Bootcamps: Love or Hate?

A journey through the opinions of Bootcamps on different social networks Samuel, a friend of a Álvaro, called me last week. He wanted to talk to me because he is thinking about making a Bootcamp and he is not sure what steps to take or whether doing a UX Bootcamp or a Code Bootcamp.
November 20, 2022
Design

My approach

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So this is my statement: I am not going to sell you anything, I am interested in knowing why some people love or hate Bootcamps. Besides I can tell you my experience, not only in Bootcamps, but also in online or intensive courses.

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My experience

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Actually I know Álvaro because I made a Code Bootcamp with him. I have made three Bootcamps: two as a pupil and one as Teacher Assistant. I made my first part-time UX Bootcamp in 2018, worked as a Teacher Assistant in a part-time UX Bootcamp in 2019, and made a full-time Code Bootcamp in 2020. This was two or three years ago, so I am not selling you anything.

If you wonder what is a Teacher Assistant, is a teacher helper, they do not have the knowledge of the teacher, but they have been pupils so they can help both teachers and pupils.

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First of all: What is a Bootcamp?

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A bootcamp is “a military training camp for new recruits, with very harsh discipline”. Other definition I found “Basic Training — often called boot camp — prepares recruits for all elements of service: physical, mental and emotional. It gives service members the basic tools necessary to perform the roles that will be assigned to them for the duration of their tour”.

I am not sure if they invented the term in the Iraq War or before.

First Code Bootcamp took place in General Assembly in 2011. In 2017 there were 95 Code Bootcamps only in the US. They said the term was taking from military army to tech industry in Silicon Valley when they realised they had not enough developer profiles for the Start-up boom.

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What kind of Bootcamps can you find?

Right now there a lot of Bootcamps, main ones I see are:

  • UX/UI Bootcamps
  • Coding Bootcamps
  • Data Science Bootcamps
  • Others such as Cibersecurity Bootcamps

What should you consider before doing a Bootcamp?

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Many things: First think if you need this kind of formation, maybe you can find cheaper courses and learn the same. I have made bootcamps but also I have learned a lot at Udemy, Skillshare, etc. There are lots of places.

Consider these: School reputation, installations, number of pupils, presence or online, price, networking, time of your bootcamp, knowledge, learning program, teacher and instructors, methodology, job opportunities, learning resources, etc.

Maybe a Bootcamp can be an answer to a career change, to fill industry gaps, or to gather people into the job market when there are not enough profiles.

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