You may have heard tales of individuals transitioning from unemployment to securing lucrative six-figure positions in the tech industry within a short span after attending coding boot camps. But are these anecdotes truly reflective of reality?
Is there a feasible route to mastering coding and securing a high-paying job in a fraction of the time it typically takes to complete a conventional computer science degree?
While coding boot camps offer a promising avenue, they alone may not suffice to mold someone into a proficient developer. Continuous learning and hands-on experience across diverse programming facets are imperative for evolving into a proficient software engineering professional. The landscape for entry-level developers can be fiercely competitive due to the influx of boot camp graduates, underscoring the significance of distinguishing oneself with robust skills and practical experience.
Coding bootcamps cater to a wide spectrum of participants, ranging from novices embarking on their coding journey to seasoned professionals seeking a career shift.
These programs prioritize imparting practical tech skills directly applicable to real-world scenarios, as opposed to conventional college education, which often emphasizes theoretical concepts with limited practical utility beyond academia.
Are coding bootcamps shutting down?
There are several bootcamps shutting down for several reasons. One of them is that placement rates have fallen well under 10%. Here is a list of coding bootcamps closed the curtains since 2022.
Telegraph Academy started out as a Hack Reactor partner school coding bootcamp, then it shut down and got converted to Telegraph Track
- Orange Code School shut down.
- Viking Code School was acquired by Thinkful, then Viking Code School closed down.
- Alchemy Code Lab closed down.
- Juno bootcamp shut down.
To us, coding bootcamps might be struggling to become a solution to the ever inflating IT jobs. Rectruiters ask for different kinds of recognition, one being past experience, be internship or co-op programs. However there are only 2000 open intern jobs in Canada, and 1000 paid coop jobs overall.
According to Workforce Canada, it’s estimated that 1.4 million Canadian employees are tech workers and about 60 per cent of these employees work for technology companies..
Do bootcamps offer a guaranteed placement?
No education provider can guarantee you a job. Bootcamps are there to teach you coding, not to get you a job.
Whether or not you judge the teaching of a bootcamp to be worth the cost over all the thousands of free resources online is up to you. It may be an overestimation that you are paying to get a job as a software developer.
We’re seeing a lot of people coming out of CS programs with no marketable skills and no real experience. The CS degree might get you past an automated screening, but if you aren’t especially good at web development – it’s not going to matter.
When the economic conditions kick in
When economic conditions become a factor, the viability of bootcamps becomes noticeably affected. Generally, it appears that bootcamps perform relatively well during prosperous times but present a riskier option during economic downturns.
Consequently, when considering both options, I still advocate for pursuing a degree for better long-term return on investment (ROI) and greater resilience in the face of economic challenges, although not entirely immune to recessions.
It’s crucial to pursue a degree at minimal cost, ensuring it is regionally accredited, to avoid excessive financial burden and maximize long-term ROI.
Bootcamps promising a job have rules you have to follow
Bootcamps that promise you a job often have rules you need to follow. You might have to apply for a certain number of jobs every week or take the first job you’re offered. Plus, there’s usually a deadline, which can make you feel rushed to accept any job, even if it’s not ideal.
Some bootcamps might hide the fact that only a few out of a group of students actually land jobs quickly after graduating. They’ll still advertise that their students can get IT jobs. Job guarantees usually come with deadlines, pushing graduates to find work within a set time. This can lead to them accepting jobs that aren’t the best fit and might not help their long-term career goals.
Also, some bootcamps with job guarantees charge a lot more for tuition. It’s important to think about whether paying extra is worth it and if it actually helps you find a better job. Another thing to watch out for is bootcamps that let you pay later once you’ve got a job. They might add extra charges during this time, so you end up paying more than you expected.
Better ways to find a permanent IT job
We need a better way to provide permanent jobs to our IT workers in Canada, and BlueWave Labs is the answer to this solution. By giving them a job they can spend at least 20 hours a week, they will have Canadian Experience and be culturally and technically ready for their next occupation.
The job provided is free and trainings (certificate-focused) and mentorship costs $259/mo. BlueWave Labs also provides job opportunities for those who are self thought. Each team (we call them squads) has 1 junior team member who can get mentorship from other team members as well.
Our dedication to provide tech workers a way to start working in Canada is opening a lot of career opportunities.
For more information about how we can help you, book a 30-min meeting with us.
