AIBU to move into Tech by doing one of these government funded bootcamp skills courses

[Cobwebs5]

Good morning,

Could I have some advice from people in the Tech industry please ?

So I want to move into Tech. I think I’ve decided that I’m going to do a bootcamp, probably coding although I’m possibly more suited to business analysis or project management. I have A levels and a Business degree a looooong time ago. Since then I’ve been self employed.
Long term, I would probably like to work from home, contracting. I’m a single mother, so money is very important.
I’ve found a free course, that is for 13 weeks 8.30am to 5pm. This is just about doable, but obviously a big commitment. To put in that amount of effort, I need to be sure that this is absolutely the best course for me.

I’m in the West Midlands

www.gov.uk/guidance/find-a-skills-bootcamp/west-midlands

Skills Bootcamp Location of training Provider
Agile project management Online OpenClassrooms
Applied cyber security Online University of Birmingham
Artificial intelligence Online University of Huddersfield
AWS cloud data engineer Online Firebrand Training
Business analysis Online OpenClassrooms
Cloud Online Learning Curve Group
Cloud computing and data analytics Online Edge Hill University
Coding Birmingham and online Northcoders
Coding Birmingham and online University of Birmingham
Coding and web design Online The Development Manager
Cyber security Online TechTalent Academy
Cyber security Online The Skills Network
Cyber security Online Capita
Cyber security Online Learning Curve Group
Cyber security Online CAPSLOCK
Cyber security operations Birmingham Birmingham City University
Cyber technician Online Firebrand Training
Cyber technologist Online Firebrand Training
Data analysis Online The Skills Network
Data analysis Online The Skills Network
Data analysis Online Local Education and Development (LEAD Training)
Data analysis Online OpenClassrooms
Data analyst Online Babington
Data analyst Online Avado
Data analyst Online Apprentify Ltd
Data analytics Birmingham and online University of Birmingham
Data analytics and visualisation: from advanced Excel to Power BI Online Teesside University
Data and service management Online Northeastern University London
Data citizen Online Cambridge Spark
Data engineering Online Durham University
Data engineering Online QA Ltd
Data engineering Birmingham and online Northcoders
Data literacy Online Avado
Data science Online TechTalent Academy
Data science Online HyperionDev
Data science Online The University of Manchester
Data science Online The University of Nottingham Online
Data science Online The University of Warwick
Data science (with Microsoft certification) Online Northumbria University
Data science and cloud systems Online Birmingham City University
Data skills for creative industries Birmingham University of Birmingham
Data technician Online Firebrand Training
Data technician Online Learning Curve Group
Data utilisation and analysis Online QA Ltd
Desktop support Online Learning Curve Group
DevOps: DevNetSkills by The Open University Online The Open University
Digital Online Manchester Metropolitan University
Digital Online Twin Training
Digital content creation Birmingham and online Creative Alliance
Digital design Online Apprentify Ltd
Digital leadership Online Babington
Digital literacy Online Learning Curve Group
Digital marketer Online Avado
Digital marketing Online LEAD Training
Digital marketing Online We Are Digital
Digital marketing Birmingham BritAsia
Digital marketing Online Creative Alliance
Digital marketing Online Digisheds
Digital marketing Online Learn Play Foundation
Digital marketing Online Studio School
Digital marketing Online The Skills Network
Digital marketing Online Think Employment
Digital marketing Birmingham and online Creative Alliance
Digital marketing Online Local Education and Development (LEAD Training)
Digital marketing Online OpenClassrooms
Digital marketing Online Apprentify Ltd
Digital support and marketing Online The Development Manager
Front-end web development and UX Online University of Birmingham
Full stack web development Online School of Code
Full stack web design Online Creative Alliance
Google cloud data engineer Online Firebrand Training
ICT cloud Online QA Ltd
Infrastructure Online The Skills Network
IT sales associate Online Firebrand Training
IT support Online Lifetime Training Group Limited
IT technician Online Firebrand Training
Junior software developer Online Firebrand Training
Machine learning and AI for business applications Online Teesside University
Microsoft Azure data engineer Online Firebrand Training
Microsoft data analyst Online Firebrand Training
Microsoft data engineer Online Firebrand Training
Microsoft Dynamics 365 engineer Online Firebrand Training
Microsoft finance and operations engineer Online Firebrand Training
Microsoft IT engineer Online Firebrand Training
Microsoft Power platform engineer Online Firebrand Training
Microsoft software developer Online Firebrand Training
Network engineer Online Lifetime Training Group Limited
Real time 3D Online Mastered Studios
Service design and management with ServiceNow Online Northeastern University London
Software developer Online Digisheds

