How Lighthouse Labs Bootcamp Helps Graduates Break into Tech

What started as a passion project among a group of software engineers in 2013 became one of Canada’s leading coding bootcamps: the Lighthouse Labs. 

Through its unique mentorship model, Lighthouse Labs commits to connecting industry experts and instructors with learners willing to gain the skills needed to make a successful switch into tech. After eight years in tech education and over 2,000 graduates, here’s how Lighthouse Labs bootcamp is propelling students into successful tech careers.

What Can You Learn at Lighthouse Labs?

Lighthouse Labs covers all the bases by providing multiple coding and data-related programs that cater to varying learner levels and availability. In short, you have options to learn in the most efficient way you can.

Lighthouse Labs Courses

There are two main Lighthouse Labs programs: Web Development and Data Science.

The Web Development program can be taken full-time for 12 weeks or at a more flexible pace for 30 weeks. This course is perfect for those who want to reskill or have no prior tech background. The program includes topics in JavaScript & Node.js, software architecture, and Ruby on Rails. 

Lighthouse Labs also offers shorter-term courses in web development and front end development with JavaScript, lasting six weeks. These are more appropriate for those who want to upskill, like IT and computer science graduates or professionals, or those who already have prior coding experience. 

The Data Science course, meanwhile, is offered full-time and runs for 12 weeks. It covers in-demand data science skills like proficiency in data engineering, machine learning, and deep learning. Lighthouse Labs also provides courses for upskillers that include Intro to Data Analytics and four-day courses in Data Analytics for HR-101 and Data Analytics for Sales Leadership.

Students of both the immersive Web Development and Data Science programs can opt for Lighthouse Labs’ career services designed to help them transition into the workforce.

Other Lighthouse Labs Courses and Resources

Lighthouse Labs partnered with CyberNB in providing a cybersecurity bootcamp and CPHR for their Cyber Security Training for HR. Lighthouse Labs also presents a rich portfolio of free resources in HTML & CSS, JavaScript, Python, and iOS, accessible to anyone.  

Lighthouse Labs Tuition and Scholarships

The full-time immersive courses and flex programs at Lighthouse Labs will cost you between $9,500 and $13,000. The part-time or upskilling programs only range from $1,750 to $2,000. 

If you choose to opt out of the Lighthouse Labs career service program, you can pay the reduced tuition fee of $9,500. However, if you want a complete Lighthouse Labs bootcamp experience, expect to pay $13,000. 

Lack of finances should not be a hindrance to getting a quality education. Lighthouse Labs offers financial aid in government grants, provincial student aid, and a student line of credit. Lighthouse Labs Scholarships also award qualified students a reduced tuition fee on part-time and full-time courses offered in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

Lighthouse Labs Career Services

As we advance further into the digital age, organizations today feel tremendous pressure to catch up with the changing demands of the tech industry. Failure to do so can have an impending effect on their growth. Because of this, companies will favour employees who are ready to hit the ground running once hired. 

“Lighthouse Labs supplies the tech market with highly skilled and job-ready junior developer talent. Our programs are industry-driven and immersive 12-week programs where students put in 10 to 12 hours for six days a week,” says Teresa Vaccaro, the Director of Career Services at Lighthouse Labs. 

To increase the employability of its students, Lighthouse Labs also offers a built-in comprehensive job assistance program that immediately follows after their intensive and immersive programs.

Lighthouse Labs Get-Hired Game Plan

Lighthouse Labs’ Career Services program comprises three key components: professional branding, Lighthouse Labs employment network, and post-grad mentorship. 

Web developers, data analysts, and data scientists are present in different industries. So, it is vital to get a good grasp of the key strengths of each student and develop other valuable career skills that can help them perform effectively in whichever industry they’re in. 

With this in mind, Lighthouse Lab’s Career Services team works hand-in-hand with the students to create their brand and personalize a game plan according to their career goals. This is followed by honing relevant job search skills, like crafting a compelling cover letter, resume, LinkedIn profile, and sharpening interview skills. 

When the students are ready, the schools send out their applications to relevant partner employers to boost their chances of employment. Mentors are also always present for further coaching. 

As Teresa mentions, “Our team works with grads in close contact, providing them with personalized mentorship to ensure they are ready to launch their careers. All this and more is why 85 percent of our grads find a job within 180 days.”

Among them is Lighthouse Labs alum Luke Bergmann. 

From a Non-Tech Professional to a Web Developer

Meet Luke Bergmann, a graduate of Lighthouse Labs’ Web Development course who now works for a startup company based in Saskatchewan as a front-end developer. He secured his employment after six weeks into his job hunt. 

Before entering Lighthouse Labs, Luke worked in customer service roles for many years in different cafes and workshops. He was good at his job, but he saw no further career and financial growth. That was the driving point of his decision to pivot to something else more worthwhile.

