Want to Enroll at a Tech Bootcamp? Here Are 5 Important Factors to Consider

There are three paths for those who want to pursue a career in technology. One is to enroll in a four-year computer science, software engineering, or technology-related program at a college or university. The second option is to enroll in an online course, commonly guided by recorded lectures and follows a self-paced learning structure.

Then there’s the third path: to attend a tech bootcamp, which offers that sweet spot between a college degree and an online course. On the one hand, a bootcamp costs less than a university degree and provides a shorter path to gaining skills needed to land a tech job. On the other hand, a tech bootcamp offers more structure and support than an online course. Many bootcamps also provide comprehensive career support services.

Whether you are interested in software engineering, product design, cybersecurity, or data science, there is a bootcamp that fits you and your needs. Read on to learn the five points you must consider when choosing a bootcamp.

Five Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Tech Bootcamp

There are over 100 tech bootcamps in the US, according to the State of the Bootcamp Market Report by Career Karma. But how do you decide which tech bootcamp can best help you achieve your goals?

Below we outline five key factors to consider when choosing the best tech bootcamp for you.

Area of Interest

Do you enjoy coding or see yourself more as a product designer? Perhaps you want to hack the cyber security job market and become an expert in the field? Tech bootcamps offer skills training programs in various disciplines, such as software engineering, data science, cyber security, or product management.

Once you’ve decided which specific field you want to work in, start researching which tech bootcamps offer programs in your chosen specialization. For example, some bootcamps may be known for software engineering, while others focus on product management. Others may have a good track record for all their courses.

Time Commitment

When you have a shortlist of bootcamps specializing in your area of interest, determine how much time you can invest in a program. For instance, how many hours a week can you spend in class and working on projects after class? Attending a tech bootcamp is similar to adding another full-time job to your already busy schedule. So, this factor is crucial if you’re a working professional, a parent, or have other responsibilities.

The good thing about some tech bootcamps is they offer programs in part-time and full-time schedules. Depending on your availability, decide which schedule you would like to take. Ask yourself questions such as:

• Can I stop working while attending a bootcamp?
• How many hours a day can I spend in class?
• Can I give up my evenings, five days a week for the next six months, to complete the program?

Job Support

Another factor you should consider when choosing a bootcamp is its job search and career support services. This is essential especially when you’re changing careers or starting over in the tech industry.

Here are a few examples of questions you should ask:

• How will the bootcamp help find you a job?
• How long can you avail of career support?
• How extensive is the bootcamp’s employer network?

Job search and career support are crucial for bootcamp students. Often, graduates rely on the bootcamp’s employer network and its career coaches and mentors to help them land their first dream role in their desired industry. A tech bootcamp has many resources to help you network your way toward a tech job.

Outcomes

The most important thing to research and consider is the bootcamp’s job outcomes report. Several well-established bootcamps regularly publish audited outcomes reports. If you have a shortlist of bootcamps you are considering, make sure to take a careful look at its student outcomes.

In these reports, you’ll see how past graduates have fared in the job market and what percentage of the bootcamp’s students found tech jobs six months or a year after completing their program. Student outcomes help you decide whether a particular bootcamp can support you in achieving your professional goals. Crucial numbers to look for in an outcomes report are:

• The job placement rate
• The average salary of graduates
• The average time it takes to land a job from the graduation date

Affordability

Bootcamps have differing tuition fees, and some are more expensive than others. Assess the reasons behind the differences. A more established bootcamp may have a wider employer network, which justifies a higher tuition fee. Other bootcamps may offer more hours inside the classroom or access to mentors.

You should also take a look at available payment plans. Some offer the option to pay via an installment plan or a loan. Others have needs-based or demographics-based scholarships to help members of marginalized communities break into tech.

Why Should You Choose Flatiron School?

If you want to tick all the five points above, one bootcamp that is likely going to be at the top of your shortlist is Flatiron School. The school is a pioneer in the bootcamp space, having recently celebrated its 10th anniversary with over 10,000 graduates. Currently, Flatiron School offers award-winning courses in Software Engineering, Data Science, Cybersecurity Engineering, and Product Design.

To know more about what makes Flatiron School stand out among other bootcamps, we sat down with Alyssa Osterback, an Admissions Representative for Data Science at Flatiron School, who helps students during the admissions process.

Flatiron School has built a good reputation in the tech ed space.

To start, Osterback explains that it pays to consider how long a bootcamp has been around. “There are so many bootcamps that pop up. Every day, I feel like there’s a new one that offers different things,” says Osterback. “With Flatiron School, we’ve been around for 10 years. I think we’ve been able to perfect our curriculum and figure out what the market needs.”

Aside from their tried-and-tested curriculum, Osterback emphasizes another perk with Flatiron School’s decade-long presence in tech education.

“There are several good programs out there, but I think something that can have a lot of weight is name recognition. For example, a lot of companies out there know Flatiron School. So that can carry a bit more weight compared to newer schools.”

Flatiron School offers flexible programs.

Time is also one of the most significant factors when choosing a bootcamp. “Depending on which option you choose, a full-time or a flexible option, a bootcamp requires a huge time commitment,” says Osterback. “Also, your motivation level. Are you someone that can do the self-paced option and keep yourself accountable? Or do you need something with more structure?”

Flatiron School’s full-time,15-week schedule allows students to attend live lectures and interact with cohorts and instructors daily. If students cannot commit to a full-time schedule, Flatiron School also offers students the flexibility to choose their schedules. Courses can be taken part-time through the Flex program, allowing students to study at their own pace.

So no matter your schedule, rest assured that you will still be learning the same material as everyone else, only at a different pace.

Both their full-time and part-time pace options empower you to switch careers, and all you have to do is choose a start date that works best for your schedule.

You can build your foundations with Flatiron School’s free lessons.

If you want to test drive Flatiron School before committing to it, you can. All disciplines offer a free “Course Prep” that gives interested applicants a taste of the Flatiron School experience. These free prep courses are a great way for potential students to learn more about the course they plan to take. To top it off, all Course Prep are open to everyone, with no strings attached.

Flatiron School offers workshops in Software Engineering, Data Science, Cybersecurity, and Product Design.

Flatiron School programs have built-in career support.

Flatiron School also offers full career support, so you get the chance to connect with its vast employer network and benefit from individual career coaching for up to 180 days after graduating. The bootcamp is fully committed to helping its graduates get hired. The effectiveness of its courses is reflected in Flatiron School’s 2021 Jobs Report.

Launch Your Tech Career With Flatiron School

Flatiron School offers quality courses, flexible schedules, an impressive outcomes report, and full career services support for graduates. When you combine these factors with your commitment to tech, you can have a strong start toward career success, no matter your educational or technical background.

As Osterback shares: “Flatiron School is really for everybody, and that’s why we exist. It’s for people who want to change their lives through education.”

If you want to launch your tech career in as little as 15 weeks, start your application to Flatiron School here.