You just shared the most honest, illuminating and insighftul thoughts about how to pursue programming through bootcamps. Passion is really key. There's not a day or a minute that I don't think about going to a coding bootcamp but just can't afford it, so I have been learning only online; I would have applied in a pay later scheme but my skills are very basic and it's taken me 3 slow agonizing years. I know I would have to accelerate my learning eventually.
Great to hear from you. Yes, certainly believe in self-study; been doing that mostly. What I probably not know is how to tie in all the languages and frameworks together to make for effective learning. I would certainly like to know how I can come up with some structure to my learning -- my own curriculum/syllabus to know which language/framework to use as I go along in self-studying. Right now, I find myself all over the place. For example, as I learn Javascript, I don't know when I should move on to learn React or Angular and when to start learning sql or even PhP. Like, which comes first after learning one language or framework. Thinking the only way to do have some semblance of structure in my learning is by at least doing Udacity or Thinkful or Coursera -- but they still require some payment while others that may be free can be too basic. What's your process like when self-studying?
Here's how I started just to give you an idea. Codecademy Team Treehouse Going to coding meetups-mini bootcamps Harvard/RU-vid videos -- all these on HTML, CSS, Github, Javascript That's where I am at but don't know where to go next. Focused on front-end dev for now (thinking adding React, Angular but some people say to just focus on Vanilla JS) and then later, Node.JS, Sql but don't know how to incorporate all those yet. I own Eloquent Javascript but realize I learn more from video instruction. Looking forward to your next video.
I live near Chicago and have been considering Fullstack Academy, thank you so much for this video! SUPER helpful! I think you've sold me on this bootcamp!
update: just about 2 years since i decided to join fullstack. BEST DECISION OF MY LIFE. i’m now a Developer II in Nashville, my wife is able to be a stay at home mom with our young son, and i am loving every day of my career! thanks again, Don!
I am considering Full Stack right now and I can completely relate to hitting a wall with JS! I am working on it in self study before applying. Thank you for sharing your journey!
Hi Don, Thank you for sharing your experience at Fullstack Academy, as I think you are currently the only one on RU-vid with in depth comments about this particular coding bootcamp. I'm curious if Fullstack is constantly threatening to kick you out if you don't keep up or doing weekly exams to make sure you are getting the content? I know App Academy is like this and it irked me a bit as it sounds needlessly high pressure. Also, for some odd reason, I cannot see your responses in the comments, even though it is obvious from other comments that you have replied. Hmmm....
Hey! Sure, happy to. Also, yeah I switched accounts to get the url that I wanted at the cost of all of my previous comments being deleted. No, Fullstack split their in-person course up into two 6 week sessions, with testing in between. The instructors certainly put effort into knowing how you are doing as the weeks go on, but that was more to give you extra support if they felt you were struggling in certain areas. I had similar concerns when I first got there. I know all of the interviews and checkpoints can feel intimidating, but once you finally start the in-person course, they 100% want you to succeed and will give you all of the support you need. I think many people worry about that, but about 6 weeks in, after the halfway checkpoint, you realize there was nothing to be worried about, and that they meant what they said (about doing what it takes to help you succeed). My biggest recommendation is communicate any concerns with the instructors, and you'll see what I mean. Good luck!
Please help me (pour your suggestions as I am lost now). I am a Pharma graduate (B.pharm and MBA) and have 3 years of experience as Business Analyst in Pharma consulting and then I took 5 year break as I was in US and was on dependent visa and couldnt work. Last year, I moved to Canada and thought of doing web development (My husband is a senior developer(senior Architect). so I got influenced by him and thought I could do this. I joined a bootcamp (studied JS basics in order to join this) and learned full stack in Nov 2018. I dragged through out the bootcamp. After Finishing the bootcamp, I took a break of 1 month and went to my home country and forgot most of the things.. When I came back I started learning... I realized that I suck at Back end and may b I can learn Front End. I started from the basics and did the Odin Project which help me learn the basics. Still I am not comfortable with JS. I literally become so anxious while doing coding. I enjoy simple HTML and CSS but when it comes complex logic, I become anxious and frustrated. Now I am so lost, sometime I feel I should do some thing creative like UX/UI designer. OR I should do some Market analyst diploma (which matches my prior experience). and some time I feel I should go back to my learning and excel in JS. I am so lost and depressed. I am not working and feel like I am not good enough. What should I do. I am not sure if I go UX/UI design route, then how much challenging it would be and what are the job opportunities for this. I find that In Canada(I live in Toronto), Junior web developer market is oversaturated and then demand is way less than supply for junior roles.
