Tech Elevator Reviews
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Zachary
The Best
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When I knew that I needed to make a change in my career and was looking at different bootcamps it was a real challenge. This may not be the easiest choice because of the price, but it is the right choice. I'm a recent graduate from the summer 2020 cohort, because of the virus finding a job has become a lot more difficult. However, Tech Elevator's learning and job assistance during and after the cohort is amazing. I'm not sure if this will chance in the future or not, but currently they have an instructor dedicated to assisting students with their personal development.
Anyways TLDR, price high but worth, job support during and after great, best bootcamp you can buy. -
Ellen McCartney
14 Weeks To Change Your Life
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I chose Tech Elevator after attending a virtual open house and attending a MeetUp event where I heard some employees speak on the value of the program. The admission process of an interview and two aptitude tests stood out to me as a reason I wanted to join this bootcamp. They aren't out to take money from hopeful students and just see if they get through the course - Tech Elevator carefully vets their students to make sure they have what it takes to devote 14 straight weeks of rigorous and fast-paced learning. The staff will tell you over and over - this program is not for everyone, but those who it can work for will see outstanding results.
Before starting at TE, I was a paralegal for 3 years. I wanted more growth and something to challenge my mind every day, so software development was my top choice. The staff and instructors at Tech Elevator were better than I could have hoped for. We covered so much information in such a short amount of time that I personally believe would be impossible to do successfully without the right staff. The instructors are knowledgeable, available to help, and most of all committed to your success (shoutout Margaret Green & Rich Seeds!!). The Pathway director made herself available constantly for questions and guidance as well (thank you Caitie Zajko!!). The team at TE makes the experience. Even the alumni open themselves up to new students for networking and connecting at new companies. I should note that my entire cohort was remote, so even though we never met in person, we had no problem forming strong bonds as a group.
I was hired as a Software Engineer for Ford Motor Company within two weeks of graduation. I am the only one on my team now who did not receive a 4 year degree in computer science. My managers told me I was chosen because my coding assessment and my understanding of the concepts taught by Tech Elevator were stronger than some of the people with 4 year degrees. This is a HUGE testament to what you can get out of Tech Elevator if you apply yourself. It is far from an easy process - you will struggle, struggle some more, have a breakthrough, then get right back to struggling. But you cannot see the forest for the trees, so when the TE staff inevitably tells you to trust the process and that you're making progress, believe them, especially on the days it does not feel like it.
I was fortunate enough, even amidst the pandemic, to be offered a role from PNC as well as Ford. I was also offered follow-up interviews with 3 other companies. I bring this up for two reasons - 1. The Pathway Program will turn you into a lean, mean, interviewing machine. You will know your resume like you know the alphabet. You will have to present elevator pitches on your goals and background. You will have the shiniest LinkedIn in town. The job preparation portion of the program at TE is unrivaled - make sure you get the most out of it!! 2. Before starting Tech Elevator, I never touched a line of code. I knew NOTHING. But I showed up every day ready to learn and ask questions, and was met with an enthusiastic support staff and classmates that could relate to me as we carried each other to the finish line. Now we are all celebrating our new job titles together. Lean on your classmates!!
If you take anything from this review, let it be this: 14 weeks is not a lot of time in the grand scheme of things. The opportunity to meaningfully change your career and your life in such a short time is almost unheard of. It will be hard to show up every day when things get difficult or you feel yourself slipping behind. It's even harder when it's a holiday weekend and everyone's on the beach but you're inside on your computer doing a capstone. But remember it is only 14 weeks. Make the most of every class, every homework assignment, every capstone, and every presentation. Utilize all of your time to growing your knowledge base. You will thank yourself for it later when everything comes together. -
Josef Widdifield
Good material
The material covered in the class portion of this boot camp is a great start to any coding career. They prepared me well for concepts and reinforcing what we learned through projects. -
Brooks G
Java Development Bootcamp
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Overall Experience:
Phenomenal. Everyone at Tech Elevator cares about your success and progression in your transition into a new industry. Couldn't have asked for a better group of individuals to help guide us down this daunting (but rewarding) path.
Instructors:
I attended the first Philadelphia cohort (Cohort[0]). My instructors, Rich and Andrew, were awesome. Both had loads of experience in the industry, and they were more than willing to share it. While we, unfortunately, went 100% remote about halfway through the cohort, the instructors' were never phased by it & were just as helpful and instructive as they were when everything was done in person. I was, admittedly, probably one of the more annoying members of any cohort that they've had to date -- sending messages at all hours of the night -- and while they would perhaps make fun of me on occasion for it (in good humor), they were typically always happy to provide a prompt response, regardless of the hour. I am grateful for their time & willingness to oblige my oft-absurd requests.
The instructors that Tech Elevator hires are amazing -- Rich and Andrew among them, as well as Walt and Andy, who kept us engaged with lectures & developmental projects once the cohort completed.
Curriculum:
This section contains my only gripe with the program. And, granted, like all of us who have attended Tech Elevator, I am relatively new to the industry -- there's a good chance that I have no idea what I'm talking about.
Throughout the bootcamp, in modules 3 and 4, two of the major topics that we covered were Spring and Vue. Both of these seem to be used somewhat infrequently in the industry, from what I've gathered (or, at least among companies in local Philadelphia job listings). While Spring is quite common, we learned what I might call a basic/legacy version of Spring, whereas many companies nowadays use Spring Boot. Moreover, while Vue is a popular JavaScript framework, many companies tend to prefer Angular or React over Vue. Having said that, working with the version of Spring that we did provided an outstanding foundation for the MVC framework, and Vue is very similar to Angular/React and other front-end frameworks & was a blast to work with. So, even while I may have been slightly disappointed in that respect (mostly in hindsight), the information was still incredibly valuable & certainly didn't harm my job prospects any.
On that note: It sounds as though Tech Elevator has transitioned into teaching Spring Boot, and Angular/React are as easy to pick up on as ever via other resources. This industry requires a LOT of self-learning and gumption -- there's a 99.9% chance that your post-Tech Elevator job will require you to learn something new. Odds are, if you're accepted to Tech Elevator, you're already the type of person to embrace that learning curve!
Pathway & Job Assistance:
The Pathway team is awesome. Caitie, the Philadelphia cohort's Pathway Director, is an inspiring individual & works harder than just about anyone that I've ever met. She was there virtually 24/7 to ensure that we were taken care of & on top of things in regards to the non-technical aspects of the industry and concomitant job hunt -- occasionally to a "what the hell?" degree (e.g. she will actually message you at 11:45 on a Sunday night if you haven't submitted something that's due on that Sunday at midnight, which was a common deadline for Pathway stuff). It's easy to disregard the Pathway side of things with all of the technical information shoved into your head, but it's truly all to your benefit, and she was incredibly helpful throughout.
