CFG degree

[btwin]

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 😵‍💫

Sorry to hear that @camelCase but hopefully the autumn one will work out better for you anyway if this one sounded like they wanted someone who was experienced. I agree about Dr Angela Yu -she's brilliant! I did her Python course on Udemy.
I completed one of those government bootcamps but the only one in our cohort who got a tech job was the one who had worked in the tech field anyway(!).
Best of luck to those of you going for the Autumn intake. @GenevieveTrompke I think quite a few people are still waiting for news. Perhaps the bank holidays have delayed things for some companies.

Thanks @SqlEqual , I still haven't received any emails, and there is another Bank Holiday on Monday so probably have to wait until Tuesday the earliest...

Just got an email saying that they'll let me know by the end of this week 😂

Wow that's cutting it fine! Hope it's good news @GenevieveTrompke 🙏.

@SqlEqual Thank you. There is still hope, but the wait is killing me 😵‍💫 they must have had a lot of applicants this term!

@SqlEqual That doesn't surprise me about the bootcamp, I mean realistically if I was hiring I would prefer someone with experience versus someone whose done a 16-week course. That's why I kept checking with CFG, I was like are you certain they want people who are new to tech/career switchers because that's not how it sounds. It's making me a lot more sceptical about breaking into tech because all the jobs I see advertised want years of experience and it seems impossible.

@GenevieveTrompke I can't believe you haven't heard, hopefully that means it's good news otherwise that's just cruel making you wait longer than everyone else, will be keeping my fingers crossed for you (but as SqlEqual says talk about cutting it fine!)

For anyone whose not doing the degree in this cohort (or even if you are and want some extra work lol) Udemy has another sale on and it includes Dr Angela Yu's courses, which are all £12.99, I can't recommend her enough, really enjoyable courses and she is going through and updating things as they become out of date, unlike other courses(looking at you Codecademy!). I've just bought the 100 days of Python course and almost bought the flutter course but Angela has been honest in the requirements about doing it on a windows system, how you can't test it unless you have a mac (so that rules me out).

@camelCase Thank you! I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much. The more I reflect on the interview the more I cringe internally, but I wish I'd known already either way...

Dissapointing but not unexpected news... I didn't get a place :( I will also be getting fast-tracked for the next round of applications so at least it wasn't all for nothing ;)

@GenevieveTrompke So sorry to hear that and I think it sucks that CFG made you wait an extra week just to then say no. I was really rooting for you thinking that surely they must be going to offer you a place (sponsored by them even if the company didn't). Hopefully, there will be something suitable for the next cohort and you get offered a place.

Sorry to hear that @GenevieveTrompke . I too thought it was a good sign that they hadn't got back to you last week 😕. It really sounds like there were a huge amount of applicants for the Summer one, perhaps much more than for previous cohorts. Hopefully there'll be many more company-sponsored places for the Autumn intake and it won't be as crazy/last-minute as it was this time round 🙏.

Thank you @camelCase and @SqlEqual. I think it's for the best as I really only just started learning coding... in the meantime I'm planning to continue learning and preparing for the next interview :) Good luck to everyone who's planning on applying for the next cohort and to the lucky ones who got a place this time, please let us know how you're getting on :)

@GenevieveTrompke sorry to hear that but glad you are keeping going with learning for the next time.

I see the next lot of places are up, nothing suitable for me so far (hoping there will be with the next lot going up next week). How is everyone getting on with the degree (if you got a place) and if you didn't get a place have you found other ways to build your coding skills up?

I finished the Dr.Angela web development course and I'm on day 7 of the 100 days of python, I'd did a little bit of python last summer, totally forgot what it was like. I'm really enjoying it, finding it a lot more straightforward than Javascript. I also bought a few more courses on udemy(just some stuff on SQL, react and another full-stack) and have done some of the shorter courses on Codecademy that give you certificates.

Question for those currently on / previously done the degree course, what is the teaching like? I've recently done the intro to coding MOOC and have signed up for the challenge (and for the upcoming JS course). I found the MOOC really hard to follow even though it was basic coding, things seemed to be explained in either an overly complicated way or really vague way. The challenge also doesn't seem to follow along with the basic level of the MOOC and although I'm pretty confident I can do it if you were an absolute beginner it just seems way too much to start with. Is the degree similar? Or do they spend more time explaining things in depth and not going from 0 to 60?

Hi @camelCase , I'm fortunate to have a really good tutor but a few people are still struggling in my group. The pace of teaching is quite fast so I really do feel you need to be at least vaguely acquainted with SQL and one programming language (Python or Javascript) otherwise you will struggle. You're doing absolutely the right thing to prepare for the degree and avoid difficulties.

