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Bootcamp Grads Have Feelings, Too

Megan Tiu
November 10, 2016

Bootcamp Grads Have Feelings, Too

Presented at RubyConf 2016 in Cincinnati.

You’re a bootcamp student. You’re so excited to become a developer! Amidst your excitement about this new industry, you hear everyone say that bootcamps are a blemish on the community, that they’re a waste of time and money. “Maybe I’ve made a huge mistake,” you think. “I don’t know how I’ll fit in here."

But you can make this community better! In this session, you’ll learn about the varied experiences of bootcamp students and grads, how exclusionary behavior can end up stunting our community as a whole, and what you can to do make a more inclusive environment for everyone of all skill levels.

Megan Tiu

November 10, 2016
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Transcript

  1. Hi there Software Engineer at CallRail Communications Coordinator at Rails

    Girls Atlanta @megantiu on Twitter megantiu on GitHub my name is Megan Tiu I am:
  2. What is The Bootcamp Stigma? Negative feelings toward bootcamp students

    and graduates, or bootcampers, as a group because they are/were involved with a bootcamp.
  3. Why might you seek out a bootcamp? • Change careers

    • Start a business • Learn a new skillset • See if a hobby might be a viable career • Learn what coding is all about
  4. %

  5. “The Pipeline Problem” • On average, bootcamps 1/4 of the

    cost of a CS degree 1 • 20% of bootcampers are Latinx, over 6.8% of CS students 2 1. http://bit.ly/2fsPhxL 2. http://bit.ly/1MOD38j
  6. Women make up 36% of bootcamp students, but only 14.1%

    of CS students http://bit.ly/1MOD38j
  7. Imagine how many people are deterred by this type of

    thinking at the beginning of their journey
  8. &

  9. How does the Bootcamp Stigma manifest? • Bootcamp horror stories

    • “We interviewed someone from a bootcamp once…” • Job listings + interviewing • “Entry-level position: CS degree required” • “Okay, now implement a hash table on the whiteboard.” • Exclusionary discourse • “Bootcampers just don’t know.”
  10. How does the Bootcamp Stigma manifest? • Bootcamp horror stories

    • “We interviewed someone from a bootcamp once…” • Job listings + interviewing • “Entry-level position: CS degree required” • “Okay, now implement a hash table on the whiteboard.” • Exclusionary discourse • “Bootcampers just don’t know.”
  11. Antiquated hiring processes weed out those that did not learn

    the specific principles and theories behind them
  12. How does the Bootcamp Stigma manifest? • Bootcamp horror stories

    • “We interviewed someone from a bootcamp once…” • Job listings + interviewing • “Entry-level position: CS degree required” • “Okay, now implement a hash table on the whiteboard.” • Exclusionary discourse • “Bootcampers just don’t know.”
  13. The real costs of the Bootcamp Stigma • Impostor syndrome

    • A community divided • A homogenous industry
  14. Why should we change? Bootcampers are valuable. • Encourage mindfulness

    • Question your codebase • Energize the team • Diversity of opinion
  15. Why should we change? • We can create better, more

    well-rounded teams • Bootcampers contribute to longer lasting, engaged communities • Bootcampers are the future of this industry
  16. What can we do? • Leave your preconceived notions at

    the door • Level the playing ground • Bridge the gap with community • Improve community communication and perception
  17. Keep yourself in check Check your bias and think about

    how what you say will affect others.
  18. Takeaways • Bootcampers have feelings. No one’s immune to hate.

    • No two bootcampers have have the same goals or knowledge. • Bootcamps are more accessible paths that are friendlier to people from underrepresented groups. • Bootcampers: you deserve to be here. You belong here.
  19. Thank you! Software Engineer at CallRail Communications Coordinator at Rails

    Girls Atlanta @megantiu on Twitter megantiu on GitHub Again, I’m Megan Tiu I am: