Got Answers? Here are some questions people have asked us!
Andy Tiffany
Hi there! I'm going to do my best to answer while imagining I'm not the founder of First Step Coding and you're just a friend trying to figure out the best path to take : )
I'm going to frame this as a set of questions back at you.
How good of a self-learner / autodidact are you?
Have you taught yourself to play an instrument or other skill that requires 100s - 1000s of hours of practice? Most people are pretty bad at self-learning for a variety of reasons, but anecdotally I'd say the #1 reason is the lack of inherent accountability. It's all too easy to skip the hard parts or quit if no one's watching and checking up with you. For many people, the accountability that comes with a teacher and classroom full of people learning with them ...
August 01, 2017Kris bredemeier
My suggestion is that if you need to take a bootcamp prep course, you may not be ready for the intensity of a bootcamp. Bootamps are best designed for students who are already well versed in the fundamentals and foundations of basic computer science principles, and move at much too fast a pace for student show are new to software engineering. They are best for students who want to gain a very specific skill since most bootcamps teach and focus on one specific thing.
If you are looking to gain some of those fundamentals and foundations, then you may want to look into a more comprehensive program. I didn't have too much experience in tech when I decided I wanted to start gaining the skills needed to build a career in software engineering. I found a school that was ...
August 01, 2017
george@barcelonacodeschool.com
Hi there!
Send us your CV and you can also access job offers on our website.
We receive many job offers from our partners. I hope we can help a little bit.
Regards from Barcelona!
July 31, 2017Kris bredemeier
That is so sad to hear. Unfortunately, it's one I've heard many times before. People are opening bootcamps all over the place these days because they think it will be much easier to run than it actually is. For anyone who is interested in becoming a software engineer, one key thing I would recommend is do your research, and talk to students. Websites can be misleading, and often only show a facade of a school, highlighting only the good parts of their program, or sometimes things about their program that don't even exist.
I almost attended a bootcamp in Chicago, and it might have been a good experience, but I was lucky enough to find an alternative to bootcamps... Holberton.
I found out about this school just as it was accepting students for its first batch. ...
July 31, 2017Kris bredemeier
You are in a bit of a tricky situation. I attended a School in SF that teaches full-stack software engineering and we have had students from 18-58 pass through our doors. Being older can give you some challenges, but that doesn't mean you can't make software engineering your career at your current age. My biggest concern for you is your current savings. Although Chicago is not as expensive as SF, $3,500 is not going to last very long, not to mention that you have to factor in transit from Italy as well.
You do have an advantage, which is the fact that you have some previous experience in the tech industry, but bootcamps seem to be the most effective for students that have some current knowledge of the industry and want to gain a new specific skill.
July 25, 2017
george@barcelonacodeschool.com
Hello!
I read all your references and it looks like you have a good curriculum and experience as well. The bootcamp would serve to update you and bring you back to the job market. Here at school, we received many job offers for our students and none of them specifies age. Because there is more demand than programmers, this is not a common issue to take into account. You can also work as a freelancer later. First of all, you need to like programming, doing something that you really enjoy.
As for location, as you are in Italy, I suggest you bootcamp in Europe. There are several excellent schools and so it would be easier for you to fund the course as well. Some schools offer scholarships for women and the unemployed, this also lowers the value of the investment. Others allow you to ...
July 25, 2017
Andrew Hamilton
Hi Mark,
Thanks for your interest in Evolve Security Academy! We have a lengthy admissions process to set expectations and assess your technical background. Our number one pre-requisite is people who are passionate and have the right attitude and aptitude to immerse themselves into cyber security. We find it easier to teach green people who are smart and passionate about learning, than people with loads of technical experience "on paper" who don't but forth the effort needed to be successful in this high paced training environment. Basic computer science, networking and linux knowledge make you a stronger candidate. There are no other costs beyond the $10,000 in tuition. We do offer placement services but job placement is not guaranteed. Our Winter 2017 Cohort begins ...
July 24, 2017Rogerh1991
Our Data Science Career Track (get a data science job or your money back) offers scholarships for military veterans -- just ping our staff are you're applying :)
https://www.springboard.com/workshops/data-science-career-track/
July 20, 2017Kris bredemeier
The best bootcamp for you to choose is going to be a bit dependent on what you are interested in, and how much tech experience you already have. If have some experience under your belt, and you are looking to gain specific skills, then something like bloc might be right up your alley.
I know that in my case, I needed something with a bit more structure and foundations. I couldn't find anything that fit that bill whereI was from either. I ended up moving from the midwest to San Francisco to attend a school here that would give me the foundations and fundamentals that I needed to start to build my career in software engineering. I attended Holberton. Although it is a strictly on-site school for the moment, and probably is not what you are looking for specifically, ...
June 30, 2017Kris bredemeier
To most companies, having a degree does not mean much, what they want is someone who can code. If you are up against a candidate that has the same technical skills as you, having those degrees may set you apart, but unless you find yourself in that situation, it won't mean much.
What software engineering companies are looking for is an understanding of basic theory, the ability to get stuff done on a deadline, and someone who can code efficiently.
I attended a school in SF, Holberton, and we have seen that it doesn't even matter if you have a C.S. degree or not. (Caveat, it can sometimes help you get the interview if you have a degree from a school like Stanford or MIT etc.) but once you are in the room with your interviewer, all that matters if you know your ...
June 17, 2017Kris bredemeier
There are a couple of thigns to keep in mind when you are looking into schools for programming and software eninggering.
1- If you are interested in attending a bootcamp, make sure you take some time to get familiar with foundations and fundamentals of CS. The fast paced nature of bootcamps don't have the time to help you understand the basics, and you have to keep up or you'll just drown.
2- If figuring out how to get started is challening, look into programas that will provide you with the foundations and fundamentals as well as practial experience.
I attended a school in SF, Holberton, that starts off in C wokring with algorithms and databases to help you start training to think like a programmer. Everything is project based, and this makes the tranistion ...
June 14, 2017
marketing@codefellows.com
Yes! A 2014 Macbook will work great. Just make sure you are running on the most current operating system, have a current version of Chrome, and download all the software you'll need for your course (and remember to do your prework!). :) Best of luck in class!
June 13, 2017
marketing@codefellows.com
Yes! A 2014 Macbook will work great. Just make sure you are running on the most current operating system, have a current version of Chrome, and download all the software you'll need for your course (and remember to do your prework!). :) Best of luck in class!
June 13, 2017