Codesmith Reviews
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Yuri Brizuela
Fantastic Introduction to JavaScript!
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I recently participated in the JavaScript for Beginners course offered by Codesmith. I had no prior experience in coding and was looking for a productive way to gently introduce myself into the field of software engineering. The instructors (Will, Phillip, and Kyle) were all very helpful and patient, allowing students to ask questions and providing one-on-one help when necessary. As students we were encouraged to develop healthy engineering habits and professional, technical communication skills to help maximize productivity in team environments. Codesmith’s JavaScript for Beginners was an excellent course that provided me with some of the fundamental building blocks of JavaScript as well as introduced me to a supportive, safe learning environment and a wealth of resources.
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Samantha
Full Immersive Program
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I was very nervous about starting Codesmith. I enrolled in the CS Prep program and despite the fact that I enjoyed that, I was apprehensive about dedicating 12 weeks of my life, 6 days a week to this program. I would do it all again. I started the program insecure about my ability to be a software engineer, but now I have the tools to succeed in this industry.
What makes the Codesmith curriculum so powerful and different from other programs? First: the people. Seriously. The instructors, the fellows, the staff, the people they select for the cohorts. Everyone is so supportive. In your moments of deepest doubt, they are there to support you and lift you up. I never once felt ashamed about asking for more help. It's really a special place. Second: the production project. Forget the Snake game. Forget the Chrome extension. That is done in week two. Codesmith does something special and the second half of the program is focused on diving deep into a technology and creating a developer tool around this technology. My team and I dove in deep on Chaos Engineering; something I had not even heard of before Codesmith. This project gave me so much confidence going out in to the job market and has given me a plethora of topics and technologies to talk about in interviews.
If you're even questioning Codesmith versus another program STOP QUESTIONING. You won't find a better place than Codesmith. Seriously. Do it. You'll thank yourself.
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Kevin Nam
CS PREP Review
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This review is only for CS PREP.
CS Prep is a great way to get your feet wet with the fundamentals of advanced topics such as High-Order Functions/Callbacks, Recursion, Closure, Big O Notation, and etc.. Before CS Prep, I was stuck on the HOF section of CSX and did not know a single thing about the advanced topics I mentioned. After completing CSX, I was able to finish CSX and pass technical interviews for multiple top tier coding bootcamps on the first try!
Disclaimer: I have not taken the Codesmith technical interview yet (scheduled to take soon). I took tech interviews for other bootcamps in order to gain practice for the immersive program that I plan on joining: Codesmith. However, I would not have been able to have the confidence or the skills required to pass the technical interviews without taking CS Prep.
Overall, I loved my experience with CS Prep. I enjoyed learning from the instructors Ryan & Shane. Ryan & Shane are both so passionate about teaching and coding that their enthusiasm permeates throughout the whole course. I learned so much not only from the instructors but also from highly motivated students.
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Daniel
Why I chose Codesmith
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Prior to Codesmith, I knew I wanted to further my skills as a software engineer, but didn't know which bootcamp to go with. These are a few of the reasons I chose to go with Codesmith.
1. Better outcomes
The fact that most of their grads get jobs as mid to senior level developers after graduating and their superior salary results definitely appealed to me. The website says the average for NY Codesmith grads is 112K but the current average is something like 130-135 now. Codesmith really sets you up for success and gives you the confidence that these salaries are achievable. To give some context, I graduated about 6 weeks ago and received my first 2 offers 2 weeks ago for mid-level software engineering positions and have another on-site interview with a FAANG company.
2. Rigorous interviewing process
I actually first interviewed with Hack Reactor and I got in through an extremely easy interviewing process. However, I didn't think much of it since I didn't find any part of their program particularly unique or attractive. Additionally, the Hack Reactor interviewer told me that I solved the problems he asked me faster than any of the candidates that he's ever interviewed, and I was surprised by this. I was looking for an environment in which I'd be surrounded by smart and knowledgeable individuals so I could learn more and I was definitely not looking to be the best problem solver in the room.
When I went through Codesmith's interview process, I could tell right away that they were looking for more than someone who know the basics of Javascript and can solve a simple algorithm problem. They asked questions about programming concepts that most other bootcamps wouldn’t ask and they wanted to see if you are a good technical and cultural fit for their program. Moreover, their final production projects were a lot more impressive than the ones I saw at other bootcamps/residencies. I figured that this was the best residency if I wanted to push myself.
3. Hiring support/staff/community
I got a good sense of what the community was like during the couple of times I attended their Hard Parts meetups so I highly recommend checking that out if you are thinking of choosing Codesmith. Furthermore, the hiring support after graduating was amazing. You get mock interview support to practice for the real interviews and bi-weekly check ins to see how you’re doing and potentially give you feedback on how to improve. Shout out to Will and Phil, who were actually my references for one of the companies I was interviewing for, and as a result I received an offer from the company! Also, shout out to Eric, who is there to help you get an offer and after you receive an offer, he literally holds your hand every step of the way of the negotiating process so that you get a much better offer than what you were already satisfied with.
Overall, the entire community is great and Codesmith really provides you with the technical skills, communication skills, talented people and confidence to excel in this industry. Highly recommend!
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Carson
Best decision
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CodeSmith taught me data structures, algorithms, React, Node, SQL and NoSQL. In addition, it taught me how to think and communication as an engineer.
The course structure is fast-paced and challenging. It is designed to constantly pushing for your limits. I also formed tight bonds with the cohort mates due to everyone being very supportive of each other.
The hiring program is also another major piece of the puzzle of getting your first software engineering job.
This is not a program for you to come to class and leave like a college course. To make the most out of the experience, you should put your best effort into it. And you will be rewarded for your effort
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Franklin
A life changing experience
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If you're looking for a purely objective criteria for figuring out whether to attend to Codesmith, then you can easily find the average salary of its graduates on the website. It's a little over 110k. I just recently graduated and about half of my cohort has signed or is in the process of signing offers with cool companies with great salaries (in line with or above the average) within 1 month of graduation and I am highly confident the rest will have signed offers within 3-6 months.
Now that we have gotten that out of the way, I am going to highlight some of the other aspects of Codesmith that are also important in making Codesmith an invaluable experience and setting it apart from other programs.
1. The curriculum
Over the course of the program you will dive into technologies including but not limited to React, Redux, Node, Express, Mongo, Postgres. Also, Codesmith is devoted to continually updating the curriculum and adding value based on alumni feedback. They added an AWS module to the curriculum (my cohort was the first to receive it), after hearing that most of their graduates are interfacing with AWS in some way.
