A new career, whether it is in tech or any other industry, can be a worrying and challenging time. You don’t know what to expect, and may be having doubts about whether you can do it (spoiler alert, if you put the effort in, you definitely can!) Having worked with hundreds of students who join our coding bootcamps, this is the most common thing we hear, so if that’s how you’re feeling, know you aren’t alone.
5 things a coding bootcamp can support you with before applying for an apprenticeship
If you are considering an IT apprenticeship, but don’t know if it’s quite right for you, or how to apply for roles within the industry, the structured and immersive environment of a software development bootcamp could be the way to bridge this gap between the two. Learning the skills you need for the industry and potentially making you more attractive to a company hiring an apprentice.
From our experience in supporting hundreds of students who were in the same position you may be in now, into a career in tech, we are going to explore five key ways that a coding bootcamp can prepare you for an IT apprenticeship. Whether that’s gaining hands-on technical skills or building essential soft skills, a bootcamp can equip you with the tools and confidence needed to thrive on your new career path.
1. Learning to learn before a tech-based apprenticeship
A coding bootcamp will teach you all about the programming languages, frameworks, and tools that are a great segway into a number of careers in the IT industry. This hands-on experience helps build a strong foundation in coding, which is crucial for an IT apprenticeship. While having those skills will give you a leg up against other applicants, more importantly, it will also help you to learn, especially in the tech industry.
An apprenticeship can be a two-year (or more) commitment, whereas our tech-based bootcamps are 12 - 14 weeks. Knowing you are able to commit to learning, and learning the tools to learn again, will prepare you for the focus of an apprenticeship.
2. Bootcamp projects help you decide your IT apprenticeship route
A good bootcamp will incorporate real-world projects into their curriculum, allowing you the opportunity to apply your learning to practical scenarios, just like you will in an apprenticeship. By doing a bootcamp first, you will understand the types of areas of tech you would like to pursue, before doing a full apprenticeship. Are you a front end fiend, or a data dynamo? Do you prefer to project manage, or is sales your thing? In completing a bootcamp before an apprenticeship, you have the chance to decide for yourself, exactly where your skills sit.
Remember, learning to do something is a key part of all bootcamps. This experience of project-based learning will be the same as the tasks you will encounter on an apprenticeship. Having that working knowledge of real-world, practical tech-based projects will make the transition smoother.
3. A bootcamp will teach you problem-solving skills that you will need on an apprenticeship
Bootcamps focus and develop your problem-solving and critical thinking skills, which are absolutely vital in the IT industry. By working through coding challenges and debugging exercises, you will have already started to develop the ability to tackle complex problems and feel more comfortable transitioning those skills into an apprenticeship, after completing a coding bootcamp.
4. A bootcamp will teach you teamwork and collaboration skills before you take on an apprenticeship
Coding bootcamps will generally involve group projects and pair programming, which help you develop collaboration and communication skills (in fact, our software development bootcamp, and unity coding bootcamp both have two group projects, as well as numerous pair programming exercises).
These soft skills are essential for working effectively in team environments, which will be a core element of your apprenticeship and career as you move forward.
5. Career support and networking give you a choice of apprenticeship or industry after completing a coding bootcamp
We believe one of the core elements of coding bootcamps is the career support and networking element of a bootcamp. We focus heavily on choosing your pathway in tech, CV building, interview preparation, and networking opportunities with industry professionals. Taking this approach during a coding bootcamp will help you understand the industry landscape and support you to make an informed choice about your career.
We have had a number of students who were sure they wanted to complete an apprenticeship enter the industry straight after a bootcamp, and many who never considered an apprenticeship are currently completing theirs and really enjoying it. Completing a bootcamp before an apprenticeship opens up the choice of what to do, before moving forward with your career.
Researching coding bootcamps and IT apprenticeships
Whether it’s an IT apprenticeship or a coding bootcamp you are currently considering, we have some next steps you can take right now (see, we aim to help). To see what a coding bootcamp is really like (and why wouldn’t you?) why not sign up for a free coding bootcamp taster session today. If you are more interested in learning to make video games or focus on the future of VR/AR, you can sign up to our free Unity bootcamp taster session.
To find local apprenticeship opportunities in your area, and see if it’s something you’d like to apply for today, or what you may be interested in doing after a bootcamp, you can use the Government’s find an apprenticeship website, and see what’s available in your local area.
About the Author
James is a Digital Marketing veteran with over 10 years in the industry. James delivers the Tech Educators Digital Marketing with AI course, as well as overseeing the marketing activities for Tech Educators.
