Considering a Coding Bootcamp in 2025? Here's What to Know First

Why Tech and Why a Bootcamp?

Hey there! If you’re watching this, chances are you’re considering a coding bootcamp this year.

Maybe you’re itching to break into tech as a software engineer, or you’re stuck in a job you don’t love and eyeing a career switch. I get it.

Tech is exciting – high salaries, remote work opportunities, creative problem-solving, the works. And coding bootcamps promise a fast track: learn in just a few months what a computer science degree might take years to teach. It sounds almost too good, right?

Before we dive in, let me set the stage with a quick personal note. I’m speaking from first-hand experience here.

I’ve been on both sides: I spent years learning to code myself (more on that in a second), and I even co-founded a coding bootcamp called Sigma School. So trust me, I’ve seen the dream scenarios and the horror stories.

My goal today is to educate and empower you – whether you end up joining a bootcamp or not, you’ll know what to expect and how to make the most of it.

Now, let’s talk about you. Why are so many people like you considering this path? Here’s what I’ve observed:

You want into tech, fast.

You’re not looking to spend four years on a CS degree. You want that developer job in 6 months or less, if possible. Bootcamps advertise exactly that: intensive 8- to 14-week programs that can transform you from newbie to hireable coder.

According to Course Report, the average bootcamp is ~14 weeks long and promises to teach you the skills to land a job quickly . It’s basically a sprint instead of a marathon.

You’re willing to invest and sacrifice.

A lot of bootcamp students I meet have decided, “Okay, I’ll quit my job or pause my life for a few months, focus 100% on learning, and come out the other side ready to job-hunt.”

They accept that for maybe 3 months of bootcamp and ~3-6 months of job searching, there might be no salary coming in. That’s a big commitment – financially and mentally. (We’ll talk more about the money factor in a bit.)

You crave a structured, guided path.

Not everyone thrives in self-learning. Maybe you’ve tried online courses or YouTube tutorials and felt overwhelmed or unmotivated.

A bootcamp provides a curriculum, instructors, mentors, and deadlines – it’s like having a personal trainer for coding. And since you’re paying for it, you’re extra motivated not to slack off.

These are valid reasons. Tech can be life-changing. I know people who went from zero coding knowledge to solid developer jobs through bootcamps.

It’s absolutely possible – but it’s not guaranteed, and it’s definitely not easy. So let’s break this down with some first principles thinking and a healthy dose of reality.

My Coding Journey & Personal Lessons

Let me share a bit of my story, because it’ll give context to why I believe what I do about bootcamps. A few years ago, I decided to learn to code.

I dove into online resources, learned the basics of Python and JavaScript, and eventually picked up frameworks like Vue.js and React.

I even dabbled in back-end tools like Express.js and used services like Hasura and Supabase. My initial plan was to become a software engineer myself.

Spoiler alert: I didn’t end up as a full-time software engineer at a big tech company. Life took a different turn – in a good way.

I started doing software projects and realized that with the coding skills I had, I could communicate better with developers I hired, understand how to architect solutions, and basically turn ideas into prototypes quickly.

I even had a CTO partner for one project, and learning coding helped me work with him to drive the business forward.

Eventually, I co-founded a coding bootcamp (Sigma School) to teach others. So, no, I’m not a Google engineer – but I absolutely don’t regret learning to code.

Why? Because understanding code is like having a superpower in today’s world. Even in the era of AI, knowing how software is built gives you an edge.

One of my role models, investor Naval Ravikant, often talks about code as a form of leverage – you write a piece of software once and it can run millions of times, creating value while you sleep.

Learning to code gave me that perspective and capability. It’s helped me build products, scale businesses, and basically turn thought into reality on a computer screen.

I share this to say: there are multiple outcomes from learning to code. You might land a developer job, or you might use coding as a springboard into entrepreneurship, product management, data analysis – who knows!

Keep an open mind about where this journey could take you. Success isn’t one-size-fits-all. But whatever your goal, you have to earn it through effort. And that’s where the bootcamp’s promise and reality need a closer look.

Bootcamps: The Dream vs. Reality

Let’s address the elephant in the room: the hype. Coding bootcamps often sell the dream of “$100K software engineer in just 3 months!”

You’ve probably seen the ads. To be blunt, some of that is marketing exaggeration. Yes, bootcamp grads can and do get high-paying jobs – but it requires hard work, talent, timing, and a bit of luck. There’s no magic pill.

