Coding for Unemployed

GoStack: Reboot Your Career

Tech Industry Alliance Skillnet, in partnership with Code Institute, is offering GoStack: Reboot Your Career coding bootcamp to unemployed learners from a wide range of backgrounds – from recent university graduates to those who have been in the job market for some time now. This 16-week, full-time training programme is fully funded by the Tech Industry Alliance Skillnet. The free course offers 25 places and it prepares learners for careers in the digital workforce as Software Developers. It is set to commence on November 13th.

Course overview


The course covers common technical skills including;

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    Creation of interactive, front-end websites utilising industry-standard technologies such as HTML, CSS and ES6 JavaScript.
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    Understanding of creating and managing cloud-based databases natively and via an ORM.
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    Full-stack web frameworks utilising Python.

In addition, learners acquire job-ready skills, such as Agile team management, collaborative pair programming, verbal presentation skills and undertake immersive career coaching content, all of which ensure learners have both the technical knowledge and behavioural skills to succeed in the workplace.

Training will be delivered in a blended format, combining live facilitation and self-directed study. Live facilitation could include Hackathons, Introduction and Employability sessions to foster relationships, promote team working and interact with local employers. On-site days will be delivered from employers’ sites to maximise employer/learner interaction and support as well as positive outcomes.

Learners will complete three collaborative hackathon challenges and a summative final capstone project whilst on the programme, thus creating a body of work that can be shown to prospective employers and support their future employment opportunities.

Entry requirements

  1. Candidates must be at least 18 years old.
  2. Residing in Ireland: Non-EU citizens must have Stamp 4, Labour Market Access Letter or International Protection Status.
  3. Evidence of English language ability equivalent to IELTS Academic Level 6.0 if not a native speaker.
  4. Location: Commuting distance of Cork city and surrounding areas. Successful candidates must attend up to eight onsite days including three hackathons amongst other activities. 
  5. Current employment status: Unemployed.
  6. Commitment: Must be committed to an intensive, full-time training schedule for 16 weeks and subsequently, securing employment following training completion.
  7. Aptitude: Completion of Code Institute’s 5-Step Coding Challenge. A logical thinker with a desire to learn and problem solve.
  8. Personal Statement and CV: Submit a min. 500-word personal statement and most recent CV.
  9. Interview: Pass a telephone interview hosted by Code Institute, which lasts approximately 25 minutes. 
  10. Previous experience: The course is designed to take people with little or no coding experience but can show and aptitude for learning coding through the 5 Step Coding Challenge.
  11. In addition to having an interest in computer and software development, applicants must understand the course and the subsequent working environment. 
  12. Comfortable studying online for extended periods and at a self-directed pace between live supports. 
  13. Have access to a laptop/PC with a minimum 4 GB RAM. A second monitor is highly recommended.

Tentative weekly course curriculum

Week 1

Onboarding, Intro to HTML, Agile behaviours, Careers.

Requires 1 day onsite

Week 2

HTML to CSS, Problem-solving.

Week 3

CSS Fonts & measurement units, Dealing with Distractions, Accountability.

Week 4

Intro to an IDE and Git, Teamwork, personal retro.

Week 5

UX, HTML & CSS project, Team planning, How to Estimate.

Week 6

Bootstrap library, Team retros.

Week 7

Bootstrap project, Lightning Jam & decision-making.

Week 8

Hackathon 1, Careers, Intro to imperative languages, presentation basics.

Requires 2 days onsite

Week 9

JavaScript, The Creativity Cycle, Pair Programming.

Week 10

JavaScript Challenge, APIs, Hackathon 2, Careers, Presenting solutions.

Requires 2 days onsite

Week 11

Intro to Python.

Week 12

Python & Postgres, using an ORM.

Week 13

Intro to Python web frameworks, Django.

Week 14

Building a blog app in Django, Hackathon.

Requires 2/3 days onsite

Week 15

Capstone project week.

Week 16

Capstone project week (summative assessment), Careers sessions & closing day.

Requires 1 day onsite

The final weekly curriculum will be confirmed following the assessment process completion. 

Learning outcomes

By participating in the ‘GoStack: Reboot Your Career’ coding bootcamp, the learner will be able to;

Use an Agile methodology to plan and design a Full-Stack Web application using an MVC framework and related contemporary technologies.

Implement a data model, application features and business logic to manage, query and manipulate data to meet given needs in a particular real-world domain.

Identify and apply authorisation, authentication and permission features in a Full-Stack web application solution.

Create manual and/or automated tests for a Full-Stack Web application using an MVC framework and related contemporary technologies.

Use a distributed version control system and a repository hosting service to document, develop and maintain a Full-Stack Web application using an MVC framework and related contemporary technologies.

Deploy a Full-Stack Web application using an MVC framework and related contemporary technologies to a cloud-based platform.

Understand and use object-based software concepts.

How to apply

Follow the steps below to complete the application process:

Register your interest via the ‘Apply now’ button

Code Institute will enrol you into the assessment process.

Complete the 5-Step Coding Challenge.

Submit the personal statement and CV

After completing the 5-Step Coding Challenge Code Institute provides the applicant(s) with instructions on how to submit the personal statement and CV.

Complete a telephone Interview

Interview outcome

Code Institute will recommend suitable candidates for the training opportunity to the Tech Industry Alliance Skillnet.

Application outcome

Successful applicants will receive an offer directly from the Tech Industry Alliance Skillnet and Code Institute will kick off the onboarding process including a 1:1 video call with an Admissions team member. Those who are not successful on this occasion will receive an email from Code Institute.

Please be advised: Before successful candidates can be onboarded for training, they must complete a Tech Industry Alliance Skillnet Trainee Profile Form.

Please note: Candidates must complete the short challenges (5-Step Coding Challenge with 100% progress score) and submit a minimum 500-word personal statement and most recent CV within five days of receiving their 5-Step Coding Challenge registration email, including booking their telephone interview.