The rest of the team was incredibly helpful as well. They'll take care of anything from interview & resume preparation to raw pre-interview hype-up sessions. Could not have asked for anything more here. The Pathway Program is one of the primary reasons that I signed up for Tech Elevator, and it was even better than expected.
COVID-19:
While, as mentioned, I enrolled & completed the program amid the outset of COVID, this did not seem to remotely dissuade the Pathway team nor the Instructional team. Everything proceeded as smoothly as it possibly could have. Unfortunately, COVID did have the adverse effect of deterring a number of hiring partners & companies that Tech Elevator had lined up for Tech Elevator's "Matchmaking" sessions. Our program only had 4 companies in total attend, while it seems that the norm for Tech Elevator's past bootcamps is 10+ companies, or in some locations, 20+ companies (with very direct connections). The majority of my cohort, as well as the most recent cohort, which was done completely remotely, seems to have received and/or accepted offers, so I wouldn't let the COVID situation detract from your desire to attend an online-based bootcamp -- be it via Tech Elevator or another program.
It was tough under the circumstances, but again, things went about as smoothly as possible. I would expect that things will be remote through at least the end of the year (2020), but sincerely, I wouldn't let that fact dissuade you from considering this career transition; in fact, the current job market may even be more of an inspiration to do so -- much of the technical industry needs individuals to support all of the remote-based applications running nowadays!
Location:
In Philadelphia, in non-COVID times, the campus is located in the heat of Center City -- an awesome area with a ton to do nearby. If you're able to attend in person, you will surely spend a lot of good time with classmates & TE team members around the city.
Recommendations / Tips:
Study up on your path of choice (Java / C#) beforehand if you can! It is absolutely not necessary, but if you have the time to get comfortable with basic OOP & data structure concepts, you will have a major leg up on most of the class on Day 1. If you're able to delve into any SQL/relational DB stuff as well, you'll likely feel very comfortable through the first half of the cohort. Anything beyond that (MVC, client-side programming, etc) is setting you up to kill the course. An understanding of basic HTML/CSS will definitely help along the way, which many enter the program with some familiarity with (and is also required to learn in the pre-work), but you'll pick those up regardless.
None of that is to say that it won't be worth the steep cost & time commitment -- because it absolutely will be. That said, you can set yourself up with a very comfortable foundation for the material you'll learn by covering some of the technologies/languages mentioned above on websites like Pluralsight or Treehouse (which require a $25/mo subscription, approx -- I used Treehouse to start, as Pluralsight is a bit faster paced), or free websites like FreeCodeCamp. This is in addition to the pre-work that Tech Elevator requires of you.
I would also recommend checking out websites like CodingBat to start working with data structures (you may need to review some of the aforementioned websites' material before you jump in here) -- and moving on to websites like HackerRank and LeetCode when you're more comfortable with those structures. While this may not be something you need to keep up with once you're hired to a position, it is very common to encounter "coding challenges" during interviews (especially in the remote world that we're currently occupying, it's increasingly common to have pre-employment screenings via company-specific HackerRank assessments, for example), which are largely based on knowledge of these data structures and basic programming concepts (e.g. loops & conditionals).
Again, absolutely none of this is necessary -- most of my cohort started off with no technical experience whatsoever (some with varying levels of front-end and back-end knowledge), but in my experience, preparing ahead of time was a huge help.
Harvard's CS50 course is something that I would also 100% recommend checking out if you have the time, as it'll set you up with an amazing foundation of Computer Science concepts (e.g. data structures, memory allocation, algorithmic complexity, etc) that will carry over through Tech Elevator and beyond.
Final Thoughts:
Tech Elevator is a wonderful program that has changed the course of every graduate's life. It is certainly not easy, but I wouldn't describe it as "the hardest thing that I've ever had to do," as many reviewers have. Granted, I can see where they're coming from -- this program is no joke, and you will have your work cut out for you & then some. Expect many 12+ hour days, especially during your final capstone!
Technical interviews aren't meant for leisure -- the program will not guarantee you a job, and you'll have to be diligent in ensuring that you know your shit. That said, you'll have every opportunity to learn everything that you need to know to immediately embark on a new & rewarding career! Embrace the challenge, enjoy it insofar as you can, and you'll resurface from the deluge just fine -- if not in a better position than you could have ever hoped for :) -
Amanda Saylor
Cincinnati Java Cohort May-Aug 2019
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This bootcamp was incredible. I decided to do a midlife career change from Social Services into IT. All of the college programs I looked at would have taken at least 2 years to complete while working full time. This bootcamp was able to pack in all that knowledge into 14 weeks, and I'm now a survey programmer for a marketing research company. It took me a little bit to find the right position for me, but Tech Elevator offers a ton of career support/advice/assistance. The bootcamp itself was very intensive, and built upon the previous day's knowledge with a new task/lesson for the next day. There is a quiz every morning, and a new assignment almost every afternoon.
If you aren't motivated, this bootcamp is not for you. But if you are motivated, and will not accept failure from yourself, this is the way to go. I applied to this school I believe on a Tuesday, was accepted by the next day, and started the following Monday. I had to walk away from my career within the matter of a few days (as there was only one slot left in the upcoming class), so failure was not an option for me. Like they say, this bootcamp is like drinking water from a fire hose, so make sure you're up to the challenge. I'm glad I drank water from the fire hose, because I'm now in a great place in my career, and I couldn't have done it without Tech Elevator. -
Krista Lewis
Fantastic Bootcamp
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I have nothing but good things to say about my Tech Elevator experience. The staff are friendly, hardworking people who do everything in their power to help you succeed, they are more than happy to give you extra help if you are having a hard time. The curriculum was well thought out and well paced. The professional development portion of the bootcamp was incredible - getting the first job is always the hardest and they made that process so much easier for us. I feel lucky to have found Tech Elevator to help me in my career change, I don't think any other bootcamp would have compared. -
Amyre Vincent
Definitely the right choice for me
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Tech Elevator was a game changer for me. I knew that I wanted a career in IT, I just didn’t know where to start, since I was already 15 years into my career. My ideal position was one where people were valued, there was freedom (and expectation) to constantly learn, upward mobility, and the ability (in the near future) to work from anywhere. I found out about TE through working in TechTown Detroit. For a time, I worked on the same floor as TE staff’s main office, and so I saw the instructors and directors frequently. I thought about taking the aptitude exam many times, but was settled in my career and didn’t see how I could take such a big step into something so unknown to me. At the same time that I was becoming unsettled internally, we were informed that our contract was set to end within 2-3 months. Though unexpected, it was exactly the push that I needed. From there it was a whirlwind; I discussed my plan with my husband and with his support (you will NEED a strong support system) I took the aptitude exam. Jeff contacted me very soon after and I completed a full aptitude test and then interview process. You’ll hear it over and over again (thankfully) if you make it through the admission process, you deserve to be there and YOU CAN DO IT!!! Our instructors, Margaret and Andy (though different teaching styles) were amazing and went above and beyond every. single. day to make sure they were available every step of our technical journey. As you will hear during the interview process, it is a HARD 14 weeks, and you have to prepare yourself. There were just over 20 people in our cohort (cohort [1]), different circumstances, previous “lives”, knowledge levels, different reasons for being there, but everyone earned their spot. One of the most important things I would suggest you take heed to, from Day 1 is to ask questions! There’s so much information coming so quickly, that it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Asking questions early can help to mitigate (not eliminate; this is hard) being confused too often; this is the piece of advice I wish I’d followed sooner. Thankfully, among teammates and instructors someone was ALWAYS willing and able to help.
