[dehrmann]

I wonder if there was a gold rush when bootcamps started because there was a pool of motivated people with potential who needed training and help getting into the industry. Once that pool was gone, the only new people entering it are basically high school graduates, so in order to keep operating, bootcamps had to get scammier and lower their standards.

I have no evidence of this, but it seems plausible.

[40four]

Well, my intuition tells me that the ‘pool’ will always be there. I’m not sure it’s dried up, I think it will always be there for one reason or an other.

And it doesn’t seem like the job pool is drying up either. From what I can’t tell there are just as many job opportunities as when I started, and plenty of companies still complaining about not being able to find qualified candidates.

PS: there was a reply I read and was quickly deleted, but made a good point. These sensational companies like Lambda tend to dominate headlines now, but I’m sure there are plenty of smaller more local bootcamps fighting ‘the good fight’ in their areas. If whoever said that deleted comment wants to email me, I’d be interested in learning more about the program you mentioned.

It’s unfortunate these bad headlines taint the overall picture of bootcamps, because I’m sure there are plenty of smaller players around that are doing just as good of a job as The Iron Yard like I described.

And to be fair, there is a perfect example in my area, of a small bootcamp that popped up after TIY went out of business, and they are doing a great job of supplying the same mission and service to our local area.

[908B64B197]

> and plenty of companies still complaining about not being able to find qualified candidates.

This is completely missing the point: it's free to whine about a "labor shortage" (at the price you are willing to pay). Best case you'll get subsidies (direct or indirect) from the government. Worst case? Nothing happens.

[40four]

I’m not sure I get your point? Best case you get government subsidies? What are you referring to? Worst case? I think I can think of a lot worse than ‘nothing’.

[908B64B197]

> What are you referring to?

Immigration quotas/special visas, programs to get more people into the field you are trying to hire from (all the X group in STEM programs for instance).

> I think I can think of a lot worse than ‘nothing’.

Like what?

[commander_woof]

There absolutely was a gold rush at the beginning! I believe it started with Dev boot camp in SF. Many of the students in the first cohort split off after graduation and made their own schools. If I recall correctly the person who started App Academy was a DBC grad. Anyways, imagine that, some one who just learned to code, now running their own unaccredited program. Scam is too strong of a word for these programs. They were just amateurs really. Add in a little silicon valley hustle and now you have a nice little pressure cooker where they need to start hitting enrollment and graduation numbers. It also didnt help they were in one of the most expensive real estate locations in the world.