Thesewere Annie Cochran'sjobsto pay her bills a year ago: freelance graphic designer.Contractor. Model and whiskey sales representative.
She ditchedthosegigsto pursue a career in tech. Now Cochran, who lives in Cincinnati, leads a team of software engineersto ensureonline deliveries go smoothly for the Kroger grocery chain.
Around the same time, Wes Woods struggled to make ends meet. He wasa bartender, a DJand a deliverydriver in Cleveland. He, too, made a similar career pivotto tech and now works as a software developer at J.P. Morgan Chase in Columbus, Ohio.
Bothwere recipients ofRepresentTech, a scholarship to getmorewomen, people of color, and those in the LGBTQ community working intech. It's part ofTech Elevator, an intense 14-week software developer training program also known as a "coding boot camp."
"I tooka bet on myself. I didn't have any coding background besides putting sparkles on my MySpace page back in the day," said Woods, 34. "It's rigorous work in a shortspan, but if you want something bad enough to change your life, you'll find a way to do it."
Woods is among the more than 3,100studentsnationwide who graduated from Tech Elevator, now considered one of the top-ranked coding boot camps in the U.S. bythe Council on Integrity in Results Reporting(CIRR), a nonprofit that reviews boot camps and report their data, and theCourse Report, an online research platform.
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For Cochran and Woods, their uniqueentriesinto the competitive tech workspace also come at a juncturewhen women and underrepresented groups in tech still remain dismal.
Women hold about a quarter of all jobs in tech, whileBlack Americans have 7% of employment, HispanicAmericans have about8% of jobs, and Asian Americans about 20% of positions, according to areport ofvarious statistics compiledby Zippia.com.
Womenalsohold about 28% of supervising jobs in tech, the Zippia study shows.
"It's exciting," said Cochran, 36, who has been working in Kroger's technology and digital division since May. "Ihave a great team that works so collaboratively."
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Are coding boot camps worth it?
While coding boot camps have been seen as popular routes for computer science training, some problems have been reported.
In July, three students reachedsettlementswiththe San Francisco-based Lambda School(now called Bloom Tech). The studentsclaimedthat the school misledthem either through inflated job placement rates or by havingthem signincome sharing agreements, or ISAswhich let students defer most or all of the tuitionpayments until after theygeta job.
Similar to doing research while looking for a college, aspiring students should do their due diligence with coding boot camps,said Liz Eggleston, co-founder of Course Report.
She said students should consider available freecoding coursesand ask for data on graduation and job placement rates.
"Any reputable boot camp should be able to give you that information," Eggleston said.
The short roadtoa career in coding
Tech coding boot camps typically provide a shorter career route than college courses. There are thousandsof boot camps through private programs, nonprofits,colleges and universities offering professional and continuing education coursesacross the country.
They're offeredin an effort to bring more employees into the in-demand tech sector which contributed around $1.8 trillionto the U.S.'overall economy and about9.3% of total the country'stotal gross domestic product (GDP), according to business data website Statista.
Completing a tech boot camp is "onebig piece of a largepuzzle" to get a lot of job offers in your inbox,said Kyle Elliott, a career coach who works withSilicon Valley's high-endtalent.
"It is not a golden ticket to landing a jobin tech," Elliott said. "There's also networking, building your portfolio, having a clear objective, and setting realistic expectations."
Eggleston said coding boot camps are similar to traditional vocational training programs that teachskills like becominga mechanic or a welder.
Some boot camps offer courses ranging from 14to 24 weeks, oreven up to a year. In addition to Tech Elevator, other notable boot camps include the Flatiron School, Launch Academy, Caltech, Codeacademy, Fullstack Academy, Thinkful, Coding Dojo, and App Academy.
There also arecoding boot camps at major schools including the University of California, Los Angeles(UCLA), the University of California, Berkley, the University of Texas at Austin,the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, and the University of Arizona.
Roughly about 25,000 studentsin the U.S. and Canada graduate annually from full-time immersive boot camps that last for 10 to 14 weeks with an average tuition of $14,000, Course Report's Eggleston said.
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In a study of nearly 400 boot camps bySwtichup.org, the average employment rate for boot camp graduates atfive of the biggesttech companies isaround a respectable 6%, as competition is fierce for those positions.
And another study conducted by the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting (CIRR)said about71% of coding boot camp graduates found jobs within 180 days.
