The Boot Camps at the University of Sydney

Spreadsheets sparked my career in software development. I spent a lot of time working in them in my last job and loved the logical gymnastics of using a combination of values and formulas to create tools to help my team work more efficiently. That said, as the spreadsheet tools I created became more complex, I became hungrier to break free of the constraints of cells and execute logic in clearer, more advanced ways—and with a nicer interface too.  This lead me to coding. I was mindblown by how many great online resources there were to learn how to code for free… or more accurately, I was overwhelmed. As someone entering the field for the first time, I didn’t even know where to start. Let alone what I would need to be capable of to be competitive in the job market. Fortunately, I stumbled across the Coding Boot Camp at the University of Sydney and quickly knew it was the perfect course for me.  I think this will be the perfect course for you too, if you’re someone who:

• Wants a comprehensive understanding of how to build a website
• Craves structure to stay motivated 
• And, is excited to learn a lot in a short time.

 There are ~12 hours of lectures per week, across three evenings (if you’re based in Sydney). This means that you can do the course whilst working full-time. I’ve been amazed by how much I can achieve in the evenings, a time that I previously underutilised. That said, working full-time and taking this course is hard, to the point where you probably won't be able to get as much out of it compared to if you were working part-time or taking a break from work. This is because the course is quite fast-paced. To break it down:

• The course is 24 weeks long, with no weeks off in between.
• Each week, we cover around 15 new concepts related to a particular area of the field. 
• For each concept, the instructor runs through a demonstration. Then, you go into a breakout room with other students and a tutor and you directly apply what you’ve learnt to an activity.
• There is a new assignment every week. You can only skip two assignments to pass the course.
• Class attendance is mandatory and your camera needs to be on. You can only miss up to eight classes to pass the course.

Personally, I find this structure very motivating. It’s why I love the course so much. It keeps me accountable and continuously pushes me to keep learning. Looking back over the last three months, I am astounded by how much I have learned—there is absolutely no way I could have made so much progress on my own in such a short time. I also love how personable and supportive the course is. Learning independently online seems bleak in comparison. The instructor and teaching assistants responsible for delivering my course are incredibly clear and knowledgeable. Our instructor is particularly motivating and regularly reminds us of how far we've come and where we can find extra support if needed. There’s a 24/7 chat-based service where you can ask for help with your code. Pretty much 100% of the time, I get the help I need to solve my problem within 15 minutes. You can also opt-in for 1:1 tutoring sessions on top of regular classes if you need them. Overall, I feel like there are so many opportunities for extra support.

I haven't really started my job search yet, so I can't comment too thoroughly on the career services. That said, I feel confident that I'm learning the right concepts to be employer-competitive and that when I'm ready to start applying, there are resources there for me to prepare for interviews, write my application materials and have them reviewed to increase my chances of success. If I'm being picky, my only critiques are:

• Sometimes the feedback on my assignments feels a little generic/templated. That said, it’s far more feedback than I ever received on an assignment in my undergraduate degree. Also, I think it reflects one of my favourite things about coding—if you hit all of the acceptance criteria, then your work is good enough and perhaps there isn’t much more that needs to be said.
• I wish there were more opportunities to network, both in person and online, with people in the course and outside of it. I think they could do more to help us meet people working in the industry.
• A week off in the middle of the course would be nice.

 If you choose to enrol in this course, my advice is just that you’ll get out what you put in. If you want to get the most out of it, be prepared to be challenged. Ultimately, your coding abilities are what matter. Not your assignment marks or your attendance—so try to come into this with the mindset that everything you do is adding to your potential success.

TLDR: the course is challenging, but you are guaranteed to learn.

This Bootcamp was an inflection point of my life. It allowed me to pursue  opportunities which were not available to me before. I come from a Civil Engineering background and to me although this was more difficult, it was also a lot more enjoyable to learn, making the experience much more rewarding and fulfilling. The instructors are an outstanding 10/10. They act as mentors, friends and excellent teachers which paved the way for me. The curriculum is extensive and in-depth. Job assistance in my experience was lacking and the communication between some people was poor, it almost felt like they didn't want to help however with what I learnt in the bootcamp I was successful in getting a job before the bootcamp even finished. 

Some constructive criticism would be to have a more engaging career program which is introduced earlier in the course. I believe people should start applying in the third quarter of the bootcamp as opposed to the end, as it takes some time to get replies, sit interviews and complete additional assessments. 

In conclusion, it is worth doing and it's definitely worth the money. Although there are free courses around you will not get the support and 1:1 mentorship this course offers. The career progression and opportunities offered to even a junior software engineer are outstanding compared to what else is on the market which requires a 4 year degree. If you are looking for a change in career with most likely an increased salary, working from home perks, huge career progression incentives, thank I think this is one of the better options. 

The Cyber Security Boot Camp run through the University of Sydney is a rewarding and well-structured program. It is designed for people who are working full-time, meaning that the workload and assignments are geared towards people who cannot devote full time hours to the course. For me, it was a great experience as I have learnt so much compared to where I was when I started. The instructional team are there to support you every step of the way and are a great support network due to their knowledge within the field. Additionally, I was able to connect with other likeminded individuals who are also there to support and learn with you along the way. 
What made this course appealing to me is the career development side of the course in which there is a team of people to help you with guiding you through your online portfolio and job standards within the industry. 
All up, it is a great course and something I would recommend to any person interested in starting a career in Cyber Security.