Bootcamps: Gain Valuable Technology Skills for the Future

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What is a Coding Bootcamp?

Coding bootcamps are educational experiences where students are immersed in the languages or skills they set out to learn. These intensive courses can take place over a weekend, a week, or even a month, if not longer. Bootcamps often focus on a specific skill set such as algorithms, web development, web design, or a subset of these. Since code runs so many things these days, students can likely find the niche they desire and a bootcamp that will teach them what they need to know.

From a big-picture, practical standpoint, bootcamps are non-academic courses that are grouped in a very tight timeframe. Students tend to enroll in a bootcamp as a way of gaining a lot of computer programming skills and knowledge in a short period of time. Since a bootcamp can take place over the course of a week or a weekend, this approach can be invaluable for someone who needs fresh job skills in a short period of time.

Coding bootcamps can be useful for a variety of students. They are often sought by tech workers who are recently unemployed and who need to refresh their resumes with new skills. They are also a good choice for non-tech workers to quickly gain new skills that can help them start a new, lucrative career. However, they may be used by companies who wish to provide their employees with new skills or a training session as a refresher. Finally, some college students may take a bootcamp course as a way to continue learning during a summer or winter break.

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Why Learn with a Bootcamp Program?

Develop Skills

Develop new skill-sets about a career you are interested in with a current curriculum to help you succeed.

Get Specialized Training

Further your education and training in a field you are currently in and impress potential employers.

Maintain Relevance

Make yourself stand out, bootcamps can help you stay up-to-date and relevant in your current field.

Cost Efficient

Bootcamps are a cost-efficient way to start a new career or advance your current education without traditional degree costs.

What Types of Coding Bootcamps Are There?

Bootcamps come in all shapes and sizes. There are in-person, online, and hybrid approaches to bootcamps. They can also extend over the course of multiple months, or they may be intensive courses that last only a week or a weekend. Bootcamps are typically focused on technology, especially computer programming.

In-person bootcamps are a great option for students who are close to the school or training location and who prefer traditional classroom instruction. Many schools will provide hardware for students to work on, but there are many bootcamps that require students to bring their own laptop. Since many programming languages require special hardware to run, bootcamps may want students to learn how to set up their individual machines to complete the lessons.

Online and hybrid bootcamps are increasingly popular, especially in light of the COVID pandemic. Online only bootcamps allow students to learn with more flexibility. Hybrid bootcamps, on the other hand, let students complete lessons at home before returning to a classroom where they can discuss the assignments and any difficulties that may have arisen.

Online Bootcamps

PROS

Don't require attendance at any particular place or time
Students can ask questions via email at any time
Easier to review lecture materials
There is no rush to make it to class on time
Easier to schedule work and family activities around class
No need to take time off from work

CONS

Some students prefer a traditional classroom experience
Difficult for some to manage their time effectively
Hardware or software issues may hinder a student's ability to access materials or complete assignments
Unreliable internet connections can hinder learning
Employers may not reimburse non-academic courses
Lack of interaction with other students inhibits networking opportunities

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In-Person Bootcamps

PROS

Offer a more intensive experience
Scheduled courses require a heightened sense of engagement
Easier to ask questions during a lecture
In-class discussions may spark new ideas
Networking opportunities with other students may lead to opportunities later
In-person courses facilitate group work and collaboration

CONS

Bootcamp may be in another town, thus requiring travel expenses
Difficult to review lecture materials if they aren't recorded
Asking questions may be difficult since instructor can only address one student at a time
Family or work responsibilities may interfere with class attendance
Class sessions may be canceled due to weather, illness, or other unforeseen natural events

Hybrid Bootcamps

PROS

Students can learn to apply classroom learning to online assignments
The flexibility of the online portion helps students maintain their work and home responsibilities
Students can bring questions from their online learning into the classroom
Bootcamps can be structured in a wide variety of forms to meet the needs of their students
Students enjoy the independent aspects of online learning but can also take advantage of networking opportunities during the classroom sessions

CONS

May not provide enough in-class time to satisfy students who prefer that learning mode
Students may not be able to schedule for every in-class session
The shifts from online to traditional classroom work may be jarring for some students

What Skills Will You Learn?

