscape could have changed dramatically who knows we might even be dealing with AGI in the future so whether you choose a boot camp self-taught route or traditional schools there are no shortcuts or a one-size fits all solution success comes from time practice and Real World Experience Katie a head of product commented in the poll that just showing up for class and completing all the homework and projects won't guarantee success the key is to weigh the pros and cons for each option carefully there's probably no perfect path just the one that works best for you now if you're still watching and you are determined to break into AI ask yourself these questions number one what tech rules excite me number two how much time and effort can I dedicate three what are my existing skills and experience four how much can I forward to invest financially and number five why do I want to pursue a career in AI your answers for these questions will help guide you toward the right path for your unique situation the good news is that despite the competitive job market there are still ways to gain experience if you do choose the degree route internships are a great way to gain practical skills and build connections many companies are also open to hiring candidates from non-traditional backgrounds including boot camps and self-taught Learners there are many companies that offer apprenticeship programs that provide hands-on experience mentorship and growth opportunities here's a list of programs that I found in just about 15 minutes of Google search Microsoft offers the LEAP program offering a structured path to transition into Tech careers I will leave the links in the description so you can check it out later next is accenture's apprenticeship program they offer mentorship training and coaching for candidates without a traditional 4-year degree there's also the Pinterest apprenticeship program for ording to the website they offer early career opportunities focus on Hands-On learning Airbnb connect program is also open for boot camp grats self-taught coders and Associate Degree holders LinkedIn reach is aimed at closing the opportunity gap for those with non-traditional backgrounds Asana also has an apprenticeship program that provides mentorship and support also keep in mind that each program has its own application deadline so I recommend creating a list to stay on top of the dates and not miss any opportunities now if you have friends who are also looking for jobs you can probably share the burden with them and divide and conquer to look for as many programs as possible now before you apply to these programs you still need to have a solid foundation whether you go through traditional schooling a boot camp or self-taught route since many of them do have rigorous application process if you are considering the self tat route I have created a stepbystep road map for master string AI completely free of charge you can check out this video for tips and common pitfalls that you can look out for while you're learning otherwise YouTube thinks you should watch this one next I'll see you there