Pair-programming is one of the main pillars of learning and growing as a resident at Codesmith and you will be engaging in it for the majority of your first six-weeks at Codesmith. So if you don't work well with others then Codesmith might not be the program for you.
2. The staff
The instructors at Codesmith are all super knowledgable, super passionate, and can break down complex topics into manageable chunks really well, but don't take my word for it. Every Thursday night Codesmith hosts a free meetup called Javascript The Hard Parts, where they deep dive into advanced javascript concept such as closures, or higher-order functions. I was blown away by the level of detail, how much I learned, and the amount of clarity I left with by just attending their free workshop. Phill (The lead of NY) and Will (CEO) who usually teach the meetup are also instructors during the residency so you know you will be getting that same great experience throughout the program as well.
The fellows are also very hardworking and help round out the experience by providing help sometimes even long after the day has "officially ended". Examples range from helping you to understand that concept/algorithm/technology to providing guidance on whipping your resume into shape. The fellows are all instances of empathy in engineering and a big part of the reason that the community is so great.
Can’t forget the non-technical staff as well. Software engineering is mostly technical but there is a value in soft skills as well. And it’s very helpful in having people there to help in those areas as well.
3. Amazing Cohorts
The class sizes are small. My cohort had a total of 16 residents - all with varying technical backgrounds, from less technical (on paper) to computer science degrees. Going through a program like Codesmith with a small class size allows you to really connect with your fellow cohort-mates. It's really easy to bond with your fellow residents after struggling and challenging one another to push and continually break through each other's limits to get to the next level over the course of three months. I have made connections and bonds with my cohort that I will foster for the rest of my career as a software engineer.
4. Projects / Production Project
Codesmith is fast paced. Most of the lectures take place within the first four weeks and after that you will working mostly on projects moving forward. You will work on solo, scratch, iteration, production, and reinforcement projects. Each of these projects allow you to gain greater experience and depth with technologies learned in the earlier part of the program as well as those technologies that are not covered but you might have an interest it.
The most important project out of these is the production project. For the production project you will have about 4-5 weeks to dive deep into certain technologies with a group of residents. It really is amazing what the cohort can accomplish in this time. Again, don't take my word for it, you can check out some of them at https://www.codesmith.io/software-engineering-immersive-projects. I don't think other programs are producing these types of projects.
4. The community
A new cohort starts every six weeks. Your first six weeks is your junior phase, and the next six weeks after that is the senior phase. Juniors and seniors utilize the same space. When you just start the program it helps to have a group of people who just went through the same process that you are about to through as well. Not only do you have your own cohort mates to network and connect with you have the one before you, when you are in the junior phase as well, as the one after you, when you enter the senior phase as well. Of course, you also have access to all of the other Codesmith alumni working at great companies as well.
5. Hiring Support
The hiring program at Codesmith might be worth about half of the cost of the program alone. As you progress through the latter half of the program you will start the hiring phase. This includes countless resume iterations that will get your resume in the best shape it probably has ever been, how to negotiate your salary, and how to approach the job search, and more.
Even after you graduate there are check-ins every two weeks to see how things are going in your job search and they will help you iterate on your approach based on your feedback. You can even schedule mock interviews with Codesmith as well.
All that being said, it feels weird calling Codesmith a bootcamp. Codesmith, is a software engineering residency that will undoubtly change the course of your life.
Shout outs to Will, Phil, Ryan, Dave, Olivia, Kyle, Victoria, Joel, Christine, Raphael, and Altai and cohorts 8,9 and 10.
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Victor
My 2 cents
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There are already a lot of reviews that focus on what the program is like and why they personally enjoyed it. So instead I will just make two points that I believe are important:
1. Who Should Go To Codesmith
There is a reason why Will (the founder) markets CS as a residency for experienced engineers — it is because the value that the program provides grows exponentially with the more experience you have.
I wanna stress this because I feel that a lot of people might fall for this narrative: "I feel like I already know too much to join a bootcamp". And this could not be more false when it comes to CS. If you do not have a job that pays 120k+, then this program is for you (assuming you want one of course). And the reason is that the core value of CS is NOT the technical knowledge it provides: we all have access to the Internet, you can learn everything here. The value lies on the engineering narrative you will build while being exposed 14hrs+/day in a structured way to modern technologies that companies value nowadays.
2. How Codesmith Gets You A Job
I will reason about this from my personal narrative. So I finished the program and I start following the very specific and detailed instructions on how to apply for jobs. I started getting phone screens, then a few take homes, but it wasn't after a few onsite interviews that I realized how CS had actually prepared me for this process.
Looking back to the interviews, I started noticing that a lot of the questions I was asked were in the shape of "have you ever heard of this technology?" or "do you have any experience working with X". And that is where the CS experience comes into play: having spent over 14hrs/day being exposed to modern technologies and "living" with people that share your same interest, I could instantly relate those questions to my experience in CS. Whether it was during a morning coffee chat or during one of the exercise units, I had indeed heard of it.
So tldr: I highly recommend Codesmith to anyone that is really passionate about software engineering. It will be tough, but — as they say — trust the process and the rewards are very real.
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Dean
CSPrep
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For anyone looking for a prep course to get into any bootcamp, CSPrep is the ideal preparatory course. Our instructor, Ryan, is the most passionate educator I have ever come across and his energy permeates through each student. CSPrep students come from different backgrounds and varying levels of experience, and Ryan does a phenomenal job at creating an all inclusive, judgement free environment to ensure the most optimal learning experience for every student. The course moves at an relatively high pace, exploring major Javascript and general coding concepts such as higher order functions & callbacks, closures, recursion, and algorithmic problem solving. Each session consists of a problem solving/live coding session, diagramming of that day's programming topic, and pair programming. In my opinion, pair programming is the most crucial component of CSPrep as it provides students with an environment to master their technical communication and to learn how to effectively collaborate with others, both of which are vital to an engineer's career. Lastly, as far as I am aware, CSPrep's course is never stagnant. Ryan is very open to feedback and is constantly looking for ways to improve the curriculum to best fit his students' needs. Whether you come from experience or not, CSPrep is a great way to get your feet wet and experience Codesmith's brilliant curriculum first hand.
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Gilbert R.
Preparing with CS Prep
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CS Prep is a great program to be a part of. It’s filled with a diverse class of people trying to get better at being a problem solver and fluent at the tool-set which Javascript provides.
