So, you’ve been to coding boot camp! Now you are back and looking to get a job, but you might be wondering how you could go about doing this. Luckily for you, that’s exactly what we are going to be talking about in this article! You are going to find all the information that you need to get yourself a job now that you have completed coding boot camp!
Use Your Background To Your Advantage
The first thing that you need to remember is that most people who go to coding boot camp come from a variety of backgrounds. Many people don’t have any kind of coding experience, but this is not a make or break problem like some people think it is. You should use the background that you have, no matter what it is, and let it help you find a job in the real world. It might not be the ideal position for you in the beginning, but you are going to need to work your way up like everyone else.
Network
One of the most important things that you can do to get a job after coding boot camp is to make sure that you are networking. A lot of those who have gone on from Coding Dojo have found that networking with other students on social media platforms like LinkedIn has been a big help. You can also get second level connections by using those connections that someone higher up in the coding world has. If you have ever heard of the phrase ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know’ then you know exactly how this works.
We recommend that you try to have around 1000 connections before you leave boot camp and while this may seem like a lot, it is not really as many as you think. This is a great starting point for you in the world of coding.
Send Out Messages
Now that you have found all these people to connect with, it’s time to start actively looking for a job. You don’t want to just send out your resume to a variety of people without sending a message to introduce yourself first. Sending out messages to the people you send your resume to will help you get your foot in the door a little more. Recruiters and those who make the decisions on who to hire are more likely to choose those people that they know, or that they know more about than some random person they have never heard of before.
Make Use Of Referrals
Something else that connects to what we were saying about networking is making use of referrals. This goes full circle back to the people you know. It is not uncommon for companies to take on more staff and in some cases, create certain positions for individuals that show exceptional talent or that they like. Make an impression when you are in boot camp, not just on those people who are around you, but on those who are teaching you.
It’s Not About What You Need
When you apply for a job, you need to remember that you should be putting forward what you can do for the company, not what they can do for you. In other words, you don’t want to go into an interview and say things like ‘well I’m looking for a team that…’ and constantly talk about yourself. If the interviewer asks you this question then sure, you need to answer it, but overall you should be showing this company that you can provide the service that they need. Think about what they are looking for, what they need from you and then adapt what you are saying in the interview to let them know that you can give them what they are looking for.
Show That You Can Learn
Flexibility is essential in the world of coding, and you need to be able to show potential employers that you are able to learn fast. Many people who go to coding boot camp end up doing something within a language, potentially even one that they have never studied before. This is because they demonstrate an incredible ability to learn whatever is necessary to make them suitable for the role that they are applying for.
Employers like candidates who are able to mold and shape into what that company needs. If you can show someone that even though you might not have everything they need right now, you are a fast learner, and you will be able to do it in no time.
Social Skills
If we look back to the first point we made about using your background to help you, a background in something such as sales could actually be a big benefit for you. Communicating well is something that every employer is looking for, not just people who are looking for coders, so you need to remember this.
Communication is not easy for everyone, but it is something that is necessary to help you get a job. You will find that good social skills can take you to a variety of places in life, and without them, you are not likely to get very far with situations such as interviews.
Look Everywhere
Finally, it is important that you realize that you are not too good for anything once you have left coding boot camp. Any job in the industry is a good one when you are starting out, even if it is not exactly where you want to be.
For example, a lot of students say that they want to go into gaming at some point, and while this is great, so do most of the other people around you. This isn’t to say that you are never going to work in gaming because you might, but if you find something in real estate in the meantime, then you should take it if only to gain experience.
Hopefully, you now have some insight on how you can get a job after coding boot camp. Good luck!