Switch into tech

Stage 4 · Lesson 5 of 7

Red flags: income-share deals and job promises

A learning plan that fits your life

Some programmes use an (ISA) or deferred tuition. You pay nothing now. Later, once you earn above a set threshold, you pay a share of your income.

It can feel risk free, but it is debt. In the United States, regulators have treated these agreements as loans. Before signing, calculate the most you could ever pay.

Check what counts as income, and what happens if you take a non-tech job. These belong on your list of . Other red flags include promises of a job or a salary, pressure to sign today for a discount, vague answers about teachers, and that leave out dropouts.

Common trapsigning an agreement you have not read in full because the monthly figure looked small.

A question to check yourself, an AI practice session and 2 cheat sheet entries come when you add the roadmap to your account. Add it

Resources for this stage

Start with· follow one of these

  • PlatformFree
    freeCodeCamp

    freeCodeCamp · Beginner

    A free, structured curriculum with certifications and projects, good for learning around work

  • CourseFree
    CS50: Introduction to Computer Science

    Harvard University · Beginner

    Free and rigorous, the best-known way to get computer science basics without a CS degree

Practise

  • Free exercises with optional human mentoring, to use skills without a video playing

Keep handy

  • Shortlist bootcamps and read graduate reviews, remembering schools can pay for placement

  • Structured beginner programmes in data, IT support and UX; check financial aid before paying

Also worth your time

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