Do Coding Bootcamps Help Get Six-figure Salary
The lack of skilled IT workers is hurting the deployment of emerging technology, according to a new survey from Gartner. In areas from cloud to cybersecurity, this crisis is expected to last for years to come.
In 2012 a few innovators got
together and decided to address this challenge faced by companies. They started
coding bootcamps to train individuals in computer programming in a period of
about 8 - 12 weeks and place them
at companies. These programs were started by developers and were short but
intensive. App Academy, Dev Bootcamp, General Assembly and Hack Reactor were founded in 2012.
Since then
this budding industry has seen tremendous growth with Bootcamps popping up at a
fast pace. In addition to classroom based camps there are several that offer
courses online. A 100% growth rate is projected. Here’s the growth pattern of
companies offering offline bootcamps:
- 2014 – 45
- 2015 – 69
- 2016 – 95
- 2017 - 121
No
doubt bootcamps are growing but can they help you get a job with high salary?
Based on all the data and experiences of bootcampers, the answer to that question is ‘Yes’. With less monetary and shorter time investment, a serious candidate aspiring to become a programmer can surely embark on a tech career.
Bootcamps
are for students with very little coding proficiency that help them to focus on
the most important aspects of programming and apply their new skills to solve
real-world problems.
Bootcamps are definitely a
cheaper alternative to college education but do not provide the extensive and
thorough education as a university that equips a candidate to work on a broader
range of software engineering jobs. Along with the growth and popularity of
this mode of education, average length and fees too have increased though
definitely less than a four year degree program:
In 2015 – 9.6 weeks classes
cost around $11,200. In 2016, duration of the program increased to an average
of about 10.8 weeks and cost to an average of $12,800. In recent months, some
companies have started offering programs that range from six months to a year
that provide more in-depth training.
What
Do They Offer?
These programs address
immediate needs of the market and are relevant to current demands. They offer
practical training that can be applied to solving problems on a job. The focus
is on programming and there are no other general courses to distract the
participant. Candidates remain totally immersed and focused on programming.
Hard work is expected and required to succeed after completing the program.
Some programs require students to devote at least 40 hours a week in class.
This job oriented and
practical training can help students get a foot in the door and advance in
their tech careers. Along with highly technical people, companies also need
those who can solve say a web development or user experience development problem
– this is where bootcamp graduates come in; they fill this need resulting in a
win-win situation for both.
Jobs that require
theoretical knowledge of how computers work such as in system design or in
understanding algorithms, etc. may not be the right ones for these graduates
unless they pursue computer science studies or already have that background and
education.
Is
Tech Career Right For You?
A developer’s high salary is
very attractive and this is one of the reasons why people want that career but
without studying for the four year computer science degree program. So how can they enter this field and earn
that salary?
Answer
is Coding Bootcamps. But these are not for hardcore software
engineering careers. Bootcamps can help only in certain types of jobs and to
get a foot in the door.
Bootcamps do help candidates
embark on their dream career that offers a six-figure salary but tech bootcamps
are not for everyone. The salary is attractive but the lure of the salary can land
you in a program and career that you do not enjoy or like.
Determine
If You Like Coding
Before joining a program it
is important to determine if programming is something you like.
The best route would be to
determine your aptitude for programming by taking online classes. Several free
or nominal fee classes are available, taking these and learning coding will
help you determine if this is the right choice. Completing an entire course
will help you determine if a tech career is the path forward.
Are
You Ready to Work Hard?
Be prepared for hard work
once decision is made to move forward on this path. The prospect of studying
towards a Computer science degree program may have been daunting but hard work
and focus is required in a bootcamp as well. If adequate effort and hard work
is not put in, the results too will be disappointing.
Most bootcamp programs are
very intensive and require hours of focused work on a computer. This may not be
a right choice for those who like to work with people and don’t like a desk
job. Be prepared to work hard. Drive is required.
Is
it Affordable?
Even though these programs
do not cost as much as a degree program, the fees are high. Average tuition is
around $12,800+. And if the program is not offered in your location, travel, lodging
and boarding will be additional. If returns are guaranteed, this may seem like
a small amount and worth investing. There have been several reports of students
who got a substantial raise after a bootcamp and on the flip side there are
reports of graduates struggling to find a job.
Researching the company and
program is critical. There are programs popping up everywhere hence doing due
diligence in identifying the right program is crucial.
Bootcamps are attaining
popularity and recognition. At the same time, job seekers attending and taking
advantage of these camps are steadily growing as well. But it is clear that
bootcamps are not for all and bootcamp graduates are not for all companies.
Nevertheless coding bootcamps are definitely meeting an important need of both;
the market and job seekers aspiring to become coders and earn a high salary.
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