Beyond Tech – Helping transition from the military to the civilian workplace

There are plenty of paths to take for those interested in entering the field of programming. Traditional college, Coding Bootcamps, and internships can all provide the knowledge and skills needed for the in-demand career. Knowing how to do the job and proving to an employer that you are capable are two entirely different arenas. 

Save for a few altruistic or genuinely curious folks, attending an education program of any kind is usually done for advancing career prospects. The struggle for finding meaningful employment can be challenging for those transitioning out of military life. Not being able to translate skills to terms that employers can understand, not meeting particular education requirements for a position, and difficulty adjusting to a civilian workplace. Code Platoon is aware of these facts and can help Veterans and military spouses go from the coding classroom and directly into the programming workforce with our Beyond Tech curriculum. 

“There’s a lot of Coding Bootcamps out there, and they all more or less teach the same thing, the stuff that we teach is not novel, it’s not new,” said Jon Young, Code Platoon’s Education Director. “What we want to be able to do is ensure that whenever you hire a Code Platoon graduate, you know you are bringing on a well-rounded, great employee. 

“The Beyond Tech sessions focus on things that are important to create like a great modern-day employee, and we’re hoping that our students can stand out a little bit more because of that,” Young said.  

Beyond Tech is an informative and engaging eight-part lecture series where Code Platoon students learn some of the unspoken rules and expectations when exploring a new career path. Beyond Tech is included in every Code Platoon Bootcamp program.

The series also addresses the differences between the military working environment and civilian technology companies. Overcoming the internal struggle of imposter syndrome, understanding the importance and advantages of diversity in the workplace, financial literacy, and how to best navigate the job hunt are just a few of the lessons students will be introduced to on top of learning to become a software engineer or developer. Most importantly, Code Platoon is specifically designed for the military community in mind, training with peers who have had similar experiences and taught by instructors who can meet the needs of Veterans, Servicemembers, and military spouses.

“Code Platoon prepares you from going from the program straight into your new career,” says Gary Coffey, a graduate of Code Platoon currently working as a software engineer at Enova International.

After separating from the Air Force in 2017, Gary spent his first year working at a Mattress Firm on the civilian side. 

“Before Code Platoon, I was barely scraping by, and while the pay is better than what my old retail job was, I can honestly say that the best part of working now is that I don’t have to fake my enthusiasm at work because I genuinely enjoy what I do now,” Gary said.

Gary isn’t alone in his post-graduate success. More than  81% of Code Platoon graduates become Full-Time software engineers or developers within six months of completing the program. The median starting salary for graduates is $65k. 

In addition to the Beyond Tech curriculum, Code Platoon has an extensive network of companies and advocates for hiring Veteran and military spouse programmers. Thanks to these connections, Code Platoon is able to place some of the in-person Chicago-based graduates with local internships. It can help students build their portfolio, resume, and LinkedIn profiles. 

If you are or know of a Veteran or military spouse looking for a career switch, look no further than Code Platoon! Apply today.

Amanda Michelle Gordon is Code Platoon’s Content Marketing Coordinator. She is a U.S. Air Force Veteran and a student of SUNY New Paltz for Journalism and Sociology. In her free time, Amanda enjoys reading, the outdoors, and turning coffee into copy. You can find Amanda on LinkedIn and Twitter.