The 6 Advantages of a Weekend Coding Bootcamp

While a full-time coding program has its advantages, some of us can’t step away from our lives for such an extended period. Thankfully, there are programs more focused towards busy individuals called weekend programming bootcamps, and they are a great way to jump start your career.

1- You can keep your current job

While your current job might not be the most pleasant thing in the world, it does pay you money. Money, for most of us, is relatively essential to our daily lives. Full-time coding bootcamps often require you to quit your job and relocate, forcing you to live without a salary for 12-15 weeks. Choosing a weekend coding bootcamp will give you the freedom to attend coding bootcamp while working.

2- You won’t have to relocate

Most full-time boot camps are in major cities and, if you don’t already live in the area that the boot camp takes place, you will have to relocate. Weekend coding boot camps are mostly online-based and allow you to develop your coding knowledge from anywhere in the world that has an internet connection. Being able to work anywhere has its advantages, like being able to go to your kid’s soccer practice on a Thursday, or staying close to friends. Plus, working online gives you the added benefit of showing up to class in your PJs.

3- There is a guided and proven curriculum

Many people who try to teach themselves how to code burn out or get discouraged by their lack of progress. A weekend coding bootcamp provides students with a curriculum that is practical and proven. A better curriculum will help students learn faster and make progress on skills that matter to the industry, and having effective goals will make it easier to measure your progress and stay motivated. By enrolling in a bootcamp, you are making sure you will learn essential programming skills in an efficient and timely manner.

4- You learn to work with other people

Unlike every movie ever made depicting the shy, quiet guy coding in the corner of a dimly lit room, a coder needs to be able to communicate and work with others effectively. Learning to code on your own won’t provide you with the essential experiences of sharing your ideas with others or learning how to collaborate on a coding project with fellow students. A weekend coding bootcamp will allow you to get exposure to real life coding situations where ideas must be sufficiently conveyed to avoid a miscommunication that could cost a company thousands of dollars. An added advantage of working online is that you will learn how to work efficiently with other people who aren’t in the same room or even country, as you.

5- Access to Instructors

Unfortunately, you aren’t already an expert in coding. Wouldn’t it be nice to talk to someone who is? Enrolling in a weekend coding bootcamp will allow you to bounce ideas off of coding gurus. Instructor access is something that won’t happen if you are trying to lone wolf it and learn to code on your own. If you get stuck on a concept and you’re by yourself? Too bad! However, if you have access to an instructor, a frustrating idea that might have taken you days to understand on your own can be explained in a fraction of the time by someone who not only is an expert in coding, but has gotten to know you and your learning style as well.

6- You will meet like-minded individuals

Thanks to the group collaboration and class discussions provided by a weekend coding bootcamp, you will begin to meet other like-minded students. These dedicated students are trying to improve their coding knowledge just like you. They will be going through the same struggles, working through the same projects, and learning the same concepts as you. Being able to talk through problems with your peers not only helps you solve problems faster, but helps keep you motivated! Knowing that someone is out there struggling with the same concept you are is always a comforting feeling. Not only will the people you meet make great friends and study buddies, but working with like-minded people will allow you to network– which is almost as important as learning how to code.

Enrolling in a weekend coding bootcamp will allow you to learn new coding skills in a timely manner while allowing you to network, interact with teachers, and work with a proven curriculum. Learning how to effectively program will open countless doors, allowing you to finally get out of that dead end job–so what are you waiting for?