Are Coding Bootcamp Job Guarantees Worth It?

The Lure of Coding Bootcamp Job Guarantees

With so many coding bootcamp choices out there, it can be hard to tell the differences between them all.

Between cost, commitment, and curriculum, it can be difficult to choose which coding bootcamp program is best for you.

But if you’re considering a new career in coding, you’ve likely researched what type of job you want post-bootcamp.

And as a result, bootcamps that offer job guarantees may seem attractive.

But as we’ll explore, it’s important to understand the rules, responsibilities, and requirements behind these job guarantees before committing to these programs.

Because guaranteeing any job is one thing.

Preparing you to find the right job is another.

What is a Coding Bootcamp Job Guarantee?

It’s a commitment made by a bootcamp program where they guarantee you will find a job after completing their course.

AND if you do not find a job within a specified time, you’re eligible for a partial or full tuition refund.

This is understandably an attractive option for aspiring software developers.

Coding bootcamps are a commitment.

You invest a lot of time and money to learn to code and build technical skills.

The certainty of knowing you’ll secure a job after graduation is comforting.

But Buyer Beware!

Read the fine print of these job guarantees before signing up.

Understand what you’re committing to, AND what they’re committing to.

What do you have to do to fulfill the requirements of a job guarantee agreement?

1) Apply to about 10 jobs per week.

2) Attend 3-5 networking events a month.

3) Inability to turn down any job offer.

4) Know that temporary positions and internships meet their criteria as employment.

• Job search conditions:
• Some bootcamp job guarantees have strict requirements around your job application process.
• But this doesn’t guarantee you’ll land the job you want.
• Most bootcamps require you to submit up to 10 job applications per week.
• If your dream job doesn’t have a lot of position openings, you’ll be forced to apply for jobs you’re not interested in just to fulfill the quota.
• Networking requirements:
• Many programs also require you to attend 3 to 5 networking events each month.
• Networking events are great opportunities to meet people with similar interests.
• But being required to attend 3 a month, in addition to applying for 10 jobs a week, plus keeping up with your other life responsibilities can be overwhelming.
• Inability to turn down offers:
• Job guarantees may also require you to accept the first job that you are offered.
• Just because this offer is the first, it doesn’t mean it’s the best fit for you.
• It might not have the salary, benefits, or commute you need.
• As a result, this requirement might not allow you to achieve your career goals post-bootcamp.
• And by declining a job offer, your ability to receive the tuition refund is revoked.
• Internships and Contract work count as a job:
• In some situations, job guarantees may consider internships the same as full-time jobs.
• Although internships can provide great real-world experience, they also typically do not include benefits, and have a much lower salary than a full-time role.
• If your goal is to work full-time following bootcamp, an internship isn’t going to meet your criteria.
• Temporary contract work may also count as a job.
• Type of job may not be in your field of interest:
• Some job guarantees count all jobs as post-bootcamp employment, even those that are non-technical or not in a coding related field.
• This helps coding bootcamp programs achieve the employment metrics they’re advertising.
• It also allows them to technically fulfill the guarantee.
• But it doesn’t help students who are looking for specific technical roles to advance their career.

Do your research and make sure they’re accurately reporting their job placement metrics.

Also, inquire about the types of jobs reflected in their job placement rates.

Instead of focusing solely on job guarantees, what’s important is that a coding bootcamp prepares you for your job search and the technical interview process.

Criteria that will prepare you for a successful job search to help you secure the job you want.

1) Coding languages offered

2) Access to networking opportunities

3) Project portfolio building

4) Resume writing & interview preparation

• Coding language focus:
• Do the bootcamps you’re considering teach a wide variety of in-demand programming languages?
• If you know what type of coding career you’re interested in, does the program teach languages that align with your goals?
• Nucamp offers a variety of in-demand course tracks.
• Web Development Fundamentals
• Front-end Web + Mobile Development
• Full-stack Web + Mobile Development
• Back-end DevOps with Python
• Complete Software Engineering Bootcamp
• Networking opportunities:
• Do these bootcamps offer networking opportunities to help set you up for success in your job search?
• Do they help you build your professional network so you can begin getting high-quality interview opportunities?
• Nucamp offers students complimentary LinkedIn Premium access throughout their course duration to help them make connections easily.
• Portfolio building:
• Do these programs offer classes or guidance around building a project portfolio site that you can show potential employers?
• Does your coursework include project-based learning that you can showcase as a work sample on your portfolio?
• Nucamp helps you hit the ground running with project-based learning, giving you lots of pieces to show off on your portfolio site.
• Resume writing & interview preparation:
• Do these programs help you craft a polished resume?
• And do they prepare you for the technical interview process that is required with most software development jobs?
• These preparations should include mock-interviews, code quizzes, and whiteboard sessions.

Choose a program committed to preparing you to find your dream job, not just any job.

There are too many outside factors that determine true job placement rates, so Nucamp doesn't measure that.

Instead, we measure Job Skills Rate—meaning, are students using the skills they've learned in their paid work?

As a result, Nucamp job skills data is posted and updated daily from our graduate survey responses.

See Nucamp’s Real-time Job Skills Transparent and Realistic Outcome data.

Read about Nucamp’s Job Skills Transparent and Realistic Outcome Norm. (TRON)

Software engineers are in high demand.

There’s never been a better time to start a career into tech.

The best approach is to ask how well a coding bootcamp program prepares students to seek the job they want after graduation.

Not any job—the right job.

If you’re interested in learning software development, Nucamp offers several great coding bootcamps.

Our prices are affordable.

Our course schedule is flexible.

And you’ll be supported by Nucamp’s great community of instructors, students, alumni, and other experts on our active Slack Channels and Nucamp LinkedIn Community .

Learn more about Nucamp's bootcamps.

Or please schedule a call with a Nucamp advisor.