Coding Bootcamp Retrospect: Four Years After Graduation

Dev boot camps promise a new career in a few months with graduates earning impressive salaries. However, these one-liners are often exaggerated. The truth is that while some students may find a new career in six months, not all will, and not all graduates earn high salaries. This article is aimed at individuals considering attending a dev boot camp, and offers some honest advice. The bootcamp I graduated from was self-paced, so this article is written from that perspective.

The first major piece of advice I have is to not compare oneself to others, especially when learning a technical subject like web development. Many students come from tech backgrounds, so they may complete courses faster. However, everyone learns at their own pace and holds different knowledge. It's important not to assume that other people are smarter, faster or better than oneself. As Steve Jobs once said, "Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you. And you can change it, you can influence it. Once you learn that, you'll never be the same again."

Dev boot camps also take longer than advertised (especially the ‘self-paced’ ones). For instance, a course that claims to take six months may actually take a year or more. A lot of the online courses advertise the course length by just adding up all of that course's video time. It is essential to plan for a longer timeline to accommodate any inevitable roadblocks and for the sheer amount of time it takes to let new concepts sink in. The stress of learning several frameworks and coding languages is overwhelming, so it is better to focus on learning rather than the time it takes to learn.

Graduates should not limit themselves to full-stack web developer positions. Many positions require coding and tech framework knowledge, such as product-focused engineers, front-end specialists, QA managers, IT, and cybersecurity. By keeping an open mind, graduates can explore various career opportunities and increase their chances of finding a job.

While quitting one's job to attend a dev boot camp full-time may sound like a great idea, it's not always practical. Taking out loans to attend a boot camp can be expensive, so it's better to get a part-time job that allows for extra spending money. Even working 10 to 20 hours a week can help to maintain a balance between learning and breaks. I quit my full-time job initially but wish I had picked something up part-time. Even if just on the weekends. Not only can you make some extra cash, but it also helps clear your head and socialize with real humans.

Finally, dev boot camps can be challenging, and students may feel like giving up. It is normal to feel this way, but it's essential to remain committed and not let this become a long-term goal. For example, if students feel like giving up while working on their final project, they should take a break, but not give up entirely.

In conclusion, dev boot camps can offer great opportunities, but students should be aware that it may take longer than advertised, and salaries may not be as high as promised. It's essential to focus on learning, keep an open mind about career opportunities, and avoid comparing oneself to others.