Software development Online TechTalent Academy
Software development Online QA Ltd
Software development Online Durham University
Software development Online Capita
Software development Online Apprentify Ltd
Software development (with Microsoft certification) Online Northumbria University
Software engineer Online Firebrand Training
Software engineering Online HyperionDev
Software engineering Online The University of Manchester
Software engineering Online The University of Nottingham Online
Software engineering Online The University of Warwick
Software engineering and development Online Aston University
Software tester Online QA Ltd
Tech, networking and cyber security Online The Development Manager
Technical sales Online The Skills Network
Technical service desk Online The Skills Network
Technical support Online Firebrand Training
UI/UX design for games Online Teesside University
User experience and user interface design Birmingham and online Creative Alliance
UX and front end web development Birmingham University of Birmingham
UX design Online OpenClassrooms
UX/UI Online University of Birmingham
Web design and development Birmingham and online Creative Alliance
Web development Online HyperionDev
Web development Online The University of Manchester
Web development Online The University of Nottingham Online
Web development Online The University of Warwick
Web development Online OpenClassrooms
Web development skills Online Bath Spa University
3D CAD for backstage theatre Birmingham and online Creative Alliance

northcoders.com/our-courses/coding-bootcamp

Introduction Week

We'll begin by helping you build your confidence with JavaScript, laying the

foundations for you to be able to handle data and create interactivity on websites and apps. We'll also provide you with resources to help you build your HTML and CSS skills.

Fundamentals

First things first. We’ll give you a solid understanding of the fundamentals and best practices of programming. We'll cover test-driven development, pair programming, object-oriented programming and a range of other core tools and workplace practices through the medium of JavaScript.

Back End

JavaScript is the only language that can be run both on the front and back end. Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals of coding in JavaScript, we show you how we can use use Node.js to run code for the back end, and focus on ways of dealing with asynchronous programming. We'll look at APIs and databases, and cover Express and SQL. We’ll also work with some pretty cool third-party data sets and APIs, and help you deploy applications to the cloud!

Front End

It's front end next - you'll learn all about the DOM (Document Object Model) and how to make accessible websites with semantic HTML and responsive CSS, and we'll introduce you to UX. React is the most in-demand front-end framework. We'll teach you to use it in-depth - but we don't stop there. We'll introduce you to its key peripheral technologies, and teach you all about testing front-end applications.

Project Phase

There's no better way to consolidate and extend your knowledge, and prove what you can do, than to get hands on with a real, green-field team project. With previous groups exploring Virtual Reality, Machine Learning, image recognition and blockchain (to name a few!); what you create is limited by your imagination. Curious as to what our previous graduates have created?

Or this one by the same company, same hours. northcoders.com/our-courses/data-engineering-bootcamp5

Introduction Week

We’ll begin by helping you build your confidence with JavaScript, laying the foundations for you to be able to handle data and functions.

Fundamentals

First things first. We’ll give you a solid understanding of the fundamentals and best practices of programming. We'll cover test-driven development, pair programming, object-oriented programming and a range of other core tools and workplace practices through the medium of JavaScript.

Back End

JavaScript is the only language that can be run both on the front and back end. Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals of coding in JavaScript, we show you how we can use use Node.js to run code for the back end, and focus on ways of dealing with asynchronous programming. We'll look at APIs and databases, and cover Express and SQL.

Python

Python is a popular a programming language used in machine learning, artificial intelligence, web development and data analysis. Fortunately it is relatively easy to learn when compared to pretty much any other programming language, due to its simple and easy-to-use syntax. After getting to grips with the basics, we’ll learn how to use Python's extensive suite of data libraries to automate complex management tasks.

SQL and Data Modelling

Using SQL we will learn how to turn raw data into easy-to-consume data sets. Data Models ensure consistency in naming conventions, default values, semantics, and security, as well as optimising performance and data quality. We'll start to learn the fundamentals of data warehousing and how to deal with different file data formats like JSON, XML and Parquet.

DevOps

DevOps is a combination of the two words “development” and “operations” - it's an umbrella term that describes how a development team manages the transition from writing software through to deploying a live, working application. Using Amazon Web Services, we will discover how to deploy applications and data infrastructure in the “cloud”.

Practical Infrastructure Tasks

This is where we take everything we have learned to deploy a Python ingestion function on an EC2 instance with database source, deploy a Python transformation function on Lambda and populate a data warehouse from refined data.

Both of these courses seem quite broad. Would I be better to do something more focused like a Python, AI, Data Analysis, Web Design ?

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Thank you.

@plusk

That post should just be c&p to any 'retrai in tech thread', I don't think it will stop the 'my DH works in tech' posts though, but it is blunt and to the point.