Ankita, I'm sorry to hear things aren't going well for you. You're not alone in feeling like you cant pursue software engineering. It's a very tough field to get started with that takes a lot of perserverence. That entry level position is very competitive. As far as what direction you should go, I cant answer that in a RU-vid comment. That's better suited for a longer, in-depth conversation. I host a live podcast that's focused on talking through this kind of stuff with junior developers. Let me know if that sounds right for you and I'd be happy to have you on. Honestly, if you continue pushing forward with something with consistency, you will get there, but more importantly I'd suggest working on improving your confidence and happiness. Purpose and confidence can come in many forms. Workout. Eat healthy. Get plenty of sleep. Build strong relationships. If you're struggling in one area of your life, excel in other areas. Let that fuel your drive in tougher areas of your life such as starting a new career.
@@DonTheDeveloper wow I am so inspired and impressed with what you said "If you're struggling in one area of your life, excel in other areas". Thats so true, I am feeling very low and agitated after not getting anywhere since I completed bootcamp. It was also effecting my confidence, health and relationships. Now I am feeling that coding is not for me. As, I have lots of working years ahead and I should choose what I love to do. Thats why, I am exploring my options which may be graphic designer or digital marketing. I am exploring both and would pursue which I enjoy the most. Thanks so so much for your kind msg. Appreciate it!
+@CeeLosGreenn Thank you. That's exciting! Here is a great article you should read. Prepare as it suggests and you will be fine. www.fullstackacademy.com/admissions-preparation
Thank you for your video! It is really helpful. I have questions and wonder if you can answer them for me. 1. Where do you work and what type of position do you have? 2. Do you feel you are as educated as your coworker? Do you think like the bootcamp itself give you enough experience for a full time position. 3. What is the starting salary like? 4. Where do you see yourself in five years?
I’m glad it was helpful for you! 1. I work in Chicago as a UI engineer for a healthcare company. 2. It’s just my boss and I on the UI team. He has many years of experience, and the only thing that will help me continue to learn the breadth of what he knows with building large-scale applications/websites is time. There are things that I’m able to teach my boss, just like there are things that he’s able to teach me. I bring unique knowledge to the team and am able to learn a lot from them in return. I don’t so much look at it as who is higher on the knowledge scale, but simply accept that we complement each other’s strengths. 3. My bootcamp was focused on software engineering with a large focus in JavaScript. I would say that my bootcamp did it’s job in helping me understand JavaScript really well. It definitely helped prepare me for any junior JavaScript focused software engineer. I feel like the 2 years I spent getting more comfortable with CSS and PHP before the bootcamp also gave me some very valuable skills as well. A great coding bootcamp will teach you how to code well enough to get your first full-time position. Interpersonal skills, passion, and all of the other non-coding related necessities that get teams to want to work with you are something you should definitely continue to work on. If you don’t work great with others or on teams, interpersonal skills certainly take much longer than 3 months to build up. The bootcamp gave me the jumpstart I needed with coding to get that first position, but all of the other skills that teams value - that was on me to continue to build those up from the previous years of a different career I was pursuing. 4. I would say that the starting salary for software engineer positions is somewhere between $60000 - $85000. There are many things that influence what you can start out with, which is another conversation entirely. 5. In 5 years, I would like to be working remote as a developer. I’d also love to have my own platform that helps both aspiring and current developers continue to grow. That will most likely include building up my audience on Twitch and RU-vid. Hopefully that was helpful. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. Good luck!
Thank you very much for sharing one quick question. If you had to do self teach yourself again how would you do it? Are there things you would have liked to know that you didn't when you first began trying to self teach?
I'm sorry, it looks like I let this comment slip through the cracks. I actually created a video talking about this! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-KqQEc-zGTj8.html
pretty new to this. There is an actual interview process?? What do they ask for? Are they screening out all the dumb people or people who will potentially drop out?