As important as the technical learning was, what TE also provides is the Job Pathway program. Nicole did a FANTASTIC job of adding structure and organization to the soft skills part of our program. She knew her stuff; creating an elevator pitch, resumés, preparing for interviews (behavioral as well as technical), follow up, keeping track of career progress. She was so on it! Jeff (along with Nicole) did a great job of keeping us motivated and focused on the end goal; finishing and moving on to a position that we love. Thanks to TE I was offered a position before graduation, and am now almost 6 months in, with a new career that I love. I am so thankful for what Tech Elevator offers in a program. There is sooooooo much to learn, TE was the perfect springboard. Best of luck!!! -
Casey Tek
A great way to make a career change
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I went to school and got a degree in kinesiology. After graduating, I found no use for my degree without further specialization. Unable to decide which direction to go, I worked in the restaurant industry.
Finding myself over worked, under payed, and unappreciated, I had to make a change. A friend recommended a coding bootcamp which lead to me to start researching different schools in the area. I found that tech elevator was the best decision based on quantity and quality of content, experience level of instructors, and location (tech elevator is located in the tech town building and parking is provided).
I definitely made the right decision. Even though I had no coding experience, I was still given to tools to succeed and learn how to make functioning applications. While the program was intense and material was heavy, I felt it was still extremely doable and found myself with plenty of time to do side projects and have some free time on the weekends.
The other positive thing about tech elevator is the pathway program which develops your soft skills and gives you the tools to get a job. It really bridges the gap between you and tech companies to help you land a job. It also teaches you the importance of working with a team, which is HUGE in tech!
Even though we ended the program during the pandemic, the instructors worked very hard to connect us with companies and keep our skills sharp. While I ended up accepting a job from a company I met during in school, I am sure that my school would have connected me another company after graduation.
If you’re a hard worker, like to solve problems, and motivated to make a change in your life, the cost of the program is well worth it. -
Jenna Tyzinski
Software Developer Associate
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Going back to school to tech elevators bootcamp was the best thing i ever did for myself. making a career change after being out of school for 8 years was scary but the teachers were there every step of the way and truly wanted you to succeed. The pathway directors/program made sure you were totally prepared for the interviews and were there if you needed anything. i would 10/10 recommend tech elevator to anyone. -
Anthony C
Life Changing Decision
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A quick summary of who I am before reading my review. I had a passion for technology coming out of high school and attempted to take some course in programming. Things didn't seem right at the time, so I came out of school with my Associates and shortly after I found myself doing full blown construction. The experience was great but I knew that fire for computers was still there. Then Tech Elevator came on my radar.
Tech Elevator was a fantastic program. Words can't describe the experience and nor can Covid but it was still unforgettable. Walking in I was unsure I would be able to fit the professional profile with my background experience or that I would be able to learn and become a programmer in 14 weeks literally. The academic side and the flow of the program made things come easier. The experience and knowledge that the staff has is vast and incredible. Any time you were unsure of something teachers/faculty were always there with open doors begging for us to ask questions. The pathway program was truly an experience in itself. It really taught me how to present myself and to be confident in who I am and what I have to bring to the table. Everyday there were smiles and hair pulling but it was all so worth it. I wouldn't trade it for any other opportunity.
If you have a true passion for programming and computers then Tech Elevator is where you belong. Don't doubt yourself or your abilities, and as a couple wise people once told me, "Trust the program" and you'll do wonderful.
Thank You Everyone who was a part of the experience and kudos to all of you! Best of wishes! -
Zach
A life changing experience
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My Background: Before Tech Elevator, I graduated from Oakland University with a degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice. After college, I worked at a law firm for about a year with the intention of going to law school. However, after discovering through my work at the law firm that I wasn't as interested in the material as I thought I would be, I decided to start searching for a different route. Throughout my search, which included considering a career in psychiatry and in mortgage banking, the one field that consistently appeared in all my searching was technology. Eventually, I decided against grad school and started looking for ways to get into the field of technology.
Choosing Tech Elevator: Once I decided on technology, the next step was getting some education in relation to the tech field. I had never written a line of code in my life, so I knew I would need a program that would start with the basics. In addition to a program that started with the basics, I was also looking for a program that would cover a variety of topics throughout the curriculum, and Tech Elevator checked both those boxes.
Tech Elevator Curriculum: During my 14 weeks with Tech Elevator, we covered four different sections of material. The first section covered Java, the second section covered SQL, the third section covered Spring, and the fourth section covered JavaScript. This curriculum was perfect for someone who was just starting to code for the first time in their life. By covering a variety of topics, I was able to acquire a base of knowledge in both front end and back end development. That base of knowledge is something that has helped me tremendously in my days after Tech Elevator graduation.
Job Search: During the Tech Elevator curriculum, coding isn't the only subject you will learn about. The pathway program is a program designed to increase your effectiveness when it comes to searching and interviewing for jobs. From completely revamping your resume to guiding mock job interviews, this program will be equally beneficial to your experience as the coding aspect is. In addition to preparing you for the job search, this program also gives you a boost when it comes to the search itself. Throughout the program, you will have the opportunity to meet with all sorts of tech companies in your area. They will present details to you about their company, and you will then have the opportunity to ask them questions and even talk freely with them. This was extremely valuable as it led perfectly into the matchmaking events. These events are events held by Tech Elevator where tech companies from the area come in and interview the students for entry level jobs at their company. For me, one of the first companies I interviewed with at the matchmaking event was a company called Slalom. Eventually, Slalom hired me in as a Tech Enablement Analyst.
Employment: Since starting at Slalom, I have been able to build on the base of knowledge that Tech Elevator provided me. Without the knowledge of both the front and back end, I would have almost certainly taken much longer to pick things up at Slalom and begin developing actual applications. However, because Tech Elevator did provide me with that base, I was able to begin developing an application only a month after my first day.
