Makers Academy

Before Makers, I struggled to stay committed while studying online by myself. Makers not only helped with the commitment but also provided exceptional support from the coaches whenever I faced difficulties. Coming from a non-traditional office background, Makers taught me a lot about what to expect in real-world work scenarios.The foundations of the program were excellent. Although there are a few areas in the curriculum that could be improved, such as the Swift module, which wasn't as popular as the others, the consistent support from the coaches made a significant difference. I was thrilled to complete the bootcamp with such an amazing project.After finishing, I found the next steps somewhat overwhelming, especially given the challenging job market. However, the career guidance from Makers helped me define a clear plan and reach my goals.

Maker's Academy is a well-regarded coding bootcamp designed for individuals seeking a fast-track entry into the software development industry. As a recent graduate, I would like to share my experience with the program, focusing on the curriculum, teaching approach, support, and career prospects post-graduation.


Curriculum:

The curriculum at Maker's Academy is comprehensive and intense. It covers a range of key technologies and programming languages, with a particular focus on Python, Ruby, Java, and web development frameworks like Rails. The program adopts a test-driven development (TDD) approach, emphasizing clean code, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. Throughout the course, there is a good mix of theoretical concepts and hands-on projects, providing a balanced learning experience.


Teaching Approach:

Maker's Academy utilizes a self-directed learning model, encouraging students to take ownership of their education. This approach is complemented by daily stand-ups, code reviews, and paired programming sessions. Instructors are available to guide and support students, but much of the learning is driven by the cohort's collective knowledge and collaboration. This fosters a strong sense of community and mirrors real-world software development practices.


Support and Resources:

The support system at Maker's Academy is robust. Instructors and mentors are accessible, and there is a dedicated team to assist with career advice and job placement. The bootcamp also has a Slack channel, where students can ask questions, share resources, and engage in discussions. Additionally, the program offers a variety of workshops and guest lectures to enhance learning and provide insights into the industry.


Career Prospects:

Maker's Academy has a strong track record of placing graduates in software development roles. The bootcamp has partnerships with various tech companies, which can lead to internship and job opportunities. The career support team offers assistance with resume building, interview preparation, and job placement strategies. My cohort saw a high percentage of graduates securing employment within a few months of completing the program. However, it's worth noting that job success is also influenced by the effort you put into your job search and the current market conditions. Networking, continuous learning, and adaptability play crucial roles in securing a position, and these factors can vary depending on the job market's dynamics.


One potential drawback related to career prospects is that some job descriptions and interview processes can be disheartening due to perceived lack of transparency or unclear expectations. This might not be directly related to Maker's Academy but rather to the hiring practices of individual companies. As a result, graduates may find some interviews challenging or face unexpected requirements, which could impact their overall job search experience.


Conclusion:

Overall, Maker's Academy is a rigorous and rewarding bootcamp that provides a solid foundation for a career in software development. The self-directed learning model may not suit everyone, but for those who thrive in a collaborative environment and are motivated to learn, it's an excellent choice. The comprehensive curriculum, supportive community, and strong career support make it a worthwhile investment for aspiring developers. However, while the bootcamp can open doors, individual effort and market trends ultimately shape career outcomes. Graduates should also be prepared for potential inconsistencies in the hiring process that could reflect broader industry trends rather than the bootcamp itself.

Makers Academy has created a great community and helps more and more people become members of this fantastic, supporting community. The best aspect of this journey for me was the people I met and how I developed my soft skills and my wellness being. 
The courses, coaches and curriculum changes a lot and frequently so I cannot really comment on that, as I know that every cohort gets a different experience. That being said, frequent changes are not a bad thing, they try to adapt and they take feedback very well and create a culture of always seeking and giving feedback. 
The weeks of learning are intense and you will mostly learn a little bit about a lot of new concepts and, most importantly, how to learn and how to find the tools you need to develop your skills to do the thing YOU want to do. 
There is a lot of work to be done after graduation and the job-hunting success relies on the work the alumni will do. Makers career coaches are there to help and support, but they will not find the job for you.

The Course skills you up quickly with enough knowledge to build and deploy professional apps and the job search aftercare is good, they have partner companies that need entry level staff come in a give talks, I got offered a job from one of those companies.
I graduated in December - and the job search was tough several months! Not sure if this was due to economic downturn at the time and the fact it was round xmas where employers are not hiring as much, it did pick up though and I started to get interviews in spring. This Bootcamp did what it said it would do and I have changed careers.

