What is bootcamp: how does it work and for whom is it suitable

What is Bootcamp

— Bootcamp is a course in which participants immerse themselves in a certain profession for a short time, — Vasilii Nikotin, manager of Career Bootcamp by Anywhere Club, discusses this modern format for obtaining knowledge, — The bootcamp is a relatively new type of educational format. The word "bootcamp" originated with the American army. In bootcamp, army recruits underwent intensive training to quickly prepare them for the army experience. In 2013, General Assembly launched the first IT bootcamp. Since that time, the popularity of bootcamps grown significantly. In the US, recently enacted laws support participation in bootcamps to attract more people to the IT sector.

Bootcamp implies a very high load. Students undergo training and practice with great intensity on a daily basis during their bootcamp experience.

Bootcamp features

Availability of practice

— One of the main features of bootcamp is that it provides not only knowledge, but also experience. Everything that you study is supported by practical, hands-on experience. This process takes place in different ways at different bootcamps. In some, you go through theory for a week, and then you complete tasks after that. Others offer preliminary information and then you immediately get down to business.

Quick dive

— Generally, bootcamp training lasts 3-8 months, depending on the amount of information provided. There are also shorter formats that are more highly specialized. In any case, bootcamp always requires very high concentration and an immersion in the subject matter.

The pace is intense. In some bootcamp programs, you have one lecture in the morning, a practical lesson right after it, a new theory after lunch, then another practice at the end of the day — every day. Since you receive a large amount of information throughout the program, there is no time to be distracted by unrelated matters.

Constant communication

— Bootcamp is a lot of communication. You will be surrounded by lecturers and experts who help in practical classes, check homework, and tell you where to move on to next. You are always in touch with them.

There is also teamwork and open communication within the group. There are usually some paired or group tasks. You can discuss things together, ask questions, study additional materials, and create joint projects.

The communication scheme is built to support and facilitate learning: there you are with a wealth of theoretical knowledge and materials, surrounded by people who share the same goal, and supported by experts ready to help you achieve this goal.

High level of discipline

— The main thing that I learned from my experience is that bootcamp presupposes a high level of discipline. You constantly have knowledge tests, you go to lectures, you regularly give and receive feedback, and each step in the process has a deadline. You can't relax and miss anything. At one of the bootcamps that I attended, I missed a week of classes for personal reasons. When I came back, I couldn't understand anything. If your usual style is to listen to this or that lecture later while taking some courses, it won't work that way here. Everything is intense at the bootcamp, and you need to be ready for that.

Who does it suit best

— Bootcamp is definitely good for those who want to, and are ready to, retrain in a short time and then go to work for a junior position after the course is completed. These individuals may be:

• University students who already have a specialized education and knowledge in a certain field, but need the practical component. They will be able to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the project and the work, to see how the theory is applied in practice;
• Juniors who need to gain experience and strengthen their knowledge; and
• Switchers who want to change their profession.

In general, the bootcamp is ideal for people who:

• Want to and can devote the necessary time exclusively to learning;
• Are highly motivated to receive and learn new information; and
• Understand why they need this training.

Some schools provide free demo access to their bootcamp course. This can be a week of attendance or just a block of some materials. This offers a more detailed understanding of what the course is about, and what the load will be — it helps you to decide whether it is the course you need. This is beneficial not only to students, but also to the organizers. After all, when people come who are not ready to study the material, or do not quite understand the field, it is difficult to train and involve them in the educational process.

How much does bootcamp tuition cost

— The cost of some bootcamps can reach up to several thousand, sometimes even tens of thousands of dollars. This may seem like a very high threshold for admission. But if you imagine that bootcamp is comparable to a university education, then there is something to think about. Here, you get equivalent information, in a short time, plus practical experience, and after six months or a year you come out with a wealth of knowledge and the ability to start working in a junior position right away. From this point of view, the price of a bootcamp may be lower than the price of a specialized university education.

There are also smaller bootcamps that focus in a certain narrow area, which last several weeks. The price for such training can vary from $50 to $500. We are launching this kind of bootcamps at Anywhere Club: in a short period of time, we provide a very focused amount of information on how to prepare for employment. At Career Bootcamp by Anywhere Club, you will prepare a catchy CV for an employer, pass a technical interview with experts, learn self-presentation skills, and much more. It is geared toward 4 areas: Business Analysts, QA Engineers, Designers, and Software Engineers. We plan to expand the list of specialties moving forward. Bootcamps are held in English and, at the conclusion of the bootcamp, participants receive a certificate of completion. Anywhere Club members receive a 20% discount on training.

Tips for future bootcamp students

Before buying a bootcamp, you should:

1. Understand why you need this course and whether you have sufficient motivation.
2. Check your calendar and evaluate how bootcamp fits into your life right now.
3. Study the course structure and prepare a little. See what terms are used, what additional knowledge you will need, how to work with the platform, and more. This will help you to immerse yourself more smoothly in the study right away and not be distracted by administrative details.

Conclusion

— Bootcamps are gaining popularity all over the world. Now, you can find a bootcamp in absolutely any subject area, not only in IT. Look for yourself, find interesting bootcamps, and start a new path.