Coding Bootcamps: From $0 to $100k in 12 Weeks?

Coding bootcamps provide an opportunity for those looking to change careers into software engineering by promising the potential to attain a $100k a year salary after completing the 12 week course.

In 2015, I attended General Assembly's Web Development Immersive coding bootcamp, and in 2018, I attended Hack Reactor's Remote Part Time program.

Since 2017, a third party reporting agency was created to help regulate the industry and the pseudo reporting that the bootcamps were doing for a few years. Since the reporting has been taking place, the industry seems to have clean up a bit with the over reporting of employment numbers and job placement rates.

No longer can companies use students' going back to their old career or employer, or being hired by the bootcamp that taught them, employment towards the overall employment numbers for the job placement rates.

Bootcamps discussed in this video:
Hack Reactor
App Academy
General Assembly
Dev Bootcamp

I have a positive view of the bootcamp community. But I do not endorse the 12 week model for complete newbies as it is not nearly enough time to take a complete beginner to being a software engineer with solid computer science fundamentals. For those who have industry experience and a tech background, then the 12 week model may be for you.

In the end of this video, I provide a 4 step game plan for transitioning careers into software engineering and attaining that near mythical $100k a year salary.

Step 1 is maintain steady employment.
Step 2 is to visit the Github for Open Source Computer Science Degree.
Step 3 is to become obsessed with learning Computer Science and programming such that you can’t wait to get home from work in order to study all night long.
Step 4 is to attend a bootcamp

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[leticiaye]

I like your recommendation at the end. Most people are only fed up with their current job and looking for a way to escape. They don't even like coding and programming. Programming is simply not for everyone.

[cristibaluta]

It took me 3 months to train an intern to be employable as a junior, he was full time at the company and he already had finished a CS college. Having a hard time believing a bootcamp can train an average Joe part time to be a programmer, the student must be really dedicated.

[thundrstruck]

I taught myself programming in the early 2000s and today I earn $160K so you can definitely get there but you better be dedicated to the profession. After 20 years not a day goes by that I don't learn something I did not know in my field.

[Ironication]

Software development isn't easy. Bootcamps, courses and other tutorials provide a way to get into the basics, but it takes years to get into coding logic, technologies, working with others, abstract thinking. Not to mention, there's machine learning, low level programming and image processing (to name some specialties) where you will need a solid understanding of mathematics. I have an MSc in Computer Science, went to college for 7 years and worked since then for 3 years in the industry and even now I'm still learning day by day.

This isn't to deter anyone, just the truth that in order to succeed in this field, you really gotta turn those gears in your brain.

Some areas are easier (like frontend web development) to get into than others (AI programming & data science).

[spicemasterii]

"I hope I earned a like for this video"
Wow. So humble. Instead of "smash that like"
Yes you earned a like. I'd give you more likes if I can. Thank you.

[cjjimenez]

As a software developer myself, I agree with everything you said there.

Programming is not for everyone. You have to have the passion to solve problems since that's what basically programming is - solving problems via a programming language (PL).

It's really rigorous in a way that there are lots of PLs out there and each excelling in a specific industry (e.g. COBOL for banking, Java for Android development, Perl for string processing, etc.). Of course, knowing what PLs suits you requires having a basic knowledge of the different PLs.

If you're not patient enough, you'll get lost before you can even decide which PL you want to master. Add to that, that computer science is a vast field ranging from network security, database administration, image processing, etc.

Given the vastness of this field and the plethora of PLs involved, it actually doesn't any sense that in just 12 weeks, you can claim to have a competitive understanding of computer science when the haystack to explore is actually virtually limitless.

[MikeStoneJapan]

I went to General Assembly London for full MEAN stack. I had to do a lot on my own afterwards but it was a great start. Changed my life. Only about a quarter of my cohort got jobs straight after graduation but everyone who was serious and kept coding/job searching is doing well now.

[AceWhitelite]

this was a phenomenal way to answer a question i’ve been pondering for a while. your time is well appreciated and you definitely earned my like

[DJcyberslash]

I like PHP and am a tutor. Unfortunately lots of programmers geek out too hard and it is hard for beginners. Love to help beginners and I'm glad you have success with your bootcamp.

[hyrumgomez]

Dude! Thanks so much for this! I’m a 28 yr old husband and father working in oil industry. I’m just about to purchase my first investment property as well but looking to do a shift in industry from oil to tech. Just because there’s so many ups and downs with oil and I think it’s great to learn a trade like this. Thanks again for the info

[Ayihours]

Thanks so much for the resources you suggested - I’ve been trying to independently study CS but I like having some sort of structure and the open source cs degree looks exactly like what I need!

[dseanhd]

As a teenager, I started learning coding at the end of 2018 when I saw a video on how to code for free (before that, I thought you had to go to college to learn coding). The video talked about freecodecamp and I went on the site and learnt html and css as my first programming languages then afterwards, I went to w3schools and learnt python and learnt about object oriented programming, then I learnt java and now i’m learning javascript. I love programming and making stuff with code, I code everyday for at least 2-3 hours to learn a new language or create something great! For me, im the type of guy who wants to create something big with coding like an app or a cool website and earn money from them instead of just coding to get a job but, getting a job in programming doesnt look bad what so ever, and, it’s very very high i demand. It’s like nowadays you dont even need to go to college anymore and just study on your own and build something great or get a job at a startup or something but, like you mentioned, you have to be obsessed with it. Be willing to learn new languages and frameworks and create a project with what you learnt. Good video Spencer and to all the future programmers, hope you create something big!

[ilovemoneyalot]

I wanted to do something with software development as a kid, then I joined the Marine Corps and kinda put it in the back burner, now that I'm getting out and am a bit lost on what I want to do to secure a good paying job (above 50K a year to push my real estate investing further) I'm glad I saw this video. It reminded me of the hopes I had when I was young lol. Definitely gonna try that free learning thing and might just get into the industry. Good video.

[JB-kxbx]

I'm about to work at Amazon as a warehouse manager. They have a free tech academy for its employees that lasts 9 months. Cant wait to start.

[hayimheron]

this was a really high value video, thank you Spencer for the time you put in to making it!

[joshparker]

Before Covid, I couldn't wait to get home from work in order to study all night long. Now, it's work from home. I can't leave work and I hate it. My motivation has been way way down. For a long time, I hoped the work from home would end and I could get back to what I was doing, but it isn't happening and I've got to learn to adapt.

[JohnCrestani]

Bootcamps are awesome, and learning programming is one of the best uses of free time out there imo.

[k-ondoomer]

It pays alot because not everyone can program all day 60 70 hours a week. My respect to those who can

[ike]

I am going through a data science program. It is so hard. I thought it would be easier. Program is 10 weeks but I think I will need 10 months to digest all the information.

[RetosSpace]

Another solid video Spencer, good information!I'm currently doing a programming course, not to work in the field, just to learn and especially to use my windows better, funny thing is, I've recently switched to Linux and super loving it!!! Great vid