Very interesting take on the matter. I try not to take a victim's mentality on the matter, but you do have very true points. Thank you for your comments.
I think you've misunderstood me. I'm not of the opinion that I do not have the ability or the skill set. I have been a finalist for various positions (full-stack developer, web developer, project manager, product manager, front-end dev) for 16 companies over the last year - all have which have rejected me on my inexperience in technology. That's not to mention the many many more that I interviewed with that I did not become a finalist. I know I can work in tech. I know I can make things become a great technical professional. I'm constantly learning and adding to my skill set, my problem is I need an income. What you're giving is resources for learning above, but that is not where my choke point is.
I was never under the impression that I needed to go to a coding bootcamp to learn how to code. I wanted to go to one to immerse myself in an industry that I did not have previous exposure to.
I finished Byte Academy (New York) June of 2016, so only one year out. Before attending the bootcamp I was a petroleum engineer running an international drilling project management company. I really wanted to work in tech, so I left and moved to NYC and began the bootcamp. For the past year I've been constantly interviewing and have been offered 0 jobs. The bootcamp has been a terrible resource for careers (the main thing I was hoping for by attending a bootcamp, because I was transitioning from oil and gas to technology with no network in the industry), and although I've make it very deep in the process with many companies, I can't seem to get a break. I was hoping to use my project management background coupled with what I learned at the bootcamp to hop right in contributing, but nobody has shared my view. After a year of trying to break in with full force, I'm probably going to have to go back to my previous line of work. Zero people that graduated from the bootcamp I attended found a developer job in 2016, and I'm pretty sure the same for 2017 - and though some smart people passed through, most had to go back to their previous line of work. I see so many success stories posted above, and I can only look to my choice of bootcamp that crushed my dream of working in tech.
Yes, I've worked with some. They have gotten me some of my interviews with companies where I have been a finalist. I will check out Mondo, thanks for the tip!
I only used Foursquare as an example because they are a "dream job" company. I've been trying for all kinds of companies, smaller start-ups included. I think I'd be great for a start-up due to my past work experience, but I've not had luck there.
Nothing wrong with it - actually I wanted to eventually combine the two. I thought that due to the drop in oil price, now would be the right time to leave and gain the skills that would help me build tools for the oil industry in the future.
I have a few people in my life who have been giving me advice. I've been given mostly minor resume changes, and then "you should find something soon". Most people I've gotten advice from sympathize because it is difficult getting the first job - but also tell me they are shocked that I haven't found anything yet. I'm always trying to change what I'm doing if it can help.
Understood. Just sucks when you go so far with them - and I reached out to the hiring managers for feedback, which is why I was hoping for more. I've been trying to target more, but also blasting. I take an approach of blast in the morning, and then target in the afternoon. I've attended many Python meetups, and my bootcamp was one that popped up for a lot for a lot of those. I was hoping their network would help me, but it has been nonexistent. I do need a better network, but I feel like my wheels are spinning from going to meetups and events like Techday last week.
Yes, I've had some informational interviews. I should probably do more following up with them as time moves on. That is great advice - I usually see if they have anything for me, and if no I move on. Will follow up now.
Also, I understand the no feedback policy, just really sucks when you go so far.