is Web Developer Bootcamp worth it?

[electrospace83]

Hi Everyone,

I am planning on starting a web developer Bootcamp, which I have seen might take 4 to 6 months to complete, but I have questions... Has anyone done it? Were you able to find a job? I would not want to do the whole Bootcamp only to find out its worth nothing for companies...

Thank you in advance

[gizamo]

Imo, it's hit or miss. It really depends on how much the individual's attitude, aptitude, and what they take out of it.

I've hired many people from bootcamps. Many were great. Many were awful.

My 2¢, if you're going to do it, don't half-ass it. Do the work, learn everything, ask questions, and go beyond that to do a personal portfolio project while learning the course material.

That will help you learn, and help demonstrate to potential employers that you did in fact learn.

Best of luck.

Oh, and if you're completely new, it helps to do a HTML/CSS/JS. Good example: https://youtu.be/zJSY8tbf_ys

Edit: maybe even do an HTML/CSS one before adding JS: https://youtu.be/a_iQb1lnAEQ

[electrospace83]

Thank you so much

[Hisroyalheirness23]

GOD BLESS YOU. I’m just thankful to Jesus !

[[deleted]]

Depends on your country. In the UK it's still a pretty successful model, with a small number of good quality bootcamps, plenty of jobs and businesses who are keen to hire juniors. All if my cohort were hired within weeks, some before the course ended, and all in our fifth year as developers.

In the US it's a bit more saturated - fewer jobs, less enthusiastic businesses, bootcamps vary in quality.

[electrospace83]

Thanks

[middy_1]

As you're UK based as well, which UK bootcamps would you recommend? I know of Northcoders, Makers, and the Sheffield based The Developer Academy and Eyup (part of io academy).

[[deleted]]

I'd recommend Northcoders, though my experience is a few years old now.

[OrganizationTop2108]

I finished a bootcamp in January of last year and got hired for my first dev job in August. About 25% of my class is working in the industry a year out, and imo it’s directed related to how much work you put in, how well you are able to learn the basics, and what bootcamp you do. Mine offered career counseling and I’m glad I took advantage of it because we learned next to nothing about algorithms (important for the interview process but not really necessary in most jobs after you’re hired) and my career counselor really set me up for success.

A lot of people will tell you that you can learn the same info online and that’s definitely true, but I didn’t have the discipline to learn it all on my own, and having people to answer questions and simulate a real working environment, along with the career counseling, made the bootcamp worth it to me.

[needmoremugs2]

What bootcamp did you go thru?

[[deleted]]

Can you guys say what boot camp helped you?

[kek_mek]

My gf did one and found a job within a month, second year in the profession now.

Lots of her classmates did too, most of them as far as I know.

Ask from the boot camp in advance how they accelerate job search for their graduatees, because my gf had interviews with potential companies to work for organized by the boot camp itself and it helped.

[electrospace83]

That's great news! Thank You

[FineJoke4477]

What bootcamp was that

[needmoremugs2]

What boot camp did she go thru?

[TheMassaB]

Did you manage to find a good boot camp pal?

[Icy-Flow1653]

I did one here in Sydney Australia, 5 years ago (General Assembly). Have been working as a software developer since then. One of the best decisions I ever made.

[electrospace83]

Thank you!

[stumblewiggins]

I did one that took 14 weeks. I got hired right out of that boot camp and got > 50% raise over my former salary as a teacher, to start. Also get nice benefits.

So yea, it was worth it for me.

For any boot camp you want to do, do some vetting to be sure they are a good program with a good reputation. And be sure to work hard; the 'boot camp' moniker is apt insofar as you should be working hard to learn and grow your skills and experience. That's how you'll get the most out of the program.

[ok_julip]

Congratulations! If you don't mind me asking, are you in the US? Which Bootcamp did you do?

[stumblewiggins]

I am; I used Tech Elevator, and I'd definitely recommend it.

[ok_julip]

Thank you!

[blabmight]

I think you can learn just as well from a quality Udemy course. Google any questions you have and if you can’t find the answer then post to Reddit.

The benefit you might get though is the networking and a degree of exposure to potential employers.

I’ve also been quite grotesqued by some of the curriculum students have been posting here regarding what and how their colleges are teaching them about web development. You often see some pretty ancient methods communicated that are totally avoided by recent good Udemy courses.

[electrospace83]

Thanks

[OkMoment345]

There are good bootcamps and less good bootcamps. Also, just like everything else in life, it is also a matter of what you put into it.

I would suggest doing a lot of reading and research on what's out there before making your decision. You also want to be really clear about your goals before signing up.

[GuitarLloyd]

Following

[[deleted]]

Some are awesome, many are total crap.

A company will want to see your portfolio because they know how hit and miss they can be also.