Coding bootcamp comparison

What’s my goal?

That’s the starting point. Think if you want to simply get a basic understanding of software development, or if you’re interested in a professional outcome.

Let’s say you just want to add some technical skills into your career as a Product Manager: in this case you should probably choose a starter program that will teach you the basics.

If you’d like to work as a Software Engineer instead, and contribute to coding projects of any size, then consider choosing a more intense and advanced program.

Where should I study?

Once you’ve decided what’s your goal, you need to choose the most suitable course. Find out what languages and technologies are taught in each program, and what is the course format.

Talk to admissions, see how you like the staff and instructors, read student reviews, and check out some student projects through social media.

Get a sense of how much you would enjoy the learning environment.

What kind of job will I get?

Outcomes are among the most important metrics for any educational journey. You should ask what kind of jobs graduates get after the bootcamp. Keep in mind that some institutions include non-paid internships or low salary apprenticeships in their hiring rates.

The best way to tackle this is to actually talk with the school graduates. Ask the school for references or play the stalking game on LinkedIn.

Can I put my life on hold for a while?

While there are lighter options, you will get the fastest outcome from full-time study programs. This means you won’t be able to combine your course with a concurring job, or side hustles.

Basically ask yourself if you could put everything on hold for a few weeks.

Getting a job leave, planning a (temporary?) relocation or saving enough money to cover this period are some of the important factors to consider.

Is it a good investment?

Once you know the course format, the program tuition and any additional costs you need to evaluate if it’s a good investment.

More specifically, the key differences between schools are:

1. How fast is the return on investment, based on the salary or entrepreneurship opportunities you can get afterwards.

2. How relevant would this new skill be in scaling up your career. Understanding a few specific topics is different from becoming a professional Software Engineer,

I don’t have a technical background. Does it make sense?

It does. Most bootcamps offer intro courses that prepare you for their programs. Don’t be shy or unconfident and talk to any school admissions team: they’ll guide you through their admission processes and will help you evaluate your situation.

I’m already a programmer. Does it make sense?

It does – it’s only a matter of choosing the right program. Some bootcamps are a perfect boost for existing developers: having a solid tech background, they can take the most out of it and become a highly demanded professional after the program.

Some examples of these situations:

1. You’re a Java developer, focused on back-end operations and want to learn JavaScript to become a full-stack developer.

2. You’re a QA engineer and you want to boost your career.

3. You coded a while ago, but now you want go back into it and get a job in the tech sector.

In any of these 3 situations, an immersive bootcamp could be a great option.