"The job hunt is 95% individual effort. And... no bootcamp can guarantee you a job." - Mais Aroq (Junior Dev)

Bootcamps can accelerate a jump into tech, but be skeptical of shortcuts.

To get the most out of your time, try adding 5 steps to your bootcamp plans: 🧵🧵🧵

1) Research skill alignment

• Look at the job descriptions for the area you want to work

• Collect a list of skills you see there

• Intersect JD skills with bootcamp offerings

2) Verify credibility

After you have theoretical alignment, verify by asking recruiters or developers at the companies how they assess and hire.

Credentials and certifications are not all equal, and many companies struggle to hire from unconventional backgrounds.

3) Study up pre-bootcamp

Start your education before the bootcamp. Use free and affordable resources to prime the pump:

• @freeCodeCamp

• @coursera

• @udemy

• @khanacademy

4) Network and calibrate in class

The cohort will all face the same challenges, but growth will probably be uneven in the beginning, so share with each other:

• Referrals

• Salary information

• Code adjacent info

Your network will become a critical asset over time.

5) Followup with projects

New tech skills can go stale fast. Your plan needs include how to your new skills sharp while you hunt after the bootcamp.

• personal side-projects

• open source repos

• hackathons

• coding challenges

Stay strong, but temper bootcamp expectations.

They are incentivized to over-promise (eg 95% placement job placement is broken by open enrollment).

These are my thoughts after hearing how Mais got the most from her bootcamp experience.

https://twitter.com/ZekeAranyLucas/status/1546426175140028416