Final Thoughts: Tech Elevator was a terrific decision for me and my career. If you are looking to find a way into the technology field, or even just to sharpen your tech skills, I can't recommend Tech Elevator enough. The staff was always available to help with any problem you might have, the curriculum covers both front and back end, and the pathway program is a huge help when it comes to actually getting into the field. Overall, Tech Elevator just checks all the boxes. -
Audrey
Student
I had a great experience at Tech Elevator. The instructors, program director and Pathway Director were all supportive and engaged with us throughout the full 14 week boot camp and in the weeks following to help us continue interview practice and white-boarding problems and support us in the job search. -
Rylee
Learn From People Who Genuinely Care About You!!
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I had a fantastic experience with Tech Elevator that landed me a job offer two weeks before graduation! I came into the program with no software development experience but I had natural problem solving abilities that ensured I had what it took to be successful in this program. Tech Elevator provides you an entire team of instructors who can all explain the course material in multiple different ways to adapt to individual learning styles. They also provide you with a Pathway team who prepare you and guide you through the entire job search.
Considering the program is only 14 weeks long, there is not enough time to cover concepts that won’t be useful on-the-job. As a result, Tech Elevator is no joke. It is very fast-moving with important content every day, contrary to standard college courses. Everything is presented in such a way that you don’t even realize that you just learned an entire month’s worth of college material in a single day. That said, I am so glad I didn’t waste time trying to teach myself all of this material because I never would have gained the level of understanding that I have after only 14 weeks. -
Jack Egan
Best Decision of my Life!
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I was torn between return to college to finish my computer science degree and attending a bootcamp, and ended up choosing to attend Tech Elevator. From day 1 it was clear that I had made the right choice, the technical portion of the course was top notch and comprehensive, but what makes Tech Elevator stand above the rest is the pathway program and their commitment to getting you a job in the field after graduation. -
Stephen Collins
Software Developer
One of the best decisions I have made. Met a lot of great people and mentors. I felt very prepared when looking for jobs and received a job offer two weeks after graduation. The staff at Tech Elevator really cares about you and will be there for you even after graduation. -
Hannah Freeman
A Truly Life Changing Program
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This time last year I was 3 months into a new restaurant job where I was finally making great money and was actually getting full benefits for the first time in my life. Turns out, money isn’t everything and I still found no joy in delivering onion rings. I had heard about coding from a few friends and had seen it portrayed in movies. Seriously, this was my only experience with coding. I dabbled on some of my nights off with HTML and CSS, thinking that paired with my art degree this might be a good fit. I shopped around Philly bootcamps, considered a commute to New York, even briefly considered online programs. But I knew in order to be most successful I needed to stay close to home and have to show up there everyday. Tech Elevator first showed up on my radar through Course Report! Out of every program I looked into they seemed the most genuine and committed to the success of their students during and after the program. I applied to be a part of Philly’s first TE cohort, which wasn’t as easy as simply signing up like other bootcamps I had seen. Getting accepted was the first of many personal accomplishments I would experience over the next 3 months.
I won’t sugar coat it, this program is TOUGH. I never shed actual tears but the pressure and anxiety I was feeling week to week was real. I was so far out of my comfort zone, but reminded myself that nothing worth doing is easy. The first few weeks I held on to the idea that I might be home for dinner by 5 and maintain a social life on the weekends. By week 4 I was staying at school till 7 or 8, refusing to leave until I had my brain wrapped around whatever totally new topic we had covered that day. Things got even crazier as the Pathway Program ramped up. We were giving elevator pitches to prospective employers once or twice a week, juggling resume prep and mock interviews to prepare for looming matchmaking and still, learning something new and mind bending everyday. Our instructors, our pathway director, and campus director provided us all with the resources we needed to succeed and their long hours and commitment did not go unnoticed. The staff consisted of a couple seasoned TE vets from Pittsburgh as well as few new hires who were teaching, leading and learning with us. Because of our smaller class size, Cohort 0 really felt like a small family. Then, COVID-19 hit. On Friday we talked about the option to attend remotely via Zoom and by Sunday it was mandatory. While going remote was not ideal, it was reality and within a week felt like the new normal. Nothing slowed down, we had all the same expectations and assignments, and we had to learn to keep ourselves accountable. I barely even noticed I wasn’t allowed to leave my house cause I didn’t have the time to leave my office anyway! We saw some employers drop out which was disconcerting, hiring freezes were all around us and the job search became an even more daunting task. But we kept at it with the same determination and cast an even wider net and remained open to all opportunities.
I am happy to say that as I write this I am in the midst of finalizing all of my employment paperwork for my job at J.P. Morgan Chase, an employer that I met through matchmaking at Tech Elevator. My offer came through on Thursday, and I am one of the lucky ones to have an offer in hand on graduation day. While the work in the tech industry has not slowed down, companies are simply in the process of figuring out onboarding remotely which is delaying them from being able to extend offers. But there is no doubt in my mind that in the coming weeks I will be hearing from fellow classmates as to where they will be starting. It was terrifying to quit my job, I hadn’t been unemployed since I was 14 years old, I had a home and plenty of bills to pay. Everything was riding on my success at Tech Elevator, they made a promise to help change my life and for me, they completely delivered. -
Katie O
Just do it
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Possibly the best money I spent. I pored over reviews and spent months looking for a coding bootcamp. No regrets, super happy with my decision. Granted, I graduated pre-coronavirus so things may be a little different now, but knowing what I know about everyone at Tech Elevator, I have no doubt that the latest graduates are in the best hands. Their goal is not only to prepare you for a job, but to get you one. I seriously recommend them to my friends and random people whenever it gets brought up.
My profile before Tech Elevator:- Had some experience with programming (Java in high school, Arduino/Raspberry Pi/Python stuff in college, Android development as a hobby after). Already knew I loved it
- Was a tutor for a couple years, then an assembler
- Bought a Web Development Udemy course, but couldn't focus on it and finish
- Didn't know how to get a programming job, or if I was even qualified
- Thought about getting into software for years, but didn't have an actual plan. Any time I'd start trying to learn something, five new questions would pop up for every answer I'd get
Just a few reasons I love Tech Elevator:- The instructors are amazing and really care about your learning. Always happy to share their experiences (and they each have tons of experience). Some of them are working on some pretty cool stuff outside of work as well, I'd ask them about it!
- The academic fellows are also graduates of the program, so they know exactly what you're going through. They're also always there to help
- Pathway people are on top of it. I'm pretty sure Katie Detore remembers where every student ended up lol. They meet with you individually, and you can also reach out to them with question or concerns. It's great
- Pathway program does more than show you how to write a resume. There are panels, visitors, employer showcases (companies coming to speak to you), mock interviews, real interviews...
