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.

Of the list in your OP, cyber security is probably where there is the biggest skills gap and most demand for employees.

where do you live and what are your commitments? Not every job is available everywhere. Fully Remote jobs are v competitive. Are you willing to commute or change location for your job? Get a LinkedIn profile and search for jobs in your area. Through job searching you will find what employers are looking for and build your cv and GitHub portfolio towards it.

best of luck! I found hacker rank website good practice for coding tests when you get to that stage.

Hi,
I live in Birmingham. I quite expect to have to work in an office initially. I can’t relocate.
Thank you for your help.

Uni of Birmingham is doing skills bootcamps

67% votes say you are being unreasonable

very surprised at that

I believe its not free, quite expensive in fact

I’ve career changed until tech - into a scrum master role, I’m managing techies but know very little about code. It’s a public sector role.

i’m struck by the amount of developers in management who have really poor people skills, and thus management is a huge issue. If you can do this you’re doing well!

From where I am, I would definitely explore business analysis and start learning lots about Agile. Even if that’s not where you end up it will definitely help.

just to add - I have relatives who are doing non-technical product/project manager roles in tech firms. They earn more than me (technical). If you can find a tech firm that work in an area that you have expertise in (eg fin-tech, med/bio-tech, legal-tech, insure-tech, sales-tech), then you might have be able to use some domain experience in these ’non-technical’ (ie non-coding) roles. Similar thing may apply for business analysis roles too.

But try out coding - coz it is fun and even if you go into a ‘non-technical’ role, it’s good to have an understanding of some of the jargon that the devs use.

I second this. ServiceNow skills are in very short supply at the moment, and yet the learning curve isn’t too steep, especially n the functional rather than technical side of things.

ServiceNow Rise Up

compsci grad and IT PM background here: can I recommend that people looking to head into tech research the core pieces that go into an IT system prior to selecting one of many varied areas you could ‘boot camp’ into.

Software engineering; systems, applications and networks; info and cyber security; tech stack; devops; databases; coding; software lifecycles incl agile; requirements defn and business analysis; testing and QA; change management; risk management; configuration management; software release and deployment; data and analytics; technical authoring; training; transition into service; service management; problem management - the list of areas all with different roles is pretty endless and will also differ between companies to an extent.

Look at IT generally to try to work out your best fit - for example you could go in as a tester; become a developer in test and end up as a developer as one train of thought. Equally you could start in IT support, learn how to support systems and applications and move to a more specialised area once you have understood the context of implementing and deploying software solutions within a commercial environment.

If you have never been exposed to these environments you do have a heady ramp up of context and sheer technical detail to take in. I would agree that cyber skills are in demand as are devops “gluey” type roles however both are highly technical and highly specialised and not something you can expect to walk into without a run up at it.

If you can find what appeals to you I think you stand more chance of carving out that niche: and def always room for more women - always!

I don't think a bootcamp alone will really prepare you for a job or even interviews as a software developer. I don't have experience in data so can't comment there, but my experience has been that a high standard is expected of juniors, especially if you don't have a computer science degree. I didn't do a bootcamp, though I followed the syllabus of one. It took me about 18 months of self-directed learning before I felt ready to apply, and I did get a well paying job after job hunting for a couple of months. I started on ~42k and after 6 months was promoted and I am now on 55k. I work as a full stack developer, though all of my experience before getting a job was frontend only (JavaScript and React).

Based on the experience of others I know, I think the bootcamp alone won't get you to the stage where you can pass interviews, so unless the bootcamp can guarantee you a job at the end, you'd probably end up in the same place that a lot of paid bootcamp graduates find themselves in, where they aren't qualified enough to land a job, and also haven't developed the skills to teach themselves how to progress in their field without the help of someone to tell them what to do and what to learn.

There's a bit of judgement from some people on this thread about your lack of knowledge, but really we all have to start somewhere, and it is difficult to ask the right questions at first with so much unfamiliar terminology.

Hi @orchi can I pm you thanks

@orchi I don't know whom your comments about giving the OP a hard time are directed at, I don't think anyone has from what I have read, just that IT is a huge area and looking into what might be of interest rather than 'show me the money' might be more beneficial.
I would say that if you have gone from zero to front end and then full stack in a short space of time, then kudos and you are maybe a rarity, certainly hasn't been my experience of people coming in with front end skills.

This is a huge deal.

I am currently being upskilled because I have much needed soft skills & business knowledge and an apitude for tech & my seniors can see me managing engineering teams. When you upskill don’t hesitate to flaunt your other skills.

This is project and BootCamp dependant.

