Want to Switch Careers? General Assembly Can Help

Are you ready to switch to a career with higher earning potential but not sure how to do it?

One way is by taking intensive training courses to quickly gain marketable skills in a high-demand field — like those offered by General Assembly.

General Assembly courses are designed to quickly train participants in areas such as coding, data, design, and marketing in as little as a month.

This General Assembly review looks at how the educational and career resource delivers on its promise to help users develop new skills, create portfolios, and access a network of employers.

General Assembly review

General Assembly is a company that offers career training, continuing education, staffing services and career transition support. It’s best-known for its intensive and flexible courses that can help attendees build skills needed for job growth or a career switch.

General Assembly bootcamp courses focus on digital and technology skills. They offer a flexible experience to meet different learning styles and schedules. There are even course options like part-time, full-time, online, or in-person at one of 25 campuses worldwide.

In addition to training, General Assembly also works with employers seeking skilled workers. Its courses are tailored to give participants skills that companies like their partners are actively seeking.

General Assembly also uses these relationships as a support network to help their alumni find employment opportunities and network with businesses that are hiring.

Choosing the right General Assembly bootcamp

General Assembly offers a variety of course options. Make sure you look through them and compare them to your learning style, accessibility, current skill sets, and desired skills.

Ultimately, you’ll want to choose a General Assembly bootcamp that will lead to the career advancements you’re hoping for. That’s what makes it a smart investment.

You’ll also want to decide how long and intensive of a course you need.

Do you want to add to your repertoire or completely overhaul your career? General Assembly offers a range of options that can help you do either. There are three-hour classes or workshops as well as three-month intensive bootcamps.

You can even take an online quiz that helps you determine which options are best for you.

General Assembly has shorter, one-day workshops or sessions that introduce you to topics. Then, if one catches your eye, you can enroll in longer courses with General Assembly.

They also free classes that will give you a feel for how these courses will get you closer to your career goals.

Check Out General Assembly Here

General Assembly coding courses options

Courses from General Assembly range from five weeks to 12, depending on the material covered. There are also options for part-time courses that allow for greater flexibility, or full-time courses for immersive learning.

Consider how you’ll best learn and stay committed to the course. If you prefer structured, in-person courses, General Assembly offers classes at 11 campuses in the following U.S. cities:

• Atlanta
• Austin
• Boston
• Chicago
• Denver
• Los Angeles
• New York City
• Providence, R.I.
• San Francisco
• Seattle
• Washington, D.C.

Online courses are another option for those who need more flexibility or don’t live near a General Assembly campus.

You can work through General Assembly’s bootcamp online from anywhere you have an internet connection. Online courses include access to course materials, career services, and one-on-one mentoring.

Lastly, there are the topics of the classes themselves.

General Assembly’s most robust bootcamps are its coding courses for web development and design, as well as mobile app development for iOS and Android. Others teach skills that include marketing, design and user experience, data analytics, and product management.

General Assembly admissions and application process

For its part-time courses or “circuits,” General Assembly usually has open enrollment until the class is full. To enroll, you simply need to register and make a down payment on your tuition costs.

However, to enroll in a full-time course, you’ll need to complete an application.

It’s fairly simple, with questions that are similar to those you’d answer in a job interview. They cover your reasons for attending the course, your past experience in the material covered by the course, and your career plans after completion.

What General Assembly doesn’t include in its application process is code tests or other proof of skills that other coding courses might require. Essentially, General Assembly’s courses are geared towards beginners, making it accessible to applicants from a wide range of backgrounds.

General Assembly tuition and costs

What you’ll pay for when it comes to General Assembly tuition depends on which course you choose.

The good news is the company has transparent pricing that makes the costs of its course clear from the start. These General Assembly costs range from $750 for a five-week online course up to $14,500 for its priciest full-time, immersive course.

When considering your General Assembly costs, make sure to take your living costs into account, too. Especially if you’re attending a full-time bootcamp.

These in-person programs are designed to be completed during the day, which requires most participants to take a break from full-time work. In this case, you’ll need a plan to cover your living costs and other expenses without your typical income.

To secure a spot in a course, you’ll need to make an upfront down payment. After this, the remaining General Assembly tuition can be broken into two, three, or four payments, according to the company’s FAQ page.

You can set up a General Assembly payment plan following enrollment and making a down payment, with dates set on a case-by-case basis.

In some cases, General Assembly students have had success getting an employer to cover their tuition costs. It’s worth checking if your employer offers tuition reimbursement or similar work benefits before paying your General Assembly tuition.

Loans for General Assembly tuition

Beyond a payment plan, General Assembly also works with several lenders like Pave to provide affordable financing for its classes. These lenders offer loans for coding courses with terms of two to five years and interest rates starting at 8.00% APR.

Whatever your costs or savings, these financing options can help fill in the gaps. Loan balances range from as little as $2,000 up to the cost of the program plus a living stipend.

Most of these loans also have a deferment option to delay payments until after the course has been completed.

As you compare different lenders who work with General Assembly, make sure you’re paying attention to terms, fees and credit requirements. Each lender will have its own credit requirements and repayment structures.

Comparing these will help you secure the most low-cost and affordable loan that meets your borrowing needs.

General Assembly outcomes and success rates

At the end of a General Assembly bootcamp, you should have the skills needed to secure a job in your new career field and begin working.

General Assembly’s curriculum also includes weekly workshops on job-seeking skills from resume creation to best-interviewing practices.

Participating in these career services pays off, according to a General Assembly report last year that tracked outcomes for program graduates.

In the report, 88 percent of General Assembly graduates found full-time work in their field of study within 90 days graduation.  What’s more, the placement rate for 180 days post-graduation jumps to 99 percent.

More about General Assembly

General Assembly was founded in New York City in 2011 and began as a coworking space that quickly grew into more. It has grown to include 20 campuses worldwide with over 250 instructors.

To date, General Assembly has helped over 35,000 alumni gain new skills and formed job placements partnerships with over 2,500 employers.

Explore General Assembly Today

General Assembly contact

General Assembly’s site has a wealth of information. And if you want to speak with their team directly, it’s easy to do so.

When you click on an “enroll now” or similar application button, you’ll be prompted to enter your email address and phone number. This will be used to connect you with a General Assembly admissions rep. You even have the option of setting up an appointment to discuss your interest in their programs.

You can also contact General Assembly via email, phone, or social media:

• hello@generalassemb.ly
• (917) 935-4202
• General Assembly Facebook
• Twitter: @GA

Their contact page also includes email and phone addresses for teams at each campus.

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