I attended the Makers Academy bootcamp and graduated in early 2023.

TLDR: Was skeptical of bootcamps before I started but am very happy I did now I've completed it.

I had a relatively long and successful career in a different field so I was very worried about making a new start as a SWE. I didn't think it was possible to become a SWE without being a computer science grad. Bootcamps had a strange reputation too - some people loved them, some hated them. After doing a lot of my own research (which I highly recommend to anyone considering bootcamps), I pulled the trigger on Makers and quit my job shortly before starting. The bootcamp teaches you Ruby first, then switches to JavaScript at the end. You get exposure to SQL and MongoDB and there is a heavy emphasis on clean, object-oriented, and test-driven code.  This was the main reason I chose Makers; I wanted to learn and gain experience in as close to a professional environment as possible.  Employers don't want people who write hacky code and have no idea how to test it - which is what a lot of other bootcamps teach. Makers is very focused on making you professionally ready.

Not everyone enjoys Makers. It's self-led so students can sometimes struggle if they were looking for the structures of daily lectures/hand-holding. However, most cohorts support each other either through the designated daily pairing sessions or just because Makers students tend to be super nice people who are willing to help each other. I do wish we had spent less time in Ruby because it's quickly becoming outdated but I don't regret learning the core principles of object-oriented programming in it - it's much easier than many other languages out there. But you get out what you put in. If you work hard, you'll be fine. If you want an easy gig to just coast through, then you're going to have a tough time so I encourage everyone to make sure that you can dedicate the energy and headspace to working super hard for those 3-4 months. You'll be glad you did in the end. In aggregate, I loved Makers. I made very good friends and learned a lot. And although the job market is very difficult for junior SWEs, I came out of the bootcamp feeling very prepared to be a "real" SWE. (Also, the alumni community in London is so friendly!)

Highly recommend Makers - there's no better developer bootcamp in London.

The quality of teaching at the bootcamp was exceptional. The instructors were highly knowledgeable and delivered the material in a way that was both engaging and easy to understand. 
The overall organization of the bootcamp was professional, and I felt supported throughout the entire program. Despite the high number of cohorts and students at a time, the support level was excellent, and everything was well-coordinated and curated.
The curriculum was modern and up-to-date, with a focus on fundamental and high-level concepts that are in demand in the industry. The atmosphere on the course was amazing, and everyone was very supportive, contributing to the overall wellbeing of the students. The bootcamp prioritized personal wellbeing and learning, ensuring that everyone had the resources and support they needed to succeed.
Although the course is very intensive, it is a unique and valuable learning experience that can help you change your career. You may not finish everything in one sitting during the course, but the important thing is to focus on learning and developing your skills. I met amazing people from my cohort and other cohorts, and the course has amazing perks that you have access to even after graduation. 
We worked on very interesting team projects and it was pure fun.
Overall, I am extremely satisfied and can wholeheartedly recommend the course. I am grateful to the entire Makers Team for their support throughout my journey, both in good times and in tough times.

Throughout the pre-course, I was experiencing imposter syndrome (probably not an uncommon feeling for a career changer). However, from day one of the full-time course, the empathetic and patient environment that the Makers team provided, helped me to overcome those initial fears and realise my potential in programming.

With numerous engineering group projects and 'give it a go' encouragement from the coaches, Makers works very well in preparing you for a real-world tech job - so much so, that I was able to draw from many of my Makers experiences when interviewing. The EQ workshops are an invaluable addition, particularly if you're hoping to make the most of those group projects.

After 4 months of intense learning and self-development, I wasn't sure if I had much energy left to look for a job but the careers team had that covered. I have never experienced motivation that abundant and readily available. With job-searching being a daunting experience for me, I made sure to lean on the team and their resources as much as possible and I don't think would have found a job as quickly as I did without them.

Pro's:
- Met some amazing people who are great to be with, and having the web of contacts is almost as valuable as the course itself.
- I really liked the coaches, I learnt a lot in a short space of time. 
- Learnt to code!!! 
- A great way to kick off a career.

Cons:
- I felt a bit out of my depth at times. I felt when I embarked on the course I wasn't quite ready, and it was so easy to get on the course I didn't think hard enough about how intense it might be. It was worth it in the end but it was a bit like: if you can write a line of code, you're in. A good idea would be to introduce an opt-out at the end of the precourse - because when I did the course I had to pay the fees and commit by the start of the precourse, which I felt a bit pressurised by.