Hi folks,<p>About 8 years ago I got into tech sales after working on the business side of theater. I was always a bit “nerdy” and interested in leveraging data/automation so a career in sales quickly transitioned into sales operations, but outside of some python and tad bit of SQL all my work has been on no code platforms (mostly Salesforce, Hubspot, and spreadsheets). The stuff that “real” engineers did seemed totally inaccessible to me, although that inaccessibility has diminished a little after observing the engineers at the startup I was working at.<p>That startup recently let me go in a round of layoffs. I saw it coming and had been saving, so I’m entering unemployment with about 6-12 months of living expenses in the bank depending how deep into savings I dug. (Also have nobody depending on my salary as my wife just got a big promotion/raise).<p>Would it be a horrible idea to finally jump over the imaginary chasm I’ve built in my mind into the world of engineering and enroll in a coding bootcamp? I know in the best of times these programs were tenuous and full of questionable promises despite costing a lot, what are they like now given the current job market and impact of generative AI on the future one?<p>Thanks for the insight!<p>(For context, I’m 34 and based out of NYC. College degree from state school. No kids.)
It's not necessarily a horrible idea.<p>It's not necessarily a good one either.<p>My advice is that if you want a job programming, apply for jobs programming.<p>Using your professional network.<p>Or if you want to study engineering, get an engineering degree.<p>Because realistically, people will meet a 24 year old and still consider their potential. At 34, they won't even though you have it. But even the 24 year old will struggle to get an entry level job modulo their social network.<p>Good luck.
Yes, it’s terrible. Bootcamps have stopped reporting their employment numbers since 2022.<p>This question is better for r/cscareerquestions where there are more junior engineers and college grads. Gauge the situation with recent CS grads, and if they have trouble getting a job, you’ll have it way worst as a boot camp grad.