"You're not just paying for the curriculum and knowledge that comes with a coding boot camp, but also for their resources and access to the companies they partner with," said Elliott, the career coach.
Tech Elevator says its graduate job rate is about 90%, Launch Academy says its rate is about 78%, andCodesmith in Los Angeles is at about 83%, according to their respectivesites.
Because coding schools are privately owned and operated, they are not subjected toaccreditationsimilar to colleges and universities with the Department of Educationor theCouncil on Higher Education Accreditation.
Instead, many coding schools self-report their data to the nonprofit CIRR, which audits on-time graduation rates, those working full-time six months after graduating, and their average salaries.
How much does a tech boot camp cost?
The cost for a typical coding boot camp ranges from $7,500 to$14,000, according to a 2019 report from RTI International.
Tech Elevator's boot camp costis nearly $16,000, its site said. Cochran and Woods each received aRepresentTech scholarship, roughly $13,175, that covered a majority of their tuition.
More than $1.1 million in scholarships has been awarded to nearly 100 students since Represent Techbegan in 2020, Tech Elevator said. Additionally, the organization said 90% of overall scholarship recipients graduate and 94% of them find a job.
The average age of students is 31 as most don't come straight out of high school or college, said Monika Royal-Fischer, a campus director at Tech Elevator's Cincinnati location.
"In fact, we don’t expect you to have ever touched a line of code," Royal-Fischer said.
Also, the average starting salary for a Tech Elevator graduate is about $60,000,nearly twice their previousearnings, said MartyMordarski, the organization'ssenior director of campus operations.
Graduates have been hired at companies including JP Morgan Chase, FedEx, Kohl's andPNC Bank, and theywork at major tech companies includingGoogleand Facebook, Mordarski said.
Pivoting into coding
Wes Woods said he was always interested in technology, hejust didn't know how to get into the field after getting his associate's degree in applied science at a Cleveland community college.
He was grinding with hismultiple jobs until his then-girlfriend urged him to really commit to getting a tech job. He heard about Tech Elevator and applied. Days later,Mordarski calledWoods, who was in the middle of a delivery route, that would takehim downa new path.
"After that chat, I was invited to take the assessment to get into the program. Martywas the one who delivered the news to me that I was accepted," said Woods who also receiveda Represent Tech scholarship and kept working on weekends to make ends meet.
He also believes that Tech Elevator's Pathway Program, which pairs students with a professional coach,sharpened hisskill set topreparefor interviews with potential employers.
But Woods had somedoubts twomonths after graduating and seeing some of his classmates already lined up with tech jobs. "I was getting anxious," Woods said. "I've got to pay rentand wondering,'Am I going to have to dobartending full-time?'"
He had a heart-to-heart with his Pathway director Katie Schrader about his "limbo" state. Soon, Woods got a call from JP Morgan Chase for a job interview. He was later offered a software developer job to work in either New York City, Chicago, or Columbus, Ohio.
Woods chose Columbus to be closer to home and the city's lower cost of living. He works on a team at JP Morgan Chase called Regulators and it works onConsumer & Community Banking, or CCB.
"This has been a life-changer for me," he said.
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'Who do I want to be?'
Before her current job , Annie Cochran admits having some tough times.
Two years ago, she returned home toNorthern Kentuckyfrom England. Cochranhad a small catering company and a baking business there when shesplitup with her husband who workedoverseas as a researcher.
Cochran said the split, and subsequent divorcetook theirtoll.
"At the time, I asked myself, 'What am I going to do, and who do I want to be?' " Cochran said.
Cochran'sbrother, a software developer,encouraged her to give his profession a shot.
"The more I looked into it, I thought (being a developer)really is about solving problems, using logic and your creativity, something that I would really enjoy and be challenged that'salso learning and enriching," Cochran said, who hasdegrees in Spanish and literature.
She looked into Tech Elevator in Cincinnati and thought she could afford the tuition- if she kepther multiplejobs and got a corporate sponsor to help offset costs. The sponsorship didn't materialize, but Tech Elevator insistedCochranapply for a Represent Tech scholarship, which she got lastSeptember.
Cochran's supervisor at Kroger, Yuka Sakumoto-Schmidtsaid Cochran is "building strong partnerships" and "a great culture" with her engineering team.
"She is quickly wrapping her arms around the technical product she owns and is connecting the dots in a highly complex environment," Sakumoto-Schmidt said.
