A recent survey from Indeed revealed that 80% of hiring managers at US-based companies of all sizes had hired a bootcamp graduate at least once, and 99.8% said they’d do it again. Companies that hire bootcamp grads tend to be the most innovative and fastest-growing tech start-ups, which is exciting news. Below we’ve answered commonly asked questions, such as: does Google hire bootcamp grads? Does Amazon hire bootcamp grads? And finally, which companies hire bootcamp grads? Let’s break it down.

What is a coding bootcamp?

A coding bootcamp is an intensive training course, primarily in programming, that teaches candidates specific technical industry skills to help them gain a job. The average length of a coding bootcamp is 4 months (full-time) and the majority are fully online. Bootcamps can specialise in a variety of niches, such as Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, UX/UI Design and Data Science. 

Bootcamps were relatively unknown ten years ago, but thanks to technology and a shifting work climate, the convenience and cost-effective draw of the bootcamp has made it hugely popular in recent years.

For candidates, the appeal is clear. Costing an average of $14,000, with an average graduate starting salary of $69,000 (source: Course Report) – coding bootcamps provide an incredible return on investment, accessible to all. 

How do employers view bootcamp students?

With such attractive starting salaries, and evidence that 79% of graduates end up employed in programming jobs – it is clear that businesses love bootcamp grads and are willing to shell out hugely to snap up these skilled employees. Bootcamp grads have proved their dedication and commitment to growth and learning already, but investing in their own development in taking a bootcamp course. 

These courses are also highly intensive – often requiring students to work upwards of 60 hours per week during the learning period, in order to complete projects to tight deadlines. Employers are aware of this, and know therefore that in hiring a successful bootcamp grad, they are hiring someone with the ability to juggle an intensive workload and dedicate themselves hugely to their job.

If you’re interested in these aspects of your personality that are popular with employers, or want to discover a personality test to match you to a career, we’ve developed several great IT soft skills tests, which anyone can take for free.

What bootcamps are worth applying to to get a job?

There are many different key groups of bootcamp, such as Data Science, UX/UI, Cybersecurity, Tech Sales, Digital Marketing and more. You’ll find that there are endless entry level jobs for cyber security graduates, and internships too. Software engineer entry level jobs are also very widely available, particularly for those working remotely – and taking a UX/UI Bootcamp will certainly qualify you for UX designer entry level jobs, provided you build a strong portfolio. 

Find companies that hire bootcamp grads

From the biggest tech companies in the world (such as Google and Amazon) to the fastest-growing start-ups in Silicon Valley, hiring managers and founders have spoken up in high praise of hiring bootcamp graduates, meaning it’s perfectly possible to get a job after a bootcamp.

Some other examples of companies that have hired bootcamp graduates in the past include: Vimeo, OpenLattice, Vroom, Bluecore, Segment, Upserve, PwC and Mixpanel. Even if a company has never hired a bootcamp graduate in the past, there’s no reason why they might not in the future, particularly if they are an innovative start-up, looking for fresh talent. 

I can’t find a job after coding bootcamp

If you’ve already taken a bootcamp and are struggling to find a job, don’t worry. It may be that there are a couple issues with your application that are preventing you from getting through their Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) or experience requirements. 

Check out our previous article, where we discussed the ways you can tailor your application to get a job after a bootcamp. Essentially, getting your application noticed is all about building a perfect portfolio, to “show-not-tell” your skills and experience. The benefit of this is, none of your previous experience has to be paid or even commissioned, it could be a personal project that nevertheless showcases your skills and talent. 

It’s important that you also tailor your resume to filter through Applicant Tracking Systems, since your substitution of a bootcamp for traditional education or experience may get your application automatically rejected. Ensure you’ve put every key requirement from the job description somewhere in your resume, without changing the wording at all. Especially, if certain programming languages are written in the job description, be sure to include all of them in your resume – even if there are some you are shaky or inexperienced in. 

For more insight into how to tailor your resume, including how to showcase soft skills and how to make a great resume with no experience, check out our blog. 

Career after bootcamp

FInally, the easiest thing you can do is sign up for job boards and programmes that specifically target bootcamp grads, to let your future employers come to you. Here at Gyfted, we know just how valuable bootcamp grads can be, so we’re busy building a service specifically to help them land their dream careers. Find out more about our job placement for bootcamp grads service and join our waitlist. From there, you will be able to take our personality tests, discover yourself and be matched with great companies and roles, based on culture fit. 

Hannah