Joining the ranks of the coding community is often achieved through intense bootcamps, which allow you to learn the basics in a short period of time.
If you’ve never participated in a coding bootcamp before, you might have some misconceptions about what it involves and what’s required of you as a participant.
To allay any fears and clear up confusion, here are a few coding bootcamp myths that we’ll bust together.
Coding bootcamps don’t set you up for a career in programming
This is perhaps the biggest gap between expectations and reality that exists among would-be participants in these courses.
A lot of people simply assume they’re geared towards amateurs who just want to tinker with basic programming in their spare time when in actual fact, it’s possible to get your first step on the road to being a professional in this field. And with attractive average earnings available, it’s a great way to kick-start your career change.
Age is a barrier
Another false assumption you need to get over is that learning to code is only something that suits people in a particular age bracket.
Thankfully this isn’t the case, so everyone from school-aged kids to retirees can get involved. Even if you just want to get to grips with managing developers, it’s a good idea to get a grounding in popular programming languages.
Prior knowledge is essential
Surely there’s no such thing as a course in computer programming that’s tailored to total beginners, right?
Wrong. There are lots of brilliant coding boot camp operators out there that have put together courses that are ideal for total beginners, so no matter your level of experience, you’ll be able to get your foot in the door.
The cost is prohibitive
There’s a price to pay for many types of training and education, so you’d be forgiven for predicting that you’ll face steep costs if you want to complete a program of study focused on coding.
The good news is that there are lots of providers that offer their services affordably, with plenty of resources that are even completely free. So you don’t need a vast bank balance to get started.
Only math masters can learn to code
If you’ve never been very good with numbers, it’s normal to see coding as out of reach because it looks like an activity that involves an in-depth knowledge of math.
The reality is that many programming languages are more about knowing the right syntax and using the correct combination of clauses to get the desired result. Any complex calculations are usually outsourced to other services or copied across from work done elsewhere, so you won’t be bamboozled by algorithms at every turn.
The experience is geared toward male participants
There’s no question that there’s a gender gap in terms of the balance of professional coders, but more women are getting into the field of computer science today.
This is partly to do with the fact that the best coding bootcamps are open to all and are just as possible to complete successfully, regardless of your gender.
Completing a coding bootcamp is a breeze
The last point worth making is that there’s no getting around the fact that in order to get the most out of a coding bootcamp, you will need to put in a lot of hard work, and it won’t necessarily be a cakewalk.
So long as you go in with the right attitude and you accept that there will be some aspects that you struggle to conquer, you’ll be on the path to a rewarding experience.
