The diminishing returns on UX bootcamps
This question is answered in depth via the medium article above. Below are some key points from the piece.
A.) A bootcamp will NOT set you apart from the crowd. In fact, the general “crowd” for entry level UX jobs tend to be bootcamp grads. By only following the formula you learn in school, it might actually be harder to stand out.
B.) A bootcamp will NOT make up for a lack of work experience. Often the individuals that successfully land good jobs after a bootcamp are those who pivoted from a different industry. Someone who had worked in a related industry for 5 years will have a MASSIVE advantage over someone who took a bootcamp straight out of a bachelor's degree.
C.) A bootcamp will NOT make up for a lack of Hustle. You will be directly pitted against your cohort. For every opportunity that arises, you will have to beat out everyone in your class to nab it. Personal projects, networking, finding a mentor... You still need to run the gauntlet to be competitive.
D.) A bootcamp does NOT contain any knowledge you can’t otherwise find for free/low cost on the internet. There are so many free courses, books, and resources available. You can find recorded talks from all the industry experts. There are also many senior designers out there willing to offer advice and mentorship.
If you want to read more, Samuel Harper wrote up a very detailed post covering some of the realities for new designers which is a pretty good read, especially if you are currently considering changing career paths into UX.
10 sobering realities every brand-new UX designer needs to accept