What is it about a job in technology that makes it such a great choice? Well, with 4.4 billion internet users worldwide, it’s evident that the tech industry is one of the most important in today’s world, and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average projected growth rate for all occupations between 2019 and 2029 is 4%. For software developers, this jumps to a striking 22%. With figures like this, it’s no surprise that organizations all around the world are on the hunt for people with up-to-date computer science skills to help them adapt to these changes and bring added value to their business.
Bottega Software Engineering School recognizes the importance of these skills and uses a hands-on approach to ensure that its students are able to put them to use in the industry as it is today. Bottega’s mission is to create opportunities for creative and dedicated professionals, from all different backgrounds, who are committed to following their passions and landing a rewarding job in technology. Having trained over 40,000 software engineers, Bottega ensures its students’ success by providing them the opportunity to work alongside professionals who know the industry inside and out.
What Are My Career Prospects?
There is a wide range of possible career paths in technology that you might have already heard about, and there are also dozens more that you might not even know exist yet. The tech industry is one that is in a constant state of expansion, with new jobs being created all the time, which is great news because you’ll always be building on your skill-base and gaining more knowledge.
While Bottega can help you prepare for a range of jobs in tech, it’s focused on getting its students started on the path to a career in software engineering, with courses that cover full-stack development, mobile development, and machine learning. Offering high-quality computer science courses, Bottega works with top employers to keep the curriculum relevant and up-to-date on a quarterly basis. These courses are designed to help you pursue your dream career by providing you with in-depth hands-on learning and ensuring that you are fully supported throughout the process.
With an 83% lifetime placement rate, Bottega prides itself on its ability to get graduates into exciting fulfilling roles working at some of the world’s best companies such as Dell, Netflix, Franklin Covey, O.C. Tanner, Nikola, and SkyWest. This is achieved thanks to Bottega’s network of alumni and professionals alike. Devlife, for example, provides a space in which previous graduates who have gone on to have successful careers come back to share their experiences and give advice to current students. In addition to this, Bottega also offers support in the form of career services including resume building, interview preparation, advisor support during and after the course, and much more. Bottega makes no secret of the fact that it is proud of its graduates, featuring the impressive talent of its students on its website to help them shine and give them the best chance of catching the eyes of some of the biggest employers.
Gain Credits for College
Bottega is the only bootcamp that offers a transcript accepted by Universities. Its programs are accredited by the American Council of Education (ACE), passing regular audits and therefore proving its curriculum to be of a consistently high quality. ACE recommends Bottega for 17 college credits, all of which are at levels 300-400+, making it an excellent option for those hoping to jump start their career and make it count towards a college degree later on.
What Does the Program Entail?
All of Bottega’s programs take place on DevCamp, an online platform that helps you as a student to organize your academic life and help your studies run as smoothly as possible.
There is often a fear that studying online means that you’re on your own, but DevCamp is designed to make sure that this is not the case. The system promotes collaborative learning through its interactive features. Classes are taught by a live instructor and are largely discussion-based, encouraging group work amongst students. This instructor is available to help you with any projects or questions, and all classes are recorded so you can watch them back whenever you want. And if you need help, every lesson is equipped with a button that connects you with a teacher immediately, at any time, including weekends!
For full-time courses, you’ll be in the virtual classroom 8 hours a day for 12 weeks, with around 20 other students. Part-time courses take place over the course of 8-10 months and you will have weekly mentor sessions lasting at least 30 minutes, in which you’ll discuss how you’re finding the course, as well as any extra help, guidance, or support you may need.
The great thing about both Bottega’s part-time and full-time courses is their flexibility. You can log on from anywhere. Thanks to this, Bottega’s online community is extremely diverse, with students learning remotely from all corners of the world!
On DevCamp, you’ll also be able to track your progress, mix and match skill-based learning, and of course interact with both tutors and other students, sharing ideas and working together on projects.
