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.

@Jamepume I saw it on linked in. You might find it if you search there or have a look under ServiceNow on there. There are a load of press stuff out there too on it so I'd say linked in might be a good bet

Thanks.

It was me who originally mentioned Rise Up

I don’t work for ServiceNow but I am a ServiceNow product owner and it’s a massively growing area, plus a much needed skill

@Unluckyinlove2 congratulations!! That's amazing! Make sure you find yourself a good mentor, it can make a big difference. Not just in terms of regular discussions but also opening doors for you to continue progressing. You should be proud of yourself.

Easier said than done. If money is your only motivation, most likely you won't be great at it, or won't survive through bootcamp. Especially with tight deadlines and working full-time. My husband works in the industry, and my studies were piece of cake comparing to his. I never stayed late studying, he was coding etc. at night. I'm not doing it to discourage OP, but I'm so sick of all these "money is great, go for it". Doctors earn well too, so what?

this one I think: www.nulondon.ac.uk/study/apprenticeships/skillsbootcamps/

all online

Please don’t laugh, but the salaries you state, we’re they net or gross? (asking for a friend….)
Were all the job offers in London or nationwide?

@restisall that's it!! Thanks!

It's 13 weeks not 6. I'd go for this OP. SN are proactive in engaging their client/partners apparently to take the students straight out of this course. And they have the follow up degree which is also fully sponsored.

I’m reading this thread with interest as I’ve just enrolled on a bootcamp starting in January.
There were so many bootcamps on the gov website that I’ve found it difficult to figure out which one would suit me best and which provider to go for.

In the end I’ve gone for a desktop technician course as I think this might be best for me as a complete beginner.
Salary isn’t important for me but I’d love to get a job working from home so I’m wondering if there are certain tech roles where you are more likely to find jobs working from home?

@Adelais a lot of tech roles have been hybrid (working at home and office) for years. The industry has offered some roles at WFH permanently to get access to a area skills so it really depends on the contract/role etc

@jeaux90 @restisall just wanted to say thanks for bringing the ServiceNow bootcamp to my attention, I now have a place for January!

Awesome! I hope it all goes well - I know ServiceNow skills are really in demand so could be the start of a really exciting change!

It was me that first mentioned ServiceNow 😁

Anyhow, good luck to you! I work closely with them and I have presented at their forums in the past.

great company.

DH is a software engineer. Something to be aware of: some roles (especially those paying £££) are not very family friendly at all. Some of his contracts in in the past have involved 12hr days, at deadline times that can be 16 and 17 hour days. Working into the evening past 10p. There is freedom to WFH. DH has taken a more family friendly role 8.30am-6pm(with a paycut) although days are still long and expectation is if something breaks they have to fix it so he still often has to work past 10pm (in the last 2 months this has happened 4 times). Also companies recruit from all over the world, if you end up in a team where many members live in eastern Europe/ India/ USA/ Australia you could find yourself attending meetings in their time zones as well as UK time zones.

If you work for a multi national you could be expected to work to USA or Chinese time zones at certain critical times.

I am a SAHM and so are most of the wives in his friendship circle (all software Devs and in tech al working for different companies) as the hours can be very unpredictable and long. Most coding jobs are paid by outcome not hours worked and usually there is a completion date where something is expected to be completed by a certain date. The weeks leading up to this date have long days. The days before are often at least 15 hours long. It is not unusual for certain times of a contract for me to be effectively a single parent (us wives joke about the 2 weeks every 3 months we are single parents).

Go for it, OP.

Im super proud of you for taking the initiative. Coding just looks intimidating, once you get the hang of it, it’ll become easier.

Welcome to Tech🏆

Wow, I'm a software engineer and this is totally not my experience. What industry?

Just a small update for all the supporters, I passed my Code First Girls technical assessment yesterday and today I submitted my video interview.
There’s so much I don’t understand but I’m putting in long hours and trying my very best.
I’m also doing katas for the entry challenge on Northcoders. I’m finding it very difficult. But I will do this, I’m just not sure yet how long it will take.
I’ll update again soon.

