The rising popularity of coding bootcamps means that there are options for anyone interested in learning how to code. Industry professionals can choose coding bootcamps that teach the skills needed to make a career transition. In contrast, beginners in coding can enroll in a coding bootcamp to build a career and professional network in the tech industry. Many coding bootcamps also offer career services that make it easier to find a job or a mentor after graduating. Taking a coding bootcamp offers multiple opportunities for graduates that complete their training!
Steps to Complete After Your Coding Bootcamp
Completing a coding bootcamp is a great accomplishment, but your journey does not end after the bootcamp is completed. There are a few steps that you should take after completing a coding bootcamp that will make it easier to access post-graduation opportunities. Students can prepare themselves to benefit fully from their coding bootcamp experience by following these three simple steps.
1. Update Professional Materials
The first thing that most students should do after completing a coding bootcamp is to update any professional materials. These are any documents or platforms that you use for professional development. This includes your resume, networking profiles, and any portfolios to share your work with potential employers or colleagues. After completing a coding bootcamp, you’ll have learned plenty of new skills; it’s essential to display your training and credentials. Updating your professional materials also signals to job recruiters that you are compatible with positions that fit the criteria of these new coding skills.
2. Solidify Your Network
Updating professional materials also solidifies your network online for those with a professional network. During a coding bootcamp, you will have the opportunity to meet and collaborate with other students interested in the same skills as you. Solidifying your network means reaching out to classmates and making an effort to stay in contact after the coding bootcamp. In addition, maintaining a connection with your bootcamp instructor or mentor is an excellent way to solidify your network, build professional contacts, and ensure that you stay connected to industry professionals.
3. Utilize Bootcamp Resources
Depending on the bootcamp that you have taken, there may be additional resources that assist students in developing professional materials, networking, and finding a mentor. Make sure to research the resources and services available to you as a bootcamp graduate. After your coding bootcamp, some common resources that you can access are job search platforms, interview preparation, career coaching, and many more resources and opportunities geared towards bootcamp graduates!
Opportunities for Bootcamp Graduates
After updating your materials and tapping into the resources provided by the coding bootcamp, it is time to pursue opportunities to build your professional experiences. The types of opportunities you can pursue are dependent on the coding bootcamp that you complete. Still, the opportunities listed below represent some of these post-graduation opportunities.
Completing a Certification Exam
Many bootcamps offer an introduction to coding that works well for finding an entry-level job within multiple industries. However, it is common to take additional courses that will advance your skills in a particular programming language or method. The time after a coding bootcamp is an excellent opportunity to complete a certification exam or program. In comparison to coding bootcamps, tech certifications end with completing an exam. After completing a certification exam, students receive credentials that prove their specialization in a particular tool or skill. Certification exams take the skills you learn in a coding bootcamp to the next level! These are especially important if you work in an industry that requires specific credentials, like healthcare or finance.
Making a Career Transition
Coding bootcamps are commonly used to make a career transition. These programs prepare you for a new job or position that differs from your experience by taking courses that reflect your industry of interest. After completing a coding bootcamp, it is crucial to take advantage of career services and any networking opportunities available to ease the transition. In addition, making a career transition after a coding bootcamp means that you are entering into a new phase of your career. It’s often a good idea to keep the materials from your bootcamp on hand so you can reference those resources over time.
Finding an Internship
Although a bootcamp teaches various skills after completing a coding bootcamp, graduates still need to gain practical experience. Finding an internship is one way to gain real-world experience and apply your new coding skills in a professional setting. Depending on the student's needs, there are several different types of internships available. Some focus on shadowing a business professional while others enable you to directly apply your coding skills to a project. Internships are also a low-stakes way of transitioning from a coding bootcamp into a job.
Applying for Jobs
The majority of coding bootcamp graduates are looking for new job opportunities. After finishing the bootcamp and updating your professional materials, you can use your coding skills as a job search criterion. By searching for jobs that directly reference specific coding skills, you can find a job that aligns with what you learned in your bootcamp. For example, after completing a Python-based coding bootcamp, you can look for jobs geared toward Python developers or programmers.
Building a Freelance Career
Building a freelance career is an excellent opportunity for students who are good at building a network and advertising their skills. Like internships and traditional employment opportunities, freelance work also allows coding bootcamp graduates to apply their skills in a professional setting. By taking on individual clients, freelancers can choose which jobs they accept and how they use their skills. In addition, building a freelance career allows for more flexibility. This is an excellent option for anyone who wants to use their skills but is not ready to make a complete career transition.
Want to Start a Coding Bootcamp?
With all of the resources and opportunities that come from completing a bootcamp, Noble Desktop operates through a platform that makes it a breeze to get started! For example, Noble Desktop's coding bootcamps vary in skills and services, making it easy for students to choose a coding bootcamp that reflects their needs and career aspirations. Whether you choose an in-person coding bootcamp or one of the live online coding bootcamp options, there is always a class that fits your schedule and learning style.