Thank you for your service.
So you served your country. What’s next? Maybe you have a friend who broke into tech. Is it for you? It might seem impossible to break into. The tech industry is full of people who are amazing at math and science, right? Well, let’s answer these questions.
- Is it for you? Well, can you work hard and commit to learning as much as possible. You have already achieved this in the military so the answer is yes. Tech is for you!
- Tech is only for math types and science types? No, it isn’t. Will some math and science be involved, yes. But one thing you need to understand is that everyone can code. It’s becoming a second language and you absolutely can learn it.
So now that we have removed some of the very common excuses, reasons that people choose to not pursue coding out of the way, where do we start? Well, let’s break this down into a couple of paths.
- College — A four year or postgraduate degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or some other related field
- A coding boot camp or structured organization that designed a curriculum to prepare you to get into the industry fast.
- Self-taught — learning your own way.
I can’t speak for at least one of these paths and I want to make that clear in the beginning. I don’t have a computer science degree, and I don’t plan to pursue one. I will say this as to not deter anyone from the pursuit of the degree. A computer science degree is a great path to take because it provides you with the fundamentals you need to prepare yourself on the journey.
The boot camp path. I want to remove the stigma around this path. I think like most problems there are many solutions. The issue I take with boot camps or organizations that are boot camp-like is really just that, many places will offer you help on this path so how do you know which one is for you? The answer to this question is research. You need to find the organization that offers what you need, whether it is a great technology stack or a supportive community. Ideally, you will find one that possesses both. I will also say that you need to find an accredited organization that has great graduate outcomes and alumni services. How do you know which of these requirements are filled by the company or nonprofit? Well, you can connect with someone through social media that has graduated. Ask them their opinion and talk to them about their experience. There might be some bias but take their wisdom and apply it to your life if it works for you. Are boot camps for everyone? No. But, I will say this, their value should not be discounted. And as far as boot camps, you will get the value equal to the effort you put in. On this path to the technology industry, everything requires commitment and discipline. Some boot camps I have looked into and can recommend
- Codesmith (great community, excellent outcomes, rigorous)
- Vets Who Code (Non-profit Organization)
- Code Platoon (VA eligible i.e. GI Bill)
Self-taught. I tried this and it wasn’t for me. I needed structure. But I didn’t completely give up on this path. Each of these paths requires some self-learning and independent research. You can’t get away from the necessity to study things on your own. If it works for you go for it. If you do, I must insist on project-based learning. Learn by doing. Break things and make things. I spend about 40% of my time learning new things and that’s great. If you find yourself learning something for the sake of learning then you are winning! Some helpful resources are:
- Freecodecamp.org
- Code Academy
- Front End Masters
- Udemy
- and even LinkedIn courses
Wrapping up, I want to shine a light on one of my most valuable resources, mentorship. So how do you find a mentor? Well, I have personally found success using the free online resource called Veterati. You can connect with mentors via phone calls or zooms. You can seek out veterans or community members that offer anything from resume review, Linkedin profile feedback, mock interviews, and even a series of calls to outline your career path. This resource is invaluable!
Summing up, tech is for you. The path is difficult, I don’t want to lie to you but veterans are the most capable community that I know. You got this. There are communities out there to support you! Improve your life after you served your country! I could go on with more resources and if you need help don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Good luck and have fun!
