Choosing a Tech Bootcamp: Is Skillcrush’s Break Into Tech Program Right For Me?

In recent years, coding bootcamps have become increasingly popular and a viable alternative to a college education, according to Career Karma’s State of the Bootcamp Market Report. Bootcamps are specially designed for professionals willing to undergo rigorous skills training to launch their careers in the tech industry. In exchange, they only commit a fraction of the time and cost it takes to earn a bachelor’s degree.

With so many coding bootcamps on the market today, picking which one to attend might be challenging. Read on as we highlight the top factors you should consider when choosing the right coding bootcamp and why Skillcrush should be on your shortlist.

Five Questions to Ask Before Attending a Coding Bootcamp

1. What Tech Skills Do I Want to Learn?

Coding bootcamps offer programs that train you in various technical skills, including software development, digital design, data science and analytics, and cyber security. Once you have decided on your area of interest, you should assess which bootcamps are best equipped to teach you the essential skills you want to hone.

As a general rule of thumb, it’s always best to pick a bootcamp that provides hands-on training. It is especially critical when learning highly practical fields like software development and design.

2. How Do I Want to Learn?

Coding bootcamps are known for their flexibility. Whether you want to learn on campus or from the comforts of your home, you’re sure to find a coding bootcamp to fit your preference. Compare various online and in-person bootcamps to decide which format fits your schedule best.

If you enjoy learning with peers in a classroom setting and following a rigorous schedule, an in-person bootcamp might suit you better. On the other hand, if you prefer learning in a silo and a more flexible learning environment, then an online bootcamp is a good choice for you.

3. How Much Time Can I Commit to a Coding Bootcamp?

Depending on your availability, you can choose between enrolling in a full-time, part-time, or self-paced bootcamp program. A full-time bootcamp is ideal if you can commit at least 40 to 60 hours per week to your studies, much like a full-time job.

If you have other priorities like working a nine-to-five job or raising a family, a part-time bootcamp will suit you better as it only requires an average of 20 hours per week. Finally, self-paced bootcamps allow you to learn at your time and pace.

4. Can I Afford to Attend a Coding Bootcamp?

While coding bootcamps are more affordable than a college degree, they don’t come cheap. On average, coding bootcamps cost around $11,000. If you can’t afford to pay upfront, you must find other payment options to cover your tuition fees. Does your prospective bootcamp offer flexible payment plans?

5. Is the Coding Bootcamp Worth My Investment?

This is the most critical question you should ask when considering a particular coding bootcamp—is it worth it? Some coding bootcamps publish their student outcomes annually. These typically include the following data:

• The number of students who found a job after the bootcamp
• How soon after their graduation they secured a job offer
• Their average starting salary post-bootcamp

You can also check student reviews online to hear directly from people who went through with the program.

Why Choose Skillcrush?

Skillcrush is an online tech bootcamp that offers immersive training in web development and web design, two fields that have steadily shown an impressive rise in job opportunities. Its main offering is the Break Into Tech program, which combines technical skills training, project portfolio, job search prep, and active career support into a single program.

Let’s break that down.

Program Curriculum

The first half of the Break Into Tech program is called “Learn the Skills”, which focuses on technical training. Depending on your career goals, you can choose between two career tracks: Front End Developer and Web Designer. Whichever track you choose, you will build knowledge and skills in JavaScript, HTML, and CSS programming, design fundamentals, and coding responsive websites, among others. To reinforce mastery of these skills, you will be working on projects along the way and building your own portfolio.

Accessibility and Flexibility

The Break Into Tech program is self-paced and beginner-friendly. Typically, it takes four to five months to complete the course, if you dedicate around 10 hours per week to studying. This makes it an ideal program for adult learners like parents, working professionals, and career changers who do not have the availability to commit to a program full time or want to learn new skills while still keeping their day jobs.

Community

Skillcrush has an active community of over 10,000 learners from diverse backgrounds. The school organizes bi-weekly webinars with alumni and tech industry experts. Students and alumni also can get additional support through email and the Skillcrush Slack community.

Affordability

Skillcrush intentionally keeps the tuition fee of the Break Into Tech Program reasonable. The students can make a $2,499 one-time payment for the bootcamp. There are also more flexible payment options, such as 12 monthly payments of $229 (or less) via financial partners Affirm and Leif.

Outcomes

The Break Into Tech program comes with a built-in Get Hired Track that, as the name implies, seeks to build a bridge from school to work and help students find success and fulfillment in their professional journeys. At the time of writing, Skillcrush reports a 95 percent job placement rate for its Get Hired Track.

Its services include the following:

• Direct assistance from qualified career coaches
• Individualized advice to succeed in the hiring process
• Resume and portfolio evaluation
• Job search aid and interview preparation

More than that, Skillcrush also offers a job guarantee. This means that if you cannot secure a qualified paying job within six months of beginning your job hunt, even after having completed the Learn the Skills and Get Hired stages of the Break Into Tech program, then the school will reimburse you for your tuition.

According to Skillcrush, “A qualified, paying job refers to a full-time salaried position, paid part-time position, paid contract position, paid freelance position, paid internship, and paid apprenticeship, all in the technical field and all spanning at least a three-month timeframe.”

Alternatives to the Break Into Tech Program

Besides the Break Into Tech Program, Skillcrush offers several skill courses. Skill courses are designed for those aspiring tech specialists who want to hone one specific skill in coding or design. For those who want to learn the basics of programming first, the school offers a free coding camp.

Find the Bootcamp for You

Coding bootcamps are a viable alternative to formal tech education and help you acquire the skills you need to start your career in the tech sector. With so many available programs today, deciding which coding bootcamp to attend may be challenging.

The Break Into Tech Program by Skillcrush deserves your attention while you are trying to find the best bootcamp. Learn more about what Skillcrush can offer you here.