Here’s the dream scenario that’s marketed: You join an intense program, learn full-stack web development (or data science, UX/UI design, etc.), build some projects, and immediately companies line up to hire you because there’s such a shortage of tech talent. A few years back, this didn’t sound so crazy – tech was booming, and employers were hungry for coders.

Now, the reality check in 2025 (oops, I mean this year!): The tech job market has gotten more competitive.

We’ve seen some high-profile layoffs in big tech companies recently, and at the same time, more and more people have learned to code (through bootcamps, online courses, etc.).

In other words, the supply of junior developers has gone way up, and some would argue the demand has cooled off a bit, at least for entry-level roles. In fact, a recent Reuters report highlighted that some coding bootcamps are struggling to place graduates.

One bootcamp in the U.S. saw its student job placement rate within six months drop from 83% in 2021 to just 37% for its 2023 cohort, 37%! That means a lot of folks were left without that shiny new dev job half a year after graduating.

And one frustrated bootcamper told Reuters, “They sold a fake dream of a great job market”. Those are harsh words, but it was his experience after spending ~$20,000 on a bootcamp and not landing a job.

I’m not telling you this to scare you off. I’m telling you so you go in with your eyes open. The job market in tech fluctuates. Right now, it’s a bit tougher for newcomers, but it’s not impossible.

Companies are still hiring – they’re just more selective. They want people who can bring real value. So you need to make sure if you do a bootcamp, you come out with genuine skills and projects to prove it.

One more reality check: Artificial Intelligence. We can’t avoid this topic – it’s 2025, and AI is everywhere. You might be wondering, “If AI can code, will they even need human coders anymore?”

It’s a valid concern. AI coding tools (like GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, etc.) have gotten really good at generating code.

Some people claim that AI is eliminating a lot of the junior-level coding tasks, which used to be the foot-in-the-door for new developers.

Even tech thought leaders are saying that entry-level coding roles are fewer now because one experienced dev with AI can do the work of several juniors.

The Reuters piece I mentioned quoted an investor saying AI is the nail in the coffin for coding bootcamps . Yikes, right?

So, is it game over? I don’t think so. But it is game changed. In my opinion, learning to code is still incredibly valuable – if you understand how to adapt and position yourself. AI is a tool, and a powerful one.

Today, a good developer isn’t the one who can crank out basic CRUD apps the fastest – an AI can probably do that.

A good developer in this era is someone who knows which problems to solve, how to break down complex projects, how to integrate different systems, and then leverage AI to handle the repetitive stuff while they focus on the creative and critical parts.

In other words, you need to level up your problem-solving and project-building skills. The fundamentals of computer science (how code works, how systems interact) are more important than ever, so you can work with AI tools effectively.

Bootcamps are evolving too. I see many programs now incorporating AI topics or at least teaching students how to use AI assistance in coding rather than fear it.

And despite the doom-and-gloom from some U.S. perspectives, globally the bootcamp model is far from dead.

In fact, the number of people using tech bootcamps for upskilling or reskilling has been skyrocketing worldwide – from under 20,000 students in 2015 to about 100,000 in 2021, and an estimated 380,000 people by this year.

That’s huge growth. Why? Because companies everywhere still need tech-skilled employees, and universities alone aren’t filling that gap.

A World Economic Forum report suggests 23% of all jobs will change by 2028 due to new technology , and employers are feeling the tech skills gap.

70% of U.S. business leaders say there’s a significant skills shortage in their workforce . Bootcamps, when done right, can help close that gap by quickly producing job-ready talent.

Let’s also talk outcomes and ROI (return on investment). Do bootcamp grads actually get jobs and decent salaries? The data says: generally, yes – with caveats.

A comprehensive survey by Course Report found that about 79% of coding bootcamp graduates were employed full-time in a job requiring the skills they learned (within about 1-6 months post-bootcamp).

And on average, those grads were making around $70,000 USD in their first jobs (this is an average across various countries and currencies).

That’s actually higher than what the average fresh college CS grad makes in the U.S. according to some stats.

Plus, bootcamp alumni tend to see significant salary growth as they gain experience – many reporting 50%+ salary increases from their pre-bootcamp jobs.

And importantly, employers’ attitudes toward bootcamp grads have warmed up – one report noted about 69% of employers felt bootcamp grads were just as effective as other hires .

So the idea of a bootcamp can work out: spend, say, RM20k (or $10-15k) and a few months, get a job that pays, say, RM70k/year (or $70k) and boom – you’ve recouped your investment in short order and changed your life.

Many people have done exactly that. But your mileage may vary. No one is going to hand you a job just because you have a bootcamp certificate – you have to grind for it. I often tell my students: “No coding bootcamp will give you a job.

