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Mature study and retraining

Talk to other Mumsnetters who are considering a career change or are mature students.

Original poster

CFG degree

339 replies

btwin · 14/02/2023 17:08

Has anyone completed the CFG degree? Considering putting in an application for the next cohort and having a bit of a wobble about the time commitment 😵‍💫

OP posts:
camelCase · 22/09/2023 09:26

Just resurrecting this thread to see how everyone got on? I hope lots of you were offered places, if not will you be applying for the next cohort? I'll be waiting to see what's available as last time there was nothing suitable for me, I'm also applying for a few different bootcamps so that I will hopefully have an offer from somewhere for the new year.

In the meantime I'm still doing various courses over on Udemy (currently doing SQL) and Codecademy (don't like that as much as it's very wordy and I prefer a mix of words, images and video) as well as taking part in CFG MOOCs, classes and challenges. It does get hard staying motivated as everytime I look around at jobs available in tech the seemingly never-ending list of requirements makes it all seem impossible. Seriously go on linked in and have a look at entry-level tech roles, it's like they want the moon on a stick, thank goodness for CFG or career switchers/newbies to tech would have 0 chance.

Rosti1981 · 22/09/2023 15:02

Hi @camelCase I was successful this time round, so I'm three weeks in now and also have company sponsorship with a role at the end. Can't quite believe it tbh.

I don't really feel qualified to give my views at this stage about how the whole CFG degree programme is, but I can say I'm enjoying it so far and managing the juggle between children, working and studying reasonably well. It helps I'm part-time as I can fit in some study on my non working days when they're in school. I'm sure it will ramp up!

When is the next round opening and do you think you'll apply? Fingers crossed there's something more suitable for you, do PM me if you want to follow up with any questions on the programme. As I say it's early days right now, but I'm happy to help if I can sharing the info that I can.

GenevieveTrompke · 22/09/2023 15:09

HI, thanks for posting. I was wondering why everyone went so quiet after the deadline had passed. I also didn't get in the last time. There weren't many data options for where I stay, seems like majority of places are geared towards software or full stack developers.... I applied for Nat West, they were looking for graduates but didn't specify if recent or any years, so I thought I could try. Probably the fact that I didn't redo the video interview didn't help. I am a bit cross with CFG for over promising regarding this. Also close to the deadline they emailed me again asking to wait a bit longer due to the possible second round of interviews, but I knew right then it's going to be a rejection. Anyway, I applied simultaneously for a part time place at my local college and I got into the data course. It's not really programming, but Excel and Power BI, but I'm enjoying it so far. Unfortunately I haven't been doing any programming recently, it's difficult to find time between my part time job, the college course and my toddler who wants me to follow her everywhere

camelCase · 22/09/2023 15:25

Oh wow @Rosti1981 that's so good to hear, I think you applied the time before this as well didn't you? Looking back to when I applied for the spring cohort I have no idea why I got through to the interview stage as the role was so far beyond a beginner/career switcher so now I'm very careful about applying to things. I didn't apply for the summer cohort for this very reason. The only local(ish) companies I could apply for the roles themselves sounded way beyond a career switcher so I didn't apply.

I still don't know what I want to do either, I'm loving everything I've learned so far, guess that makes it easier for the next round of applications as I'm happy to go into data, software or full stack. I think the next cohort applications open in November but in the meantime I'm applying to some bootcamps. I know it's not the same but a lot of them guarantee job interviews so I figured if I don't get onto the CFG degree in this next cohort I may as well do one of them whilst I wait for applications to open up again.

GenevieveTrompke · 22/09/2023 21:11

@Rosti1981 Congratulations! Good to know that somebody on this thread got the place. Please let us know how you found the whole experience when you're a bit further down the line. Also, is it software, data or full stack that you're doing?

Rosti1981 · 23/09/2023 07:03

I'm software stream. I'll let you know how I get on!

I did apply once before for the summer cohort (which looking back would have been a disaster for me anyway around school holidays). Didn't get to interview that time at all.

I made changes to my application and took a few more courses before applying again, and did another coding project off my own back for a local community group that i also put on my GitHub. I redid my recorded interview to be more tailored. I also thought quite a lot about how to showcase my non coding, transferable skills acquired over a moderately lengthy different career, and emphasised those quite a lot and tried to make some of them my USP.

It's hard to know if this was what made the difference though, or if it was luck, or something else / combination of factors... and I applied to very different sponsors each time. I think there is an element of it being a numbers game as I'm sure there are still lots of really competent, excellent applications that aren't getting through, at least not for any given cohort.

I feel very lucky to have a place and as I said, enjoying it a lot so far and managing the juggle with work/childcare/volunteering- it doesn't feel impossible which was my other fear, though you definitely need to plan and think about how to manage other commitments and either who will take them on, or what can reasonably be dropped. Good luck to those who do apply for the next cohort.

ElephantGrey101 · 22/10/2023 22:00

Is anyone going to apply for this year. I am considering doing it. I have been doing some of the MOOCs and I am doing the 100 days of coding with Angela Wu. I am hoping to do Data Science. I have a PhD and I know a bit about data analysis so I think I have relevant skills. What is the pay like for the final jobs.

SQLsurfer · 23/10/2023 07:03

Starting salaries of people I know (data stream) ranged from £35-55k
More for London roles and bigger companies.