Throughout the course, Ryan delves into the fundamentals that will pave the way to being a more autonomous problem solver. You are actively participating and engaging with ever challenging questions and problems. Sometimes you know the answer and more than often you don’t, but it’s that intellectual vulnerability that allows you to learn and further cement that knowledge at those moments.
Ryan cares about each of the students’ success in the course. He is fully transparent about his role and what he expects from each of us. This makes the course become more than a mere transaction, and more of a mutual learning space of respect and support. The students in CS Prep are really rooting for each others’ success. Ryan follows up with you and makes sure you felt you got what you expected out of the two weeks. Weeks after my CS Prep cohort ended, we’re still actively sharing resources and asking questions to one another, and in my case, still meeting up with fellow colleagues to study and practice peer programming.
Like any learning endeavor, you really do get what you put in. I spent a good amount of time revisiting problem after peer programming to make sure I would be able to solve them on my own. I’ve heard other students echo this experience themselves. You are investing in yourself when taking on a program like CS Prep and I do think it’s a worthwhile program.
This program is a prep course for the Immersive program. I recommend it to people who have done their due diligence of research and are committed to their career pivot, further education, or need that extra clarity on hard Javascript concepts.
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Patrick Slagle
It's Real, It Works, and It Can Work For You Too
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It’s real, it works, and it can work for you.
The purpose of this review is to give a little inside to the program, but mostly explain how it’s possible that you can enter this program without a previous software related job and leave with job offers on average of $105,000. For me looking into the program it was something I truly believed in, but now on the other side it makes a lot of sense.
A little inside to myself so you can put this in perspective. Before I started my pursuit for Codesmith, I worked in Construction Management and had no previous coding experience, but after two months of applying (post graduation) and over 100 applications I got the offer I wanted at Capital One. And I wouldn’t say I’m the exception, but more so, the norm of a Codesmith student. One that hasn’t really coded before. One of the cooler things of this program is seeing people from all different walks of life. But regardless of their previous coding experience, they’ve all had success.
I’m sure you have the same thought I did, this is too good to be true… But let me explain. First off, you’re not becoming a software developer in three months, the journey is a bit longer than that. To get into Codesmith you need to already have solid Javascript skills, but nothing you can’t teach yourself. I spent a few hours after work a couple times a week until I was strong enough to get into the program. For some, this could be a few weeks (if you studied heavily), for others it could take months (if you studied more intermittently like I did), it really depends how much time you put into it. If you have any questions for what to study, visit Codesmith or one of their easy/hard part sessions. They’ll point you in the right direction and you can get a better feel for the program. To be honest, if you have any interest in this program, you probably should stop reading these reviews and just GO to one of those sessions. You’ll learn a lot more about the experience, why I loved this place, and how this is all true.
But... if you’re still reading, I’ll continue explaining.
Once you get into this program you already have a solid understanding of Javascript, which is more than a lot of the people in the industry know about Javascript. And I’m serious about this. The rise of Javascript is pretty recent, especially front end frameworks like React, and there’s a BIG demand for developers who know this. Most people in the industry just haven’t had the time to pick this up these skills and keep up with them. At my work I’m lucky if I get to spend an hour a day trying to pick up new tech, and even luckier if I get to work on a new language. Meanwhile by the time you’ve got into Codesmith you’ll have no problem writing Javascript algorithms. And THEN the next three months at Codesmith you REALLY dive into the language. Like twelve hours a day of coding and learning at the fastest rate of your life. Once you’ve considered this, it doesn’t seem to crazy that someone would hire you as a front-end developer building in React or full-stack with Node. In my case, I got a company to hire me to build in Angular and Java (even though I had NO experience in either, they were confident I could learn both).
That brings me to my last point.. Codesmith teaches you how to get hired and be hirable. After the program ends they organize meet ups, mock interviews, and follow ups with you. There’s also great interactive lectures, and lessons on how to get hired and succeed in interviews. This may seem weird or you could question the necessity of this, but trust me it makes the jump from being a good coder to getting hired. Unfortunately, knowing how to code and being a successful interviewer are almost two different skills. Honestly, the challenge of getting hired out of this program isn’t the lack of knowledge, it's the perception that there’s no way you could have that knowledge after “three months,” or going to a “boot camp.” With Codesmith’s emphasis on being hirable, you’re able to past this perception, and get back to whats important, your software knowledge and being able to work with a team. One of the things I haven’t mentioned yet but is important to note, Codesmith has a strong culture on being a team player and focusing on technical communication. This not only makes you a good candidate, but again will help you shine a bit more in your interviews.
Overall though, this program was one of the best things I’ve ever done. I was able to switch from an industry I didn’t want to be in, to an amazing one I wanted to be a part of. It was three of the hardest months, but honestly, three of the best months as well. I had a lot of hesitation joining a program that was so intense, thinking.. how the hell could I code for over 12 hours a day? But the community and culture there is so strong its easy to love it there.
If you’re thinking about this program, please go to their easy / hard parts lessons. Also feel free to ask me any questions, I’m more than happy to help.
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Bruce
Perfect first step in your software engineering career
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CS Prep is a fantastic resource to get started as a software engineer. Ryan, the instructor, truly has a gift for teaching in a way that breaks down complex concepts into digestable fundamentals. He's also superbly interesting and clearly passionate about what he's teaching. The curriculum itself is pretty standard, covering the must-know concepts before you're admitted to an elite coding bootcamp like Codesmith ... functions, higher order functions, closures, recursion ... but the magic comes during paired programming and Ryan's live coding of each day's problems. Many times during CS Prep I had an "eureka!" moment as Ryan broke down coding challenges and explained each step carefully.
Another great aspect of CS Prep is the community. You'll be coding along other very motivated students, some of whom are working together in the CS Prep Slack after each class. We share resources and even help each other on code review. Learning coding solo is tough, but you'll have a community to help your coding journey with CS Prep.
If you're set on doing Codesmith in the future, then doing CS Prep is a no-brainer. If you're considering other bootcamps or want to apply to junior dev positions, CS Prep will still give you a valuable boost towards your goals. The learning I got not only helped me get into Codesmith's Software Engineering Immersive, but also gave me the valuable tools and mindsets to tackle any technical challenge.
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DB
Exceptional Experience!
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Let me start my review by saying if you are considering switching your career to tech, or debating which program to take, just trust all the amazing reviews here and choose Codesmith. I think the result speakers for itself. I finished the program in late Jan 2019. Within 6 weeks, I received 2 offers and more leads in the pipeline.