They’ll give you skills and support, but you must earn that job yourself.” In fact, Course Report advises students to be ready to hustle on the job search and treat it like a continued part of the bootcamp experience .

Alright, so how do you maximize your chance of success? What should you actually do if you decide to go this route?

What It Takes: First Principles of Breaking into Tech

Time to put on our philosopher hat and break this down from first principles. I love first-principles thinking (shoutout to role models like Charlie Munger and Elon Musk who employ this) – it means boiling things down to fundamental truths and building up from there, rather than just accepting surface-level assumptions.

First principle question: Why would someone hire a junior developer (i.e. you, after a bootcamp)? Fundamentally, a company hires you because you can solve a problem or deliver value that’s worth more to them than what they pay you.

Simple. If you can build a website or an app that customers love, or automate a tedious task to save time, that’s value. If you can’t yet, you need to develop that ability.

So, whether you go to a bootcamp, college, or self-study, your mission is the same: gain the skills to solve real problems with technology, and demonstrate those skills convincingly. There’s no shortcut around that, bootcamp or not.

A coding bootcamp essentially offers a structured way to accelerate that process:

1. Curriculum – They curate what you need to learn (e.g. a full-stack JavaScript curriculum might include HTML/CSS, JS, React for front-end, Node/Express for back-end, databases, etc.). The idea is to avoid “What should I learn next?” paralysis.

2. Practice – It’s very hands-on. Expect to build projects… a lot of projects. It could be small assignments or a big capstone project. This is crucial because building stuff is how you actually get good. You can watch tutorials all day, but until you struggle through coding something yourself, you won’t internalize it.

3. Support – Instructors, TAs, and peers are there when you hit a wall. This is underrated. When self-studying, getting stuck on a bug for days can be demotivating. In a bootcamp, you have someone to ask, “Hey, my code is doing X, any ideas?” and you get unblocked faster, learning along the way.

4. Accountability – You have schedule, deadlines, projects due. It pushes you to be consistent. (A lot like having a gym trainer yelling encouragement so you do that last rep – sometimes we need that external push).

5. Career services – Good bootcamps offer resume help, interview prep, and even networking or referrals. They might do mock interviews, help polish your GitHub portfolio, or connect you with alumni at companies. This can give you a leg up in the job hunt.

So if we reduce it: you need skills + proof of skills + connections/confidence to get in the door. Bootcamps aim to provide all three in a compressed timeframe. But you have to work that system.

Think of it like joining a really intense sports camp. You want to become, say, a pro boxer or run a marathon.

The bootcamp is your coach + daily training regime. They’ll make you sweat buckets in training, teach you technique, and get you in shape – but you still have to actually do the workouts and then go compete in the real match/race. And if you slack off, no one else can save you.

I like to compare learning to code to my hobbies like boxing and running. When you start boxing, you might get hit in the face (ouch) because you dropped your guard. In coding, your “punch in the face” is a program that crashes or a feature you just can’t get to work.

It stings! But you learn from it – keep your guard up, or in coding, maybe you learn to handle that error or read the documentation more carefully. With running, the first 2km might leave you gasping, but a month later, 5km is your warm-up.

In the same way, at the start of a bootcamp, building a simple website feels like climbing Everest; a few months in, you’re comfortable building a full-stack application.

It’s about consistent progression. Bootcamp basically compresses that progression – it’s like interval training at high intensity.

So ask yourself: Am I ready to give it that level of effort? Because that’s what it takes. If the answer is yes, then a bootcamp could be an amazing catalyst for you.

The AI Era and the Future of Coding Jobs

We touched on AI earlier, but let’s dig a bit deeper because this is super relevant in 2025. AI is changing the nature of work. You’ve probably seen how tools like ChatGPT can write essays, solve coding problems, even generate images.

For coding specifically, there are AI copilots that can auto-complete code or even build simple apps from prompts. It’s wild.

Some people predict that in a few years, a lot of entry-level coding work (like churning out basic business websites or routine scripts) might be fully automated.

Even some big tech CEOs have hinted that the demand for programmers might drop as AI gets more capable.

Now, I’m not an alarmist. Historically, whenever new technology comes, it disrupts some jobs but creates others.

AI will likely eliminate certain tasks, but also create new opportunities. For example, prompt engineering – figuring out how to tell an AI to do what you want – is now a thing.

Also, someone needs to build and maintain all these AI systems, integrate them into products, ensure they’re ethical and efficient. That someone can be you, if you position yourself right.