Also I think more spaces will be added for the Autumn start as the Summer cohort had very limited spaces. I was wondering why there were so many from the same city as me on my course then I realised that we only had 3 options to choose from and only 2 had jobs attached. Also for those that have kids, the Summer course has continued through half term and will do for the entire Summer holidays so perhaps an Autumn start is better for parents.

I'm enjoying it, it is quite intense and I say that having known the basics of SQL and Python before starting the course. I would use this time to get any big jobs round the home/ pressing tasks out of the way to clear your calendar and get familiar with SQL and either Python or Javascript - basically carry on as you were 🙂.

Thanks @SqlEqual for the insider insight! I'm glad I'm booked on to a SQL CFG Kickstarter course now (starts next week).

I've checked out the autumn employers for the degree but nothing suitable for me either...

Couple of questions for anyone on this thread who may have an opinion... I'm not sure if I'm being slow but I don't quite understand what the benefits of the "fast track" places are... Is it literally we just don't have to take the test again?

Also, do you think applying early is beneficial? (I will check back on 12th once more sponsors / employers are hopefully added and want to get it in fairly quickly, but I'm unclear if that's an advantage or not). Any thoughts?

I completed CFG degree Autumn 2022 cohort. I paused to have a baby but will be starting my new job in autumn 2023.

I'm so chuffed I did it!

@Rosti1981 IME no, I don't think there's an advantage to applying early (I applied literally a few hours before the deadline).

Well done @dottyrobin and congratulations! 🙂

@SqlEqual Thank you for such an informative post, my only child is late teens now so I don't need to worry about the summer holidays (she barely leaves her room lol). I haven't actually done sql yet, it was the only part of the course I've just finished that I couldn't do (I can't remember the exact reason I think many of the reviews said the videos were so outdated that it was impossible to follow along). I do have a SQL course ready to do once I finish my 100 days of pyhton but I might do it along side so I'm a little bit familiar if I'm successful with gaining a place.

@Rosti1981 I think the fast track part is that you don't have to do the tech assessment or the CFG interview, I think you just go straight through to the company interview. I could be wrong and it's just skipping the tech assessment, I'm guessing because we've done it all before from the last cohort they know we are capable.

@dottyrobin That's great to hear, congratulations on the baby and the job, good luck for autumn!

Is anyone doing the intro to coding challenge? I selected to be in a team as I thought it would be good practice working in a coding team and also if it comes up in an interview it will be handy to refer to.

Hi everyone,

I came across this thread after typing CFG degree into Google and so glad I did. Lots of great questions/advice/feedback! :)

I applied to the CFG degree in the Jan 2023 round, but sadly did not pass the video Q&A (can understand why because I was just terrible!) - I was told I would be fast-tracked. Has anyone gone through with fast-track before and what was the process?

I did not apply to the summer round as choices were limited, but hoping to see some good roles for the autumn round. I have been refreshing the applications page this morning, but no updates as of yet.

Has anyone who has passed degree and now working for their sponsored company requested part-time working?

Thanks in advance! :) Btw... anyone applying for this round?🤓I am also working through the SheCodes online workshops for web development and find that the teaching & learning is great - very well structured and broken down well!

Hi! I'm also frantically refreshing the options page to see who is joining.
I've contacted a recruiter to take a look at the data stream content and whether I could walk into a job at the end, otherwise I'll only apply for those with jobs/interviews at least.

I've done the data Kickstarter which I really enjoyed! Hope to make it through the application process.

@ThisIsTrifficult - that sounds really good! It would be interesting to see what they say!

I hope to find one with a sponsored place in Full Stack, but last time the full stack options were quite limited. Which kickstarter did you do? I have completed a MOOC beforehand which I found quite fast-paced!

I did the web dev one last year which I completed but wasn't mad about. Not long finished the data and SQL which was tough but I really enjoyed!

I'm hoping for a job at the end with a data pathway. If that fails I'd opt for cyber as that's vaguely something I've dabbled in with my job.

I tried a MOOC, but really benefit from having to carve out the time to sit and listen to the lectures.

If you look above the opportunity section, you can click on apply at the bottom of the course specialisation. I don't think you have to stipulate exactly what you want as cfg will fit you where they think best.

@codingmum ignore the general apply button, it just scoots down to the opportunities!

Thank you @ThisIsTrifficult - that may be the option I go for if nothing else is suitable!
All the best in your application this year🤗 I am still refreshing and patiently waiting for some updates! Hope to see Cap Gemini in there. I applied with them the last time and they seemed to have a really good programme and company benefits.