When choosing an IT class, you’ll also need to decide if full time or part time is better for you. Both offer a lot of benefits, but part-time courses tend to be the most popular as they are easier to incorporate into your already busy life. This article will discuss the pros and cons of part-time courses and help you consider if a part-time course is truly the best option for you.
Why Learn IT Part Time?
There are many reasons to learn IT part time. Are you between jobs or able to take vacation time to complete a full-time training course? Or are you only free in the evenings and need a class that can accommodate your schedule? For most students, a part-time course will be the best option, allowing you to master a new skill set without interfering with your day job.
Drawbacks to Learning IT Part Time
There are disadvantages to learning part time. These courses can take longer, as your hours of class time will be spread over more days or weeks.If you’re in a rush to begin your new career, a part-time program may be frustrating for you. Additionally, part-time bootcamps are typically held in the evenings or on weekends. If you don’t work normal 9-5 hours or have other commitments outside of your day job (like kids, activities, etc), the hours of a part-time course may be difficult for you to accommodate.
Finally, part-time courses are structured so that you can step away from the curriculum and go about your daily life. This also means that you will have more opportunities to lose interest and momentum during your training. Part-time courses are ideal for self-motivated learners that can hold themselves accountable and remain focused; if you find yourself easily distracted, a part-time course may not be the best choice for you.
Is a Part Time IT Bootcamp Right for You?
As previously discussed, part-time bootcamps are ideal for self-motivated learners. They’re also ideal for those with full-time jobs that need to learn outside typical working hours. Part-time courses take longer to complete, but that means they’re well-suited for individuals who prefer to learn at a slower pace. If any of these things resonate with you, then a part-time course could be worth pursuing.
Ways to Make Learning IT Part Time Easier
Learning part time can be made easier with the help of some extra resources. Perhaps the most important resource will be a digital calendar or physical planner. Part-time courses will require you to keep yourself motivated and hold yourself accountable. It’s important to schedule daily, weekly, and monthly goals, writing them down so you can reference them whenever you need.
Free resources can also be extremely helpful for part-time learners. YouTube, programming blogs, and even discussion forums and messaging boards can all be useful supplementary learning materials, especially if your part-time course is on-demand. Utilizing additional free resources will allow you to answer your own questions and solve your own problems so you don’t have to wait around for a response from your instructor.
Joining an IT group on sites like Facebook or other social platforms can help you connect with others who share your passion and seek advice from established professionals. They’re also a wonderful networking opportunity and can help you form connections that may help you land a job as an IT professional.
Choosing the Best Part Time IT Classes or Bootcamp
There are several criteria to consider when selecting an IT bootcamp. The most important ones are outlined below:
Curriculum
Curriculum will be the most important factor to consider. If you’re already a skilled coder, you may want a course that focuses solely on advanced IT skills that integrate other programming languages. If you’re entirely new to information technology, check out courses with a curriculum that covers the basics of HTML & CSS and briefly explains complimentary programming languages like Python and JavaScript. The specific languages and tools you focus on will depend on your goals and the type of roles you‘re interested in, so keep those in mind while reading through a course’s curriculum.
Questions to consider: What parts of IT will you learn? Are any other programming languages included? How in-depth and hands-on is the training? Look for an up-to-date curriculum that covers the most in-demand and employable skills.
Schedule And Learning Format
Coding bootcamps range from short part-time courses to intensive full-time programs. Part-time classes held in the evenings and on weekends accommodate regular working schedules, while full-time programs are best for those in between jobs or fresh out of school with more free time.
You’ll also want to decide between the two main learning formats: online or in-person. Virtual courses are subsequently divided into on-demand and live offerings, and both virtual and in-person bootcamps will be available part time and full time.
