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Data Science: are coding bootcamps helpful for career changes?
Would anyone recommend a coding bootcamp (read: 3 months out of workforce) to transition into a data science career path? I have a STEM background, MBA in analytical finance, and have done work in financial data products at a tech company. I've managed to get by with Excel / Access / ArcGIS in past roles but jobs in fintech I see open now all need proficiency in at least R or Python, if not both. I have been accepted every place I've applied so far (General Assembly, Flatiron School, Thinkful, NYC Data Science Academy, Metis) but need a push to make the leap.
I'm miserable and at my wits' end in my job in corporate finance - I miss the client relationships and strategy of investment banking (my prior role), but I think I would excel more at doing something like equity research or cleantech product development (prior role to MBA) . It seems like data science is another avenue I could be good at and should try to explore; but I'm having second thoughts.
Lucy Samuels
Communication Coach | Résumé Writer
29
10/13/20 at 9:46PM UTC
Coding bootcamps can definitely be a worthwhile experience but, just like any other educational platform, they're not for everyone.
When looking at bootcamps, I recommend checking out alumni profiles on LinkedIn to see what kinds of roles they are in. The easiest way to do that is to go to the school, select alumni, and then sort by their employer. If there are any profiles that resonate with you, don’t be shy about connecting and asking if the alums would be interested in sharing their experiences with you. If so, ask specific questions about it. Connecting more insight into the experience beyond information that comes directly from the bootcamp may help you decide whether a particular bootcamp is right for you.
And if you’re still not 100% sure that quitting your job to attend bootcamp is the right option for for you, then you can consider attending part-time. Or, you can take an independent approach by looking for less expensive online classes to fill your knowledge gaps (for example, Python) and then working independently on projects.
Regardless of what you decide, it’s up to you to immerse yourself in your new profession through networking, being active in Meetup groups, following data scientists you admire, and continuing to develop your skills.
Katy DeckerProud CEO/Cofounder of a woke wine company!
15
10/06/20 at 4:29PM UTC
I have two friends who had two wildly different experiences. One, in San Fran, was for UX, and she now has a great job in NYC. I can ask the name. The other was in Montreal, and was terrible - it felt like a scam. The first was more expensive I know, and was an intensive in person program with a curriculum. The second was one of the "self guided" ones where it is run primarily by software, with people or "coaches" watching you work through it. I have heard terrible things about those, which seem to be most concerned with scaling quickly. Try to speak to people who went through the program, don't trust online reviews.
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