I work in Cyber Security, it's more about establishing what the baseline requirements are for the company, what security frameworks we will work within, establish the policies and work with the various IT functions to implement those controls. I need to understand the Domains, know about Privacy regulations, have a decent understanding of the technical and logical controls (technical eg firewalls, encryption, authentication, availability zones. Logical eg Training, rules that people need to follow, admin processes like visitor sign in books).

Within Info Sec there are specialities like:

• Threat Operations - malware, phishing, Social engineering, SIEM solutions, email gateways.......
• Security Operations - Incident management, vulnerability testing, audit logs.....
• Governance, Risk & Compliance - Policy development, Risk management, Internal and External audit/3rd party Attestations.....

You can pick up the theory in boot camps and courses but experience is invaluable and that's generally what I'm looking for when recruiting. Knowing that someone can answer multiple choice questions about which ports should be enabled and which disabled when designing a secure network is one thing. Having someone talk me through how they actually worked with the networking engineering team to identify vulnerabilities and influenced them to prioritise remediation of them to protect the company network and by extension our clients data, is another.

@holein1

Do you know if bootcamps with a guaranteed job offer exist in Scotland please, ie funded ones? I am struggling to find something that is funded.

Almost finished Google Data Analytics cert and hoping to combine a Data role with my finance background (significant years working in direct tax), or tax technology or similar.

Oh and to add, with just quals/boot camps you would be looking at entry level roles like a Security Analyst £25k ish.

*obviously I'd need a lot more skills/experience etc on the data side but it's a start.

As far as I understand it, you could take part in a Bootcamp in England as a resident of Scotland but the job you go into off the back of it would have to be based in England, or the HQ in England if an online role.

Thank you @holein1, had no idea! That's helpful.

I did one in January this year and was offered a job off the back of it. I’ve been working in data since April and while it’s been a massive learning curve and was thrown in at the deep end I’m really enjoying it but I do think I was particularly fortunate to get the position I have done and it may not be the norm, particularly as I have no higher education. The company I work for was looking for people with the right kind of soft skills, and tbh what I learned on the course hasn’t served me particularly well since I’ve been actually on the job.

@HanarCantWearSweaters

would you feel comfortable sharing an approximate starting salary and whether that’s London or elsewhere?

thank you

@Notwavingbutsignalling not at all, I’m on 30k which is around the middle of the range for my grade of junior consultant. I have medical cover, dental etc which I’ve never had before so it’s nice. It’s a home based role but with the opportunity to go into the office as much or as little as I like. I live in London but others who joined in the same intake as I are in the NW, Midlands etc.

Thanks @HanarCantWearSweaters

I am a woman in IT and I supported several women around me in different stages of their transfer to different roles in IT. Some observations.

For later in life transfers there is a risk that you will get stuck, at least for some time, with "normal" money in high earning surroundings. If you plan to work from home, it doesn't matter that much, but it isn't much fun to be in that position.

IT is a field which takes time. It is easy to learn one or two languages. It is harder to setup your computer to work with the necessary tools and
make sure your code gets correctly merged with code written by others. Majority of people really good in this field went through some time when they spend days and nights with it, getting the experience which allows you to be independent. Coding part is nice, but most of the life is debugging, dealing different tools and setups, going through half-working guides and tutorials, trying to fix a code someone else wrote.

In my experience majority of people in IT aren't really good at helping newcomers. And it is often quite frustrating - it is hard to distinguish what you should know, could know and have no chance to know without asking someone.

I don't want to scare you. If you love math and puzzles, it will be easier. Just be aware that after the bootcamp you will be in a very junior and therefore dependent position. And your happiness and future chances will be quite dependent on luck with finding and employer who is good with juniors.

I don't know the specific bootcamps you have in selection. Experience of my friends in several different countries were that there was a full day of lessons plus they spent evenings and weekends by practising, working on homeworks and projects. Once more, I don't want to scare you, just mention it, so you can ask more questions when selecting.

Offering a different perspective to most people here. I'm a career switcher after doing a CFG bootcamp.

I'm earning over £50k after starting my job at the start of the year

I specialised in data rather than software ☺️

Brilliant @ServerSurfer

great name!!😁

do you mind saying what you started on?

did you do the MySQL and data course and then the 14 week course with a data specialism?

my view is that in the last twenty years there have been a lot of people attracted to coding because of the salaries who have completed online courses that aren’t really that strong (generic courses, one step up from introductory level HTML, etc). Now there is more scrutiny on the whole terrain, the courses worth doing are more challenging and practical but designed to teach you good practice and give you a solid foundation so that you are ready to develop once you are in a good company.

I really liked the Cfg course - you couldn’t fake passing it, the skills you learned were relevant and showed you real life scenarios. I felt very confident after that course whereas others I have done are heavy on theory and quite abstract in terms of how it all fits together.