Entrance to a bootcamp is often quite easy. These non-academic courses generally don't require scores from an entrance exam nor any transcripts. However, depending on the course topic, bootcamp administrators may want to see that students have some level of expertise prior to enrollment. For instance, a programming bootcamp may try to ensure that students have a background in coding language. Those with limited experience may still gain enrollment if their language is considered somewhat similar to the language(s) covered in the course.

Since each bootcamp is unique, each will impart a singular set of skills. Some can be broad, such as a web development bootcamp, which can cover a wide range of topics. For instance, future web developers may start by learning to code HTML and then move on to CSS, JavaScript, and PHP. These comprehensive bootcamps can also cover software packages, such as the Adobe Creative Suite.

Students who are interested in fighting cyber-crime may find a cyber security bootcamp. To gain entry to such a course, the administration may want to see basic programming skills and evidence that students know the basics of networking and computer hardware. Many cyber security bootcamps are geared toward specific cyber security certifications, so students can enroll based on a desire to earn a particular credential.

In fact, while most bootcamps will confer some sort of certificate of completion, many are designed to prepare students for an examination that leads to more robust credentials. Students who are looking for certification in specific hardware or software technology, such as Microsoft Server, Cisco Networks, or Linux, should verify that the bootcamp hold appropriate credentials of its own. This ensures that the material has been crafted to prepare students for success on the exam they need to pass.

While no educational institution should claim any specific student outcomes, they should have appropriate credentials and a reputation that engenders confidence. Students should also be certain that they have an appropriate background that will support success in the class.

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What are the Coding Bootcamp Concentrations?

Each bootcamp has its own concentration that students seek out for career advancement. Bootcamps may focus on a single programming language or technology, such as Python, R, SQL, or JavaScript, or they may have a broader focus. There are many bootcamps that concentrate on web development, which includes a wide range of skills. That concentration often starts out by teaching students HTML, the core of all web sites, and then moving on to CSS, JavaScript, and more. In fact, some web development bootcamps allow students to learn the whole suite of technologies but may also subdivide the course so that new students can join to learn JavaScript, for instance.

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Bootcamps By Technical Discipline

Web Development Bootcamps:
These bootcamps cover the full range of web technologies including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP. These are often a great choice for students who have a limited background in computer science and programming. Depending on the course, some web development bootcamps will also provide training on web design tools such as the Adobe Creative Suite.
Data Science Bootcamps:
Students with a background in math or computer science can expand their knowledge with a focused bootcamp. These bootcamps often cover programming languages, such as Python and R, which help data scientists parse data. Students develop their machine learning skills along with linear and logistic regressions. Most bootcamps will ensure that lessons are geared towards real-world business use cases so that students can knock 'em dead when they start interviewing for a data science position.
Data Analytics Bootcamps:
Students learn to dive deep into Big Data and arise with actionable intelligence. While some background in statistics and advanced mathematics may help, most data analytics bootcamps will turn a novice data analyst into a pro. These bootcamps often focus first on higher order skills in Excel and then move into fundamental statistics courses before diving into programming. Python programming skills include, but are not limited to: NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, and API interactions. Students also delve into database management, front end visualization skills, and end with advanced topics including machine learning.
UX/UI Bootcamps:
These bootcamps may be a great choice for programmers who need insights into how the end user interfaces with their work. This may also be a good choice for those on the software team who are helping to create a user-friendly application. These bootcamps are geared toward teaching students to design good looking applications and web pages. However, the curriculum also covers server-side applications and database interactivity so that designers will be familiar with the all-important back end of their projects. The best UX/UI bootcamps help students create a winning portfolio that they can use to land a job.
Cyber Security Bootcamps:
These are increasingly popular given the rise in malware, hackers, and cyber-crimes. Students will learn how to create effective passwords, identify when a hacker is attempting to wrest sensitive information from them, and more. These bootcamps can also be very technical and cover specific topics such as how to encrypt a database or cryptography in general. There are bootcamps that can take a student who has a basic knowledge of IT and computer science and help them become a cyber security expert. Courses can cover security architecture, firewall technologies, and penetration testing skills, among many other topics.
Software Engineering Bootcamps:
These bootcamps can take up to nine months, depending on how the school structures the classes. Students learn multiple skills, often starting with front-end or web development skills, including JavaScript and event-driven programming. Students also gain back-end skills such as Python, SQL for database management, and FLASK. Essentially, a software engineering bootcamp delivers all the knowledge and skill anyone needs to become a full-fledged software engineer.
Mobile Apps Bootcamps:
Students learn to create the next hot app on both iOS and Android devices. Over the course of these bootcamps, students learn to conceptualize a mobile app and then bring that idea through the entire development process and create a fully functional app. Upon completion, students should have a dynamite set of skills and a portfolio piece that will impress any software development firm. Students may even be able to launch a career as an independent mobile app developer.
Coding Bootcamps:
These bootcamps can focus on a specific language or closely related suite of languages so that students leave with a new level of coding proficiency. Shorter coding bootcamps may introduce students to the rudimentary skills needed to become a dynamite coder. Thus, students may become acquainted with how tags work, how to compile a program, and using variables in their code, among many other skills. At the end, students will have a good familiarity with one or two languages. However, longer coding bootcamps may have in-depth sections that offer a deeper dive into a selection of popular, in-demand coding languages such as HTML, JavaScript, Python, C++, Java, SQL, and more.
Digital Marketing Bootcamps:
Students learn how to advertise and promote businesses and products using the internet. Topics may include how to collect data from websites, statistical analysis, and pertinent web development tools. For instance, students may learn how to create cookies that track internet users.
Python Bootcamps:
Students gain proficiency in this powerful data mining tool. Python is a powerful language that is most famous for its use in data science and data analytics. It cuts processing times drastically relative to its partner, the programming language known as R. Students in Python courses gain a deep familiarity with command line coding and complete the bootcamp with the ability to apply Python to data science and machine learning.
JavaScript Bootcamps:
JavaScript may be one of the older web languages, but it's still one of the most popular. Students may start creating simple rollover buttons and other elements of a dynamite web page and then move on to far more complex applications of this powerful coding language. Over the course of these single language bootcamps, students may develop a fully functioning E-commerce app, learn about Node JS, and even create a video game to showcase their skills.

