Tech Elevator

As a graduate from Cohort 9 in the .NET course from Tech Elevator, I can officially say this was the best possible move I could have made. If you are reading this, you are probably simply researching, or more likely, on the fence about applying. I myself thought about applying for 2 years, and I wish I did it sooner! I was allured by the great statistics and recognition the received. AND THEY DELIVERED. Everything 100% exceeded my expectations. The best takeaway, however, is the Pathway Program. Not only do I know tech, I now know companies, hiring partners, and colleagues in tech.

I was a student in the Java course at the Cincinnati location over the Summer. I had no prior experience in coding and was very nervous at the start of the cohort. The instructors and director reassured and encouraged me all the time. Anytime I needed help the instructors took as long as I needed until I felt comfortable. When it came time to have interviews the pathway instructor made sure we were all very prepared and comfortable. I would recommend Tech Elevator to anyone who wants to find a career as a software developer. I now have a great job and cannot thank Tech Elevator enough for giving me all the tools I needed to get to this point.

I really can't say enough good things about Tech Elevator. The staff are all amazing, wonderful people who work really hard to give students the best learning experience possible. Everyone from the teachers and TAs, to the Pathway directors, and the Administrative staff were incredibly invested in our learning and success. When you become a student and graduate of Tech Elevator you and entering into a community where you can find support and encouragement for the rest of your career. I forged many friendships during my time there and I am eternally thankful to them for giving me the tools and knowledge to begin a new career as a software engineer.

I was in the summer 2020 cohort and due to Covid-19 all of our learning was done remotely over Zoom. While schools all over the country have struggled to adapt to this change, Tech Elevator hit it out of the ballpark on their first swing. We were required to be online, with our cameras on, for the entirety of lecture. This encouraged us to be more active participants to our learning and turned impersonal, faceless, Zoom calls into a much more enjoyable classroom-like experience.

The course material covers the full stack of web development from Vue front ends to SQL databases controlled by Java controllers. This is a 14-week boot camp and while they cannot teach you every single aspect of software development, they cram as much in as possible. You will be busy during your training, so plan for 60 hour weeks give or take depending on how quickly you understand the material. Be mindful too that you get out of the program what you put into it. The teachers can only teach so much; you will get more out of the program when you engage in lecture, ask questions, and do the readings before class. Its not uncommon to feel behind most of the time you are here. Our instructors reminded us to trust in the system and to forge ahead and looking back on my experience, they were right. The material builds on itself and you will become more comfortable with what you have learned over time. They were always encouraging and supportive during our tough times.

While their technical training is top-notch, what really made Tech Elevator even more valuable is their Pathway Program. Many of the students, including myself, come from blue collar careers and Pathway got our resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and elevator pitches polished and ready for the job hunt. They taught us how to interview for these roles and to know what to expect out of our careers. Many bootcamps out there can teach you how to write code, Tech Elevator will teach you how to get the job writing code. Their support after graduation in helping us find opportunities and connecting us with companies looking for workers was invaluable to my own job search.

I cannot recommend them enough for those looking to break into the tech industry or are looking to switch careers. It's a big leap that can feel daunting at times, but Tech Elevator will give you the ability to land on your feet with a better job than before with a brighter future ahead of you.

I attended the 14-weel Tech Elevator boot camp in Columbus, OH during the covid pandemic. It was the schools first full cohort completely remote. I was surprised by how smoothly everything ran and the amount of attention I was able to receive individually despite being remote. I also carry a four year degree from Ohio State, and I can whole-heartedly say that I felt my Tech Elevator professors provided a better service. There was more personal attention, a high professor to student ratio, and both of my professors were highly knowledgeable in the field. The price tag is a little steep, but three months after finishing the cohort I received an offer 35k higher than what I was making before the cohort, and mind you this was during the pandemic. Definitely expect to put in a lot of work, but Tech Elevator does everything they can to help you be successful.

If you're looking for a boot camp to guide you into your new career in Software Development, there is none better than Tech Elevator.  I chose Tech Elevator after seeing the CIRR report that provides complete transparency into their 95% graduation rate and 92% job placement rate.  The program was supposed to be in person, but due to Covid was transitioned to online.  In my opinion, the program was outstanding fully remote.  The instructors are available day and night to answer any question you may have and go above and beyond.  The pathway program cannot be understated though.  They truly prepare you for the developer interview process and don't quit until you're signing your offer letter.  The combination of these two programs sets Tech Elevator apart.  I cannot recommend it enough.

Do the prework and more
if you are accepted be sure to finish the prework in its entirety along with any additional resources that are offered, also take some time to familiarize yourself with the coding language track you selected (C# or Java). You shouldn't try to learn everything before the cohort but the more you focus on the fundamentals and introductory material the better. Reach out to your instructor for advice on what material to use so you don't waste time learning the wrong things. 
You do NOT need prior coding experience to be successful
I joined without any previous coding experience and I landed a job a month after graduating. 
Make sure you are communicating with faculty on a regular basis to share any input or concerns they will set aside time to hear you. 