- "Always learning" and "get comfortable with being uncomfortable" are phrases I heard a lot there and they've stuck with me. I'd never been one to do extra work outside of work, but now I see myself seeking out new things to do and learn
Me after Tech Elevator:- Associate consultant working at one of the many retailers here in Columbus. I can't imagine what my life would be like right now if I hadn't gone through the bootcamp and gotten a job in an industry where working remotely isn't a foreign concept
- Making more money. Thinking of buying a place soon
- Happier with my job
- Not that this field is immune to coronavirus, but I'm not that worried about losing my job. Chances of it happening are relatively low, and even I do, I'm still seeing recruiters reach out.
Advice:- Especially for those who aren't working or have kids while in the bootcamp, put as much time into this as you can. If you're done with your assignments, work on side projects or learn something else. As confusing as some of the topics may be at first, go to Meetups.
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Rachel
So Grateful
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My experience at Tech Elevator was fantastic. I've never felt so valued from day one at any other school or job. I have wanted to change careers for years but with a master's degree and being 12+ years into my career I just felt worried about making the switch. I knew I didn't have the time to put my life on hold for 3-4 years of school, so a short three month bootcamp that seemed confident I would get a job after seemed like an amazing option and I now wish I'd done it years ago. Even during the Covid-19 pandemic that caused our class to go remote, caused many hiring partners to freeze hiring and generally caused us all concern, we were all able to finish the program and most of us got offers before the cohort had even ended. I still ended up with multiple companies I had opportunities with and ended up getting my dream job, and making significantly more than I was before I entered the bootcamp. Tech Elevator is intense- it's basically like doing a 4 year degree in 14 weeks and I had never experienced school that was so difficult even with previous college degrees. You really do have to put your life on hold to complete it. Don't try to work during but just trust the process that you will have a job on the other side. -
Rob Anderson
Take the Leap!
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I was afraid of leaving my secure lifestyle to make an all out change but I'm glad I did! They give you all the training you need to start out at any tech company. So far I'm three months into my current job and I don't feel like I've been struggling at all. Not only do they prepare you to become a developer but they help train you to interview and set up plenty of companies to interview with. From start to finish they guide you every step of the way so that you leave with a job and feel confident to start your new journey. -
Andrew
Great Program - Awesome People!
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I attended Tech Elevator for the first Detroit cohort in summer 2019, learning Java. The program was challenging, but it did a great job of preparing me for my first job in technology. Along with the full stack knowledge and experience I gained, the Pathways Program was an invaluable tool for strengthening interview skills and polishing resumes. The Pathways program also includes employer showcases where local companies come in and speak about the tech stacks they use and what kind of work they do - I landed my job by connecting with one of the companies involved in these showcases. It's hard work but I would recommend Tech Elevator to anyone who is ready to start (or advance) their career in technology. -
Luke
Life Changing, Literally.
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It took me over a year to build up the courage from researching coding bootcamps, to find myself in a chair at one of Tech Elevator's Open Houses. Throughout that evening it quickly became clear to me that I had to join this program. I did, and it's changed my life. If you find yourself in a similar position, hopefully this will help. I came from a background of NO college and NO prior coding experience, but I knew I loved technology and solving problems. During that open house (which I HIGHLY recommend you attend) hearing the passion from the staff, the teachers, and their commitment to help you succeed really inspired me. The #1 thing that made it click for me, was the fact that Tech Elevator voluntarily gets audited yearly. You can see the amount of job offers AND the salary brackets of those offers of past students, they aren't trying to pull the wool over your eyes, they aren't making any crazy guarantees like some other programs, you get to see yourself the results for yourself. You can have confidence that when they talk placement rates, it's based of data, and not some crazy marketing plan. I know what you're thinking; quitting your job PLUS a high cost of entry for the program? That can seem very intimidating, but the result is well worth it in my opinion. I cannot stress this enough: you will get out what you put in the program. I had some classmates that, when it was job hunting time, only put in 1 resume a week, others were putting 10. The ones that only put a single resume out a week, well, they got jobs last. You're going to feel stressed, overwhelmed, and burnt out. And that's okay. That's part of it. But on the other side, for 3 months of hard, intense work, you can get a career that is life changing. For the entire journey, you are being supported by your teachers, you have decades of experience between them, and a fantastic job program (called Pathway) that is run alongside the coding. You get prepped for interviews, soft-skills, resume building, workshop, and technical interviews. They regularly have panels of alumni, and meetups with free food and drinks. You'll make friends and it feels good knowing you're all going through the same experience. All of this preparing to launch you into a career of tech. All in all, if you are looking for a incredible program, amazing teachers, and a staff that wants you to succeed, look no further. Stay humble, ask questions, push yourself. I'm glad I did. -
Michelle
Delivers on Promises - Tech Elevator Detroit
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I was in Cohort 0 (very first group) at Tech Elevator Detroit. The course delivered on its promises. We have very informative, committed instructors and also enthusiastic and committed leadership, career, and support staff. I was able to learn the basics of backend development, front end development, and gain access to creating and querying SQL databases. We also had exposure and practice with common agile methodologies - stand ups, paired programming - and tools - Trello story board. The team activities and the career events were really the icing on the cake. The course led to a new career opportunity. Details like the graduation cereomony and lunch and learns are extremely well executed. The environment at Tech Town Detroit is just right.
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Corynn Kessack
Thank you, Tech Elevator!!!
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My experience with Tech Elevator was absolutely incredible, and I am excited to explain why this was the best personal and professional decision of my life.
My background: I spent the last 5-6 years out of college working at good companies, but I knew that I wanted more and I wanted to follow my love of technology and find a career that would allow me to focus my time on learning about tech. I received a non-stem degree in college and I tinkered with hardware as well as taught myself SQL, HTML, and CSS on my own throughout the years. After getting into tech elevator, I got started on the prework and tried to absorb as much as possible before the program started. This was a great decision and I recommend future students take advantage of this time as well. My advice for people coming into TE is to really understand that you will have to block off much of the 3.5 months that this program requires. I didn’t see a lot of friends for a while, but they understood and encouraged me nevertheless. It was common for me to come in on Saturdays and I reviewed topics on Sundays as well.
The beginning of the cohort: The first few days weren’t bad at all! By the end of the week, I felt the most stressed than I did the entire cohort, as I was adjusting to just how demanding this program was going to be. After I got past that week, the rest was challenging, but I felt like I knew how to approach it and what to expect. Tech can be a stressful world, and Tech Elevator helps to prepare you for that through the workload (in addition to providing an unbelievable variety of valuable topics).
Throughout the cohort: The material is go-go-go, but you will keep up. Find the best means of studying for you. There were times that I felt more productive at school, and there were times I preferred to work at home. Do what works for you. The mental and emotional hurdles of this program are greater than the work itself, and it’s important to know that everyone feels like they are barely hanging on. Trust the process and get “comfortable with being uncomfortable”.