I started going to Codesmith’s Hard Parts for about 4 months learning JS fundamentals before enrolling into the program. I studied and worked in finance for many years with no prior computer science or coding experience whatsoever. One thing that makes Codesmith different from all the other programs is the high technical requirement. I was actually accepted by another reputable program when I didn’t even think I was ready. Setting the enrollment bar high showed me that they truly cared about students’ success, not about making money! Everyone from my cohort mates, to the fellows, to the leaders at Codesmith was so involved and caring about each other.
Another thing I’d like to point out is that yes, you can learn everything by yourself or go to take some courses elsewhere, but what really set Codesmith apart from any other programs is the EXCEPTIONAL hiring support - this is priceless in my opinion. You learn how to interview - technically and culturally, you get 3 one-on-one help/feedback sessions on your resume and online profiles, you learn how to negotiate offers and so much more! After graduation, you still have ongoing support for job hunting. I have some friends who have gone to other programs at the same time. They were amazed by the level of support and commitment that Codesmith offered to its graduates.
This whole experience was so rewarding and humbling. I could have never dreamt of switching my career this smoothly. There is no way I could have done it without everyone's support at Codesmith.
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Amy
CS Prep works!
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I took CS Prep to help bridge the gap between self preparation and the software immersion program and it was definitely worth it. I've taught in postsecondary education for years and can say that Ryan is the best online instructor that I've ever seen. He's very knowledgeable and will push you to do your best. The pace of the course moves fairly quickly but that ensures that all the necessary topis are covered. I took another prep course at a competitor school -- that is also highly rated in NY -- and CS Prep was a much better experience. Topics were delved into at a much deeper level and more thoroughly. If you're going to spend money on a prep course, CS Prep is the way to go.
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James S.
Rewarding Experience
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I had a really good experience at Codesmith. I came from an electrical engineering background with some programming experience. Going through Codesmith's program accelerated my learning rate and improved my technical communication.
Getting into the program is similar to interviewing for a job where they select you based on culture fit and technical knowledge. The curriculum is great as it touches on a lot of different technology and concepts. You'll be going through 2 day challenges through pair programming developing your knowledge in different tech stacks and working in group projects to reinforce what was taught.
What makes Codesmith such an enoyable experience is the environment they create. They created an environment for you to work alongside others who have the same passion and drive as you, allowing you to grow and thrive. I can personally say that I would not be able to put in that many hours on a daily basis if I had done that kind of work just by myself. I looked forward to working with my classmates/cohort every day. Everyone there, including the staff, are so positive and encouraging that you tend to lose track of time because you're having a good time there.
The job outreach program is there for you during and after the program. They provide mock interviews, phone screens, and check your progress as you're applying and provide support if/when needed.
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Jason Wei
CSPrep Review
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As someone with very limited experience with coding and even knowing where to start with learning how to code, I was very happy to find Codesmith. Codesmith has three main sections - CSX (online prep tool), CSPrep (two week online class) and Software Immersive (full time bootcamp). I started by signing up for their free CSX program, which allowed me to work through each part of the curriculum at my own pace. The problems are designed to have you figure them out and work through them without a lot of hand holding, which was tough at first but really helped you learn. From there I applied for CSPrep, which was an incredible experience. Our class of about 15-20 students all logged in each night with webcams. For being online, the class was designed to be very interactive - you definitely had to be alert and ready to answer questions. We also pair programmed each night with a partner, which is one of the foundational tenets of Codesmith's teaching philosophy. I would highly recommend applying for CSPrep if you have any interest in starting your coding career.
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Aidan
CSPrep
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CS Prep filled in several big gaps I had in my understanding of Javascript. Ryan is an excellent teacher who is committed to helping his students embrace the process of hard learning while also providing clear and helpful instruction. CS Prep will prepare you to tackle coding challenges and progress your own learning once the class is over. It's also a great way to connect with other people who are on a similar path of learning. I definitely recommend taking this course!
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Mike
CS PREP
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After attending CS PREP online, it definitely gets you ready for Codesmith or any other bootcamps. The course is well organized and curriculum is well laid out. I do advise to take their CSX prep online before attending because in some scenarios will jump from zero to sixty pretty fast. I’m not sure will this be the same for all CS PREP course, but the one I attended created a network of great programming peers who are eager to learn as much as I do. A shout-out to our instructor Ryan as well for creating and embracing that peer to peer support environment.
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Eric
Resident
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I had close to no experience when I came to Codesmith. From that perspective, it was really hard to differentiate all the different schools. It was very hard to compare mainly because I did not have the knowledge to evaluate curricula. In the end, I ended up choosing Codesmith because of the communal environment that i experienced during their free lectures environment and the emphasis placed on the project building phase of the program. I just graduated the program and am very happy with my choice. I was able to build some great full stack applications and am particularly proud of React-Quantum, a devtool that visualizes the component hierarchy of a React app and highlights components that perform poorly in terms of render time.
I recently graduated so have not had the ability to fully take advantage of job assistance program but feel that the lectures and aid I have received so far will be invaluable through my job search. They helped me frame myself in a way that fully represents my knowledge and skills without making myself feel like I am overembellishing.
I had a great experience at Codesmith and would recommend it to anyone that wants to push their limits and build some great things. -
Brian
Resident
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13-week immersive full-stack web development residency that focuses heavily on pair programming, technical communication and community. Cohort-sizes range from 12-16 and you really build a strong connection with everyone as you do a deep dive into Node.js, Express, React, Redux, Build tools, etc. After the first half, we built really high level projects involving server side rendering, kubernetes, graphQL, and react component efficiency. Everyone gets at least one chance to do a deep dive into a high level topic by giving a 15 minute tech talk in front of your cohort-mates. The new space in NYC is beautiful and it is minutes from delicious chinatown food. In the final week, we are done coding and the job preparation lectures and workshops are solid in terms of perfecting your resume, online profiles and application strategies. I'm going to miss this place but I definitely plan to drop by once in a while in the future!
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Meka
Graduate
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My Journey with Codesmith started wiht "JavaScript, The Hard Parts" (as i presume with most). At the time i searched on Switchup and Codesmith was rated Numero Uno and flooded with loads of positive views. Naturally I was skeptical, any rational thinking human would be--- i mean life will teach you that when anything sounds too good to be true, thread lightly. But Codesmith was different the moment i walked into JSHP, the care and positivity moved from the very top, through the staff and to the random joe who just walked into the building. Im telling you, its an energy thing!
