By Alexa Tanen
General Assembly: Your Perfect Tech Skills Learning Platform
3 months ago · 3 minute read
The tech world constantly changes, and learning new skills is super important. There are so many online platforms that claim to help you succeed. This guide will help you understand General Assembly, a big player in teaching new skills. I’ll also explain its competitors and break down what each one is good at. It will help you decide which one is best for you.
What is the General Assembly Platform?
General Assembly is a tech skill development ecosystem offering intensive boot camps to jumpstart careers and flexible online courses and workshops. GA goes beyond just classes by providing career services and networking events to help you land your dream tech job. Since 2011, they have assisted over 100,000 graduates worldwide in starting careers in the technology field through our highly regarded training programs.
General Assembly’s Key Features
Here’s what General Assembly offers its customers, which makes it stand out.
Bootcamps
These are like super-fast, deep-dive programs to quickly get your skills in high demand. Think of it as a quick boost for your career that lasts just a few weeks or months.
Courses & Workshops
If you don’t have a lot of time, no worries! GA has shorter programs that focus on specific skills. You can learn at your own pace and in a way that suits your schedule.
Career Services
GA knows that just learning skills isn’t enough. They also help you make a great resume, prepare for interviews, and guide you through the job hunt.
Networking Events
Making connections in your field is also vital in today’s business world. So, GA organizes events where you can meet professionals and potential employers to help build your network.
General Assembly Vs. Its Competitors
Let’s check out General Assembly’s competitors and see how it is different from them.
Udacity
They have many online programs called “nanodegrees” for all skill levels. Udacity likes to teach through projects and helps you build a portfolio while learning. They team up with big names like Google and Facebook for relevant content. However, the cost and time commitment can vary based on your chosen nanodegree.
Coursera
Coursera has a massive library of courses from top universities and companies globally. They offer a mix of free and paid courses with flexible lengths and specializations. Certifications from Coursera are pretty prestigious. But there are so many courses that it might feel overwhelming. Some have deadlines and need active participation.
edX:
edX is similar to Coursera and offers courses from prominent universities. They follow a traditional course style, diving deep into foundational concepts. You can get certificates too. However, it might be tough to navigate the extensive course library. They lean more towards lectures and assignments, not so much hands-on projects.
Skillshare
Skillshare is for creative minds and has short classes led by animation, design, and marketing pros. It’s engaging and affordable, with a subscription model allowing access to many classes. But boot camps or nanodegrees might be better if you’re looking for detailed skills. Skillshare is more for hobbyists or extra learning.
Pluralsight:
Pluralsight is perfect for software developers and IT folks and gives you deep tutorials, skill assessments, and learning paths. It’s great if you’re serious about coding or IT; they even offer certifications the industry recognizes. However, It might be a bit pricier than some others, and it’s video-based chiefly, so it’s not the best if you like more interactive learning.
Final Comments
So, now you know about the General Assembly and other places to learn online. General Assembly’s boot camps are a good choice if you want to learn quickly. You can try General Assembly’s flexible courses or Skillshare’s short lessons if you need more time. Always keep in mind that everyone is different. Think about how you like to learn, how much you can spend, and what you want to do with your career before you decide where to learn.