End of the cohort: From midway on, we focused a lot on the job-hunt as well as our regular studies, which could get overwhelming. Staying organized and pushing through the stress will help you find that job. Get a few nice interview outfits, and know your vocabulary. :) Matchmaking was a blast, and I prepared constantly for those as well as the on site interviews. I was lucky enough to have a few job offers before the end of the cohort, and well over half of the cohort had secured jobs as well.
Verdict: Again, this program was THE best decision of my life. My income doubled, and I managed to find an incredible company to work for. As I learned about my new department’s tech stack, I felt relieved that 99% of it had been covered at some point in my TE classroom. The instructors are the most heartfelt and encouraging people, and the same can be said for Katie, Ben, Laura, and Maddi (the pathway folks). Don’t be afraid to communicate with them, ask questions, and express what would help you learn or get through this program. THANK YOU, Tech Elevator, and good luck to future TEers out there!! :)
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HSh
The best roller coaster ride ever
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i had the educational support by highly experienced professors and empathetic staff. I had extreme emotional support from the instructors and the pathway program team to keep going and to believe that I can. First four weeks are about learning the basics in java or .net. 2 weeks of sql and the rest are a combination of both. After week 6 we learned about mvc. Then JavaScript, html ,css , vuejs, eventlisteners . Lots of mvc, oop concepts. Strong pathway hiring program. They introduce you to companies in different events like matchmaking and company showcases. Keep going to meetups and brag about the fact that you are a student at the best bootcamp ever.
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Ryan Sutton
Excellent in Every Way
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I was miserable in my old career, stuck in a downward spiral of poverty and failing mental health. Tech Elevator saved me. The basic skillset they taught me prepared me for any entry-level software dev position, but more importantly I now feel that I could learn any new technology or concept within a week's time of study. Tech Elevator saw that I had a job offer before I graduated, and for the first time in a long time I am looking forward to my future. I cannot thank them enough, and I would encourage everyone who was in my position to consider Tech Elevator.
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Therese
A gamble worth taking
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I decided to come to Tech Elevator after being let go from a graphic design job. I had some experience with HTML and CSS. I was mostly interested in the front end technologies so I wasn't sure if I wanted to go through with a full stack program but I would have to say that it was worth it.
*If you don't plan on working with other students and asking for help then you aren't going to make it through the program.
The instructors are all very knowledgable and I feel like I have learned so much more than what I could have learned on my own. The paired programing really helped with figuring out topics you may not have understood during lecture and you also get another's point of view. For my cohort we had the same instructor the whole time, and that would be the only unfortunate side to the program. If you have trouble learning from the instructor's style, you pretty much have to learn from your peers or ask the other instructors after lecture to get a different approach. The Java class had the instructors switch halfway through the cohort and I think that would have been helpful with some subjects.
The pathway program really helped in updating LinkedIn and my resume as well as prepared me for the matchmaking interviews. It was a lot of similar general content from career classes from college but it really helped to get it specific to the industry. They also really push you to do all you can to reach out to companies, recruiters, and after interviews to get your foot in the door.
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Jesse Foltz
Brutal But Rewarding & Worth it.
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I walked in to Tech Elevator after almost a decade of bouncing from job to job and contract to contract barely making ends meet. My post undergrad career was spotty at best. I was constantly bouncing around production art jobs, help desk gigs, and occasional dips into bioplamsa industries. None of which felt rewarding or fuffilling and often times led to being laid off or fired due to budget cuts. I was recommending to Tech Elevator from a friend of mie who had similar struggles. The sticker shock got me at first. But, I assure you the program is well worth it.
Some things to know going in:- BE prepared to work. This isn't an undergrad program where you can flake off all day and just sorta pass and hope for a job. If that is your mentality, do not go to this bootcamp. If you wanna learn and grow your skills into a new career then this is the place for you.
- The pathway program put on by the staff is by far one of the most valuable tools this bootcamp provides aspiring developers with. Be sure to go to all of them and pay attention even if you feel you don't need the info. Each session has something you can learn.
- NETWORK NETWORK NETWORK. Your instructors, TE Staff, and classmates will be great assests through out the cohort and after you graduate. Additionally, go to meetups in your city and meet people in the industry. You may very well end up having a beer with the person who will hire you for your next career position.
- Take the prework seriously and continue beyond Tech Elevator's requirements. The prework they assign is meant to prepare you for week one of the program and get you familiar with what your are doing in the cohort. I recommend going beyond their required prework and study as much as possible, and complete as much of the freecodecamp.com tutorials as possible prior to day 1. It'll give you an edge with the curriculum as well as your future career.
- ASK FOR HELP. If you get stuck, reachout. Everyone is here for you and wants you to succeed.
And that sums it up. I recommend the Cincinnati Tech Elevator highly. I graduated with a position at a company in Blue Ash, OH. Starting at $56k a year. I couldn't of done it with out Tech Elevator.
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Rob
No Regrets
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I was a bit hesitant to leave everything behind and go to the bootcamp at Tech Elevator, but after going through the program my only regret was not doing this sooner. I was able to get a job from the matchmaking process and significantly increase my annual salary.
The instructors were very clear, helpful and patient and the Cohort I went through with were awesome to code with. The projects were useful to build on what we had learned throughout our lessons and the lessons were paced in such a way that you got to keep building on what you already learned previously.
The pathway program included with Tech Elevator was amazing and Jessica helps prepare you for matchmaking and getting you a position in your dream career! Thanks Rita, Jessica, Katie, and David for the amazing experience!
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Maconnell Balderas
An Amazing Program To Start In The Field
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Tech Elevator is an amazing program to help you learn how to interview, create a resume, learn to become a junior developer and so much more. Before this I had the basic understanding of Java and no clue how to interview correctly or write a good resume. Through this Cohort, I was not only able to get a much greater understanding of Java but I was also able to learn other areas of coding in both frontend and backend. I was also able to greatly improve my interiewing skills and learn how to create an amazing resume. By the end of the Cohort I learned so much, from educational topics to career development skills to even learning that age does not matter here, everyone is in the same boat. It is an amazing experience with amazing people, this program is definitly a must when going into the software field.
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Todd Faulkner
Senior Application Engineer
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The number one benefit is job placement (and prep for placement). Unparalleled in the industry from everything I have read, heard and seen.
Also, the homework is one of the real strengths of the program.
Finally, the teachers and staff are great.
This programming evolves and adapts quickly to the needs of employers. What someone learned a year ago in the program may be totally different from what students are learning now. Tech Elevator definitely is in touch with the heart beat of industry.
This program is very selective (less that 10% of applicants are admitted), so the quality of people in the program is amazing. I am sure many of my classmates will be friends for life (and perhaps co-workers for life too).