At Kroger, Cochran helps run the national grocery chain's newBoost customer loyalty upgrade, where an annual membership gives customersunlimited grocery deliverieson orders of $35 or more andfuel discounts of up to $1 per gallon.
"Switching careers is definitely scary," Cochran said. "But if you're not feeling challenged enough, don't be afraid to take a leap of faith."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How coding boot camp can lead to new career path with a tech job
FAQs
How do I change my career to coding? ›
- Take advantage of your experience. Consider being a career changer a blessing, not a curse. ...
- Coding bootcamps as a training method. Career changers have three options. ...
- Join tech meetups. ...
- Find a mentor. ...
- Find tools online. ...
- Wrapping up.
Codesmith. Codesmith is one of the best online coding boot camp for job placement options on the market, with job placement of 92%. Most coders who are placed into a role have average salaries of $118,250.
Is coding a good career 2022? ›As discussed, coding skills are in high demand around the world. To meet this demand, universities are training many computer programmers. Your salary as a computer programmer depends on your skills as a software developer, the coding languages you know, and the kind of applications you can develop.
How do you break into a programming career? ›- Improve your coding skills. ...
- Create a portfolio. ...
- Build your online presence. ...
- Network with other programmers. ...
- Earn certifications. ...
- Take part in coding challenges or competitions. ...
- Write a strong resume. ...
- Build projects.
Let's get this out of the way: no, you are not too old to program. There isn't an age limit on learning to code, and there never was. But all too often, insecurity and uncertainty compel older adults to put a ceiling on their achievement potential.
Can I start it career at 40? ›It's never too late to pursue a career in tech. You don't even need a four-year degree to launch into it. All that's really required is a willingness to learn and a determination to succeed.
Do coding bootcamps actually get you a job? ›The short answer is yes. The best coding bootcamps boast a job placement rate within six months of graduation of over 80 percent. Specifically, Coding Dojo students have an 84 percent placement within six months and a 91 percent placement within a year.
Can you get a job straight out of coding bootcamp? ›Will a coding bootcamp get you a job? Most bootcamp grads find employment within six months after graduating, but the job market holds no guarantees. Success in a job search can depend on many factors, such as location, past experience, interview skills, and specialization.
Is coding bootcamp better than a degree? ›Coding bootcamp actually gives you more relevant and useful tools for a job than a computer science degree. While the degree sets you up with a solid foundation, a bootcamp teaches you specific skills that you can use immediately in a job.
What type of coding is most in demand? ›- 1 - JavaScript / TypeScript. Since its creation to make the firsts websites dynamic, JavaScript hasn't stopped gaining popularity over the years. ...
- 2 - Python. ...
- 3 - Java. ...
- 4 - C# ...
- 5 - PHP. ...
- 6 - C/C++ ...
- 7 - Ruby. ...
- 8 - GO.
How long does it take to learn coding? ›
Most coding bootcamps last 3-4 months and teach enough coding skills to qualify graduates for entry-level coding jobs. It typically takes 6-12 months to learn to code on your own. Likewise, a bachelor's degree in computer science or computer programming usually takes four years.
Do you need a degree for coding? ›Still, you may be uncertain about how best to make the career leap if you've already attended university, have a job in another field or simply don't have the time to seek a conventional four-year degree. But don't worry — you don't need a degree to become a coder.
How long does it take to learn coding and get a job? ›If you're coding in your spare time it could take anywhere from six months to two years to get an entry-level tech role. If you treat learning how to code like a full-time job then you can break into the industry in as little as three to eight months.
Is a coding certificate worth it? ›Short Answer is Yes – coding bootcamp alumni earn ~51% higher salaries compared to their previous jobs! On average, graduates earn $80,943 at their 2nd job after bootcamp, and $99,229 at their 3rd job.
Can I learn coding at age 30? ›The answer is, absolutely not. Many people in their 20s and 30s are choosing coding as their career option. Not only in terms of career, but people are also learning and starting their entrepreneurial journey in the coding industry.
What do coders do all day? ›They primarily write code using a variety of languages, including Python, C++ and Java, that a computer can read. To make sure everything functions correctly, computer programmers do frequent iterations of design, development, integration of software components, testing and getting feedback from clients.
How hard is to learn coding? ›Programming has a reputation for being one of the most difficult disciplines to master. Considering how different it is from traditional forms of education, including college degrees in computer science, it's not hard to see why some people have difficulty learning how to code.
