Non-CS Bootcamp Grad, 7 Months of Job Search Failure: What Went Wrong?
I finished a bootcamp in March and have been applying ever since. I pass the document screening quite often (about 8 out of 30), but I get cut in interviews every time. The last three times, I was rejected in the final round.
When I ask for feedback, I only get vague answers like "someone I'd want to work with." So I'm writing down the problems I've reflected on myself. If anyone can give advice, I'd really appreciate it.
First, my projects all look similar.
My three bootcamp team projects are all "shopping mall," "bulletin board," and "to-do." Everyone does those, and I didn't add anything on top. I think this was the biggest issue.
My answers to technical questions are shallow.
When asked "Why did you use that technology?" I give answers on the level of "Because it's widely used." That's actually why I chose it. Lately, I've been preparing comparisons with other options.
Lack of CS knowledge.
I only skimmed data structures/networks in the bootcamp. I can pass coding tests, but I keep getting stuck on questions that dig into fundamentals. These days I'm studying separately for two hours a day.
Honestly, the hardest part is my mental state. I hear news that all my bootcamp mates have gotten jobs somewhere, and I'm still refreshing entry-level job postings. But what would I do if I quit? I have no choice but to keep going.
For those who were in a similar situation, what was the turning point that got you hired?
6 answers
Seven months is a long time... Still, if you're 8/30 in the document screening, doesn't that mean your qualifications themselves aren't bad? The problem is, if it's the interview, it ultimately comes down to how well you speak and your attitude, but it seems like you've already figured out the cause lol
True—projects like shopping malls, boards, and to-do apps are all pretty much identical, so interviewers get bored of them too. When I added just one story about why I built mine, the reaction changed completely. Narrative matters more than adding features.
Well, that's a bit... If they passed document screening at 8 companies, isn't that more of an interview communication issue than a project issue? Feedback like 'someone I'd want to work with' almost always means a culture-fit rejection, but they seem to be looking at it only as a technical problem.
I had a similar experience. I failed the final round three times and mentally crashed. The cause was that it was obvious I'd 'memorized' my answers—I'd fall apart as soon as follow-up questions came. What helped most was doing mock interviews over and over in a study group and training to answer on the spot.
If you put in 2 hours a day on CS, that's enough to catch up. But saying you lack the fundamentals while passing coding tests is a bit contradictory, isn't it? It might just be a confidence issue.