How to Survive Coding Bootcamp

Don’t Forget Self Care: It can be tempting to want to sit at your computer for hours to get ahead on an assignment. Although this might reduce stress in the long run, it’s fairly taxing on your mind and body! Remember to practice self care while you’re completing bootcamp - schedule breaks on your calendar to take breaks, eat meals, or sleep. Ensure that you are still making time for things that help reduce stress in your life, such as exercise, seeing friends and family, or other activities that you do regularly. With all the great coding skills you’re learning, your mind and body need a break to process.

Ask Questions: As a new student, you might be entering a bootcamp and seeing the inner workings of coding for the first time. But don’t let that deter you - you’re not alone! In fact, data from Course Report shows that the average bootcamper has never worked as a programmer before. Course content is likely new for everyone, so don’t be embarrassed to ask questions - that’s what your bootcamp instructor is there for. In fact, bootcamps such as Nucamp work with instructors who are already working full-time as web developers in the field, meaning that you’ll get the most up-to-date industry insight any time you ask a question.

Interact with Others: With such condensed coursework, it can be easy to want to focus solely on getting your work done. But similarly to self care, interaction is also key for keeping your mind balanced throughout bootcamp. Don’t forget to make time to see friends and family - positive interactions help give your mind a break so that it is refreshed for the next time you sit down to code. Also, community coding bootcamps such as Nucamp have localized workshops on a weekly basis where students and instructors meet in-person to work on coding projects - meaning built-in socialization with your peers.

Look Ahead and Network: In addition to the many benefits coding bootcamps provide students, an important one is complimentary networking. When you’re in the midst of completing a project, it can be difficult to look ahead and think about how life will be post-bootcamp, but the earlier you can begin networking, the better. The in-person workshops Nucamp provides not only serve as built-in socialization, but they also serve as built-in networking for you to connect with peers that will soon be working alongside you in the web development industry. With their industry knowledge, instructors can also serve as a guide for navigating next steps to obtaining employment following graduation. Nucamp also offers students complimentary LinkedIn Premium access, which can allow you to reach out to potential hiring managers and recruiters easily while you are still completing your coursework.