Makers Academy

I found the course to be a great way to learn the foundations of Software Engineering. I think it's important to note that a lot of success depends on your own motivation and ability to seek help from peers/coaches if you need it, as a lot of the learning is hands off. Coaches are available to help with the course materials and run a few workshops/webinars. 

The structure for most of the course of 'solo work' in the mornings and then 'pairing' in the afternoons works well. You get assigned a pair that will either be behind you or ahead of you, and you work on the materials of whoever is behind. This way if you fall behind a bit, you can get guidance from someone that's further ahead of you, and if you steam ahead, you are somewhat forced to reinforce what you've already learned by helping others.

Careers support is pretty good, but again it's somewhat hands off. Lots of workshops to help with CV and cover letter writing, application tips, etc, and then ad hoc support when you need it. E.g. if you need a pep talk or technical advice before an interview you can schedule a call with a coach. Also students are allowed to book a (theoretically) unlimited number of 'code reviews' these are like mock technical interviews where you get really detailed feedback on your coding process and where you can make improvements, as well as a full recording of your review. These are done with an external partner so there's no bias. These are really useful so, if you do Makers, be sure to take advantage of these.

It's hard to give a fully thorough assessment of the careers support however, as the job market is really in a bad place right now, so the 'getting a job' bit is quite tough at the moment. The careers partnerships team seems, however, to have started bringing in a few nice hiring partners who agree to interview Makers grads, but for a while there was a real drought of any partnerships coming in so there's a bit of a backlog of job hunters in the alumni. General chatter is that the market is picking up again after the bloodbath of layoffs in the sector have started to stabilise, but it could still be a while.

Overall, I'm really glad I did Makers and I found a job 2 months after graduating, however some people have been less lucky and are still hunting quite a few months on. With that in mind just be aware of the fact that - given the current market - the job hunt requires a LOT of work to keep coding and keep your motivation up applying to jobs, and also requires a fair bit of luck too.. But if you have the logical mind for coding and the motivation to power through it I'm sure you'll be great.

Pros:

Learn javascript + ruby very well and indepth in 12 weeks
Learn frameworks and supporting technologies that are high in demand and relevant in todays workplace.
Fantastic support in learning via coaches and mentors. They will answer each and every question.
Experience working through projects in real-life, work applicable methodologies such as AGILE.
Be part of a cohort with like minded individuals who push each other to succeed.
Immense job support after the course through 1 to 1 tailored coaching, group sessions and interview advice.
Access to an exclusive network of Alumni Makers, many in senior and lead positions today.
A rubber duck as a souvenir.

Cons:

Will require effort. It's a full time endeavour, very intense and will require your full attention and effort.

Overall, I had a fantastic experience at Makers. Regardless of the extremely tough job market toward the end of 2022 and beginning of 2023, I managed to secure a very desirable entry level job with one of my favourite languages that I was taught at Makers. There are concepts that I had no idea existed in web development that were taught at Makers and my success singlehandedly goes out to them. If I could do it all again I would 100%.

After a lot of research and speaking with individuals who had completed different bootcamps, I chose Makers due to their emphasis on diversity and holistic approach to education, with wellbeing and emotional intelligence being treated as equally important to the course material. This paid off dividends and allowed me to set a strong foundation for my career and furthered my understanding of the importance of work-life balance. During the course, I met some exceptional individuals who were humble, kind and eager to learn. Being surrounded by like minded folk and working closely with them on group projects taught me a lot and was far more beneficial to me than self-learning online. It is an intense experience, but if you are prepared to test your resilience, it is worth it. Coming from a background in Marketing, the transition was daunting, but I am grateful for having made the decision to enrol. The emphasis on self-led learning prepared me for the realities of software engineering. The coaches and curriculum were outstanding. Just remember that it takes time to solidify knowledge and not to feel overwhelmed, just keep moving forward and don't be afraid to ask for help :).

I did the Makers Apprenticeship in 2019 and after more than 3 years I can honestly say that it changed my life.

The bootcamp is demanding, and you will find that there is no easy answer to any problem. What you learn at Makers on top of basic coding skills is how to approach these problems, break them down and deal with them as best as you can.
Don't expect to be taught how to do everything but rather you'll learn how to pick up new skills quickly and put them to use. 
The coaches were super helpful, they are knowledgeable and they support you to find answers yourself.

After working in the industry for over 3 years, I find that I still use the tools I was given at Makers to learn about new tech in my day to day job. 

After the 3 months bootcamp I started working as a software engineer as part of the apprenticeship program and completed my level 4 software developer certification within a year with the support of my placement coach.

This bootcamp and preparing the assignments for the level 4 certification while working was probably one of the most challenging things in my life but it was 100% worth it. 

It's a good idea if you want to change careers and don't know where to start. At makers, you learn fundamental programming concepts with Ruby, and in the second half of the course, you learn Javascript. You learn how to become a good developer and good practices within programming. Works in groups and pairs. And most importantly, always maintain your mental health with daily meditation. There you learn not only to program but also to develop your soft skills. All coaches are attentive and willing to help you until you understand a concept.

Pros:
- Emphasis on pair-programming which gets you ready for the real world.
- The support for job hunting after graduating was really good. Job search workshops to find relevant jobs. TDD process reviews to make sure your ready for tech tests. Interview prep with a coach to make sure you're ready what what might be asked in the interview. All of these make it easier to feel confident in the interview processes.

Cons:
- The course is self-taught for the most part.  This actually is also a pro as it helps you in the long run. After graduating, you'll be pleased you learnt how to teach yourself as this is a key skill as a developer.
- There perhaps could have been more support offered on certain topics such as APIs and deployment of apps.

Overall - I would recommend Makers Academy if you enjoy working with others and are serious about changing careers. It is an intense learning experience that is challenging and takes you out of your comfort zone. Coding with like-minded individuals gets you ready for the world of work.

I had a great time at Makers. I was a bit scared of pair programming with someone different every day, and didn't think this was a good idea, but it ended up being one of my favourite things about the course. Makers gave me a very solid foundation to develop my engineering skills on, including concepts like TDD, OOP, and solid principles. The community is great, a very positive environment, and people really get out of their way to help. The career support team after the course is also amazing, and I still can't believe I got a job in less than three months after the course.

My experience at Makers Academy has been nothing short of awesome. Sure, I could have taught myself how to loosely code, but I wouldn't have made the connections, friendships, or solid coding practices without them. They provide you with fantastic resources, coaching help, practices that you can take into your career. The after Makers support has been better than any of the other courses I've taken. The mentorship program has been an added touch that has helped me keep from getting overwhelmed. If you're unsure, just do it or talk to a past Maker! There isn't a person I've met, who has said they should have waited or not taken the course!