We have seen the rise and fall of coding bootcamps almost everywhere. They are built on the idea that the best jobs are in coding and everyone wants a six figure salary working for Google and the like. You need to find your learning and training fit.
Training Fit: Talk to people who have done it…
You can talk to bootcamp students after graduation and see what their thoughts are, where are they working? We have found that only a small number of them get even close to achieving their goals. Why is that? Learning to do anything takes time. If you are hoping for zero to hero you need to spend a great deal of time working toward mastery of the material.
So are longer bootcamps better? That depends. For most, even spending a year or more working at mastering a skill is not enough. You will hear feedback from students, “It took at least a few years to really wrap my head around it.” We have found that the time frame for true understanding is in the neighborhood of 5 plus years.
Learning Fit: So what should you consider when trying to accelerate your learning in a particular field?
- How motivated are you?
- Do you have the time?
- How much money can you realistically put toward it?
- What are your expectations for when you have finished?
- Not Everyone is a Coder
Find Your Learning & Training Fit
1 The most important of these, is your motivation and desire. If you are doing this because of the money you can make, or your parents, or some other reason, you will more than likely waste time and money.
2 Are you able to take time off to complete the program? Even a few months out of the work force can be difficult for most people.
3 How much money can you afford? Are you going to go into debt to finance the course based on what you believe you will be making after you finish?
These are all important questions to consider before you make that commitment.
The goal of most accelerated programs is to make you competent so that you can spend those 5 plus years getting paid to learn.
You are buying a house that you don’t get to live in.
- Do your homework
- Inspect it
- Make sure the investment is worth it
- Don’t have buyers remorse at the end
- Find Your Learning & Training Fit
So in our opinion, the best way to test your interests are with shorter foundational courses, that take less time, less money, and work for your schedule. They give you a chance to see where your strengths are.
The gold rush for learning to code is still very real. You need to see if learning to be a developer is right for you. You need to find your learning and training fit.
There are many other options for working in tech including design, UX, motion, marketing, and other related fields. Find the area that best serves your strengths and goals.