The Accelerated Path to Becoming a Software Engineer

by James Yeates

Software Engineers, Web Developers, and other coding-related careers are some of the fastest-growing and well-paying careers in today's economy. Coding Bootcamps were created to help people gain the skills they need to enter this industry in a short amount of time. This guide was created for those who are interested in pursuing a career in tech and doing it through a Bootcamp. It is meant to give you a general overview and some honest expectations about what to expect along the way. Generally speaking, the path can be broken up into 3 main steps:

Step 1: Prep

Before joining a Bootcamp or any other type of school, you should learn some of the basics of coding on your own. There are plenty of free resources to get you started and build a basic foundation. You can learn more here here which has some great external resources as well as some of our own for getting started. Learning the basics is going to do a few things for you:

1. It will give you a chance to see if coding is something you enjoy doing.

Far too often people get lured into coding Bootcamps because they get sold on the idea of getting into a great paying field in a short amount of time. But more than just the idea of making more money you need to find out if coding is something that you find interesting and are excited about. This is a challenging field and is something you might be doing a lot of in the future so you want to make sure you enjoy it and the best way to find out is to try it.

2. You will want to have a foundation in coding basics before joining a Bootcamp.

I would recommend planning on spending a minimum of 100 hours coding, which you could do in a month before you start a Bootcamp. The more the better. Learning to code is hard and for most people is somewhat foreign when first hearing some of the concepts and can take some reputation before concepts begin to sink in. Bootcamps also move at a rapid pace so the stronger your foundation going into one the more you will be able to absorb during the Bootcamp.

3. You might find that Bootcamps are not for you.

Bootcamps are not for everyone. You might find the pace to be too fast and might prefer to go to a University. You also might find that you are able to learn on your own. I do warn that learning how to code gets more challenging as the material gets harder but some people are successful with this.

Step 2: Bootcamp

Something that is very common when people start learning to code on their own, is that they realize it can be challenging and frustrating a lot of the time. Your code does not work and you have no idea what is wrong, it is harder to follow along with tutorials as they get more advanced, there are so many resources out there that you are not sure what to pick and what to learn next. You soon realize that you need some structure, guidance, and actual people to help. This is where Bootcamps come in. There are two primary types of Bootcamps:

Full-time Bootcamps

In a full-time Bootcamp, you can expect to spend 40+ hours a week in lecture, project time, and studying and writing code. These are immersive and intensive and it is really not recommended that you are working during these. They generally run anywhere from 10 - 16+ weeks. They are a great way to talk a leap and 100% immerse yourself in code. They also create a supportive environment where you are alongside peers in the same shoes and TAs and instructors to assist you. They also should have a thought-out and well-structured curriculum with a blend of lectures and lots of project time to give you a great learning experience.

Part-time Bootcamps

In a part-time Bootcamp, you can expect to spend 20+ hours a week in lecture, project time, and studying and writing code. These are less immersive and intensive than full-time Bootcamps and are designed more for people who are working or can not make the time commitment required for the full-time Bootcamps. These are generally longer in duration to make up for the less time spent during the week and can be anywhere from 10-36 weeks. These do not provide the same immersive and in-depth experience that full-time boot camps do, but they are more flexible and not as fast-paced and can be a good option for those with jobs, or for those who do not want the intensity of a full-time Bootcamp.

Either way: 500+ hours

Whether you choose a part-time Bootcamp or a full-time one, you should be looking at spending about 500+ hours here in this step. These should be 500 hours of well-structured and relevant material. Whether a full-time or part-time Bootcamp is better, really has more to do with you and your individual circumstances. I personally think full-time is the better option as it really does force you to make the commitment to coding and can help give people a little bit extra motivation.

Step 3: Don't stop

Before signing up for a Bootcamp you need to ask yourself if this is something you truly want to do and if you are ready to put in the amount of work required for it. The truth of the matter is completing the Bootcamp is just the first step of many on this path. It generally takes about 1-6 months after the Bootcamp to find your first job. During this time it is important to keep going. Here is what I recommend:

What to do after graduation

Job Search

Apply, apply and apply. Get creative here. Reach out directly to hiring managers. reach out to people you know in the field, non-profits, or small-sized businesses who might need websites built.

Network

Finding a job sometimes can be as much about your soft skills as your technical skills. Keep in touch with your classmates, and meet new people at meetups and coding events. Put yourself out there.

Continue to learn

As you apply for jobs and have interviews, you will start to find some of your weak spots and where you can improve. You should be spending 15+ hours a week learning new skills.

Continue to build

As someone with little real-world experience, one way to stand out from other Jr. Developers is to continue to work and build actual projects that you can show off to potential employees. Much like an artist builds their portfolio to show to an interested buyer, build your own portfolio to showcase your skills.

Conclusion

Becoming a Software Engineer via a coding Bootcamp is a challenging and rewarding path. It is one full of ups and downs and more than anything it is full of opportunities for those who stick with it. When it comes down to it, going to a coding Bootcamp is not going to get you a job. It is your hard work and persistence that will. Bootcamps are there to give you guidance and assistance and to accelerate this path, but ultimately it is up to you.