I've moved into tech in the last 3 years via two back-to-back apprenticeships and have been able to make it my full-time role without paying a penny. I'm in data. I got my employer to sponsor a Level 4 apprenticeship in data and let me do some data-related projects and I took it from there. I have fucking slogged though - evenings, weekends. But it's been great. Apprenticeships are a great option if you're working for an employer who has a shortage of certain tech roles or skills and might be persuaded to support you, since basically everybody has unused money in their apprenticeship levy fund, or if they're too small to be subject to the apprenticeship levy, the government will pay 95% anyway.

Cyber is far more than tech, coding and pen testing and there is a large skill shortage, and lacks female representation. Cyber risk is a massive area where organisations simply do not understand or have the skills. Cyber policy, Cyber Regulation, security education, data protection. It's a good area to get into and the regulation side continues to grow.

@ZiriForEver

That’s very helpful. Thank you.

They do coding at Primary School now, so it’s not gonna be anywhere near as lucrative as it was even five years ago.

you really do need to pick an area that you’re interested in and become an expert in at. And then tell the world that you’re an expert in a right white papers lecture at universities. Be the loudest educated voice in the room, and that’s how you earn decent money in tech. There are literally millions of people in other countries that come right code program etc for buttons on about half of them work for Rishi’s father in law under about to be issued visas. I would imagine to work in the UK.

@ServerSurfer

What does ‘specialising in data rather than software’ mean specifically ?

Would that mean doing a Data Analysis course ? Would it mean learning Python ?

All I know about coding is that DD’s boyfriend taught himself to code by watching YouTube videos and possibly doing some online courses. He started applying for jobs with no degree and no experience and was taken on by a large national firm with a starting salary of 40k.

He had to do a tech test as part of the recruitment process so his coding skills must be ok. He was adamant he’d get a job paying such a wage and I was very dubious but he’s proven me wrong. He’s 20yo.

Hah, maybe. My brother started out about 5 years ago, but huge financial institutions and tech giants were and still are bending over backwards to offer him the most lucrative packages and he keeps getting headhunted from one to another. He does have a postgrad computer science degree from an elite university though and as you say, he actually wrote a paper on something obscure (that I have no understanding of). I think he specialises in quite rare languages and maybe that's why he found it so easy.

Tech is a wide range of roles and we don’t all do the same. In my previous company for a project you’d have

business analyst - they’d meet with the client and write stories based on the clients needs
deluvery manager - they’d make sure the project was running smoothly
architech and platform engineer they’d work on the platform and setting up environments so that the developers can work
ux people. Develop the designs and the way the ui works
back end developers - write commands to speak with the database / platform
front end - develop the ui
testers - verify that the code written by the developers is right. This can be s manual tester or a automation tester

in my current company some of those roles don’t exist and developers will take the weight of them. But I’m explaining them as working in it doesn’t mean you’ve to know all about it and also you might find that you prefer being a business analyst rather an a developer.

i do think tho for working in it you’ve to have a passion for it. Not everyone can do it and specially not for the shake of the money. We are well paid but we also work under load of pressure and you need to keep yourself updating your knowledge every few years as technologies keep changing and what you work on o e project might not be what is needed in another one.

I studied software engineering in university and can say I got the foundation but what really has given me the knowledge is working in different companies and different projects. Having to learn for each of them.

you could apply for academys. Some consultancy companies offer them. You enroll as a student with low pay and start from there. I started 12 years ago on something similar and now I lead a team. It’s not been an easy ride id say.

Aw yeah I forgot about the data analysts (we didn’t have them in my previous project) it’s related with creating databases that matches what the data will need and many times as well analysing the data in the database to create stadistics and reports about the behaviour

If doing dev (not including front end styling in this) the language you learn is not important, the approach to working out what the problem is, how best to approach solving it, how best to achieve a solution, what impacts it will have on users/systems either positive or negative and how you are going to get your solution 'out there' and going forward how you can ensure that the outcome is reliable and repeatable and be easily changed and probably some other bits that I haven't written are the mindset. Each role in tech will fit somewhere in this description and many overlap several if not all.

The dev language chosen eg mysql/python are detail. The language then comes with its own issues of picking up how to use it and use the tooling around it and don't be thinking that companies will spoonfeed how to do this, and will quite literally expect you to stop using one mechanism one week and pick up and be productive in another one the next, probably without any official training either. Whatever you learn now re languages/tooling will change. Expect constant change. It can be exhausting and eye rolling ('oh here we go again almost reinventing the wheel')
From a coding perspective, structuring and testing code are a mindset and this can take time to do well.

I’m going to sound rude, and I honestly don’t mean to, but the fact that you think potentially you would need Python to work in data analytics shows how far you still have got to go with your research.

you really do need to narrow it down to what is going to suit your personality and interest before you start doing courses otherwise you could waste a lot of time. If it was me.net is in demand.