Now the curriculum is no joke!!!! DUH --- its an IMMERSIVE program... you have 12weeks to test your brain/mind capacity and speaking from my own personal experience... if you trust your mind, it won't dissapoint you. The common saying is "Trust the Process" . This is true, the only person in your way, is really you, and i know how cheesy that sounds but it is so true, the moment i learned to get out of my own way, the moment it started to click. And the faculty have classes designed to help you deal with each stage of the "Process" (there goes that word again). So they cover all the bases from: tackling algorithms, pair programming, how to deal with imposter syndrome, how to tackle interviews (this i never thought of as a skill to master but it sooo is), they have fellows and technical mentors who are always Willing to help... think about that for a hot sec ... when was the last time you went to an entity/office/organization and the staff is invested in you learning. Like, they get genuine satisfaction from you improving... that is their reward.
I loved the curriculum, it was a challenge for me, but how do you grow if not through adversities and the tougher the road, the stronger you become and I am glad i went through it. My knowledge of programming after codesmith compared to before codesmith .... I honestly do not know what units to use to quantify.
You are always family and they checkin on your interview process after the programme to see where you may need help. Amazing!
Meka
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Andrew Wong
Worth the Investment
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I was extremely skeptical of most coding bootcamps: especially ones that provide seemingly lofty promises with regards to your career success. After some lengthy research and consideration, I decided to show up to a JavaScript hard parts lecture at Codesmith to see what they were all about. That single lecture changed my mind about what bootcamps can offer, and it cemented my idea to finally commit three months of my life to the Software Engineering Immersive program. I ended up going with Codesmith not only because of the excellent teachings of Will Sentance, but because they seemed to aim higher than other bootcamps. Most schools are satisfied with their graduates getting entry-level jobs, but Codesmith promises to go above and beyond to help students bolster their career with well-paying, mid or senior level positions. At this point, the real question is: have they pulled through? My answer is a resounding "yes".
First of all, I have to compliment Codesmith's ability to choose the right people. All of the people that worked alongside me in my cohort were very friendly, eager to learn, and great to work with. Codesmith works hard to ensure that all of their students work together to help each other succeed.
The rigor of the curriculum is definitely no joke. Even though the program lasts for only three months, Codesmith does a good job at concentrating your time on the things that matter. The subjects they teach evolve as quickly as the market does and you can be confident that everything you learn at Codesmith will be relevant and up to date.
Now, as a full-time developer, I can confidently say that attending Codesmith was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I would highly recommend anyone looking to change careers or bolster existing knowledge to consider Codesmith as their school of choice.
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Aaron
Like no other
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Before Codesmith, I attended another well known bootcamp in the city. I was fortunate enough to graduate and was hired as an assistant instructor a couple months later. Although I felt confident landing a junior dev job after my experience, I also felt like I was missing some very core JS and CS knowledge. I stumbled upon Codesmith randomly when one of my students posted a meetup in slack on closures. I figured that this would not only benefit my knowledge but my ability to teach the language well enough to my students. A few minutes in, I realized I was sitting in on what seemed like another bootcamp but something about Will's rhetoric made me see otherwise.
Learning core JS topics such as the Event Loop, the prototype chain, and closures were things I didn't get a chance to deep deep into at my last bootcamp. Technical communication was something we did not prioritize in our curriculum but Codesmith looked at this as one of the most important aspects of a good engineer. The fact that Codesmith grads were landing mid-level positions after graduating also made me realize how different this in-fact was. I knew I could benefit two-fold from this experience, gaining valuable training in becoming an autonomous engineer, as well as preparing myself for a mid-level engineering role or better. All in all, everything about the curriculum was solid, far above the average bootcamp, but the real selling point was the Codesmith community. Having a chance to talk to the engineers in the residency and the staff, I got a sense of being in a place where people were truly invested in my success. The office was very warm and welcoming even as a guest. The commitment to peer programming and encouragement to mingle after JSHP got me excited for what could be, and I am here to say that it did not disappoint.
During my time at Codesmith, I had the pleasure of meeting and working with some of the most diverse individuals in the world. From a professor of Philosophy, to a junior architect, Codesmith's program goes to show that technical chops is not the most important aspect of a solid engineer (although you will definitely be challenged, even if you have a technical background). The long nights of talking code and breaking through blocks was something I hadn't experienced before, even as a college student. We built everyday, pushed ourselves at every moment, and I am grateful for the process. I was able to land a mid-level position a couple months after graduating due to the intense curriculum and amazing hiring program that will change the way you outreach for positions.I more than quadrupled my income, now earning a 6-figure salary with an outstanding startup company in Soho. And although this outcome has been life-changing, the real reward will be the skills I gained in becoming a framework agnostic engineer and the family I gained during my time. Codesmith truly is like no other.
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Jim
Life changing and accelerated my career
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Codesmith has to be one of the best decisions I have made for my career.
I have attended another bootcamp before and the depth they go into a stack does not come close to Codesmith. In other bootcamps, they will teach you how to build an app, but Codesmith will go beyond that. They will go in depth on how JavaScript is working under the hood, best practices, design patterns, advanced algorithms, etc.
Not only is the course rigorous, yet rewarding, it is the culture here that really stands out. Everyone, from the staff to the TA's to the students, all put in long hours, support each other and go deep into the technologies we use. Everyone stays late to explore new technologies and build amazing projects, most of which are tools for other developers! Many students and grads are contributing to the open source community and sharing knowledge to the public through speaking events.
What convinced me and made me pull the trigger to attend was going to their weekly JavaScript the Hard Parts. If you are on the fence or skeptical, attend one of Codesmith's weekly workshops and you will see why this place is different from all the other schools.
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Darryl Amour
A wise choice!
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Bravo!! More value delivered than thought was possible. I came to Codesmith with a BSc. Computer Information Systems under my belt with past industry experience. Codesmith is abosolutely phonomenal in what they provide. Most schools I investigated seemed concerned with just the core curriculum and was very dodgy when it came to discussing how they supported the student with job search once complete. With Codesmith they provide many free ways for you to prepare before being admitted to a cohort. They are not concerned with just having you complete, but really are committed to you becoming an exprienced Engineer that have been challenged, instructured and nurtured. An Engineer that not only can accomplish senior level challenges but can effectively communicate and function as part of a high performing team.
The Codesmith Team is amazing, their culture is exactly what you need when being pushed outside your comfort zone, giving you the necessary support to believe in yourself while stretching for excellence. Your last week is filled with hiring focused lectures, no false promises but lots of tools get out and become a productive and effective Mid to Senior Engineer.
