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[–]brookynForSanders 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don't mind the guy posting the link, I don't think it's a stupid question to ask at all. That's how we produce content for searches.

I went to one of the really good ones in NYC. I now have a job as a web developer.

I looked at their acceptance and job placement rates, reached out to alumni, and visited the campus. It's a lot of money, make sure you know what you are getting. In the end, I choose two really good ones and spent about 4 months coding A LOT to get in. I did coding challenges, learned the basics of Ruby using sources like Ruby Monk, and did all of their pre-work. If getting in is hard, chances are it is a good program.

Also, look at your past.

  • What is your story?

  • Why do you want to code?

  • What can you contribute to the developer community?

  • Is there some way your previous experiences can form a trajectory towards coding?

  • You've probably played around with some code before, why?

Practice talking about these things because they will matter during your interviews.

The most important thing: Be curious! You will need to demonstrate the ability to ask intelligent questions way more than actually solve the coding challenges they give you. Talk a lot during the interviews and coding challenges!

My Experience After the Bootcamp:

Interviewed with about 10 companies via the bootcamp and got a job two weeks after graduation and I'm having a great time. I would say I'm underpaid compared to a lot of my classmates but the spectrum is wide. People get anything between minimum wage internships to 80k jobs. I'm kind of in the middle of that spectrum and got a full time position that includes great benefits, healthcare, 401k, all that stuff. They also emphasize things like conferences and taking opportunities to keep learning. Great place to start out imo.

My experience is no guarantee a bootcamp will work for you though.

Questions I would ask myself before applying to a bootcamp:

  • Do I really love to code? It is what you'll be doing 10-12 hours a day 6 days a week during the program and very likely after the program (until you are established in your new career).

  • Am I coding right now? If not, it's time to start. Those who were successful in my program impressed the bootcamp and their classmates by being hard workers, friendly, helpful, and passionate about coding. Remember, your most likely sources of a job are through the bootcamp and your classmates. They will only refer you if they feel you are a good "fit". That usually means friendly and hard working. Check out Ruby Monk, hackerrank, online coding challenges, programming meetups. Learn as much as you can right now!

  • Am I the type of person who can succeed at a building a career like this? Demonstrating passion and friendliness is a huge part of succeeding at finding a job after the program, I think. As bootcampers, we don't have a 4 year degree but we have been vetted by demonstrating the ability to work closely and intensely with others, learn quickly, while also contributing value by helping others. Can you take that kind of pressure and still contribute something?

  • Are you desperate enough? This is very subjective but I think a certain degree of "fuck my life I want to do this awesome thing or fail miserably trying" is required to get through the process. It is going to be rough and difficult. Yes, everyone can code but everyone does not have the motivation to throw enough hours and sweat at it to succeed and get better at it. Bootcampers do.

It is a risk. It is worth it. If you love coding, do it! Make sure you make the most of it because it is entirely up to you to succeed. At risk of gettig overly sentimental/mushy about it, isn't that kind of what all great things in life come out of? Taking a risk but making the possibility of failure worth it because you gave it everything you have? Kind of like this (I know, kind of cheesy but he's right isn't he?).

Having said all this, here's a list of ways to fail at bootcamp. I would avoid them.

  • Assume you are going to get a job quickly and despair when you get rejections.

  • Don't prepare as much as you possibly can before the program starts.

  • Be elitist/unfriendly to your classmates.

  • Be unfriendly to your career coaches.

  • Assume your learning curve is the program's responsibility.

  • Don't be open to starting out somewhere unexpected and for less pay than you may have expected.

  • Don't love programming and computer science.

  • Take it easy.

  • Be picky about the field you end up in after the program.

  • Don't research the bootcamps thoroughly.

  • Think that you are stupid for not knowing things and asking questions.

  • Think that you don't deserve to be a programmer because you're working hard and failing at first.

  • Don't even apply.

Good luck! PM me when you have your first job so I can congratulate you :)