The fourth industrial revolution is here - we're living in a fast-paced world where technical skills are at the forefront of every employers mind. Cyber security, development and other hard skills have become critical career paths for both professional and personal development and progression. The question is whether e-learning, Bootcamp, college or a university education are best for career growth.

What path is right to secure your future in this maze of choices?

The evolving situation makes it confusing for everyone to know which career path to choose. From the Gen X to Millennials, you must make the right career growth decision for your education and development right now.

What do Bootcamps Offer?

Technical knowledge is in demand when it comes to your continued education, so let's look at what a Bootcamp offers. Once you learn the differences between Bootcamp and college or university practices, you get a better idea of what can work specifically for you.

• Bootcamps often focus on practical technology knowledge rather than theory.
• Enrolling in a particular Bootcamp course can help you learn in a quicker timeframe.
• Specialist technology classes in Bootcamps are small, so you learn better through access to more expert attention.
• You can start anytime instead of waiting for college enrolment dates to embark on your exciting education journey.
• Curriculums are iterative - through a back-and-forth process. This approach benefits you because it accommodates your work schedule and your learning style.
• Learning through a Bootcamp can be affordable.
• You also have more career support. Many Bootcamps partner with real-life businesses. These businesses look at adding novel training to their teams with Bootcamp graduates who have desirable key skills and practical knowledge.
• Team-learning teaching methods speed up the learning process and earn you soft skills in the process.
• Bootcamps often take a hands-on learning approach. This unique approach means that your knowledge retention increases dramatically.
• You fast-track your career growth and can continue to do so through short Bootcamp courses as it suits you.
• Many universities will give you credits for your chosen Bootcamp course towards a formal college degree.

This overview of what many Bootcamps provide should give you a good idea of what e-learning environment will suit you. But you should look at all available information because your future career growth depends on the choices you make today. This decision should also include looking at university pros and cons.

University or College Benefits

Now that you have an idea of what to expect from a bootcamp, how does a university education compare?

• Most college or university degrees take four years and more in comparison to a bootcamp education which can take as little as three to six months.
• University education focuses on a great deal of theory and often little practical knowledge.
• University learning involves massive classes and little individual attention. Despite a theoretical approach, you can access tutorial help.
• You must enrol for university courses at specific times, which is restrictive and wastes a great deal of time.
• Colleges and universities follow set curriculums with little flexibility.
• Generally, technology bootcamps offer career development and growth, with which few universities can compete.
• Learning soft skills in a university environment is often more theoretical than practical. Technical Bootcamps are the opposite, which meets many employers expectations.
• Moreover, college education is expensive in relation to bootcamp learning.
• If you like a traditional approach to education, then universities are steeped in tradition.
• University learning is tougher due to a heavy theoretical approach. This approach makes knowledge retention more challenging.
• You gain more in-depth knowledge of subject matter, which is desirable for many employers.
• You can also progress towards post-graduate degrees to further your education and enhance your understanding of specific subject areas.
• A university education gives you more prestige than many bootcamps. However, bootcamps can often ready you for employment much faster.

Whilst understanding the various pulls of both Bootcamps and Universities is necessary to make a decision, researching what employers want helps create a better picture.

What Do Employers Want from Employees?

One study indicates that soft skills are extremely important to employers who feel that Bootcamps offer a great deal of employees with these skills. This same study also shows that larger organisations prefer a college or university education in computer science (CS) with more technical attributes than specific Bootcamps in the same area.

In contrast, a study by Indeed claims that Bootcamp learning is more desirable by employers. Specifically, Indeed's research shows that Bootcamp e-learning is better when it comes to how you learn technical subjects which do require practical exposure to projects, tasks and problems. In fact, a full 72% of employers view a Bootcamp education as better than a university CS degree. These employers also believe that Bootcamps prepare learners to be highly productive, communicative & collaborative in the workplace.

Career Paths include:

Looking towards the future - choosing the best direction can be daunting. But with enough research and the right drive and resources, you can pursue anything from:

• Learning Computer Vision in Python for Beginners and pursuing a career in Predictive Modeling.
• Obtain a Advanced Certificate Program in Machine Learning & Deep Learning or focus on a career in the Gaming Industry.
• Maybe Data Analysis is more your speed?
• Perhaps Cyber Security - a constantly evolving and emergent industry.

Many Bootcamps offer career paths that allow you to follow your passion. You can go through an expensive & extensive four-year career education or choose more agile and focused learning to do what you want.

With Bootcamp e-learning, you both up-skill yourself at any point in your career. You also don't have the burden of massive university loans to hold back your career growth and focus.

Bootcamp Education Wrap-Up

Wherever your interests lie, you have the assurance that employers want tailored, practical and collaboratively-gained skills.

Another vital facet is that the technology revolution is advancing rapidly and University learning cannot pivot easily to meet this demand. In contrast, a Bootcamp is flexible enough to adjust e-learning to meet the evolving demand and requirements. What this means is that Bootcamp training suits career growth and development at any stage of your career. If you're starting your career or need to make a quick change to adapt to ever-changing market needs, a Bootcamp is the answer.

Start building your future through a career that excites you. Check out the Knoma Marketplace today!