If you are still in doubt, attend one of their JavaScript - The Hard Parts - Prep Session. You will get a taste and will want more.
Cheers to making a wise choice and joining the Software Engineering revolution!
Humbly & Sincerely,
Darryl
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JB
Software Engineer
- Think of the programme as an engineering startup and a very challenging environment.
- Every single day you will be working on some latest software engineering concepts, pushing yourself forward everytime you hit a block.
- The projects you can build here are amazing and definitely will make you stand out as a credible engineer, not like an average boot camp grad.
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Adrian Sun
I liked it
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If you are still unsure about which school to attend, I would seriously recommend going to the meetup and seeing the level of engineering excellence that they can provide. The program itself is difficult and rigorous, but the level of knowledge and skill that you walk away with is amazing. They really encourage a good community among each cohort, and it was a real treat being able to meet like minded people who were also as passionate about learning as I was. The job support is awesome and very helpful. I would 100% recommend this program as it has really helped me achieve my goals.
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Edward Kim
Great Learning Experience
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Codesmith allowed me to expedite my path to becoming a software engineer far more than I could have on my own. The day-to-day agenda kept me busy at all times, but I enjoyed every bit of it. I feel that their curriculum not only targets the most relevant technologies desired on the job market, but also ensures that students learn from the bottom-up. Aside from the program, the culture that's fostered at Codesmith is both welcoming and engaging. They heavily emphasis pair-programming, and I feel that that's allowed me to better articulate myself and my approach in code. I would easily recommend this program to anyone interested in software engineering.
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Z
Amazing
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I personally had an amazing experience at Codesmith. I would recommend it to every aspiring engineer.
Acceptance:
Their acceptance process was more rigorous than other places which at first was extremely intimidating, but once I got in, I realized I already felt comfortable with fundamental things which weren't even required by other places.
Learning:
The learning experience was definitely intense at times. We were spending 6 days a week, sometimes more than 10 hours a day. Each unit was only two days long and I felt like I was being rushed until we started building projects. Then it made sense. The reason why these units are so quick are because you will solidify the fundamentals during the projects phase when you are forced to implement all the technologies learned. The senior portion was definitely my favorite part as it was refreshing having to dive deep into a technology like GraphQL or another advanced portion of a modern tech stack.
Environment:
Ultimately, this is what makes Codesmith. They have done such a well job recruiting students and staff that care about the program and foster a family culture. Every person there is purposeful and kind and is looking out for one another. I have found a second family here and it is so amazing knowing that every individual is pursuing the same goal. -
Kevin Mui
Incredible Experience
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I've never been surrounded by a group of more supportive and compassionate people in my entire life. This is what makes Codesmith such an amazing place. From the academic team to the felllows to your cohort mates, everyone is always willing to lend a helping hand to ensure your success in the program.
The curriculum is rigorous and gets more challenging as the program goes on, but it never feels overwhelming because of this supportive structure. You'll learn the basics in popular web technologies like React / Redux and Node / Express in a very short amount of time but you'll master these concepts in group projects.
The hiring support is extensive with Will Sentance and Erik Kirsten leading lectures about the interviewing process and salary negotiation towards the end of the program. Every bit of advice given in these lectures is invaluable to your job search.
Attending Codesmith has been one of the best decisions in my life. You'll not only gain a deep understanding of popular web technologies and engineering best practices but you'll learn how to overcome any obstacle as a software engineer. If you're looking for a program that will push you to your limits but supports you every step of the way, look no further than Codesmith.
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Alex R.
An honest review from a NYC grad.
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I would like to start by saying as recent graduate who received a very decent job I am extremely grateful for what I gained at Codesmith. Is the program flawless? Not really, but I’m sure it would be hard to find one that is.
In my experience good reviews give background and tend to layout the pros and cons, so I will do so accordingly here.
My background: I consider myself a career changer who came from a liberal arts background but have always been interested in tech and the idea of creating my own apps. Prior to entering Codesmith I did go back to school for an undergrad CS Degree. I felt like there were certain gaps in my knowledge I wanted to fill and so I decided to go through the program. Despite all that I will say that almost everything I learned at Codesmith was new and I didn’t feel like I had any particular advantage over the cohort mates who did not have a CS background. The more you can think like an engineer and problem solve, the more successful you will be.
Now that we got that out of the way let me lay down the pros and cons for you.
PROS:
Codesmith helps you get a good job. I know there are some mixed opinions on the data offered up but from what I’ve seen almost everyone gets a good job within 4 months. While I was skeptical at first, the salary numbers offered up by Codesmith are not a lie. Frankly speaking if I got nothing else from Codesmith, I learned what I was worth and what I could achieve. Could I have done this without Codesmith? Maybe, but it would have been extremely hard without the guidance and advice offered.
Codesmith teaches you the essentials of the latest ”hot” technologies. I can’t tell you how many doors were open because I focused on studying the technologies in Codesmith’s curriculum. Even with the CS degree, without having gone through Codesmith, I don’t believe I would have been able to get the job I have now, nor most of my interviews where knowledge of the latest frameworks and tech is key.
The struggle at Codesmith really does prepare you for the job and the job search. Point is, in this field you need to be able to learn on your own and solve problems without being hand held. Codesmith helped prepare me for this.
You make lifelong friends. I know I know.. this may not be limited to Codesmith only, but I had to list it anyway as it’s true. You will make good friends as long as you are willing to.
CONS:
Not the best curriculum. Many lessons do leave you wanting more or still confused. Codesmith claims this is because they want to give you the bare minimum (skeleton ) so you can put the rest together on your own. While this may have it’s advantages, I do honestly believe there is room for improvement. The topics are right, but the content and instruction is lacking. Don’t expect a step by step how to anywhere here, but as I said before this prepares you for the real world.
Not for everyone. I think Codesmith does a pretty good job of accepting people who have the potential to succeed, but don’t expect Codesmith to make you a software engineer. You have to struggle to do that on your own and it could take longer for some than others.
IN ESSENCE: I am grateful for what I gained from Codesmith and do not regret attending. Its not the flawless program many people may sell it to be, but I still believe it offers something unique and continue to recommend it to those I think can succeed there. Take advantage of the guidance offered by the program but don’t ever think that the struggle ends when you graduate. Getting that job is hard and will require continued work and study after.
