So you’re ready to start your journey to learning how to code and making a career out of it? A coding bootcamp is one of the quickest, most effective ways of doing this. However, you’ll want to make sure to apply for the right one. There are plenty of options out there, but they might not all be perfect for your goals. One popular option is to enroll in one of the best online coding bootcamps. That’s what we’ll focus on in this article.
If you’re just now beginning your coding bootcamp research, you probably have a ton of questions. Having some general knowledge can greatly help you understand more about what you’re getting into.
In this blog we’ll be breaking down:
- What a coding bootcamp is
- If coding bootcamps are worth it
- How you can prepare for coding bootcamp application
- Coding bootcamp options
- The best online coding bootcamps
- What to do when you’re ready to apply
Let’s get started!
What is a Coding Bootcamp?
A coding bootcamp is essentially an accelerated learning program for those who want to learn the skill of coding. These bootcamps are focused on teaching skills that are applicable to the real world. These skills will be useful for those looking to make a career out of coding.
Coding bootcamps teach a variety of languages such as HTML, CSS, Ruby, Python, Javascript, and much more. Coding languages aren’t the only thing you may learn. Many of these bootcamps teach additional skills such as Full-Stack Web Development, Digital Marketing, Data Science, UX/UI Design, and more. By the end of a bootcamp, you’ll be able to apply these skills to real-life use cases.
Are Coding Bootcamps Really Worth It?
If you’re dedicated, absolutely!
Coding bootcamps teach you a real-life skill that is in high demand in today’s technology-focused world. There are plenty of businesses that are in desperate need of individuals with coding knowledge and experience.
If you’re on a career path that isn’t challenging, satisfying, or doesn’t pay enough, coding bootcamp could be your solution. Because, not only does a coding bootcamp teach you a new skill, it does so in an extremely efficient manner. Depending on your schedule, you can finish certain bootcamps in 17 weeks time. That’s 17 weeks to set yourself on a brand new career trajectory.
What About the Cost?
If you’re wondering whether it’s worth it financially, don’t worry! You have options. Some coding bootcamps offer ISAs for qualified applicants. This means you don’t have to pay for tuition until you find a job after graduation.
Also, if you’re wondering if you could save money by teaching yourself to code, you’d be correct. But you might not save time. Coding is by no means easy to learn. Keep in mind, you can go to college for years to learn
Software engineering is one of the few engineering degrees that don’t require a bachelor’s degree. Many successful software engineers are self-taught. As we mentioned, teaching yourself to code is difficult. So, if you want to expedite the self-teaching process and have guidance along the way, coding bootcamp is the way to go.
If you’re wondering whether it’s worth it in a long-term sense, keep in mind coding is the language all computers speak. That is, when you code on a computer, you’re teaching it how to do things and process inputs. Knowing the language of computers is an invaluable skill that will be useful for years and years to come. The job security of someone who is proficient in coding can’t be overstated.
How Do I Prepare to Apply for an Online Coding Bootcamp?
When preparing to apply for a bootcamp, there are several things you can do to make the experience go as smoothly as possible. Make yourself a to-do list and follow it to stay on task. Here are some of our suggestions:
Learn some coding
If you’re a complete beginner, it wouldn’t hurt to try some coding on your own to see if it’s something you’d be interested in. There are a ton of free tools, such as Grasshopper and Codeacademy, where you can learn some extremely basic coding. Once you get comfortable, start on a coding bootcamp prep program that gives a solid introduction to bootcamp topics. It’s good to dip your toes in the water before diving in headfirst.
Look up some job descriptions
After you’ve learned some basic coding and decided whether or not it’s something you’d like to do for your career, you can see what is expected in the industry by looking up some job descriptions. People who complete coding bootcamps will often seek jobs in software engineering or software development. The responsibilities of these type of jobs typically include designing and developing software, running tests, searching for and fixing bugs, and much more.
Make a list of goals
Sorry to make you write out another list, but this one is important! Decide what it is you want out of a coding bootcamp. Do you want to make a lifelong career out of coding? Are you wanting to learn so you can make your own app? Do you want to get through this as soon as possible or do you want to take your time? Having a general idea of what you want will help you decide on a coding bootcamp and give you a sort of finish line to work toward.