The Information Technology Field Currently

High technology fields such as computer science, cyber security, and information technology seem well-entrenched in our economy. While this is mostly true, there is still a lot of growth on tap for the future. Computer science, for instance, is a broad-based field that is in a state of near-constant growth. Experts in the field are making new advances into artificial intelligence and machine learning all the time. To achieve their goals, they often must create whole new programming languages, which can be a career of its own.

Cyber security is another field that is constantly evolving and in need of highly skilled experts to help keep our nation's vital infrastructure safe from bad guys. Its growth tracks along with computer science. This is because new technology from the computer scientists results not only in new solutions and technologies but also new vulnerabilities. Even the research that the computer scientists conduct must be protected so that bleeding edge ideas and technologies don't leak out to thieves who will misuse their ill-gotten goods. To gauge the demand for cyber security experts, look no farther than the effort of US government agencies to attract and develop new highly qualified cyber security professionals.

Finally, information technology is a field that is always in demand. Wherever there is business, there is a need for IT professionals. IT experts work on business networks, databases, and hardware solutions. IT has specialty applications in healthcare and business, too.

How Does a Bootcamp Certification Help Your Career?

A bootcamp certification can help a career in many ways. First off, these high-tech courses impart valuable skills and knowledge that is helpful in most any job. When students complete the bootcamp and receive a certificate, they can prove to future employers that they have a new set of marketable skills.

Since most hiring managers in the high-tech fields are looking for skill more than credentials, a bootcamp certificate can go a long way. In fact, many hiring managers still prefer to hire candidates who have learned in a less traditional manner. While a bootcamp is somewhat traditional, most bootcamp students have likely learned a lot as independent learners prior to enrolling.

Bootcamps also offer students the opportunity to dive directly into the subjects that matter the most to them. They don't need to take many, if any, prerequisites and there is no core curriculum involved with a bootcamp. That is, bootcamp students needn't take composition, lab sciences, nor college math in order to dive into computer programming. This not only makes a bootcamp more affordable from a financial standpoint, but it also makes bootcamps more time effective ways to get ahead in a career.