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Adrian
CS Prep
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The instruction was very good and I became close with some of my cohort-mates. Ryan is a supremely knowledgeable teacher and an incredibly nice guy. The course helped me to fill gaps in my knowledge as well as build up more confidence before doing a technical interview for Codesmith.
Since the lectures move quickly and the concepts require time to digest, I would HIGHLY suggest becoming familiar with ALL of CSX--the online pre-course material--before attending. If not, you may feel behind in the pair programming sessions and not get the most benefit from the course.
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Akouvi kouedjin
Code and Family
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Codesmith is an amazing opportunity to strengthen your skills if you have a background in programming or learn the right way of doing things if you have no experience.The curricullum is challenging and compact and every topic we touched is at the cutting edge of technology as we know it, but it is design this way so you can challenge yourself.
Codesmith is not meant to spoon feed you the what,how,when and where of programming, Codesmith teaches you how to learn things on your own so that even if you are no longer at codesmith, you have the confidence that you can tackle any bug any block and any new technology.
These three months at codesmith really grows you as a person. The staff are the hardest working people I have ever met and they set a great example of not only what it takes to be a great developer, but also what it means to take control of your own destiny and make something out of yourself. It has been an absolute honor learning and having the opportunity to grow by pushing myself everyday and having people around me that are also doing the same.
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Selcuk
Very Rewarding Experience
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Codesmith is no joke. It was such a challenging exprience for me. You will spend every single day, night and day for the next 12 weeks learning new material, doing challenges and debugging, all the while drinking endless cups of coffee. You probably spend 10-12 hours in Codesmith make sure you are ready for this hard work before you enroll. About the curriculum you will learn Full-Stack (Data Structure and Algorithm,React,Redux,Express,Node,SQL,NoSQL) in your first 4 weeks then rest is all about the project No more lectures, You work on your full stack project all day, helping each other out. Everone in codesmith is so smart and I'm thankful they are all trying and willing to help each others. If you do not have technical background make sure you study before you get into. Because curriculum so fast you wont have enought time to learn all in that short period of time.
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Erik
An amazing experience
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I am a self-taught web developer who recently graduated with a BS in Computer Science. I didn't do any internships during my time at university and had trouble passing interviews for junior developer jobs. I needed something to fill in the gap between being a fresh graduate and having some industry experience and Codesmith was it.
I attended the JavaScript the Hard Parts meetup a number of times before considering the program. I was impressed with the level of depth of the content and noticed my own skills and technical vocabulary improving quickly after just a few meetups. I truly felt that this was a next level program and not just something to get you from zero to "Hello world!".
The program itself is very intensive and one of the hardest things I've ever done and I would do it all over again. My skills as an engineer and my technical communication improved by leaps and bounds over the course of the program and I now feel confident in tackling any complex or new engineering problem. It taught me how to teach myself, effectively communicate, and reason about difficult problems.
I never thought I'd be the type of person giving tech talks in front of large groups of people or being relaxed and confident when whiteboarding difficult algorithms on a whiteboard, but Codesmith gave me the tools, practice, and confidence to do so.
One of the most valuable parts of the program is the hiring prep and support. I have since taken a job as a Senior Front-End Developer and couldn't have done it without Codesmith.
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Andy
Not only a good school, but also a great community
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You can find any coding school or bootcamp that teaches JavaScript, React, or whatever trending technologies. However, it is really difficult to find a community where every student and team member is positive, energetic, and respecting one another.
Students at Codesmith spend over 12 hours a day; from 9am, most students stay until 10 or 11pm at night. Even though they are mentally exhausted and physically tired, students still help other students who are having difficult time understanding the technology they learned that day.
Some students decide to stay at Codesmith as "fellows" after graduating. Fellows stay untill late night to help junior students and support students to become successful software engineers.
Many alumni often come back to Codesmith. On Alumni Night, alumni give a talk about their current work and their story after Codesmith like how they struggled until getting a job. They also give mock interviews to senior students so that students can have more confidence when they face real interviews.
Engineers at Codesmith provide great lectures. They don't teach how to create React application from bottom to top, but rather they make students learn the hard way so that students can store the knowledge in long-term memory. Students will be exposed to new technologies and learn how to utilize them by finding answers by themselves or working with other students. By pair programming with other students, they not only learn how to work with other programmers, but also how to technically communicate.
What is great about Codesmith is students will learn how to become a better person as well. Students take a short survey prior to a lecture about implicit bias; they learn how not to discriminate other students or future coworkers by their race, national origin, gender, or age. Eric, who is an advisor for students, teaches interpersonal skills that are important for interviews. Last but not least, lectures from Will, CEO of Codesmith, are crucial and really helpful for those who do not know how to get a job in tech industry.
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Colin
Amazing Experience - 10/10
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The amount of knowledge that I have gained through this experience is unreal. I can confidently say no other place will push you the way Codesmith does. They don't just teach you material, they introduce you to topics and guide you in a way that forces you to learn the right way. The only piece more enjoyable than how much I have learned is the community of people that I have met - insanely kind, welcoming, hard-working and unique. I never knew a place like this existed but I am beyond fortunate that does.
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nts
Top-Tier program and community
So thankful for this place. It not only gave me the tools to be a successful engineer, but also provided me with a community where people care about each other's success, and are more than willing to help.
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Stephen G.
How I Got Hired After Codesmith
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After Codesmith, I increased my starting salary by 25% and I landed my dream job; Here's how I did it.
First, I think Codesmith is a unique opportunity that, if you can get in, will give you the leverage and skills that you can use to dramatically increase your starting salary and land your dream job. With that being said, there is no hand holding, although you can ask engineering fellows to assist you if you hit a block. To get the most out of the experience, you have to put in the time to work on your coding skills and focus on translating their lessons into real-world, working web applications. It's a challenge but hey, if it was easy, then it probably wouldn't be worth your while.
Before Codesmith, I had a grasp of some web technologies but lacked the computer science backbone and interviewing skills necessary to land a mid to senior level role. Codesmith helped me round out my skills and taught me all of the major modern technologies that companies ask for on their job listings. I learned through building challenging yet interesting projects and technologies that employers would *actually* be impressed by. To do this, the Codesmith staff pushes you to do more than you thought was possible and by the end of the course, you are in awe of how much you accomplished.
As you approach graduation, you really start to experience the true value of the Codesmith program by seeing the culmination of everything you have learned combined with the invaluable knowledge that the Codesmith team provides you in preparation for your job search. Resume reviews and practice phone screens prepare you for the real world and by the time you receive your final offer, you will feel like a professional interviewer. At least that’s how I felt. I trusted their process and, a few months after graduating, I received an offer from my top choice company.
