Are Bootcamps Still Relevant? Chris Canty Says “A Thousand Percent"

Ask Chris Canty whether bootcamps still matter, and he doesn't hesitate. “Oh yeah, a thousand percent," says the business analyst and recent graduate of the Fullstack Academy Data Analytics Bootcamp.

His reasoning comes down to speed. Tools change quickly, and AI is reshaping how analysts work. For Chris, a focused, instructor-led bootcamp was a practical way to keep up. It also changed how he approaches the job he already had.

From Creative Writing to Telling Stories With Data

Chris studied creative writing and English at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Storytelling, whether fiction or nonfiction, was always his strength. Working in a role adjacent to data analysis, he grew curious about telling stories with numbers, too.

He had wanted to learn Python, SQL, and Tableau for a while. A job offer from an edtech company made it feel urgent. The hiring process included a SQL assessment, and at the time, Chris didn't know SQL at all.

He also wasn't sure where he wanted his career to go. The bootcamp offered a way to build skills and find direction at the same time.

Learning That Keeps Pace With AI

Chris started the bootcamp nervous. He had used a little Tableau, but SQL and Python were brand new. Each assessment and project he turned in became a small milestone. “A year ago, I wouldn't have imagined myself being in one of these classes," he says.

What stood out most was how the class addressed AI. Chris had used ChatGPT a bit before enrolling, but the bootcamp went further, covering how AI affects the work of data analysts, data scientists, and data engineers.

He credits much of the experience to his instructor, Tina Lowry. Chris admits he rarely went to office hours in college, but this time he showed up. Beyond SQL and Python, he says Tina shared lessons on managing a career and even personal finances.

Putting New Skills to Work Right Away

Chris didn't need to change jobs to see a return. As a business analyst, his work centers on process implementation and documentation. Building dashboards isn't in his job description, but he started doing it anyway as he learned the skills in class.

Now he tracks monthly intake, including how many requests come in and how many tickets the team handles. He organizes that data in spreadsheets, builds pivot tables and dashboards, and brings it into Tableau for deeper analysis. That work supports process improvement across teams.

The skills have spilled into his free time, too. Chris builds personal data projects for fun, creating datasets about comic books and professional fighters with categorical and quantitative variables he designs from scratch. He recently spent four or five hours on one.

Career Support That Continues After Graduation

About halfway through the bootcamp, Chris began meeting with his career coach, Leonna. Together they reworked his resume, which he now feels much better about, and talked through how to tailor it to tell the right story for each role. Leonna also encouraged him to be intentional about where he applies instead of applying to everything.

That support didn't end with the program. Recently, Leonna emailed him a job posting she thought suited him.

“I'm grateful for the job I have now, but it's always nice just knowing what other opportunities are out there," Chris says.

Why Chris Recommends a Bootcamp Today

Chris has been encouraging colleagues at the University of Chicago to consider a bootcamp. In his experience, many people want to learn these tools but feel intimidated or worry they don't have the time. For him, the program went by quickly and kept him motivated.

He also sees value for anyone unsure about their next step. “Taking the bootcamp definitely helped point me to my purpose," he says.

Chris's story offers one answer to whether bootcamps are still relevant. When technology changes this fast, structured learning with real support can help you keep up and help you find new ways to use the experience you already have.

Looking for more testimonials from real students? Explore the Fullstack Academy Reviews page.