After reflecting on his current status and his impending move with his partner to Nelson, Canada, Luke started making a list of what he wanted out of his life. “I just kind of start[ed] searching [for] what kind of jobs I can do from home, what kind of jobs I can do that would really challenge me. [Jobs] that would push me out of my comfort zone the way I haven’t [done before],” he shares. 

Luke narrowed down his list to tech-related careers. Despite not knowing the tech field, his hunger for a challenge and personal career growth revved up his curiosity. 

He watched countless YouTube videos and took up some Udemy programming courses. After establishing his interest in the field, he considered enrolling in a local college in Nelson that offered an eight-month web development program. 

However, on the advice of a friend who was a Lighthouse Labs graduate, he chose Lighthouse Labs instead for two reasons. First, the course takes only three months to complete. Second, he’s heard lots of positive feedback about the bootcamp. 

“I knew people who had done [Lighthouse Labs] before who encouraged me, [saying] I can totally do this. They’re all working at really cool jobs right now. So, it was motivating, and [it] seemed like this was a pretty sure thing that I can do, [too],” says Luke. 

Lighthouse Labs Web Development Course Review

According to Luke, Lighthouse Labs’ Web Development course is intensive but worth the effort, especially during the pandemic when securing a well-paying job is crucial. Not to mention, his consultation with the Lighthouse Labs team before enrolling helped him assess if his decision to join the bootcamp was right for him. 

While enrolled in the course, Luke appreciated the bond between him, his classmates, and his instructors. He also found the support from the Lighthouse Labs community as playing a  significant role, especially in an environment where students spend 10 to 12 hours per day learning. 

He describes the course as, “… taxing on the mind, body, and the brain…[which is why] it’s nice to have people who are there to just give you all that kind of encouragement. [With] them being in the same boat [as I was], [I could] encourage [them] and they could encourage [me].”

Luke was also able to learn according to his needs and style, giving credit to the mentorship method of Lighthouse Labs.  

“The Lighthouse Labs mentorship was awesome [as I] ran [through some] issues multiple times a day. Being able to call a mentor and chat with them a little bit when I have a problem, I [certainly] picked up quickly in that field,” he adds. 

The rigorous course was all worth it as it provided him enough in-depth knowledge and skills that now give him the edge in his profession. When asked what advice he can give to aspiring Lighthouse Labs students with no tech background, he strongly encouraged learners to step out of their comfort zone. 

“Make sure you like it because it’s a tough course. Know that it’s going to be tough, but be okay to find yourself there, and be okay to be uncomfortable. Cool things will happen,” says Luke.

Another integral facet of the Lighthouse Labs experience was the Career Services program. They prepared him for what to expect in the job search, how to deal with interviews, and develop skills to communicate himself better. 

He says, “I learned that all those places that were hiring loved when I got to ask them questions. And I usually got into the next round because I was standing out.” 

So, is Lighthouse Labs bootcamp worth it?

According to Luke Bergmann and 85 percent of Lighthouse Labs graduates who secured jobs paying an average starting salary of $55,808 annually, yes it is worth it.

What Do Employers Think of Lighthouse Labs Graduates?

While employees with tech-related college degrees were traditionally preferred, the scarcity of people with the right skill set in coding and data has pushed employers to widen their recruitment nets and look for candidates who may have not gone through the traditional learning route but have the right competencies that the industry demands: bootcamp graduates. 

But with a plethora of bootcamps out there, how do Lighthouse Labs graduates stand out from the rest? 

According to Fion Lee-Madan, the COO and Co-founder of startup business Fairly AI, hiring Lighthouse Labs graduates to fill their employment needs was the best decision they have made.

“I can honestly say that besides [Lighthouse Labs graduates] having up-to-date knowledge of the popular technologies because they went through the same bootcamp, they can already work in a collaborative environment from Day 1. This is a soft skill that is extremely important in a small startup environment like ours,” she says. 

She adds, “I have certainly met a lot of great developers with a Computer Science (CS) degree but, at the same time, I have also met a lot of great developers with non-CS degrees. A CS degree may get you into the door of your first job faster, but it doesn’t make you a [top] performer.”

Currently, five Lighthouse Labs graduates are working at Fairly AI, including four full stack developers and one data scientist.

Bring Your A-Game to Your Tech Career

The tech industry can be tricky to wade into, and sometimes getting into tech bootcamps alone will not guarantee your success. That’s why joining a bootcamp with a rigorous program and a supportive community that stands with you even after graduation can make a big difference. Of course, perseverance and passion can also amplify positive results.  

In its 2020 Student Outcomes report, 85 percent of the Lighthouse Labs job-seeking graduates were hired in 180 days, with almost half of them securing a job in 60 days. In addition, these alumni are earning between $50,000 to $120,000 depending on their years of experience and hiring company. 

From the numbers alone, one can infer that Lighthouse Labs bootcamp produces top performers even among students without tech backgrounds. Bring your A-game to your career path and enroll in Lighthouse Labs.