From what I’ve seen, companies still need people who understand tech deeply. AI can help write code, sure, but often it needs a human to guide it, check it, and design the overall solution.

Think of it like having a super-fast but slightly unreliable junior developer at your side. You, as the human developer, become more of a team lead or architect for your AI teammate.

To do that well, you actually need stronger fundamentals, not weaker. You need creativity, problem-framing skills, and the ability to see the big picture.

The best bootcamps are starting to teach with this in mind. They encourage students to use AI as a tool – for example, to brainstorm solutions or get hints – but also to go under the hood and understand why the code works or doesn’t.

This way, you’re not just learning to code, you’re learning to think like a developer, which is future-proof.

Also, the tech industry is not just Silicon Valley software engineering jobs. It’s 2025: every industry is becoming a tech industry.

Healthcare, finance, education, government – they all need software, data analysis, cybersecurity, and more.

So while pure coding roles might evolve, there’s a growing need for tech-savvy people in all sorts of roles.

Bootcamp grads are not just becoming app developers; some become data analysts, product managers, QA engineers, or launch their own startups. The skillset you gain can open many doors.

Relevance today is about being adaptable and continuously learning. If you view a bootcamp as the start of your learning journey (and not the end), you’ll be in good shape. In the age of AI, the mindset of “never stop learning” is your biggest asset.

Making the Bootcamp Worth It: Tips for Success

Alright, let’s say you’ve thought it through and you’re leaning towards doing a coding bootcamp. How do you choose the right one and make sure you get the most value out of it? Here are some concrete tips and things I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way):

Do your homework on the bootcamp.

Not all bootcamps are created equal. Some are fantastic with dedicated instructors and a supportive alumni network, and others… are basically money-grabs with fancy marketing.

Look for outcomes data – reputable bootcamps often publish their job placement rates (some are part of CIRR, the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting, which audits these stats ).

Read reviews from graduates. Hop on LinkedIn and find alumni; ask them honestly about their experience. A good bootcamp should have nothing to hide.

As a potential customer, you have the right to ask tough questions like “What percentage of your grads get jobs in the field within 6 months? What salaries do they typically get? Can I talk to a recent grad?” If they dodge these, that’s a red flag.

Consider the cost and financing wisely.

Bootcamps aren’t cheap. Average tuition is around $10-15k (some are higher, some lower).

Plus factor in living expenses if you’re doing it full-time and not working. Some bootcamps offer income share agreements or deferred tuition (you pay after you get a job) – sounds great, but read the fine print and interest rates.

Don’t cripple yourself with debt if you can avoid it. Plan out your finances for, say, 6-9 months to be safe (bootcamp + job hunt).

The last thing you want is to be panicking about money when you’re trying to learn. I’ve seen people try to juggle a bootcamp and a part-time job and it’s brutal – if at all possible, save up or find a way to focus fully on the program. It’s a short-term sacrifice that pays off if done right .

Set realistic expectations (and goals).

From day one, know that you’re not guaranteed a job at graduation. You should realistically expect that it might take you a few months after the bootcamp to land something.

Course Report suggests planning for a 3-6 month job search post-bootcamp , and I completely agree. Use that as motivation to hustle, not as a discouragement.

Also, your first job might not be at Google or some unicorn startup, and that’s fine! It could be a smaller company or a contract role.

The key is to get your foot in the door and get real work experience on your resume. That first job, even if the pay isn’t sky-high, is your launchpad.

In two years, things can change a lot – bootcamp grads often see their salary jump in subsequent jobs as they prove themselves .

Embrace the grind during bootcamp.

Treat the bootcamp like a full-time job (or more). I’m talking immersive focus. If it’s a 9-to-5 class schedule, clear your evenings for coding practice or reviewing what you learned.

Weekends? Spend them building something fun or reinforcing tough topics. The students who succeed are usually the ones who go the extra mile – they don’t just do the minimum to pass the assignments, they push further.

Remember, you’re trying to cram years of knowledge into months; it’s gonna be intense. But as one of my favorite writers, James Clear (author of Atomic Habits), would remind us: it’s the daily consistent actions that compound over time. In bootcamp, every day counts.

Build stuff that matters (portfolio matters!).

By the end of the bootcamp, you ideally have 2-3 portfolio projects you can show off. Don’t just treat them as school assignments to get a grade – think of them as your products.

Put them on GitHub, deploy them if possible (so you can send a link to someone to try out). If you can solve a real-world problem or at least simulate one, even better.

