Next week I’ll be attending a 14-week software development bootcamp in Columbus, OH. I have no professional IT experience, and expect to have a full-time job as a software developer when I finish in April. I have a bachelor’s degree in business, and recently quit my sales job with a Fortune 300 dental distribution company. I was never completely unhappy with sales, but I’ve always had the itch to work in technology. I’m writing this blog to spread awareness about careers in tech, and share my personal bootcamp experience.
If you’ve never heard of ‘Coding Bootcamps,’ they’re a new type of trade school born from the shortage of tech workers in the United States. They teach people the skills to become software developers through 3 to 4 months of immersive training in a classroom setting. Bootcamps have popped up in most major cities, and are expected to graduate about 17,000 students this year. Tuition is anywhere from $9-15,000, and qualifications are nothing more than a high school education and a willingness to learn. If students don’t have enough savings to pay tuition outright, there are specialized student loan companies, like Skills Fund.
When I first heard about the bootcamp model, it made sense. After all, most of the developers I know learned their hands-on skills outside of school. I’ve talked to friends who have 4-year computer science degrees about their education. They tell me Universities focus on theory, and don’t provide as much job-focused training as you would think. A friend of mine claims he got his first job because of a web development framework he learned in the last 3 months of college through a final project. Since technology is ever-changing, it is best for lesson plans to evolve constantly. I can see this giving bootcamps an edge over Universities, because they don’t have to push lessons through layers of bureaucracy before passing them on to students.
Bootcamps were projected to grow by 74% in 2016, and I can see why people are abandoning their jobs to become developers. Software developers have a great standard of living; regular hours, fair pay and benefits, and rewarding work. According to Glassdoor, the average developer earns $85,000 per year, and in Columbus, junior developers have starting salaries around $60,000. Companies take care of their tech workers by providing continued education budgets to learn new technologies, and they outfit break rooms with Foosball tables, and all kinds of other amenities.
While bootcamps make sense, and software development is a great way to make a living, I’m not suggesting anybody can become a software developer in 3 to 4 months. I’ve always had an affinity for technology, and many times have been the computer whiz among friends and coworkers. Additionally, I expect the bootcamp to be grueling; classes are all day with 1-2 hours of homework at night and projects on weekends. It will require a strong familiarity with technology, and a lot of hard work. However, if you’re good with computers, and have some motivation, it’s a great way to start a career in technology.
Thanks for reading! I will keep you updated with weekly posts on my progress. If you have any questions, please email me at joeosterfeld@gmail.com.