ElephantGrey101 · 23/10/2023 07:41

Thank you @SQLsurfer. They are good starting salaries. I was worried that I would have to take a pay cut. Hopefully, I will have a decent chance as I already understand data analysis, I am just new to python and SQL which I am getting on ok with.
Has anyone done a kickstarter courses. I want to apply for one but I have been catching up with the recordings of the MOOCs that I have done and they are all around bedtime. I know the CFG degree will be like that but it is easier to commit when you have a guaranteed job at the end of it.

SQLsurfer · 23/10/2023 07:57

Yes I can understand that worry! When they offered me my starting salary I almost fell to the ground because I was expecting about 25k...

I have a little one and the commitment of the CFG degree was a struggle, it required help from my mum as well as husband(he goes without saying though) and I was so glad when the studying was over! Made the job feel like a doddle 🤣

SQLsurfer · 23/10/2023 07:58

I didn't know any SQL before the CFG degree. I had done the intro to python course; so I had a vague idea about that!

I do think they're a lot more competitive now compared to when I completed mine back in 2021

camelCase · 23/10/2023 09:01

I'll be applying again if there is a suitable(local) job role available. I was told by CFG that the absolute minimum salary is 26k but is typically higher. When I applied at the beginning of the year the role I went for (which I was completely unsuitable for, no idea why I was given an interview!) the salary range was 26k-30k.

I've done a javascript Kickstarter and it was evening time(6.30-8.30), it's kind of like doing a mooc course followed by a mooc challenge. You spend the first few weeks learning the subject(plus optional assignments) and then the last few weeks working in a team on a project. If you haven't done a mooc challenge I would definitely suggest doing one to get an idea of what the teamwork/project work is like.

SMumbi · 23/11/2023 11:04

Hi,
I wanted to know how the tech assessment for data is. What kind of questions should I expect and which language is used? What resources did you use to prepare for the assessment?
Thanks!

shyannscakes · 24/11/2023 14:43

What were the questions asked after the tech assessment?

explain · 31/12/2023 06:47

Hey all. I'm doing the data and sql kick-starter class. Is anyone else starting it too (11th jan)?

I also wondered if anyone can share what this short course is like I terms of the workload. I'm a solo mum of two and trying to figure out if it'll be doable.

Rosti1981 · 31/12/2023 10:05

explain · 31/12/2023 06:47

Hey all. I'm doing the data and sql kick-starter class. Is anyone else starting it too (11th jan)?

I also wondered if anyone can share what this short course is like I terms of the workload. I'm a solo mum of two and trying to figure out if it'll be doable.

I've done a SQL Kickstarter before, not sure if it's exactly the same, and it was manageable around working and childcare. The main issue is the timing of the classes and child bedtime might be a bit tricky - it's 6.30-8.30 IIRC. But the workload is manageable and the final project could be by yourself rather than part of a team, which in a way is easier because you can make it fit what works best for you. Good luck and I hope you enjoy!

Rosti1981 · 31/12/2023 10:07

Btw the final session was quite long because pretty much everyone opted to do it by themselves, which meant it took ages for everyone to present to the group. Figure out how bedtime will work with your kids on that night ....
The other weeks aren't massive though. Maybe a bit of homework but won't take you ages, just reinforces what you do in classes.

explain · 31/12/2023 12:47

@Rosti1981 Cheers! So helpful. Definitely will need to adjust bedtime slightly on those nights.

i think i would prefer to work on my own too tbh.

Did you go on to another course with CFG after the SQL?

Rosti1981 · 31/12/2023 12:58

Yes I did two different Kickstarters (JS and the SQL one) and a couple of MOOCs, and I've just completed the CFG degree which was brill. I had/have company sponsorship, so all being well I should be career changing in 2024 too!

explain · 31/12/2023 13:28

@Rosti1981 love that for you! That's given me a lot of inspiration. Thanks for sharing

explain · 08/01/2024 12:57

@Rosti1981

Hey. I went out on a whim and decided to apply for a place on the CFG degree with Mentorship and to my surprise I passed the tech assessment 🙂so fingers crossed I am offered a place, if not I have the Kickstarter to get on with in the meantime. How did you find the actual degree? And do you feel you completed it being ready for the job/to apply for jobs using your new found skills? (I say this as someone who learned SQL over the Xmas break) I do feel quite overwhelmed if I'm honest but deep down I know I have to push on with it because where else will I get to do all this for free !

Rosti1981 · 10/01/2024 18:07

@explain well done on passing the tech assessment part.

I really enjoyed the CFG degree. Learned so much and it felt very thorough. I'm not sure I feel ready for the job, mind, but then that's partly because the main thing I learned was how much more there is to learn and know! But I am excited to make the change and my confidence in my ability to keep learning and developing is higher than before!
What I will say too is that if you don't get accepted first time, it's worth applying again for the next cohort. This happened to me and others too- I kept learning in the meantime and then reapplied.

Good luck!!!

explain · 10/01/2024 18:28

@Rosti1981 thank you so much 😊

explain · 09/02/2024 21:59

I came back to say...I got a place on the course! So excited.

Rosti1981 · 10/02/2024 13:34

@explain - brilliant, enjoy! Do you have a sponsor?