Is it worth studying computer science at age 45? ›No, you aren't too old to study computer science. Every year there's a story about a 90 year-old completing a college degree. In fact, according to Zippa, those making a big career change are, on average, 39. That's the average; that means plenty of career changers are 40 and older.
What is a stress free job that pays well? ›According to data that FinanceBuzz compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), some low-stress jobs that typically yield a six-figure salary include mathematician, software developer, political scientist, physicist, chemical engineer, astronomer, and ...
How do I get into technology with no experience? ›- Re-examine and Apply Your Past Experience to the IT Industry. ...
- Earn Industry Certifications. ...
- Your Degree in Another Field May Be a Huge Asset. ...
- Be Open to Starting at the Bottom. ...
- Don't Forget the Power of Networking. ...
- Learn Relevant Tech Skills and Gain Experience.
How do I get into tech sales with no experience? ›
- Network with other tech sellers to become familiar with the industry. ...
- Find mentors who are willing to help you throughout the interview process.
- Treat the hiring company and manager like a prospect. ...
- Get multi-threaded within the company.
Persistence is key to becoming an Amazon software engineer. Graduates from the top coding bootcamps can access careers at tech companies of all sizes. The Big Five tech companies — Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Google, and Amazon — all have a history of hiring bootcamp graduates.
How likely is it to get a job after a coding bootcamp? ›The short answer: Coding bootcamp grads have similar employment outcomes when compared to college graduates who earned a two or four-year computer science degree. According to data derived from the CIRR, the average coding bootcamp graduate employment rate is 79% after 180 days.
Are coding bootcamps worth it 2022? ›Coding bootcamps are only worth it if you're willing to put in the work and take responsibility for learning the skills and conducting your job search afterward. These programs will teach you and help you, but they're not going to carry you through everything.
What bootcamps does Google hire from? ›- Bootcamps They Hire From: Coding Dojo, Flatiron School, Fullstack Academy, General Assembly, Hackbright Academy, Hack Reactor, Metis.
- Roles They Hire For: Software Engineer.
Are coding bootcamps worth the time and money? Based on typical job placement rates and post-graduation salary increases, the answer is “yes” for most students. According to research from the bootcamp review platform Course Report, graduates typically see salary increases of about 51%.
Should you put coding bootcamp on resume? ›You should put your coding bootcamp in the education section of your resume along with any other completed college education you have. Additionally, you can add your coding bootcamps to your work experience to emphasize the skill, knowledge, and experience you gained in the program.
Can a bootcamp replace a degree? ›As far as bootcamps and other alternative forms of education have come in recent years, the general consensus is that they still aren't a solid replacement for a more traditional education, at least in the eyes of employers.
How much money can you make after coding bootcamp? ›In the context of the U.S., Course Report (which analyzes the bootcamp market) reported in 2021 that the average bootcamp graduate earns a starting salary of $69,000. That number varies wildly from state to state; in California, for instance, graduates earn an average of $100,482.
Are coding Boot Camps hard? ›Coding bootcamp is definitely a challenge, but some of the obstacles may not be what you expect. It takes patience, persistence, and a willingness to learn new coding languages and new ways of thinking.
Which coding language pays the most? ›
- Clojure - $106,644/yr. Source: Clojure. ...
- Erlang - $103,000/yr. Source: Erlang. ...
- F# - $95,526/yr. Source: F# ...
- LISP - $95,000/yr. Source: LISP. ...
- Ruby - $93,000/yr. Source: Ruby. ...
- Elixir - $92,959/yr. Source: Elixir. ...
- Scala - $92,780/yr. Source: Scala. ...
- Perl - $90,073/yr. Source: Perl.
Malbolge. Malbolge was invented in 1998 by Ben Olmstead. This esolang is considered to be the most complicated programming language.
Which is the No 1 programming language? ›JavaScript is the most common coding language in use today around the world. This is for a good reason: most web browsers utilize it and it's one of the easiest languages to learn.
How many hours a day should I practice coding? ›On average, you should spend about 2 – 4 hours a day coding. However, efficient coding practice isn't really about the depth of time spent writing or learning codes but rather benchmarked on the individual's consistency over a given time.
How much does it cost to learn coding? ›Coding bootcamp costs can vary greatly. Programs sponsored through a community college can cost less than $3,000, while private coding schools can cost more than $20,000.