I failed the first tech assessment I did on CFG. I thought it would be an aptitude test but it was a technical knowledge test ! You needed 50% to pass. As I got between 40-50% I was allowed a second try.
Before my second try I did introductory courses in JavaScript, SQL and Python.
Passed the second time.

Advent of Code is on right now if anyone wants to try some fun coding challenges

Same here. I've been working in IT for about 25 years, been a dev for ~17 years of that. The only time I regularly had to work more than normal hours on a regular basis was the Y2k patching marathon.

If a dev has to work insane hours like that, then their employer is probably circling the drain, because they have no idea how to run projects properly. That said, that's not necessarily a drawback if you're a contractor.

For the OP's benefit...I'll add my voice to the ones saying to temper your salary expectations. Those courses are good enough as taster, but none of them adequately prepare you for time in the workplace. To give you an idea, we're currently recruiting for a mid-level developer, and they'd have to have knowledge that falls under at least 12 of those courses, with experience to back it up. Security, networking, cloud infrastructure, database management and optimisation (including NoSQL databases), at least three years with three specific programming languages (Ruby, Python and Typescript), as well as an interest in systems design. And, obviously, SQL, HTML5 and CSS3 (which are the basics everybody's expected to know as a matter of course).

I'm not saying this to put you off. I'm saying it because...just doing a couple of tech bootcamps will serve as an introduction to this world, no more. Every experienced developer you meet has come across people who do a bootcamp, manage to blag the interview and come in thinking they know the job, and then all their team mates have had to carry them for a year or two while they learn what they should've known before they even walked in the door.

The expectations people are given when they sign up for these bootcamps are usually pretty unrealistic. They leave folk disillusioned with the whole thing - that's unfair, and every time it happens we lose another potentially-brilliant engineer

Same goes for security, DevOps (hate that term, it's so misunderstood), desktop support etc etc.

Please don't be the one that leaves or the one that everyone has to carry. The IT community needs people who're willing to live and breathe it - the technology, not the job or for the money directly. Learn everything you can about the stuff that interests you, but also about the stuff that underpins it - learn properly how computers work, how networks are built and hang together, buy a Raspberry Pi and figure out how Linux works enough to do useful things with it, sign up for a free-tier AWS account and start building up a cloud system. Build stuff that you're excited about, then use those things to get some freelance jobs to build your experience to the point where you can walk into an interview and show people what you can do instead of just telling them.

The best thing is, you don't even need a bootcamp to do it. You can get all of this experience and knowledge for free. All it takes is time and dedication - which you'll need to put in to get a job anyway even if you do a bootcamp.

For anyone who's read this far...I was trying to make that a motivational post. I probably failed, and if I did...sorry about that. It's obviously not one of my main skills ;)

....and I have no idea what happened in that last paragraph. Have I discovered some odd formatting feature in MN?

A well managed project shouldn't require you working overtime. I've found it to be very stable and easy to focus on core hours and then leave. I mean you can always go above and beyond in any job but that's your choice. Occasionally you might be on call if your code doesn't work and needs urgently fixing. But maybe just write better cod3 then

Sounds like the pp might have a partner in DevOps where they have to make their code stand up at all times and is not production focused

"us wives joke about the 2 weeks every 3 months we are single parents"

You're not single parents. Your husband is earning money for his family. Hope you don't "joke" in front of actual lone or single parents. That would be a massive dickmove. Unfortunately, it's very common and seriously grates when husbands are eg away for the weekend "oh tee hee I'm a single parent."

@Peoplewatcheswithcoffee

Best of luck OP with your courses.

@Flurbegurb of course @Name12343212 doesn't say it in front of other single parents...she does it whilst Hugo and Millicent are at school and she is 'lunching' (aka quaffing prosecco) with her other Stepford wives whilst their husbands are doing whatever to keep @Name12343212 and her pals in hair dye and personal trainers and can only contribute in a 'by proxy' capacity to threads that involve jobs and income. Feel insulted @Name12343212 ? Well that's how I feel about your assumptions about single parenting.

And even worse I got the ring bloody name! Apologies @Name12343212 my comments above were for @Peoplewatcheswithcoffee