This is an overview of my 14-week experience.
Location: Detroit/Philadelphia combined remote Session: Summer 2020 Track: Java (because I've heard of Java but not .NET, plus this was the only track at my campus)
Part 0: Why Bootcamp ---TL,DR--- Want programming job, need structure for learning.
I chose a coding bootcamp because my top priority was to get a job as soon as possible (within reason) and still have formal structure for studying how to program. Willpower alone would not have sustained my motivation to break into coding for weeks on end.
Part 1: The Cost ---TL,DR--- Not cheap, but worth it for me, with great instructors, career support, and highly motivated classmates.
Tuition is nothing to sneeze at, so of course consider your finances and look carefully at all your options in terms of financing and education. Tech Elevator does have a scholarship that covers a bit over 80% of the cost, which is starting now for future cohorts. Apply for it (check eligibility). Coming out of TE, personally, I've heard of people in my cohort being offered between $55-70K for annual salary with different companies after the program.
It's not the best of economic worlds, but you can make it work. For me, I looked at TE's record of alumni hire rate, average salary, and the partner companies my TE campus has. I signed on because I believed that the collaboration and connections the staff at my campus had would help me succeed in my job search.
Part 2: Career Support ---TL,DR--- Great guidance, structure, and network, but of course I still have to put in the work.
Knowing how tough the job market (still) is, having a program with a strong career support record was the top priority for me and my classmates. TE's Pathway Program helped me polish my resume and interview skills, as well as push me to make and maintain professional connections. Even in this market, a few of my classmates were hired on Matchmaking Day, with many more of us getting offers now, about a month or so after graduation, though it is not uncommon to find positions later, especially with pandemic-triggered shutdowns and hiring freezes only starting to ease off recently and companies clearing their hire backlog (I do hear and sense that tech is one of the departments at all companies that have restarted their hiring earliest).
After graduation, Pathway support continues. Before accepting my position, I had weekly appointments with my Pathway Director to check in, look over application materials, and set goals. I could also make appointments with instructors to practice technical interviews, ask questions about the industry, or ask for other advice. There are regular posts on job fairs and other resources for local, relocation, and remote positions. The staff are amazing, and their top priority is supporting us as we work towards getting at least one offer. Looking for a job is never easy, but having the structure in place gave me peace of mind and greater accountability.
In addition to the staff, there is an amazing TE alumni network. I really appreciate the time our alumni gave us in panels, happy hours, and in one-on-one chats via LinkedIn, etc. Each person I reached out to was tremendously generous with their help, tips, and advice. Even during the earliest company demos and later on in the interview process, I could feel that my path has been made smoother and more doors have been opened because of the work put in by the TE alumni who have come before me. Even now, I enjoy staying in touch and have the privilege of working at an organization where I’m onboarding with a bunch of my classmates while shadowing another alum and their team to get a sense of what the day-to-day on an active project is like.
Part 3: Class and Homework ---TL, DR--- There’s a lot of work, but staying organized, asking for help, and giving help should get you through, barring whatever else this year is going to throw at us.
Margaret is one of the best teachers I’ve had the luck to learn from. We had a lot of homework. My classmates asked fantastic questions. Pair-programming is the best (for instance, I might forget something and ask about it in a vague round-about way, and my life-saving partner would go "Oh! Here's how you do that...", and also one-letter typos breaking our web applications are mind-blowing and better tackled with a buddy or two). I can go on and on.
Here’s what I thought was most important:

• Stay organized. I used: 

1. Ryver’s “Personal Tasks” and “Task Stream” for daily to-dos, such as the quiz, exercises, tutorial, etc (and you keep Ryver access after graduating, so if you like it you can continue to use it)
2. Bullet-ish journal, on recommendation by an alum (YouTube has videos on bullet journaling), because I like pen and paper

• Practice, practice, practice: katas for tech interviews later (and your pitch in general, on the Pathway side). I tried to do at least 1 little coding practice every 2 days or so on HackerRank. CodeWars and others can be useful, as well.

 

• Complete side projects. This is definitely something I wish I’d done more of, but hey, never too late to start. Start small. Ask your instructors for ones that take a few hours just to get started once you get through a little bit of Module 1. Dip your toe in and grab some wins. Then stretch yourself and see what a project that takes more time, spread out over a few days, feels like. Push to a week. More important than anything else: Just do it. (Says me, who definitely spent more time reading articles about other people’s thoughts on their side projects and side project ideas than actually doing the work.)

Yes, you have a ton of homework and you need to write a kick-butt pitch. Yes, you have other obligations outside of TE. Yes, you have to sleep. So start simple, and do it. Outside of being crucial during the interview process, side projects are how you keep learning long past TE.

• Ask for help. Your instructors are amazing human beings. Your classmates are shelling out a lot of money and time to learn, same as you. Maybe you like figuring things out a bit on your own first. Maybe you prefer to have someone to chat with right when you git pull those delicious exercises. Either way, set yourself a “struggle time” - could be 10-30 min (that’s my personal daily homework to capstone project range) - and if you are still stuck after that, ask for help. The best thing that can happen is that you get unstuck. The better thing that can happen is that you also help other people who had the same issue. There is no downside.