I am a little old-school, so I would have liked some printed material to take with me into my jobs to use as reference. A few more diagrams would have been nice as well, but these are minor issues compared to everything else.
You will not be disappointed with the results.
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Scout Wallace
100% Grateful
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I'm just wrapping up my time at the Columbus Tech Elevator and I'm so grateful. This has been an amazing experience. I've learned so much and it's really stepped up my tech abilities. The instructors are fantastic and the curriculum is challenging, thorough, and very relevant. The job assistance (called the Pathway Program) really helped me transition from my previous career to where I'm off to, aiding in job searching and professional identity. It helped connect me with recruiters, tech acquisition managers, and others in the tech field. Tech Elevator ultimately helped to get me to my next job at an amazing company, which I was just offered and accepted.
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Christopher Horwitz
Student
14 week intense coding bootcamp that seriously preps it's students to find an entry level job! -
Tom Nuzzarello
Great development opportunity
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I started in video and digital media, a career that I loved, but I struggled to make ends meet. So I looked at other career options and found that I had some skill with computers and programming. I took a few programming classes at a community college, and during that time I heard about Tech Elevator through family. Since it seemed like a solid career path which had some synergy with my old path, I decided this was a great way to advance.
I decided to take the .Net track, because I am more familiar with Microsoft software and because I have some previous experience with C++, a predecessor to C#. This was extremely helpful in the early stages which focused on C#. In the later stages, which involved more specialized languages like SQL and CSS, I did not have this head start because I was not experienced with these languages. The instructors were extremely patient and helpful; never at any point did I feel that I was asking a stupid question or being inconvenient, and they were always available to help. And we really needed it sometimes. We were also able to ask for help on side projects, or to discuss things like interviews we’ve had.
The thing that really appealed to me with Tech Elevator was the Pathway program, the career prep side of the school. This was very important to me, considering that my previous career struggled because I didn’t know how to develop it. I would go so far as to say that if it weren’t for the Pathway program, I might not have wanted to go to Tech Elevator at all. And I was very impressed with the results. I feel like I learned more about career development in these 14 weeks than I have learned since I started undergrad in 2010. Interview practice was invaluable, since interviews are (for me at least) the hardest and least enjoyable part of the process. Resume and LinkedIn advice was also extremely helpful.
The Cleveland Campus was excellent, with a kitchen and study area, and the garage space for big meetings and presentations was perfect. The campus was very clean and conveniently located, with some good lunch options only a few blocks from campus (good for me because I sometimes forgot to pack lunch). We also continue to be welcome there after completion of the course, so we can continue to get help looking for jobs after completion of the course and even just for events like game night.
I got my first offer about eight weeks after graduation, an excellent role for a junior developer that I don’t think I would have landed without the help of Tech Elevator. The 14 weeks you will spend here are pretty intense, and you won’t have a lot of free time and certainly won’t be able to work a job at the same time. But if you need the kind of career boost that I got, you can’t go wrong here.
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Brennan
Great Investment!
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I am a recent college grad of '19 that majored in Public Service. Before I joined Tech Elevator, I heard a business owner of one of the largest online Real Estate website/forums say one of his best software engineers completed a coding bootcamp. I've always had an interest in tech but that comment alone was one of the catalyst that convinced me to take the leap and commit to Tech Elevator. It was worth every penny and I am proud to say that I will be beginning my career as a software developer!!
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Josh
Amazing Program
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I first heard about the existance of coding bootcamps in December of 2018. I had a couple part time jobs at the time and was interested in finding a full time job, hopefully doing something I liked. A bootcamp seemed like a quick way to reach that goal, so I started doing a little research. Tech Elevator caught my attention because of their statistics with job placement and the high ratings previous graduates were giving it on course report. I decided to take a chance and give it a shot. I'm glad I did.
The design of this program is absolutely stunning. If you are willing to work hard and follow the game plan, you will get a job in tech. By the end you will know enough to be able to get and successfully navigate interviews for tech positions. The support you will have in finding a job is top notch. Even after graduation the school will remain invested in helping you secure employment. There is a long list of companies that are hiring partners. This alone is incredibly valuable as they are often able to help you get interviews. The important thing to remember is that you ARE NOT guaranteed a job. However, the statistics speak for themselves. If you are willing to do the work, there is a more than 90% probability you will succeed!
As for the course itself... this was the most difficult thing education wise I have ever done in my life. I found that on average I needed to work 70 hours a week to keep up. If you are considering doing this, you have to be sure of two things: 1. That you will have the complete support and understanding of your family (and friends). You will not be available to perform most of your regular household duties. This can put stress on your spouse if you're married. Make sure they understand what they are in for. Your friends may get irritated with your near complete lack of availability. Prepare everyone for your absense in advance and get them on board. 2. Be sure you want to do this. It's called bootcamp for a reason. If you are not completely invested in getting through it so that you can have a better career and a better life, you won't make it. This is not something that can be faked or done with half effort the way you handled most of your college classes.
Being on the other side of it now, it's stunning how much I was able to learn in such a short period of time. Even more stunning is that I finally have a real career, one with a future. I am so thankful that this program exists. If you are sure you want to go to a bootcamp, this is the one to choose.
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Noah Myers
Tech Elevator an all around great experience
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TLDR: Tech Elevator is fast, intense, fun, and teaches you a lot if you let it. John is a great instructor. The pathway program is worth the effort, especially matchmaking. And external capstones are the way to go.
Tech Elevator was exactly the kind of program I needed to push myself in the direction I wanted. It allowed me to transition my life to somewhere I actually wanted to be after having stopped my studies in mechanical engineering due to disinterest and finding myself working seasonal manual labor jobs. With my previous educational experience I knew I wanted to work with technology, especially code, and that I needed something fast paced and intense out of a program. After going to an open house early in the year I felt that this program would be a prefect fit for what I was lookin for.
With a fair background in engineering prior to the start of this program I was worried that I would find myself bored throughout it since I had a good mindset and some cursory coding experience, and that could have easily been true but they made sure to let us know in the beginning that what you put in is what you get out. So I found myself jumping down every rabbit hole that John opened up, his teaching style kept me engaged and allowed me to feel like no only was I learning but that I was really understanding the material. This gave me the opportunity to help the other people in my cohort when I could helping me to learn more too. Additionally the pair and group work really helped me to learn not only coding but how to work with a variety of different people, from different backgrounds, with different levels of understanding, and different goals.
Now on to everyones least favorite part during the program and favorite after, the pathway portion. This part of the program was immensely helpful so long as you let it be. This was where they would help us get exposure to various types of tech companies, they would teach us about interviewing in the industry they would help us craft our resumes and LinkedIns, and more. The part that everyone always raves about is the matchmaking days, in which they set students up with quick in person interviews with companies who are looking to bring in new people from Tech Elevator. This is truly a part of the program which sets it apart, as it allows their students to be in a premium position to talk with people who are looking to hire someone like them. I know this part of the program was great for me as I type this after two weeks working for a company I met through matchmaking and honestly might have made the mistake of overlooking otherwise.