Another thing that makes Bottega stand out is its competency-based curriculum. The advantage of this is that it measures learning rather than time. In other words, it’s not about simply stacking up the hours, but demonstrating the skills and knowledge you’ve gained, regardless of how long it takes you.
Not for the Weak-Hearted
Although you may already be won over by the doors that can be opened to you by Bottega and its impressive track record in helping its students get from A to B, one thing has to be made clear: this is not an easy course where you can just coast by. The rewards you can reap from studying with Bottega are plenty, but you have to be willing to put the work and effort into your course to get the most out of it.
Bottega makes no apologies for this. In fact, it prides itself on the rigorous nature of its programs. However, it also prides itself on its ability to successfully support its students through those challenges. If you’re hard-working, ambitious, committed, and willing to give your all, Bottega will help you succeed in becoming a skilled engineer.
Aside from demonstrating your will to succeed and determination, you will also need to comply with Bottega’s requirements for success. For part-time programs, you must provide a schedule with a minimum of 15 hours of work per week. Which days you choose to study, however, are completely up to you. This flexibility allows you to organize your time so that you feel at ease and comfortable during your studies. Overall, you will dedicate a total of 600 hours, which will also include around 15 projects, which will contribute to your portfolio.
In addition to the above, you must complete the coding foundation challenge within a month to be accepted. If studying a part-time course, you must attend a weekly 30-minute session to touch base with your mentor. Bottega also highly recommends using the support system available to you to connect and interact with fellow students and teachers, in order to share ideas and get the most out of the program.
Dev challenge: Attend regular Zoom meetups twice a week, meeting with developers, and doing software challenges.
Student Success Story
Bottega has guided and prepared hundreds of students for an exciting new career in tech, but don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what some of their graduates have to say:
“I legitimately learned more in the first week and a half at Bottega than I did in 3 semesters of College.” – Brian
“Bottega offered me something that I had no idea I could find in just 3 months of school. I learned so much and will be forever grateful to them for the education. The teacher was everything and more that I wanted in a professor. He really cares about your success and happiness.” – Koy
“Bottega is a great school. When I began the course I knew absolutely nothing! Now I can build full stack applications! The course is great. The support after graduation is amazing as well.” – Brayden
“Bottega is amazing! The instructors and staff were helpful and patient. I attended virtually from home full time and was completely brand new to coding/developing/programming. I feel prepared for the workforce and confident with the knowledge I gained!” – Christine
How Can I Pay for My Bottega Course?
Concerns about financing a course are one of the main things holding people back from taking steps towards their dream career. Bottega is aware of this and strives to help make the tech industry an inclusive space for people of all backgrounds regardless of their financial situation, by offering a range of payment options that can help clear the path of hurdles that might be getting in the way.
If you are unemployed, there is funding available from the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) which can be of immense support during your studies. Depending on your location, you can receive funding for a living stipend in addition to tuition fees.
If you are a Veteran, you can have your entire training paid for thanks to the GI Bill, which has been around since 1944 helping Veterans and their family members fund study and training costs.
Income sharing loans are another popular option among students. With income sharing, you can borrow money to fund your studies, and pay it back little by little as a percentage of your income once you’ve landed your brand new job.
If you’re still unsure, there’s also the option of getting a tuition loan. Take Skillsfund, for example, which offers financial aid to students looking to transform their careers. Skillsfund is well respected and trusted given that it evaluates school quality and only partners with the best bootcamps and programs that meet their quality standards.
Last but not least, you can choose to pay the tuition fees yourself upfront, or via monthly installments over a 3-9 month period.
Conclusion
The demand for people with strong digital skills has been increasing for quite some time, but this year’s pandemic has certainly shed an even brighter light on its relevance. While the enormous shift towards online platforms can feel daunting to some, many have seen it as an opportunity to develop vital skills that can improve employability. If this sounds like you, and you want to gain more value to offer in the digital economy we live in, why not reach out via Bottega’s website and jump start your career today?
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
