Is A Coding Bootcamp Right For You?

 How do I know if a coding bootcamp is right for you?

As is the case with choosing a walk of life, answering a vocational calling, or simply finding yourself at a career-defining crossroads, there is never one true answer, and similarly, there is no one type of individual who is best suited to a coding bootcamp. Everyone’s journey is extraordinarily different. From amateur to expert, novice to genius, is it never a simple, linear narrative in how their story is told. However, in consideration of the above question, have we learned anything about a type of student that is most suited to the format of learning provided by coding bootcamps?

Fast-Paced Intensive Learning Environment

There are traits, habits and behaviours, curiosities even, that many share, but from what we’ve learned, in an educational environment such as this, particularly one which entails fast-paced, intensive learning, the people most likely to succeed and advance professionally are those whose work ethic matches their ambition.

Motivated individuals, self-starters, minds curious about Ireland’s technological future, people just wishing to make the next step in their career, as much as the Code Institute wants to promise them an opportunity, it wants to offer them a choice. Within the 12 week framework, within the course curriculum, within the teachings of practising industry professionals and coding experts, is the choice to learn. However, this is only if the student approaches the challenge with the open mind and due diligence that it demands to participate professionally in Ireland’s ICT sphere.

One might be tempted to dismiss the educational methodology of coding bootcamps such as the Code Institute as unfeasible, and unrealistic, but there is truth in saying that the educational model, enormously successful in the United States, has some merit for a great deal of people curious about development and design.

If the individual has just left secondary education but advancing into university is not an option they can afford, for whatsoever reason, what coding bootcamps seek to offer is an alternative avenue of learning.
For the modern, working professional who wishes to participate in Ireland’s technological sector, which has endured astronomical growth in the last few years, coding bootcamps seek to offer an immediately translatable set of skills that cater to the realistic time and economic constraints working professionals are burdened with, particularly those that might discourage a transition from one field of expertise to another.

For those who might be tempted to feel obsolete, or behind the times, it’s an opportunity to revitalise their employment opportunities in order to compete with a technological climate that is progressing at a frightening pace.

Achieve Your Goals

Ultimately, coding bootcamps can be used as a toolbox to meet specific, career-oriented goals, in familiarising the student with tools and software that the modern market demands, but as an instrument of learning, it extends far beyond the 12 weeks, far beyond the syllabus, and far beyond the hours of practical, engaging, learning content.
It is not just about what can be found within the margins of the curriculum. Success is found on a case-by-case basis for each individual student, in their attitude to how they want to proceed, and whether or not they’re willing to meet the task at hand for the sake of advancing themselves as a coder.

The idea is not merely providing what to learn, but how to learn. It’s about providing the software tools, the expert teaching, and promoting the vitally important ethic of self-learning necessary to compete. To catch up, or keep up, or even stay ahead.

In this current economic climate, despite extraordinary continued growth in the ICT sector, if you wish to compete, if you wish to participate but find yourself slightly outside the margins, there is no magic bullet.
There is no device for immediate gratification, and certainly, truer than ever, there is no substitute for hard work. Curiosity will get you so far, but a work ethic, a desire to match your ambition to those unpleasantly long hours into the late evenings, an ability to creatively think outside the box and be able to pragmatically apply that thought to existing software tools, will advance your journey immensely.

So, Is A Coding Bootcamp Right For You?

As you can imagine, coding bootcamps are not for everyone, but as an alternative model of education that seeks to advance technical fluency in Ireland, alongside the traditional university model, they’re certainly worth further investigation.