Will I Get a Job After a Coding Bootcamp?

Equipping yourself with new skills and knowledge as you set your sights on a new career is essential for your future success, especially if you choose to focus on the tech industry. You’ll have to consider your options for how you’ll prepare for that new job. Should you work on a college degree or will a coding bootcamp be enough? And if you choose the non-degree route, do coding bootcamps get you jobs? Find your answer as you learn more about these bootcamps, their benefits, and how they can help you make your way into the tech industry.

A New Age

In the past, a college degree had an influential effect on your employment prospects, especially if you received your diploma from a prestigious institution. Today, we are in a new age of hireability for tech roles. While the degree you get and from what institution may be important to some hiring managers, others may see the value of knowledge, skills, and passion developed at a tech and coding bootcamp. Employers are increasingly seeing that accelerated certificate programs prepare grads to enter a company’s ranks with new ideas, drive, and the readiness to make an impact.

Confidence in Bootcamp Education

According to a survey of over 1,000 hiring managers and recruiters, 72% of companies consider bootcamp graduates just as capable as graduates of computer science degree programs.¹ So, where does this appreciation for tech and coding bootcamps stem from? It’s all about demand and the need for a skilled workforce.

For instance, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the expected average growth of software developer positions up until 2031 is 25%.² This translates to a great deal of positions that must be filled in less than 10 years! Companies across different sectors are in need of capable tech professionals to drive their efforts forward. Tech and coding bootcamps and bootcamp style education help meet that demand.

The Value of a Tech and Coding Bootcamp

A bootcamp’s value lies in its ability to provide skills training through hands-on, project-driven methods, in a comparatively short period of time (typically 12 to 24 weeks). This type of education focuses on the tech industry’s latest standards and specific aspects of any given field. So, while a traditional 4-year computer science degree may cover topics ranging from computer basics to computer security, coding bootcamps focus on a specialized skill set. That is to say, if you want to become a web developer, you will be taught precise skills and concepts that will help you excel in the web development field.

A bootcamp’s goal is to also create field readiness through workplace simulations, collaboration that emulates real-world interactions, and the practical application of tech concepts. Keep in mind, the fact that this style of education occurs within weeks means these programs tend to be more intensive and can be very demanding for learners.

The Kenzie Academy Difference

The Kenzie Academy program from Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is a bootcamp style education. This means it adopts the advantages of a typical coding bootcamp, but also offers other benefits such as the following:

• Kenzie Academy programs take 9 or 12 months to complete — longer than the 12- or 24-week traditional coding bootcamp. This provides learners more time to absorb concepts, develop their skills, and put them to the test through practical application.
• Kenzie has exclusive events with facilitators, mentors, and industry experts who discuss tech topics, opportunities in the industry, and other information that can potentially advance a learner’s career.
• Kenzie learners, if eligible, have the option to transfer completed program credits to a degree program from SNHU or other institutions.
• The Career Curriculum and Career Services Teams help learners and grads be successful with their job search. They provide interview skills training, resume building, and job search support. Plus, through the Employer Outreach program, learners have access to a national network of employer partners. The program is designed to connect companies with a pool of talented Kenzie graduates.

Career Coaching Goes a Long Way

So, do coding bootcamps get you jobs? If you’re committed, dedicated, and enthusiastic about a future in tech, your efforts can go a long way. Kenzie goes above and beyond to help you get an entry-level job with career coaching services. While you’re expected to play the leading role in your job-seeking process, a Career Advisor guides and helps you land the next interview. They support Kenzie learners as they prepare to enter the job market in these ways:

• Resume Assistance: Your resume is one of hundreds in a recruiter’s inbox, so it needs to stand out! Your advisor helps you design a resume with an organized layout that reflects your voice and features your experience, projects, and skill set.
• Mock Interviews: Whether you’re inexperienced with job interviews or in need of a practice run, your advisor can help you fine-tune your interviewing skills. They’ll offer pointers as you practice and insight on what employers look for during your conversation.
• Job-Seeking Artifacts: Your GitHub, portfolio, and LinkedIn profile can make a big impact in your employment search. You’ll work with your advisor to make it look professional and showcase your best work, skills, and experience
• Networking Support: As you’re trying to find the job openings that best match your professional goals or connect with companies you admire, you’ll learn how to network to find those jobs and make those connections.

Potential Jobs and Salaries for Kenzie Grads with Certificates

Different factors determine your job prospects upon graduation. For instance, the state of the job market, the type of position you choose to apply for, and how much you can make. Here are some common occupations and salaries for a Kenzie grad who comes from a bootcamp style tech program:

Take the First Step Today

If you want to learn to code and begin a career in web development, software engineering, or another tech area, a Kenzie Academy program can help you get there. Our fully remote programs emphasize career readiness, flexibility, and experiential learning to prepare you for the tech job market in a year or less. Are you ready to take the next step toward a bright future? Apply today and get started.

References:

¹Indeed, “Are Coding Bootcamps Worth It? What Employers Think” on the internet (Viewed Feb. 21, 2023)

²Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Software Developers on the internet (Viewed Feb. 21, 2023)

³Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Web Developers  on the internet (Viewed Feb. 21, 2023)

⁴Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Computer Programmers on the internet (Viewed Feb. 21, 2023)