Understand the intensity
This one is important to keep in mind. Coding bootcamps are accelerated and can teach you how to be proficient in a coding language quickly, but only if you put the work in. Just because these camps are quick, doesn’t mean they’re easy. But if you listen to your instructors, do the work, and study, you can succeed.
Research some bootcamps
It’s a good idea to check out some bootcamps on your own. Just browse the websites, see what they offer, and read about the expectations. This will give you a better idea of what coding bootcamps are like and how different each one can be from the other.
Let Career Karma help
Preparation is a vital part of getting yourself on the path to a coding career. Not only will it help guide you in the beginning, it will help you better understand coding and coding bootcamps as a whole.
What Are My Different Coding Bootcamp Options?
There are a plethora of coding bootcamp options to meet a wide variety of needs. Your options for time will be full-time and part-time. The methods of learning include in-person, online, and self-paced. Each of these have their own pros and cons, and which one is right for you really depends on your learning style and your situation. Let’s take a closer look at each:
Full-Time vs. Part-Time
Full-time is the fastest, most immersive version of coding bootcamp. A full-time coding bootcamp is like having a full-time job. You’ll spend many hours out of the day learning and practicing your coding skills so you can finish in a short period of time. The biggest downside of this option is that not everyone will be able to drop everything and dedicate themselves to coding every day.
Part-time coding bootcamps take longer, but you have more free-time. This option is better for those who have jobs, kids, and other responsibilities that they need to attend to during the learning process.
Online vs. In-Person
Your method of learning is also an important consideration. In-person is great for those who enjoy a traditional class structure with an instructor who they can talk with and ask questions during and after classes.
Online courses are much more flexible, and are great for those who can’t attend a class on a regular basis or who prefer to work from the comfort of their own home. There are plenty of resources available for online course takers, so don’t worry about not having what you need to succeed!
"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"
Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot
Self-paced courses lets you work completely on you own, whenever you feel like learning. This option allows for maximum flexibility but also requires discipline and dedication to complete. If you take a self-paced course, you won’t really have someone to hold you accountable and make sure you’re learning on a schedule. If you choose this route, it’s a good idea to build out a schedule that works for you and stick closely to it. This way you get through the coding classes in a reasonable amount of time.
No matter what course you choose, you’ll get out what you put into these types of programs. Although you’ll have peers and mentors to help you along the way, no one is going to drag you through it. If you buckle down and do the work, you’ll have a better chance at having a successful career in software engineering.
What are the Best Online Coding Bootcamps Out There?
There isn’t necessarily one “best” coding bootcamp out there, but there is one that’s best for you and your goals. With the wide variety of great online coding bootcamps available, it can be hard to narrow down the right one. This is something that Career Karma is happy to help with. Here are just some of the incredible bootcamps you can take online:
- Thinkful
- App Academy
- Flatiron School
- Lambda School
- Hack Reactor
- Fullstack Academy
- And much more…
Which one is right for you will depend on a variety of factors. Some guarantee jobs after graduation, some are more flexible than others, some are better for beginners while some are better for those with a little more experience. All of these factors will come into play when making the right choice and deciding where you want to apply.
As we said earlier, doing your own research on these bootcamps is a great idea, but there are so many out there that it can be overwhelming trying to decide on one. Signing up with Career Karma ensures that you save a lot of time and effort in this step of the process, so you can get yourself on the path to a career in software engineering as soon as possible.
I am Ready to Apply! What Now?
That’s great! All coding bootcamps have an application process, and applying for your bootcamp of choice can be a little nerve-wracking. These applications are carefully analyzed, so you want to make sure to answer all the questions as best as you can. It’s important to be honest and show that you have a true passion for learning how to code. If you’re nervous about applying, if you’re just feeling a little lost during the application process, or if you don’t even know where to begin, don’t worry! We can help.
Preparing for Online Coding Bootcamp with Career Karma
Career Karma is here to help match you with the perfect online coding bootcamp for your goals and needs. By consulting with us, not only will we be able to help you find the perfect online coding bootcamp, we can help guide and mentor you during every step of the process. We’ll help you apply and we can be there for you all the way up to your eventual graduation! Our goal is to help you succeed.
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.