Last but not least, the final capstone projects. I chose to work on a capstone which involved an outside company, and that was an amazing choice. Doing so allowed me to work with others in the cohort who were passionate about a similar topic to deliver a product that people might actually use! Getting to work with an actual company who has real use cases and legitimate desires from a product was a priceless experience for someone to get before even making it into the industry and I would wholeheartedly recommend doing an external capstone if one sounds remotely interesting.
All told I thoroughly enjoyed the program, got stacks of knowledge, heaps of friends, and ultimately a job which I really enjoy.
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Bobby Galinas
Tech Elevator supports your effort.
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With Tech Elevator's extensive academic and professional support I was able to achieve the exact goal that I had hoped to achieve when entering the program. Tech Elevator provides a challenging and valuable technical curriculum, experienced and generous instructors, and a robust career planning service. If you are willing to commit yourself to Tech Elevator's curriculum you will take relevant skills into your first job in the IT field.
The school's course work did an admirable job at providing me with the fundamental skills I need to develop web based applications. I was exposed to front-end and back-end principles in units that varied in coverage time. Each unit was supported with individual and pairs exercises. Many of the topics that I worked on at Tech Elevator are important to the work that I do as a professional software developer. That being said, I do believe the coursework would be much less effective without proper instruction.
The techincal instructors at Tech Elevator are excellent. Each techincal instructor is whip smart, but something that I feel is equally important is how willing the instructors are to help. It is a great feeling to approach an instructor with a (seemingly) cryptic problem and see that they are genuienly excited to help you solve it. I have not met a group of people who are so highly expreienced but are still able to make a novice coder feel like a colleague. This enthusiasm and experience level carries over to the Pathway Program professionals.
I have graduated from two collegiate institutions, and I have never experienced the level of energy or aid that Tech Elevator's Pathway Program professionals exude. I was almost constantly exposed to corporations in the area that were actively hiring for various IT roles. I had a large number of interviews that took place on Tech Elevator's campus that were arranged by the Pathway Program. Each professional was avaliable nearly all the time to help with anything from document review to in-person interview preperation. I believe that the Pathway Program is unmatched. With all of that said, your success in the program will depend largely on the effort that you put in.
If you have seriously thought about starting a career in the IT field, and you are ready to commit yourself to learning Tech Elevator is a peerless option. The program provides you with vast resources, but it is almost entirely on you to exploit those resources. I recommend attempting to enroll if you are ready to work hard because this is a place where hard work seems to pay off.
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Justin Gompers
.NET Coding Bootcamp
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Before attending Tech Elevator I was working as a Chef for the past 10 years. I had some experience with coding but really wanted to further my knowledge and dive into a new field of work. After hearing stories of the school I decided to go to a open house, learn more about the school, and the curriculum they taught. I was hooked after that moment and after I finished my first day I knew I made the right choice. I was taught by Tom Anderson (.NET professor) who had decades of experience working in the field. The lessons he taught were easy to follow along with but also were laid out to cover all the bases needed to work in this industry. This is not an easy pass to get a new job though, I had to spend hours doing extra work and practicing on my own with personal projects to get better. In the end I felt like I learned more than enough to do the job I am working today. I highly recommend this program to anyone who is willing to put in the time to change. -
Dan
Really Great Experience
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Tech Elevator is an amazing program for those looking for a career change! In 14 weeks I went from almost knowing nothing about coding to getting a job offer for a junior software developer position.
The best part of Tech Elevator in my opinion was their Pathyway Program, which helps with career prep. From building your resume to mock interviews, they are with you every step of the way to help prepare you to do well interviewing. And maybe most importantly, Tech Elevator does a lot of work to build relationships with companies in your city who are in need of developers, which is huge to get a foot in the door with their hiring network.
The instructors do a good job of teaching you during lecture every day, but it's up to you to do the homework well and go above and beyond to learn things that might not have been covered completely. The capstones in particular (of which there are four) were really helpful in solidifying concepts and things we had learned at the end of each module. At the end of the day, it is still just 14 weeks, so there's so much more to learn and at times I felt unprepared for technical interviews, but you should know enough at the end to get a job and show any employer your motivation and ability to learn a lot in a short amount of time.
Overall, I had a really great experience at Tech Elevator and would recommend it to anyone who had the ability and interest in coding. It was scary to quit my previous job and write out those big tuition checks, but it was totally worth it.
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Mel B
Complete 180.
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I weighed my options of bootcamps between online, AcademyPGH and TechElevator, and TE won out pretty quickly. During the open house information session that I went to, many of my questions were answers, and my worries eased. The graduation and employment percentage and the salary outcome were all promising to me, and so I was convinced of the numbers-related proof that the program works, but I needed more. I spoke with instructors and TE alumni, and "Trust the Process" echoed throughout the room. It's a big deal to take a leap of faith on something where people say "trust it", but honestly? I got a solid vibe from the place. Call it a gut feeling.
Before the bootcamp, I used to be a Kitchen Manager, and for the last 11 years, I worked in customer and food service. I hadn't had any preparation for the professional world, and even with a B.A. and solid soft skills, I couldn't get out of that system. That's why I chose Tech Elevator. They have a stellar reputation that is iteratively building positively over time through tangible results. It's a clean slate, a new start, and a second chance.
Professionally, the Pathway Program and advice from the instructors helped me a ton. They gave me advice on how to answer certain questions, how to conduct myself, and what the tech world is really like. My Pathway instructor was serious about helping me get to the next level in my professional life and even took time late into the night to talk me through problems and questions I had related to presenting myself professionally. I spent SO much time with the instructors so that I could have a solid understanding of the core concepts of development, and they were there for me every time that I needed them.
If you decide to do this program, make sure that you tell your friends and family that this is serious. The more seriously and professionally that you treat the program, the more you'll get out of it. I pretty much only hung out with TE people and spent most of my time there (except for sleeping) for a good chunk of the time, and I was able to absorb information much more fully than if I was only checked in at certain "required" times.
Related to coding skills, I feel that I have a good, general knowledge of how to approach learning any new language, and a strong base in C# and SSMS. If you create a solid knowledge base, picking up different languages and processes isn't as daunting as opposed to if you were walking in blindly.
I was able to meet and converse with professionals in the tech industry that I otherwise wouldn't have had the chance to meet through matchmaking and networking events, made visible and possible by TechElevator.
I wouldn't have the title, Software Engineer, and the chance for a new life if it weren't for TechElevator. This program gave me the opportunity to become the person that I want to be, and for that I am eternally grateful.