5 Things to Know About Coding Bootcamps

Category: Learn To Code, Published: 10/12/2021

two people working to code an app at boot camp

Are you ready to make a change in your career but need to improve your technical skill set or developer portfolio? Many professionals turn to online coding bootcamps to round out their stack of technical skills and land their dream job in tech.

Most coding bootcamp programs last about 24 weeks, allowing professionals to increase their skill set in a short amount of time to advance their careers in tech. We’ll explore some of the benefits and pitfalls of coding bootcamps and give tips on how you can improve your portfolio and career.

You’ll Build a Portfolio of Varied Projects For Skills of Today

Coding bootcamps can diversify your portfolio by challenging you to develop a full stack of technical coding skills for today’s most in-demand jobs. After completing the bootcamp, you’ll have a specialized portfolio of completed projects that are typical of a:

QA Engineer

To build your resume as a Quality Assurance Engineer, you’ll want to have projects that highlight these technical skills:

Test Scripts
Python
Java
API
Jira
QA
Scrum

Writing test scripts is essential to a QA Engineer because it constitutes about 20% of the job. QA Engineers’ average pay is $110K a year, which is an excellent return on investment by doing a bootcamp to boost your skill set.

Front End Developer

If you want to be a front end developer, you’ll need to be very proficient in:

HTML
CSS
JavaScript

A coding bootcamp will ensure you’re capable in all of these front-end languages and teach you best practices for navigation, layout, design, user experience (UX). The average base salary of a front-end developer is $102K.

Back End Developer

Back-end developers are in high demand but also require several technical skills. A coding bootcamp will ensure you’re proficient in:

Python
Java
PHP
SQL
Git
HTML
CSS
JavaScript
Communication

Back-end developers need to be able to build, dissect, and maintain core databases, APIs, and back-end processes so that the applications, programs, and websites function effectively. The average income of a back-end developer is $115K.

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity engineers require an advanced and technical skillset that requires lots of training to prevent malware, ransomware, DDoS, phishing. Skills you’ll want to develop and highlight in your portfolio include:

Security Incident Handling & Response
SIEM Management
Audit & Compliance
Analytics and Intelligence
Firewall, IDS, IPS
Intrusion Detection
Application Security Development
Digital Forensics

As attacks increase, the demand for competent cybersecurity engineers is growing rapidly. To become attractive to employers, you’ll want to ensure your cybersecurity skills are current on the latest developments and threats.

UX/UI Design

To expand your skill set to become a user experience/ user interface (UX/UI) designer, you’ll want technical skills in:

Prototyping, Wireframing, and User Flows
Visual Design
Research and Usability Testing
Agile
Information Architecture (IA)
Application Development

At a coding bootcamp, you’ll produce quality projects that adhere to UX/UI best practices and pad your portfolio to land the UX/UI designer job. The average pay for UX/UI design is $115K.

Mobile Development

Mobile developers need a particular skill set that borrows from the full stack. You’ll need to be proficient in:

Mobile UI Design
Cross-Platform App Development
Back-end Computing

This requires the skills of a front end, back end, and UX/UI Developer with a narrowed emphasis on mobile development. The average income of a mobile developer is $105K.

Web Development

A web developer has all the same skills as a front-end developer but also requires a level of proficiency in:

Debugging
GIT
Graphic Design
Back End and Databases
Hosting Set-Up
Libraries and Frameworks

A web developer is the complete full-stack package that can handle front-end and back-end tasks and management. The average salary of a web developer is $77K, and web development is projected to grow 13% by 2028.

You’ll Gain Experience Top Companies Are Looking For

The biggest names in tech are always looking for applicants with broader skillsets and specialized technical skills. By attending a coding bootcamp, you’ll stay current on in-demand technical skills that these companies look for:

Apple

Around since the 1980s, Apple has been an industry leader in personal computing and smartphone technology. It is the most valuable tech company in the world. They offer a wide variety of products and services to their extensive customer base and often lead the future direction of technology.

Amazon

Originally an online bookseller, Amazon has become the largest online retailer and controls 47% of the US e-commerce market. But Amazon also leads in multiple industries such as music, video streaming, apps, cloud computing, and storage solutions.

Would you love to land a tech job at Amazon? Learn more about how Sabio is a Career Choice Partner with Amazon.

Google

Google is the world’s largest search engine, accounting for 92% of all internet search volume. Restructured in 2015 as Alphabet Inc., Alphabet now competes in various cloud computing markets and technology manufacturing.

Microsoft

A multinational technology leader, Microsoft innovates in software, electronics, personal computing, applications, and gaming. Microsoft is part of the Big Ten for global technology enterprises.

Tesla

Tesla is the industry leader in sustainable energy technology. They are continually innovating to provide sustainable, renewable energy solutions, including electric cars and solar energy.

Facebook

With over 2.8 billion users as of 2020, Facebook is the social media giant. The leading social media network, Facebook also includes Instagram and WhatsApp. The social media platform has proven its popularity, and adoption can weather any controversy.

Cisco

Another multinational technology enterprise in the heart of Silicon Valley, Cisco, leads in networking, cybersecurity, and cloud solutions. Cisco is well known for producing high-quality networking hardware, software, and telecommunications equipment.

Can Offer Fast Path To Career Change

If you’re looking for a career change, coding bootcamps can accelerate your ability to a new career in the technology industry. These bootcamps also offer other services to help you earn that dream job:

1. Job placement services are often available

Many bootcamps have a built-in network with top-paying technology enterprises. They often offer job placement services that take the pain out of finding positions that fit your skillset.

2. Can train quickly for missing job qualifications

Coding bootcamps offer a variety of accelerated programs that can help you quickly fill in missing job qualifications that prevent you from changing careers. And some bootcamps allow you to customize your experience to focus where you have holes in your skillset.