Career Prep and Support
For most students, the goal of attending an IT bootcamp is to land a well-paying job as a Web Developer, Front End Developer, or Programmer. Reputable training programs will list reviews from previous students and may even include statistics on how many alumni have successfully landed programmer roles post-bootcamp. If they don’t list these things, look for additional benefits built into the course like portfolio creation, resume and cover letter assistance, interview prep, and even networking events for alumni and staff. These additional resources can make all the difference in landing a new job as an IT expert.
Flexible Learning Options
Part-time courses often offer flexible online learning options for students. Some are still fairly intensive and suited better to part-time workers, while others give enough freedom for even the busiest people. While some full-time bootcamp programs have compulsory attendance, part-time bootcamps can be held live with scheduled class times or offered on-demand for peak flexibility.
Learn IT at Noble Desktop
Live IT courses are an ideal learning method for those entirely new to the field. Live online classes are great for those who prefer a solitary learning environment with minimal distractions. They allow you to learn from the comfort of your own home (or wherever you choose), providing more flexibility. Additionally, if you live in an area with limited (or no) in-person options, online classes open up more opportunities for you.
Noble Desktop’s Data Science Certificate prepares you for entry-level data science and Python engineering roles. You’ll learn how to manipulate databases and perform data analysis, read and write complex database queries, prepare and clean data for analysis, and use Python to automate everyday tasks such as aggregating, updating, and formatting data. This course also covers how to clean and balance your data with Pandas, apply machine learning algorithms with the scikit-learn library to solve real-world problems, and analyze the results to detect areas for improvement. Finally, you’ll build and present dynamic dashboards and other data visualizations and deploy your projects online with GitHub to demonstrate your analytical abilities to employers.
Their Software Engineering Certificate is another option for aspiring IT students. Divided into front end development, React Development, and Django (Python) Development, you will learn HTML to mark up web pages and CSS for styling; the fundamentals of JavaScript and Git; and how to use Flexbox and Grid to layout, align, reorder, and adapt web page content to different size screens. You’ll then move on to the fundamental JavaScript programming concepts, including variables, data types, loops, and DOM. Plus, you’ll cover topics like React, a powerful JavaScript library for web development, and master Node.js, MongoDB, and Express.js to round out your JavaScript development skills.
By creating a portfolio of projects, preparing for common interview questions, and polishing your resume and LinkedIn profile, this course will have you ready to pursue a new job in software engineering in as little as 20 weeks (on a full-time schedule). One-on-one mentoring and a free one-year retake are included in the cost of this course. Payment plans and tuition assistance are available, and this training requires no previous experience, making it great for beginners.
Or, you could try your hand at Noble’s Python Developer Bootcamp. This three-week online course teaches Python for software development with Django, Django REST, and other developer tools like Git and SQL. You’ll start by learning the basics of Python, including its lexical syntax, then move to more advanced topics like dictionaries, custom functions, and sorting algorithms. In week two, you'll learn object-oriented programming, how to work with APIs, and get an introduction to web databases using SQL. By creating projects that can be added to your portfolio, you’ll master URL dispatchers, querying models, and automating tasks with Django, as well as how to work with images, authentication, and use API endpoints with Django REST.
It’s recommended that you are comfortable coding HTML and basic CSS. You should possess equivalent knowledge of Noble Desktop’s Web Development with HTML & CSS class, and mastery of another programming language is helpful, but not required. Payment plans and financing are available, in addition to extra perks like one-on-one mentoring, a free one-year retake, and a verified digital certificate are included with your purchase.
Related IT Resources
How to Learn Coding
Master coding with hands-on training. Learning how to code in JavaScript, Python, and other popular languages can pave the way to a job in tech, such as web development, data science & analytics, or software engineering.
- Full-Stack Web Development Certificate at Noble Desktop: live, instructor-led course available in NYC or live online
- Find Coding Classes Near You: Search & compare dozens of available courses in-person
- Attend a coding class live online (remote/virtual training) from anywhere
- Find & compare the best online coding classes (on-demand) from the top providers and platforms
- Train your staff with corporate and onsite coding training