To Succeed at a Bootcamp, You Need These 7 Things

So you’re thinking about going for a bootcamp, but you want to make sure you have everything arranged before you really commit. Wise choice — after all, TripleTen empowers you to change your career (and change your life), but you’re going to be the one driving that change. As such, you need to come prepared to make sure you succeed.

So let’s dive into it. Here are the seven things you’re going to need to really ace your bootcamp experience.

What you’ll need

Computer

Our lessons aren’t device-restricted. Want to read up on some theory on a mobile device while you’re on the bus commuting? Go for it — you can access lessons on your browser or through the TripleTen app (which even got a shout-out in Forbes). 

However, to complete the projects that form the backbone of our hands-on education_{Want to Really Learn Tech? Get Hands-On Experience}, you’re going to need a computer. It’s where the work of tech as a field happens, and as such, it’s also where our simulated tech-environment tasks are tackled.

There are some minimum computer spec requirements as well:

Study-ready environment

To pick up skills in a whole new field, you’re going to need to really focus. That means it’s crucial to set up an environment that’s conducive to concentration. Here are some questions that can help you craft a study-ready space:

Protip: A second screen is a major level-up for studying complex tech material — having reference material on one display while you work on the other is a great way to reduce friction in the learning journey.

Stable internet

Sure, you can tackle some of your bootcamp work offline, but many of the most impactful and powerful elements of the experience require an internet connection with minimum speeds of 1.5 to 2 Mbps down and 2 Mbps up. (Unsure what you have? Check at speedtest.net).

Good connection is necessary for:

• Regular 1-on-1 meetings with your Learning Coach, Career Coach, and Placement Coordinator as you advance through the program
• Instant feedback on learning materials such as understanding checks and code submission autotests
• Live participation in group events such as the New Student Orientation, Tutor Office Hours, and Career Workshops
• Our integrated AI assistant, who can provide hints if you get stuck

Professionalism and readiness to build a professional brand

TripleTen is about increasing your professional prospects, and as such, the experience requires professionalism. You can expect this from both our staff and your peers at the bootcamp, but that means that we and the community you’ll be joining will likewise expect professionalism from you.

This is in part to keep the learning environment welcoming, safe, and effective for everyone, but it’s also a way of preparing students for their career transformation down the line — after all, employers are looking for people who know how to behave professionally. 

When you start practicing this early, it cascades naturally throughout your job search, and a good professional brand on LinkedIn or any other online community can be a key asset in a career journey. By observing how you interact on these platforms, prospective employers will be able to see a record of how you might collaborate with potential colleagues. A good record is a great thing to have, and a less-than-ideal record will be difficult to shake — digital footprints are hard to erase!

English proficiency

Our bootcamp is entirely in English. The learning materials, support, coaching sessions, and more — it all requires that students be proficient in English so they can fully understand the new knowledge being taught. After all, if you want to really get a handle on the tech tools we teach, tools that can sometimes get complex, you’re going to need to grasp what your instructors and tutors are saying.

But what exactly does “proficient” mean for us? To succeed at TripleTen, students need at least B2 fluency within the Common European Framework of Reference. This level is also sometimes called “upper-intermediate.”

Roughly 20 hours per week

TripleTen is called a bootcamp for a reason — it’s going to ask you to really dedicate time and effort to mastering the new tech field you choose. 

In more detail, each of our programs is broken down into several approximately two-week periods known as sprints. During each sprint, you’ll master new concepts, build a project, and receive feedback. And shortly after you start learning the new material, you’ll also work on career tasks — think refining your resume and LinkedIn profile and diving into mock interviews.

That’s not nothing. So, to make sure you have the time you need to tackle all that, we recommend you set aside roughly 20 hours a week to your bootcamp studies. But how you set up your schedule is up to you — we have 24/7 support for tech issues as well as wide availability for tutoring and office hours.

Your why

Changing your career and your life is hard work. That means it’s crucial to have a core motivation that’ll keep you going even when you encounter the difficulties that arise naturally when learning anything new.

We’ll absolutely help you develop the technical skills. And we’ll help you craft an effective job search strategy. We even have people who’ll check in on you from time to time to see how your studies are coming. But the impetus to make this professional transformation will need to be based on something within you, the student.

Dallin Sly_{From Trucking to Coding: Dallin Sly’s TripleTen Story} was driven to land a job that would let him spend time with his growing family. Jessica Powers_{Tying a Career Together with QA: Jessica Powers’s TripleTen Story} needed a career she could excel at regardless of her hearing loss. Jenny Doctor_{From Making Music to Making Commits: Jenny Doctor’s TripleTen Story} was hungry for a creative career that didn’t burn her out. 

Here are some questions that can help you home in on your why:

Protip: This can even help with point six listed just above. Students that share clear goals and motivations with their support networks are more likely to succeed because they’re more likely to find encouragement to make time for their studies.

Want to know more? Talk to one of our experts

But curious to get more details on your specific situation and see how a bootcamp could work for you? Book a call with one of our experts today.