Why Boot Camps are Failing Their Graduates
As a recent boot camp graduate it’s odd that I feel the boot camp industry is failing their graduates. However, with two large boot camps closing in the month of July there has been a lot of talk in the coding education space. I’ve been able to chat with graduates of The Iron Yard as well as other boot camp grads out there. I’ve also seen the gripes of Senior Developers as well as boot camp grads who are 6 months post graduation and still not finding employment. So I decided to dig into the data some.
I started looking at the top online web development boot camps. I decided to look at the top rated on Course Report. I specifically was looking at if the program offered a job guarantee and if they offered career services. Now, what I think about career services or the help the school offers in guiding students to land a job is based on what I have received. However, I quickly found that while programs like to say they help grads find jobs most really don’t in my opinion. This is where I feel they are failing their graduates. It seems like this is the standard if anything is mentioned:
Employers are invited to connect with our apprentices before the end of each cohort. In a speed dating format, apprentices and employers get the opportunity to connect about current career opportunities. In addition, Employer Network Managers meet with apprentices multiple times during their cohort and assist with resumes, interview prep, job search and all other employment needs. Our masters and mentors are also there to assist you in your job search.
So to decode this:
“Employers are invited to connect with our apprentices before the end of each cohort. In a speed dating format, apprentices and employers get the opportunity to connect about current career opportunities.” This means that employers are invited to connect with students on demo day, those employers may or may not come.
Then, “In addition, Employer Network Managers meet with apprentices multiple times during their cohort and assist with resumes, interview prep, job search and all other employment needs.” So you get prep during the cohort but not after? That seems odd to me. Don’t you need this help the most after you graduate?
Lastly, “Our masters and mentors are also there to assist you in your job search.” The teachers will help you if they can.
Now contrast that with a much rarer and I feel proper career support promise:
As alumni of our courses you have lifetime access to our experienced career counselors, mentors, instructors and hiring networks. Whether it’s job interviewing, sharpening up your portfolio, or brushing up on your code, our classrooms and staff are at your disposal. For life.
Alumni Resources:
- Professional head shot for social media
- Completed super transcript
- Technical training for GitHub and LinkedIn profiles
- Technical interview / job negotiation training
- Access to library of recorded class materials
- Free co-working
- Access to current mentors / instructors
- Access to career counselor
- Job tracking / job searching tools
- Free admission to hiring events
There is one thread that does run through all the schools that offer more in depth career services, a Job Guarantee. The typical one has stipulations of things you must do each week to maintain eligibility for this guarantee. If in 6 months after graduation the student does not find full time employment in the tech industry their tuition will be refunded is pretty standard. To see what the requirements of a couple top schools look like check out the ones for Flatiron School & Bloc. Now, this does not mean that schools that do not offer a job guarantee do not teach what’s needed to land a job, the struggle in landing a job might be more than others who have more dedicated support. I know that I’ve never heard a bad thing about a Hack Reactor graduate from anybody that has hired one and they offer no guarantee and they are one of the most expensive schools as well.
I just find it sad when I see a student who graduated from a boot camp 6 months ago talking about how they haven’t landed a job yet. They’re frustrated. I’m sure this could be mitigated by better guidance and direction being given to them. They’re looking for someone to blame and it’s hard for a person to say that the school they poured their time and money into might not have been the best decision. There is a bias there that is hard to break. It’s also hard sometimes to tell those people that they might need to take a look in the mirror and reevaluate themselves. If every other student in their cohort has landed something by this point in time it might not be the hiring managers or the school but themselves. This is what good career support would be providing. Not just a nice CV and an updated LinkedIn profile.
I’m going to take a unpopular, but I believe widely held, stance right now. Not everybody can learn to code. Sorry, I just don’t believe it. Just like not everybody can learn to do Quantum Physics. Okay, I know those are a little extreme in comparison. However, I think it still holds true. I think there’s going to be a larger need for mid level developers a few years from now as boot camp grads who got into the profession for the wrong reasons realize they really don’t like their jobs. Those people won’t have the passion or drive to be truly valuable for companies and it’ll be clear who their counterparts that love development are. Those people are going to THRIVE once that separation occurs. I’ve heard stories of boot camps that literally asked two questions to potential students, “Can you pay? Do you have a Mac?” Some don’t even ask that second question. It’s a sad reality that is going to bite this industry in the ass.
I know I love the basic tasks that web developers do every day. The problem solving and learning. So I’ll be looking forward to being the diamond in the rough when the time comes. I’m also happy to see some boot camps closing. The industry will start evaluating what those schools did wrong to hopefully not follow in their footsteps. Eventually, students will start being more discerning in what school they choose to attend as more and more pop up. In addition, online and remote programs are now offering top notch programs that are accessible for anyone with an internet connection.
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