Part 4: Completely Remote ---TL,DR--- We still built a strong sense of community. 2+ monitors and Dark Mode will save your sanity. Connectivity and equipment issues happen, but staff are very helpful and fixes/workarounds can be found when you communicate the issues ASAP. Mind your mental health - unplug, move, meditate, whatever works for you.
Firstly, being remote means that your equipment will either be shipped to you, or there will be a socially-distanced hand-off you’ll drive to. The previous cohort started classes in-person for a few weeks before the shutdown made everything remote. Our cohort was completely remote. I do miss in-person interaction. I’m also very happy about the sub-minute commute. 
Sococo is a web application TE uses that's very useful for seeing who’s around and seeing who’s working on what assignments. Hop in a Jitsi/Zoom/Hangout/whatever, as your schedule allows. Ask for and give help. Make some friends! Patricia also hosted optional weekly game hours for us on Fridays with Jackbox games. Working and playing together, not to mention all the kudos we were giving and getting on Ryver, went a long way towards building a sense of community, at least for me.
Here’s what helped me:

• Hide my Zoom camera display. If you’re exhausted by staring at your own face, like I am, Zoom will let you hide your own image from your screen. You’re still on camera, so don’t pick your nose or stand up without pants on, but I definitely felt less pressure when I didn’t have to look at myself. At the same time, getting to see my instructors’ and classmates’ faces definitely helped me feel a sense of camaraderie and engage more in the lessons.

• Give kudos and shout-outs. Noting something specific that you thought someone did really well, such as answering or asking a question, being encouraging, etc, and give them a shout-out on Ryver. The days can be long and arduous, and sharing my gratitude and wins made them better.

• Move. Don’t sit down for too long. Look out a window or at least at something that’s beyond your screen(s) regularly (25 minutes if you’re a Pomodoro fan) and stretch your limbs, back, and neck. If you find yourself feeling grumpy, take a break, eat a snack. If it’s late, push your edits and go sleep. 

• Unplug. Make time to go off-screen. Hang out with the lovely beings you’re living with. Take time for yourself. Go out for a walk. Meditate. Work out. Put those moments on your schedule. They will help you stay recharged and ready to learn some more.

Most importantlyHave confidence in yourself. You’re taking care of you, and probably your loved ones, too. You’re planning out the next steps of your path. You’re doing the research. You might also be learning a bit about programming already. 
You’ve got this.
I wish you all the best! And I hope you found my thoughts helpful.

Tech Elevator was great all around. I had some coding experience coming in, but really it was just some classes I took in high school and college. Basically I could declare a variable and understood some basics like if statements and loops. But the school was really great with all students no matter what their skill level coming in. Andy and Margaret (the instructors) were always available to answer questions and help anyone who needed it. Plus the pathway program really helped prepare me to find a job. Matter of fact, when I got my offer, the recruiter had even told me how they've always had good experiences with Tech Elevator grads so it almost certainly increased my likelihood of getting picked.

I, like many others, tried to do the "teach yourself coding" path.  I took numerous online classes and read books on the hottest technologies, and even with a college degree and 10 years of engineering work experience, I got ZERO traction when it came to actually getting interviews.  THIS is the part that makes Tech Elevator perhaps the best value in education (perhaps ANY kind of investment) around.  You can check the stats on this website or elsewhere - at Tech Elevator Pittsburgh, over 90% of people who complete the curriculum leave with a job, and the average salary is ~$60k (apologies if those numbers are off a bit).  The return on the investment in yourself, in such a short time, is unmatched.  On top of the nearly guaranteed job, you will also get a TOP-NOTCH education from friendly and knowledgeable instructors that will prepare you for the modern tech economy.  

YOU WILL NOT REGRET GOING TO TECH ELEVATOR PITTSBURGH!

 When I decided I was ready to make a career move the list of boot camps for coding was a long one. Tech Elevator quickly rose to the top of that list based on their proven track record. Coming from a blue collar job working as a welder I was apprehensive about whether I would be able to thrive in this environment or be accepted by my peers. Those worries were promptly squashed as I began to interact with the staff and eventually my fellow students. Everyone was so welcoming and ready to help. The staff made the transition into learning as smooth as they could for me.

Regarding the coursework, it was nothing short of phenomenal. Tech Elevator's team of instructors, tutors and mentors are all top notch. They throw a lot at you, and it comes fast, but they also provide the support to help you succeed. The coding portion of their curriculum is rigorous and challenging. It is also highly effective. I went from almost no coding experience to being able to write my first basic program in a matter of weeks. By the end of the cohort I was participating in full stack development of web applications comfortably.

The career prep portion of the cohort was hardly an aside. It was one of the main attractions for me to Tech Elevator. I learned how to effectively sell myself to potential employers. How to build a professional network of peers and mentors. In depth training and practice for both behavioral and technical interviews. These are just a few highlights from that part of the program that did so much to prepare me to actually land a job upon graduation.

Tldr: - Came in with no experience in software development
        - Had an exceptional learning and professional development experience led by a team of wonderful people
        - Within a month of graduating I have landed my first job as a Software Developer with a reputable company
        - 100% recommend Tech Elevator to anyone looking to break into tech