Software Developer:
These technology workers devote their time to the maintenance and development of software packages. Many work on existing software applications to help them evolve to keep pace with new technologies and consumer demands. In their job duties, most software developers write code in a set of programming languages that meet the demands of the project. Most software developers find that they excel with certain languages and those skills then help to steer their careers into fields such as finance, gaming, or entertainment.
- Job Outlook Growth (2019-2029): 22%
- Median Annual Salary: $110,140 per year
Web Developer:
These internet workers help create dynamic web pages that function well on the back end of things. That is, a web developer does very little with regard to how a website looks and has more interest in things like server-side applications, database connectivity, and collecting user data. Developers must know a variety of programming languages that run the internet including HTML, JavaScript, CSS, SQL, and PHP, among others.
- Job Outlook (2019-29): +8%
- Median Annual Salary: $77,200
Cyber Security Analyst:
These cyber security professionals assess the efficacy of cyber security systems and protocols. They may work in conjunction with penetration testers who attempt to hack a system. Analysts report their findings to their supervisors with recommendations for how to improve the security system and even employee security protocols. Analysts must therefore keep constant tabs on new developments in the cyber security field. They may need to travel to cyber security conferences and write and present their own papers in order to be fully functioning members of the cyber security community.
- Job Outlook (2019-29): +31%
- Median Annual Salary: $103,590
Data/Computer Scientist:
The rise of Big Data prompted whole new jobs, such as data scientist. These professionals typically write Python scripts and programs that can parse enormous data sets. This data might be used to track the spread of a disease, or it may be used to discover the target market for a new car, toy, or game. Data scientists also work in high finance where they track equities and assess whole industries in hopes of finding new, profitable opportunities.
- Job Outlook (2019-29): +22%
- Median Annual Salary: $126,830
Computer Programmer:
All software packages require programmers for their development. Programmers are typically experts in one or two programming languages while having a working knowledge of a few related coding systems. Since certain languages are typically found in specific types of software, programmers soon carve a niche for their career. Programmers may also pair their coding skill with other skills, such as statistical analysis, and enter a whole new field as a result – in this case, data science.
- Job Outlook (2019-29): -10%
- Median Annual Salary: $89,190

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What is the Cost of Attending a Coding Bootcamp?

Coding bootcamps come with a wide range of price tags. There are online bootcamps that may cost under $20 but which don't provide any feedback from instructors. These courses may in fact be quite good, but students should investigate the syllabus prior to spending much time on these. At the best, such a low-cost bootcamp should be assumed to provide a thin overview of the subject. There are also bootcamps that may be free but offer the option to pay for full college credit, which would then include more hands-on instruction.

Generally, a coding bootcamp is priced based on the skills imparted. A web design bootcamp may cost less than a web development bootcamp, primarily because developers tend to earn higher salaries than designers. Students may also find that a bootcamp is broken out into several courses, which may be bought and taken individually.

In a brief survey of available bootcamps, prices were around $10,000, with some costing as much as $15,000 for full tuition. Most bootcamps offer payment options for those who are not able to pay the full amount in cash. Students should be sure that whatever bootcamp they take offers a certificate of completion to help bolster their resume. It may also be beneficial to seek out a coding bootcamp from an established college or university with a reputation for having a strong computer science department. While a certificate is substantially different from a degree, the institutional backing will carry weight in the job market.

Why Consider Enrolling in a Bootcamp?

A bootcamp is a terrific option for a person who desires a career change, if not to launch their career from the ground floor. There are few, if any, requirements for enrollment apart from having a deep desire to learn about the technical field involved. Students can also focus on the specific field that interests them most, such as web development, cyber security, or data science.

Bootcamps are also very time effective. A deep dive into, say, Python may take only a few months, while a comprehensive web development bootcamp may take nine months. That web development camp will cover many topics and technologies while maintaining a laser focus on web development. By contrast, a college student in a computer science department may have to take a number of electives and core courses that they may never use in their careers as a web developer.

PROS

Low cost relative to a college tuition rates
Focuses on a single topic
Frequently offer courses starting on a regular basis
Often offered online
Terrific way to get retrained for a new career

CONS

Credits won't transfer to degree programs
Some employers prefer to hire candidates with degrees
Limited opportunities to rise into upper management
No federal funding available to cover tuition

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