The Unfulfilled Promise of Boot Camps
Exactly What Were These Masters Of Branding Going For?
Military boot camps are a colossal brand. Two months of hard disciplined training that turns boys to men (or I suppose, more correctly, kids into soldiers). They are full of intense training, near death combat simulations, and intense sacrifice. All of which is administered by larger-than-life, drill sergeants that even Hollywood has trouble replicating.
When some software companies and other intrepid entrepreneurs looked to brand their own two week to two month training sessions, the term boot camp must have shined magically in their marketing boardrooms. Only none of the elements I mentioned above are present in any technology or skills boot camp I have ever heard of. But I guess we can’t fault them… I mean if Hollywood failed, what chance did they have?
It seems the only elements that do match are the short turn around time and the goal of achieving a high level of execution. The jury is really out on whether military boot camps achieve the latter, technology boot camps clearly don’t. Of course, truth in advertising was certainly never the goal, but one wonders if a less lofty naming inspiration might have set better expectations.
Among the expectation one might have for attending a boot camp, brutally honest feedback might be part of it. Perhaps not as brutal as Full Metal Jacket, but drill sergeants are known for being direct. Sadly, few boot camps really pick up on that element of the brand either.
One might question, exactly what are you paying for? The fact that you are paying alone… should indicate a higher level of training excellence than a typical military boot camp. Geez, the soldiers are actually getting paid! But again, there is little more here than a shared name. So if you had hopes of an adversarial drill sergeant determined to antagonize the best from you… well, don’t hold your breath. Adversarial relationships may be great for career development — but they are exceedingly hard to come by in most education spaces.
If you were also hoping for simulated work experiences, team work challenges, and being tested under pressure — be prepared for disappointment. Perhaps that is what boot camps are good at? Preparing you for disappointment. Too harsh? Maybe. Or maybe technology and skill boot camps really should strive to give us more.
These things aren’t exactly cheap. Some cost as much as $16K for two months and require you to travel to a major city. This despite the fact that they are preparing you for a role that might very well be virtual.
Cheaper options exist. Data Camp is only $30 per month. It is a subscription service and is nice enough to drop the “boot”. For that price, you get all the free videos you want. Yep, you got it. Free videos. How exactly is that a camp? Is there actually a data science job that involves watching videos? That can’t pay well… but at least I don’t have to move to San Fran, NYC, or DC for two months! Of course… YouTube gives me all the free videos I want for $0 a month…
Hey — it is all much cheaper than a college degree! Those take four years, cost $40K or more, and then you learn that an entry level job in many fields require 3–5 years of experience. So relatively speaking, it must be better to only drop a few $K and a few weeks to be unemployed! Right? Wait! What? I thought this was intense training to prepare me for success in the near future… not 3–5 years… not unemployment… and not a barista job at Starbucks.
If only there was an education option that fulfilled the brand and promise of a boot camp. One that simulated real-world business environments, situations, and challenges. One that provided discipline, structure, and direct feedback. One that paired learners with seasoned expert instructors capable of providing constructive but sometimes adversarial relationships. One that inspired team work and community… you know a Boot Camp.
Well, in the field of Data Science & Analytics, one is developing. We call it TradeCraft — another throw back term with branding that includes both the military, apprenticeship, and discipline. Check it out here:
For those seeking help in other fields, all the best. There are a few bright spots in software development and cyber security. But most fields serviced by Boot Camps, simply don’t have offerings that really fit the bill. If you are aware of any, help others out and share below. And thanks for reading!