For example, instead of yet another to-do list app, maybe you build a small tool that your friends actually use, or a clone of a popular service but with your own twist.

These projects are what employers will look at to gauge your skills. I’ve hired developers, and trust me, seeing a live project or code sample tells me way more than a certificate.

Use the career services and network.

Good bootcamps have people whose whole job is to help you get a job – resume workshops, mock interviews, hiring fairs, etc.

Take full advantage of these. Don’t be shy about networking – let everyone know you’re a new developer looking for opportunities.

Connect with alumni on LinkedIn (bootcamp grads tend to be friendly to other bootcamp grads, since they’ve been through it).

Also, attend meetups or join online communities (even if they’re virtual). Sometimes who you know (or just being in the right community) can make a huge difference. One introduction from an alumnus to a recruiter can cut to the front of the line.

Keep learning after graduation.

When the bootcamp ends, it might feel like “school’s out!” but in reality, that’s when you become your own teacher. Continue coding every day, even if it’s small challenges or improvements to your projects.

Learn new technologies that complement what you learned – for instance, if you did a web dev bootcamp, maybe pick up TypeScript or dive a bit into cloud deployment.

This not only improves your skills, it also keeps you sharp for technical interviews. It also helps fight off that post-bootcamp slump that sometimes happens when you suddenly lose the daily structure of class.

Treat your job hunt as a job: set daily goals (e.g., X applications, Y networking messages, and Z hours of coding practice each day).

Persistence is key. Many of my students who landed jobs told me they got rejected dozens of times before that “yes” came. But it only takes one yes.

Lastly, let’s talk about mindset, because it’s huge. Be humble and open to feedback. A good bootcamp will humble you anyway – you’ll realize how much there is to learn (news flash: that feeling never goes away in tech!).

Embrace that. One of my role models, DHH (David Heinemeier Hansson, creator of Ruby on Rails), said in a recent interview that despite all the AI helpers, there’s still joy and value in hands-on coding and solving problems yourself.

That kind of craftsman mindset – enjoying the challenge of coding for its own sake – will carry you through tough debugging nights.

Also, remember why you’re doing this. Is it for a better life for your family? Is it because you love creating things? Is it the lure of remote work so you can travel or live where you want?

Whatever it is, keep that north star in mind when the going gets tough. In my case, I’m motivated by the impact I can make. I took my bootcamp business from a scrappy start in 2020 to a stable, profitable operation by 2023.

I even reached a point where I could relax a bit because the systems and team were running things smoothly (we operated at 70-80% profit margins, which is almost unheard of, by keeping costs low – a tip I learned from role models like Jason Fried about running a lean business).

But I realized I’m not in this just to coast. I’m still young and hungry to make a bigger impact. So now I’m reinvesting in growth – improving the curriculum, adding AI-focused modules, hiring more mentors – because I want our students to thrive in this new tech landscape.

My personal goal is to help create thousands of success stories and prove that with the right approach, anyone can break into tech. If you join a bootcamp, find instructors and mentors who have that passion for teaching and seeing you win. It matters.

You’re not just learning code, you’re learning from people – so their attitude and values will rub off on you.

Conclusion: Your Call to Adventure

If you’ve stuck with me this far, you’re serious about this, and I respect that a ton. By now you should have a clear picture: a coding bootcamp is not an easy button or a guaranteed ticket.

It’s more like a high-intensity bootstrapped journey to transform your career. It will challenge you in ways you maybe haven’t been challenged before. There will be days you doubt yourself – I certainly did (I still do sometimes!).

But there will also be moments of triumph – like the first time you solve a bug that’s been haunting you, or when you deploy an app and people actually use it. Those highs make the lows worth it.

Remember, the decision is ultimately yours. Take the first principles we discussed – you need skills + proof + value to offer. If a bootcamp is the right vehicle for you to get those, awesome.

If you think you can achieve it another way (maybe you’re super disciplined with self-study or you decide on a university program), that’s fine too. There’s no one-size path to success. What matters is that you take action toward your goal of breaking into tech.

So, considering a coding bootcamp this year? Now you know what it really takes. If you do it, do it with eyes open and full heart. Commit to the journey and you could look back in a year amazed at how far you’ve come.

The tech world in this era still has plenty of room for new innovators and builders. Whether you become a software engineer, a tech entrepreneur, or just use coding to level up in another field, the skills you gain will be relevant for years to come, even in the age of AI.

Thanks for listening to my story and insights. I hope this helped you clarify your next steps. Tech has changed my life and many others’, and it can change yours too – but you have to make it happen.