Most of the data analysts I know work in Business Analytics and have gotten into 50k jobs a few months after completing DataCamp bootcamps. To get into this sector you need to understand SQL thoroughly (use BigQuery to analyse big Kaggle datasets if you can’t get SQL Server, enter competitions) and if you do the other stuff (like Python, R and Power Platform can be taught). Google Data Analytics Professional is a very good qualification and actually does get you job ready. VBA, SharePoint, Json are useful knowledge areas too & many bootcamps do cover them.

If you want to get into coding / software development then you need to understand that big companies like to use Indian consultancies for hard coding. So focus on gaining junior level experience with smaller companies including Fintech. Focussing on front-end seems to help people get experience faster: HTML / CSS / Javascript / C Sharp / Power Platform / Python / drawing architectural systems. Small tech companies often prefer bootcaps to masters for junior roles as salaries are lower. Le Wagon is good but expensive but worth it for tech companies. DataCamp is ok but can take ages if you’re self-teaching. The Micromasters from MIT is excellent at getting you noticed but you must do as many projects as possible. You should amass as many certifications as possible as you are competing with Indian developers.

Data Science roles are a bit muddled with data engineering, software engineering, machine engineering and data analytics at the moment and you may find job descriptions aren’t clear because managers themselves often don’t know who they want until they interview them. Regardless you must be confident in SQL, Python is useful, Cloud skills (particularly projects that demo the building of CI/CD pipelines) will set you apart from the rest. If you’re into automation / machine learning get comfy building, coding and training algorithms. IBM Data Science Certification is good but so are Microsoft Azure DevOps / Power Platform.

Right OP I've been looking into the Service Now Rise Up programme.

Boot camp is 6 weeks, fully funded with employers lined up to talk to after apparently. This is out of Northeastern University. Not sure if it's online or in person.

That programme can then move onto a part time degree once you are in job also government funded. This includes project management modules.

Take a look at it as an option.

I'm a single mum in tech for 30 years, you will get mentorship etc so go for it. It's a really needed skill in the market both technical and project management of.

Slightly outing, but I am hiring people straight from this particular boot camp into £35k roles which then progress very quickly upwards from there once the person has some experience.

@user143677433 good for you. It looks like a great programme and it was in the press the other week.

Hi @Cobwebs5 just wanted to give you my take on the Skills Bootcamp. I had zero IT experience and like yourself was unsure what route to take. I live in London and there were so many on offer I thought the best option was to start from the bottom so enrolled on to the IT Technician Bootcamp. It was 9-4.30 for 12 weeks. If you pick a decent provider they should also be helping you with interview skills. At the 8 week mark of my Bootcamp I was put forward for interviews and landed a System Admin role on 25k. Through my job I discovered a platform called Salesforce. I decided this was something I could see myself doing so started self studying in the evenings. At work I befriend the Salesforce Admin and tried my best to learn from him. After 4 months I felt ready to start looking for a Salesforce Admin role. I was able to successfully land a role only after 2 interviews. My salary had jumped up to 40k. So in the space of 7 months I switched jobs and doubled my salary in the process. These bootcamps changed my life and 2022 has been the best year for me in terms of my career. I work from home and my job is super flexible. I know I don’t earn mega bucks but I have the opportunity to carry on building on my earnings in the the next few years. The demand for women in the Tech space is huge so no better time to jump in. Two of my friends both switched to Tech - one did a bootcamp like me in Data and went into a 30k role after 12 weeks previous to this she was a stay at home for 5 years. The second friend did the CFG Data Pathway Degree and went straight into a 55K role at a well known bank. Don’t believe people who say these bootcamps/fast track courses can’t land you decent paying roles. I started on a low paid role but was able to very quickly increase my earnings. Without the Bootcamp I certainly don’t think I would’ve had this opportunity!

@Unluckyinlove2 that’s good to hear , can I pm you thanks

Whilst AI is in short supply many would not take people straight off a boot camp. But perhaps if you were happy to accept work experience was necessary and it would be slower, this is currently in demand. It's a competitive area because it's hard to find people who are good, what comes with the is lots of ego and so resilience is important.

Web design is easier to grow in to and you might get a better junior role but you might not go as far salary wise as with AI. But it's still very good and always in demands.

Web design is better if you like the idea of creating front end that people can interact with. AI is good if you don't want to focus on design/appearance but more the cod3 and maths. You can do really cool things with AI but it's less of a visual product. What appeals?

@Unluckyinlove2 just wanted to say well done on all you have achieved and I hope you have much success going forward

@jeaux90 @user143677433

Thank you so much. This is so exciting.

So much help and fantastic information for me on this thread.

Thank you all.

jeaux90 can you point towards anywhere to find out about the 6 week bootcamp? I can only find more general stuff through searching. Thanks