It can be scary embarking on a coding bootcamp, and starting the search for your first coding job! We asked successful coding bootcamp alum Tom Goldenberg for his top tips on making yourself marketable as you go through a coding bootcamp. Watch the video above or read the brief summary.

Q&A

What bootcamp did you go to and what do you do now?

I went to Dev Bootcamp. I am a Software Engineer at Agolo and the author of buildreactnative.com. (Check out Tom's LinkedIn page)

What are three ways to stay marketable during the job search?

1. Network

• Talk to people who are doing what you want to do
• Ask what skills you need

2. Compromise between learning things you are passionate about and something useful

• Find projects and technologies you can showcase to employers that you also enjoy

3. Hustle

• Just going to a coding bootcamp is not enough
• Get in front of people to showcase your talent
• Present at a meetup or do a lightning talk

What are your favorite meetups in New York City?

• Meteor NY meetup
• React Native NYC meetup
• Thoughtbot Ruby Meetup

What technology at Dev Bootcamp did you choose to focus on outside the curriculum

• React, because I wanted to focus on a JavaScript framework
• It wasn’t extremely popular then, but now it’s widely used

Where should coding bootcamp graduates send their resumes?

• Indeed and Linkedin
• Angel List - great for startups!

FURTHER READING:

• 8 Companies That Hire Coding Bootcampers
• Podcast: Advice From a Coding Bootcamp Grad
• 6 Jobs You Can Land After a Bootcamp
• 2016 Course Report Coding Bootcamp Outcomes and Demographics Report

About The Author

Imogen is a writer and content producer who loves writing about technology and education. Her background is in journalism, writing for newspapers and news websites. She grew up in England, Dubai and New Zealand, and now lives in Brooklyn, NY.