What's the difference between coding and programming? ›A fundamental difference between coder and programmer is that coding is the part of programming, whereas programming is the procedure of creating a program. Coding is a part of programming that deals with converting the language into binary commands for the machine.
What jobs pay the most money without a degree? ›- Patrol Officer.
- Executive Assistant.
- Sales Representative.
- Flight Attendant.
- Electrician.
- Plumber.
- Wind Turbine Technician.
Software Coder
They develop instructions for the software to perform specific tasks, design it to work for different industries, and then maintain these programs afterward. The national average for a software developer is around $110,140 annually.
How Long Does It Take to Learn to Code?
The Best Paying and Most In-Demand Programming Languages in ...
9 Programming Careers for Coding Connoisseurs
Yes! Coding can be a good career for many professionals. Those with coding jobs often enjoy a high salary, work flexibility (such as the ability to find a remote coding job), and plentiful job opportunities.
Is 45 too old to become a web developer? ›
The short answer is, yes, you can get a job in tech after age 30, 40, or even 50. To some, web development is a career choice with no boundaries.
Can I switch my career to web developer? ›There aren't any “special” requirements to becoming a developer. I'm not going to tell you it's easy, because it isn't. But the good news is that all the requirements are things that are in everyone's reach. You have to be willing to work hard, learn a lot, and be consistent.
Should I switch to coding? ›Even if you stay within your company, coding skills are in high demand among employers. Programmers are always learning and developing their skills, too, which means they're always creating new opportunities to advance their careers.
What type of coding is most in demand? ›- 1 - JavaScript / TypeScript. Since its creation to make the firsts websites dynamic, JavaScript hasn't stopped gaining popularity over the years. ...
- 2 - Python. ...
- 3 - Java. ...
- 4 - C# ...
- 5 - PHP. ...
- 6 - C/C++ ...
- 7 - Ruby. ...
- 8 - GO.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), computer and information systems managers are the highest-paid coding professionals, recording a median salary of $151,150 in 2020, In addition, this career is projected to see 10 percent employment growth by 2029.
How important will coding be in the future? ›Coding Skills Will Be Essential in Many Career Paths in The Near Future. Coding skills are a must-have in the new digital economy. People who want to become successful in the future, will have to learn how to code. Programmers are currently in high demand and will be even more so in the near future.
What is the best career to start at 40? ›- Real estate agent.
- Proofreader.
- Freelance writer.
- Translator.
- Consultant.
- Job Recruiter.
- Social media manager.
- Project or program manager.
Most coding bootcamps last 3-4 months and teach enough coding skills to qualify graduates for entry-level coding jobs. It typically takes 6-12 months to learn to code on your own. Likewise, a bachelor's degree in computer science or computer programming usually takes four years.
Is coding boot camp worth it? ›Coding bootcamps are worth it for students who need to learn a specific skill quickly. Employers generally regard these programs positively, but want more accountability. Bootcamps are not regionally or nationally accredited. A coding bootcamp does not replicate the depth or scope of a computer science degree.
Can I become a web developer at 40? ›It's exciting to be part of something so dynamic, and it means that it's completely normal to be learning something new if you want to become a web developer at 30, become a web developer at 40 or even become a web developer at 50! We all are still learning!
Is web developer a stressful job? ›
Is web development stressful? Web development is stressful. Like any other job, deadlines, clients, competition, and projects can all add to the stress for web developers. Managing things like release dates, updates, timelines, and more can help decrease the stress for web developers.
Can I become a web developer at 30? ›There is no any perfect or imperfect age to learn or do anything. This is the perfect time when you think to learn anything. Web development is actually one of the best technical term in today's era. There is a wide scope to be successful.
Is 40 too old to become a software engineer? ›Age doesn't matter nearly as much as ability, experience, and willingness to learn. So if you're considering a career in software engineering, don't worry about your age. As long as you have the necessary skills and are willing to put in the work, you can be successful at any age.
Can I learn Python at 45 and get a job? ›Of course you can, just put your 10,000 hours in. The best way to learn (at least the way I learn) is by doing projects. Learn the syntax and stuff first then start thinking of things you can solve using Python and then do it!
What's the difference between coding and programming? ›A fundamental difference between coder and programmer is that coding is the part of programming, whereas programming is the procedure of creating a program. Coding is a part of programming that deals with converting the language into binary commands for the machine.