3. Always able to demonstrate current practices.

One of the most significant advantages of participating in a coding bootcamp is that the bootcamp stays current on best practices, tools, languages, and design to ensure you’re learning the hottest and news techniques, languages, and skills.

4. Alumni networks boast connections to major companies.

Many former bootcamp alumni have connections to leading enterprises, offering you an opportunity to network and interview with some of the best technology companies. Sometimes the only way in is through a solid connection, and coding bootcamps can be your foot in the door.

5. Ability to take on many different skills in a much shorter time than self-learning.

Coding bootcamps offer the structure and step-by-step learning that accelerates learning compared to self-taught. These camps also provide multiple skills to master within the timeframe, allowing you to master more than one skill at a time.

Bootcamps Aren’t Accredited

Because coding bootcamps aren’t accredited like a university or college, not all bootcamps are created equal. You’ll find some bootcamps lack the same quality and curriculum as a college course. That’s why researching bootcamps for successful track records are critical.

Think a Bachelor of Science is the better route for you than a bootcamp? Learn more about Sabio’s Bachelor’s Degree program.

1. They can self-report job placement statistics without oversight.

Because bootcamps aren’t accredited, they can boast of high job placement without oversight. It can help them when they are creating their curriculum but can be misleading too. Make sure to research the bootcamp or talk to previous attendees to get a better sense of the boot camp’s value.

2. Federal financial aid programs do not apply.

Unfortunately, because the bootcamps aren’t accredited, attendees cannot get federal financial aid to complete the program. You’ll want to research different bootcamps to determine which camp provides the best value and see if they offer other financing options.

3. Learning models may vary.

Each coding bootcamp will come with its own learning model. You may want to demo or try a free class before signing up for the camp to ensure the learning model is a good fit for you. Many programs offer self-guided, part-time, and full-time options.

4. Bootcamps have the freedom to adjust curriculum as best practices change.

One of the biggest advantages of not being accredited is the bootcamp’s ability to adjust the curriculum. Bootcamps can adapt to accommodate a rapidly changing tech environment where best practices and techniques can shift quickly. This ensures that the skills you learn are current and relevant to employers.

5. Admissions requirements can vary significantly among programs.

Bootcamps often have different admission requirements to participate in their programs. They may require a basic coding challenge or exam to determine your current skill level and if you have the base skills needed to take the course. You’ll want to research any prerequisites before signing up for the program.

6. Courses might not be applicable to college credit.

If you’re still in college, then you may not want to participate in a bootcamp because it won’t count toward your college credit. While you may gain valuable skills quickly, it won’t help you graduate faster—it will more than likely increase the length of your college career because the bootcamp can be demanding of your time.

7. Payment plans may vary — read the fine print.

Because the coding camps are not accredited, you may find that their payment plans vary. Some may offer payment plans, while others want the full tuition paid upfront. It’s essential to read the fine print, evaluate if the program is right for you, and determine which plan will be the most cost-effective.

Bootcamps Are Primarily For People Seeking A Career Change

Bootcamps are a flexible way to help attendees make a significant career change or advancement in their careers. The camps offer courses to help individuals specialize in specific areas of where they want their careers to go.

1. Can typically specify certain career paths.

Bootcamps are great because they can be tailored to specific career paths. Attendees can learn all the specific technical and soft skills needed for applying to specific jobs.

2. Many offer a money-back guarantee if a job is not acquired in a specific time.

While coding bootcamps can be a substantial cost, many camps offer a money-back guarantee if you don’t get a job within a designated amount of time after the camp. Many bootcamps guarantee you’ll land a tech job within 180 days of graduation.

3. Others won’t make you pay until you get a job from your training.

Another cool option that some bootcamps offer is that you can defer payment for the bootcamp until after you have a job. Then you can make manageable payments while working in your new career.

4. Mentors can assist with job placement and advice.

Some coding bootcamps ensure that the attendees have a mentor with at least a decade of tech experience to guide them, answer questions, and network to land a job. The mentors can also help guide the attendees toward the career paths that are best suited to them based on their strengths.

5. Flexible hours to accommodate professional schedule.

Coding bootcamps can offer classes that can work around your professional schedule. Many online camps allow you to do self-guided at your own pace and time or part-time courses that are given in the evenings for attendees that work full-time.

6. Most learning is now available online.

Most coding bootcamps are online, making it very convenient for individuals looking to develop and grow their technical and soft skillset. For those who prefer in-person learning, some bootcamps provide hybrid learning environments to cater to professionals looking to change their careers.

7. Advancement opportunities with new skillsets

Coding bootcamps can also provide valuable learning and technical skills to help individuals bump up in their careers by giving them the necessary skills for advancement opportunities. Individuals can round out their stack, making them invaluable to any organization.

Apply Now!

Sabio is a well-rated, successful company that offers a wide variety of technology programs, coding bootcamps, and even accredited bachelor's degree programs to help you achieve your dream career in tech. Sabio’s Coding Bootcamp offers full-stack web development training, where you can also specialize in Node.js or .NET.

Apply now to fast-track your new career in the technology sector.

Conclusion

Coding bootcamps are a fantastic way to level up your skillset to achieve that dream career in tech. The camps offer an accelerated, intensive program to develop specific technical skills to round out your full-stack development portfolio, making you an asset to any tech enterprise.

Sabio has several bootcamp campuses in the Southern California area. Not in California? Not a problem. Sabio also offers full-time and part-time online options that cater to working professionals who want to increase their technical skillset.

Have more questions about Sabio’s Coding Bootcamps? Sign up for one of their upcoming Info Sessions, where they answer any questions you might have about their programs.