UX bootcamp is not what you think it is

An exploration of the wild advantages and disadvantages of bootcamp that you won’t hear from admissions.

Photo by You X Ventures on Unsplash

I really enjoyed my UX bootcamp experience. I was a star student. I risked a lot to attend and I received an amazing return: I landed a mid-level UX Design role that I love, with a salary and a stability that changed my quality of life. I’m grateful and I’m proud.

Now that I am over six months into my position, I have a more nuanced perspective of what bootcamp is and what it isn’t. I share these insights for those considering attending; may this information enlighten you to the whole nuanced picture and nudge you toward what is truly right for you.

What I thought bootcamp was going to be:

I thought bootcamp was a 10-week immersive experience after which I would come out fully prepared to get any junior to mid-level job I wanted within a few shorts months of completion. I thought once I got through the hard part of learning, I would know the right methods and software to feel confident in my skills. I thought the bootcamp was the hard part and the rest would be easy.

I thought I would get bespoke, in-depth coaching sessions that explored the best ways to put forth my personal…