What it is like to learn to join a part time, evening coding bootcamp
Written by James Adams
The popularity of part-time coding bootcamps is on the rise as people are looking for ways to learn to code without having to quit their day job. Learning to code can be a daunting task, but it is a skill that can help you move into a new career, which is one of the main reasons for people to take on the extra workload. It's a short time of intense hard work, for an entire career of coding.
We won't lie, it is hard to learn to code part-time and in the evening. You have to be really dedicated to the process and willing to put in the extra effort, but it is also very rewarding. In this article, we look at what it is like learning to code in the evening at a part-time, evening coding bootcamp whilst having commitments in the day. People learn to code in the evening to move into a new career in software development and coding, however, the end goal has to be considered. Apply yourself, apply for jobs and go for it, and you can find yourself in a new highly rewarding career.
We caught up with some of our evening students and asked them what their experiences were with taking on our Part-Time Full Stack Coding Bootcamp and what advice they would give prospective students thinking of taking on a part time, evening course.
You will need to be disciplined
The first piece of advice is just how disciplined you will need to be with time management. 40 hour work week and 15 hours of evening coding a week means you will have to manage your time incredibly well and focus on completing your commitments in the day as well as with your fellow students. When thinking about time management, our students came up with these following top tips.
Make a schedule and stick to it
When you're learning to code part-time and in the evening, it's important to make a schedule and stick to it. This will help you stay on track and make the most of your time. If you set aside half an hour to code on your own on a Tuesday and Thursday after the bootcamp, stick to that as your routine.
Set goals for yourself
It can be helpful to set goals for yourself, both short-term and long-term. This will help keep you motivated and focused on what you're trying to achieve. Yours might be a certain feature to be shipped on a project, or to practice a certain element you found tricker than others.
Use your time wisely
Make sure you use your time wisely by focusing on the tasks at hand and not getting distracted. This can be difficult but it is essential if you want to succeed.
Be prepared to miss certain social engagements
In order to focus on their studies, evening coding bootcamp students often have to miss out on some social engagements. This can be difficult, but it is a sacrifice that needs to be made in order to achieve your goals. We asked one o had the following to say about this topic.
"It's been hard to pass up some events that I would usually attend, such as a games night we usually have at a nearby bar, but I know that if I want to make the most of this opportunity, I need to put in the extra work. It was tough at first, but I realised that if I want to learn to code and move into a new career, I needed to make some sacrifices. It's been worth it so far and I am nearly done now, the time flies by."
Although it can be hard missing out on social engagements, evening coding bootcamp students understand that it is a necessary sacrifice in order to achieve their goals.
You need to manage your weekends and downtime
One of the most important things to remember when learning to code part-time and in the evening is to take time to relax and enjoy your time not working or coding. This is essential for your mental health and will help you stay focused when you are back at work and at the bootcamp.
It's easy to get bogged down in your work, especially when you're trying to learn new material, but it's important to take some time for yourself. This might be watching a movie, going out for dinner with friends or just taking a walk outdoors. Whatever it is that helps you relax, make sure you do it on a regular basis.
It sounds intense because it is, but it's so worth it
Once people have completed a coding bootcamp, they are generally very happy with the results. It can be an exciting time as they start their new career in coding and software development. When you finish the bootcamp, you will have learned an immense amount of information in a relatively short period of time, and we are sure you will be ready to use your new skills to change your life for the better.
Our students often tell us how grateful they are for the opportunity to learn to code in the evening. They have amazed themselves at what they have been able to accomplish in such a short time. Coding bootcamps can be intense, but the rewards are well worth it.
Does an evening coding bootcamp sound like a challenge you would be ready to take? If so, why not try our coding bootcamp taster session, which can be done over one day, or two evenings, for just £14.99 and see if a career in coding might be for you.
About the Author
James has 8 years with Fortune 200 US firm ITW, experience of managing projects in China, USA, and throughout Europe. James has worked with companies such as Tesco, Vauxhall, ITW, Serco, McDonalds. James has experience in supporting start-up and scale up companies such as Readingmate, Gorilla Juice and Harvest London. James completed his MBA at the University of East Anglia in 2018.