I was extremely excited when I received my official offer because it was in my range around the average for mid level engineers in NYC (currently $117,195 on Glassdoor) and it was with a company that I felt was a fantastic fit for me.
I certainly wouldn't have been able to accomplish this without Codesmith. I highly recommend it if you are looking to level up as a software engineer and dominate the job search to find the perfect job for you.
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Javier O.
Outstanding Program
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I was accepted to join the selective residency program last year and work with other smart people that helped me enhance my engineering experience. This residency program is focused on a philosophy of solving problems. Although, I did know about software engineering before, here at Codesmith I had the opportunity to work on the projects that I wanted in a team and they helped me grow as an engineer. Thankfully, during my process, I got corrected of the bad engineering practices/habits I had. The disadvantage that I felt they had and where I think they could have improved while I was in the program, is guiding the residents to solve problems with different operating systems. However, the advantages are the guidance you will receive( I really enjoyed whiteboarding ). The whole time you are there, you are constantly being challenged to get better. You stretch yourself by questioning, informing and applying concepts until you polish your skills. The other advantage is the accountability. I found them to be accountable. I did feel I could go to them for any request and they would help me within a reasonable amount of time. Also, they are updated with what the technology and principles you should have and inform you of what the actual employers are looking for in engineers. The job seeking process was helpful as well. -
Very Disappointed Grad
Unemployed
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I am posting this to let people know how I got tricked into thinking I can be job ready for the tech industry with only 3 months of classes, which is EXACTLY what Codesmith advertised...
Let me just start by saying that you will learn a good amount of knowledge from this program, I don't want to take away how rigorous this 12 week bootcamp actually is, and I actually learned a lot about programming and made a lot of friends at Codesmith.
That said, I am extremely disappointed in Codesmith, and felt like they scammed me out of 17k in tuition. I'll just go right ahead and say it:
Codesmith tells you to LIE when looking for jobs! They want you to put your so called "production project" in your resume as WORK EXPERIENCE!!!! They ask you to NOT put Codesmith in your resume, create a website and make it look really really nice so employers can be fooled that your project is a company, and reach out to random developers to "star" your repository to get a lot of stars in an attempt to pass as a legitamte professional project! They NEVER told us this in the beginning, and I felt duped and unsatisfied after close to a year of trying to follow their "Marketing" and "need-to-know-info" strategy to find jobs!
I knew it was too good to be true, when I first attended their Javascript Hard Parts meetup, the founder, Will, who by the way, was really really "Markety", claimed that Codesmith had the best hiriing rates than other bootcamps(by the way, they have NO outcomes reports whatsoever, to this day). Someone else that worked at Codesmith told us that, upon graduation, it takes less than a month to find a job...boy how I took the bait. I saw the culture there and lucrative promises that I eventually joined their July '17 cohort.
I graduated in October, and to this day, I am still struggling to even get phone interviews, I did have several interviews, but I had several recruiters and HR managers tell me that I'm trying to dupe them in my resume...I don't blame them, I mean, it LITERALLY is lying, we WERE trying to trick them into thinking we had PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, what Codesmith told us to do, it is so shady and wrong!!! I didn't have the guts to come out and say it earlier, partly because I didn't want to believe that I paid 17k to get scammed, I wanted to believe that I chose the right program, so do some other students in my cohort as well as the cohort before us, but we're in so deep in commitment and money that we were in denial of the obvious.
For those of you wanting to change career, stick to a 4 year college! For those that are considering bootcamps, stick to the well known, proven bootcamps, like App Academy, Hack Reactor, or Full Stack Acad, those that acutally publish job outcomes and will not asking you to sell your soul and trick your interviewers, even if you do consider ANY bootcamp, ask them outcomes questions, the job search process, ASK them for outcomes numbers, ASK them a lot of questions, if they're being standoffish, it's usually a big telltale sign. If it's too good to be true, it often is!
I will still try to find a software engineer job, but I am going back to the drawing board and learn more on my own, for free, there are many resources online for anyone to teach themselves how to code. the program did teach me a lot, but not enough to be job ready, I mean, its so laughable that Codesmith will tell you to market yourself as a react engineer witthout even teach you REDUX.
I felt scammed, I felt duped, and I felt that I HAD to say something so other people looking for bootcamps or potential attendees won't fall into the same predictament that I did.
Will Sentance of Codesmith
CEO
Sep 09, 2018
I’m really sorry you had such a struggle in the job search. In your cohort (start date July 2017) every graduate received an offer (with the exception of one great grad who was not eligible to work in the US)
People put so much of themselves into their time at codesmith and the hundreds of reviews are so important for people who are taking this big step in their careers. It’s a real shame to present things that are evidently untrue - particularly the outcomes of your cohort which are fully captured in the doc: http://bit.ly/codesmith-outcomes
Around 2/3rds of Codesmith students come from a non-technical background and hundreds have received offers for $100k+ - it would be really unfortunate for folk who are from less experienced background to feel discouraged to aspire to codesmith because of your notes in the review
The program is designed to get you to a position to be able to get a mid level software engineering role or above and for 90% of graduates is does. We put together a more detailed outcomes report than any other program (http://bit.ly/codesmith-outcomes) - every single graduate’s outcome is listed (anonymized) with their salary and whether they found a role within 6 months - the average in LA is $105k (it’s worth working that out from the individual raw data in the report too if you’re interested)
We’d never encourage grads to lie about their experience - both as a matter of integrity and because it would be ineffective (as you would not succeed in the job). Instead grads often go in as mid level engineers and within a year are promoted to senior or even lead engineer (have a look at alumni at VideoAmp, Amazon and Stem) - because the point of Codesmith is to learn how to learn - and that allows grads to grow remarkably quickly after graduation
I love doing the free Javascript workshops I teach each week and seeing so many people who aren’t even applying to codesmith come through to learn. I hope enthusiasm for that never comes across as hype - but it is a genuine pleasure for me seeing people come together every week for hours on end to learn to code - calling on them, seeing them pair program and seeing their excitement.
As you say, investing 3 months in immersing yourself in software engineering, stepping away from a prior career and going through the job search is a huge commitment and so it’s vital to understand the culture, community and outcomes. That’s what makes the Codesmith community so special - I’d recommend talking to as many alumni, reading reviews and going to the workshops to get a true understanding.
We will continue to support you in your job search - so let us know when you’re available to talk more about strategy
