Career Karma
Coding bootcamp job placement programs and guarantees are some of the most enticing aspects of this new form of job training. However, many students still wonder: can you get a job after coding bootcamp?
The current coding bootcamp job placement rates look good. Research indicates that between 74% and 90% of coding bootcamp students land a programming job within six months of graduation. Job placement varies within the bootcamp industry, but overall your chances are high.
What Does Coding Bootcamp Job Placement Involve?
Unlike colleges and universities, coding bootcamps publish their placement statistics for prospective students to see. Bootcamps work directly with the tech industry and provide unmatched career resources for grads. Before attending a coding bootcamp, be sure to familiarize yourself with job outlook and placement.
As a prospective student, you should really read into the job placement claims. Aim for a school with at least a 50-60 percent placement rate. Check to see if the school’s in-person bootcamps perform better than its online program. Try to find out what career services bootcamp grads are offered, and if it seems to help with their job searches.
Some bootcamps even publish the average starting salary of bootcamp attendees. Be sure to take this statistic into consideration as well when making your bootcamp decision. If the base salaries of graduates are too low for you, you may want to consider a different bootcamp. Also, check to see how often graduates receive an increase in salary, and what the average salary increase is.
Getting a Job After Coding Bootcamp: What Jobs Are Available?
So, what jobs can you get after coding bootcamp? Depending on the bootcamp program you enroll in, you can get a tech job in almost any field of the industry. Graduating from a bootcamp is the best way to get your career in tech started, whether you choose to study data science or web development.
Coding bootcamps offer multiple specialized training programs. Most applicants don’t know what they want to do, and that’s okay. Software engineering is an excellent choice for coding bootcamp students. Coding bootcamp graduates with software engineering education can find work in various fields. Job placement rates are high, and software engineers can branch off into all sorts of technology fields. Here’s a short list of career paths for software engineers:
- Web development
- Data science
- App development
- Game design
Job placement rates increase with specialization, so it’s a good idea to choose a specific field of study. If you’re having trouble picking the right field, don’t worry. Career Karma can answer your questions and help you decide. Some tech fields run a higher employee deficit than others, so do your research before choosing. Be sure to examine your strengths and weaknesses before you select a career path.
Does Previous Education Matter?
Previous education matters, but only to an extent. If you’ve graduated from college, that’s a plus. A college degree is not a necessity, but it can improve your odds of job placement after coding bootcamp.
The majority of software engineers have degrees in Computer Science or Analytics. When it comes to salary, the difference between college and bootcamp graduates is narrow. Initially, college graduates can expect to earn between $3,000 and $5,000 more on average, but the gap narrows over time. Experience is king in the tech industry; if your work is exceptional, you’ll reach your goals.
When you consider the cost of a four-year degree, it may be best to avoid college and go directly to a coding bootcamp. In the time it takes the competition to graduate, you’ll be done with bootcamp and already three years into a career.
How to Get a Job After Coding Bootcamp
Getting a job after coding bootcamp can be difficult. Many bootcamps offer career services to help you find a job after graduation. While these coding bootcamps can easily get you a job, not all bootcamps offer these services. This means that, depending on the bootcamp you choose, you may have to take things into your own hands.
One challenge you may face as a bootcamp alumni is competing against those who have graduated from computer science degree programs. While there are many employers in the tech industry who actually prefer bootcamp grads, many are still old-school. Those employers still see college degrees as the superior form of education.
While it is certainly possible to impress those old-school employers, you will have better luck pursuing a tech career in a company that values bootcamp alumni. You can find these employers in almost every major tech city in the US, like San Francisco and New York City.
Here are a few other things you should do to get a job after bootcamp:
1. Show Off Your Skills
Show off all of your skills. While your technical skills are extremely important in finding a job, you’ll need to demonstrate your other skills as well. One advantage bootcamp graduates have over college degree holders is the curriculum. In coding bootcamps, you will learn the most in-demand soft skills for your desired job in the industry.
2. Learn Additional Programming Languages
Most coding bootcamps teach a few programming languages. Usually, you will learn the most in-demand languages, like JavaScript and Python. However, if you take some time on your own to study the more niche programming languages, you will further impress employers. Having knowledge of a variety of programming languages is one of the best ways to one-up your competition.
3. Enroll in Online Classes
If you have already completed an online bootcamp, you probably think this sounds crazy. However, there are many online tutorials and classes you can take to improve your employability.
Not only are online classes a great way to learn those niche programming languages, but they are also great to acquire career skills. You can enroll in courses to learn specific software, such as Google Analytics or Adobe Illustrator, to spice up your resume.
4. Attend Networking Events
Networking events are typically an important part of a bootcamp’s career services. However, you can also find info about networking events by simply searching online. Attending networking events is a great way to get your name, resume, and portfolio out there in a professional way. In addition, potential employers will be impressed by your initiative to keep yourself up-to-date.
What Can You Do to Improve Your Chances of Finding a Rewarding Career?
First, you need to pick the right coding bootcamp. Coding bootcamp job placement rates are all over the board, so choosing a program with high placement is key to success. Bootcamps like Thinkful, App Academy, Springboard, and Lambda School have proven track records of student success.
- Determine your specific tech career path.
- Join a community, like Career Karma.
- Research coding bootcamps and apply for the right one.
- Enroll in a bootcamp that offers a job guarantee or apprenticeship program after graduation (be sure to read the fine print!).
- Build a portfolio.
- Be persistent and submit applications regularly.
If you follow these strategies, you’ll set yourself up for success after coding bootcamp. Jobs are competitive and placement isn’t always a sure thing. A great coding bootcamp will get you halfway, but the rest is your responsibility. With hard work, a great portfolio, and a dedicated community, you can head out into the job market with confidence and glowing qualifications.
Coding Bootcamp Job Placement Rates FAQs
According to CIRR data, approximately 71 percent of coding bootcamp graduates land jobs within 180 days of graduating. Some coding bootcamps, like Thinkful and BloomTech (formerly known as Lambda School), have higher job placement rates than others.
Some coding bootcamps do guarantee you a job. These particular bootcamps offer partial or full tuition reimbursements if you do not find a job within a certain amount of time after graduating. Others do not require you to pay tuition until you land a qualifying job.
Some of the bootcamps with the best job placement rates include Thinkful, App Academy, Springboard, and Lambda School (BloomTech). However, as important as job placement rates are, this should not be the only thing that goes into your bootcamp decision process. Be sure to research programs and curricula as well.
The post Job Placement After Coding Bootcamp – What Are Your Chances? appeared first on Career Karma.
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Joshua Weinstein
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