Tech Elevator

If you want a job as a programmer, this is probably your best option, except for actually getting a degree. The technologies covered in the curriculum were a good selection for full stack web development for the most part. I believe they have added more discussion of front end JS framework recently. The classes are taught by experienced instructors, not TAs, which is what makes Tech Elevator stand out, and experienced tutors are always available.

The jobs program was helpful because you get the chance to interview with companies. Some of the advice given, however, was questionable, such as requiring students to build a social media presence. I also was disappointed that the environment created by staff was at times less than professional and was not always respectful of students. Additionally, if you are serious about becoming a programmer, you should know that basically zero computer science topics are covered at Tech Elevator. When you go into the field, your colleagues with degrees will be working with background computer science knowledge that you don't have unless you seek it out yourself, and eventually, you'll be at a disadvantage.

Overall, basically everybody from my group got a good technology job and a career path -- although not everyone got a job as a programmer. Despite the downsides I mentioned, I think it is probably the best bootcamp in the region.

A little about me. I did my undergrad in biology thinking I would go do some research. I was feeling uninspired, but still felt some pressure to make a decision about what to do. It's no doubt that I'm a procrastinator, so after a long time (about as long as this long essay) I decided I wanted to be a software developer. Once I had my mindset, it was no big deal. I joined Tech Elevator in August 2017 and, after graduating, I've been working happily ever after as software dev for almost 4 months.

Maybe a little about you. Are you passionate about technology and a career in software development? Maybe it inspires you to create something that's never existed before. Maybe it's one of the few fields you view yourself being challenged and inspired to learn everyday. Or maybe a career in software development provides a lucrative opportunity for a stable income and financial independence. 

Software development checks all three goals for me, and yet when I started, I was intimidated by the mountains of knowledge that lay before me. I tried free code camp and other free resources. I read through MDN documentation and none of it seemed to make sense. I felt like I would have to drown myself in minute details before being able to write my own application.

Suddenly, I got a suggestion. Maybe if I was serious about breaking into this field I should attend a bootcamp. I remembered reading about bootcamps before, but I had my suspicions. What ultimately made me take the plunge was that I knew I really liked programming. I was determined to break my own path even if the bootcamp provided me nothing else but more time to learn. 

I'll admit that I had just looked into one other bootcamp before calling Tech Elevator. Although I had made the cut there, it just didn't feel like my interviewers had any interest in me personally. In fact, I could immediately see a difference when I interviewed at Tech Elevator with Andria. I knew by her questions that she was actually interested in my success. 

And I think that's an important thing to consider. If you are determined to go down the bootcamp route, allow yourself to be selected, but also be selective. In fact, the more exposure you can get the better. See if you can't talk to the instructors, current students, and past.  Evaluating the people you'll be with for the next few lifetimes of your life is an important skill to hone. It'll also come in handy when evaluating companies that interview you.

The interview went well and I got selected for Tech Elevator. About a month before the program was about to start, I had a lot of doubts. Do I really need a bootcamp? What will my friends think about me if I don't get a job? Will my parents laugh at me? A real man does everything on his own right? Wrong. Sorry for the vulgar language, but I would tell whoever that guy was to get stuffed. 

Then the program started, and I'll be honest, I was pretty relaxed. I don't think everyone was, but for me, I was about to learn some really cool things and I was excited. There are two separate curriculums (that do overlap on some fundamentals): one for C# and one for Java. I was in the Java group and I made this choice by flipping a coin. 

I actually don't think it matters which language you choose for the bootcamp, as you can work for a company that uses a completely different language (eg. I currently work in python). But for the long term, I think it does matter. It depends on the language your team/company will use, your personal coding style, and the level of interest you have in learning the dirty details of a language. The article here, https://www.learneroo.com/modules/12/nodes/94, explains something you might consider when choosing a language.

Anyway, once you're at the point of attending classes, at some point the days and weeks might seem to go by in a blur. If that ever happens, then its time to pause and slow things down. Don't become a zombie! It's important to have your own vision and take actions to make it a reality. You'll find that if you look, there are plenty of opportunities to 1) have your own side projects, 2) explore the tech community through meetups, and 3) hone in on what you love/hate about software development.

The bootcamp is really there to be a broad introduction of the field. The instructors are great and they will really leave you with a sense of how the different tools fit together to make a complex web application run. But they won't be with you forever (unless you develop an intimate friendship with them. Then maybe). You'll have to learn how to teach yourself, so seeing why the instructors chose what they chose to teach is also important. A lot of my first couple of months at my job were learning the tech stack and not getting bogged down in the details. The more detailed investigation of the tech stack will also happen, but it's better to schedule that later when you already have some xp under the belt.

Finally, a major advantage of Tech Elevator is the pathway program. All I will say is that listen to everything Kelly or ${currentPathwayDirector} tells you to do and implement it well. Don't question the status quo. Bow down in submission. It's the only way. I was always late to class, but never with my pathway program homework. It's important.

Anyway, thanks for reading! If you have any questions or would like to get in touch, feel free to send me an email at IAMNOTAROBOT010111@gmail.com.

Tech Elevator is a bootcamp that helps you get the base knowledge needed to start your career in computer programming. The most important thing to remember is that you get out what you put in. I cannot stress enough to put in the work to learn the concepts, even if it means giving up something you enjoy temporarily. You may see your friends and family less for a few months, but the pay off will be worth it.

The instructors are readily available during the day and throughout the night as well, just shoot them a message! They genuinely want to help you succeed!

Before starting Tech Elevator, I felt dissatisfied and under-utilized in a marketing role at a company with a toxic culture. I did some self-study of HTML, CSS, and other basic programming concepts online, but I got to the point where I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I interviewed at Tech Elevator and in learning more about them, I was impressed by David Wintrich’s experience and his vision for the bootcamp, along with the structured aspect of the career development program that runs in tandem with the technical curriculum.

Tech Elevator did an excellent job of teaching the technical skills AND the soft skills that you need to land a job. The technical skills they teach are directly relevant to what a junior developer needs on the job from day one, and they provide a great foundation for learning other languages. As an example, I enrolled in the Java program at Tech Elevator, but I am now programming in C# at my job. They teach you how to learn quickly, since languages and concepts are continually changing in tech.

For the soft skills aspect, they prepare you through a series of exercises, self-assessments, and practice interviews that not only get you ready for the arduous job search process, but also expose you to industry experts and networking opportunities.

All of this being said, it is called a boot camp for a reason. If you bring your best self to the program every day, put in the hours necessary for the job search and the technical curriculum (which could be 60-70+ hours a week), then you will get great job offers on the other end. Like any pursuit in life, if you expect a job to be offered to you on a platter without putting any work in, then you will be disappointed. Tech Elevator’s staff and curriculum are there to support and invest in diligent and ambitious learners from all walks of life. It was a great experience from start to finish, and I now get to enjoy and learn from an alumni network of bright and motivated friends and colleagues. I highly recommend Tech Elevator.

I chose Tech Elevator because of David Wintrich's experience. He was the architect of Pay.gov (the government's paypal), which deals with $10 billion every year. I knew he had to be good at what he did, and I knew that he had also hired tons of junior-level software developers. He's an excellent teacher and leader. 

Course breakdown:

4 weeks - Java Fundamentals (or C#/.Net, if you're in that course)

3 weeks - Web Apps

2 weeks - Databases

2 weeks - Client-Side Apps

1 week - Security

The pinnacle of the course, however, is the matchmaking event. TE has employeers come in, and you get a 25-minute interiew with each of those you're assigned. They take recommendations, and you'll get your top 3-4 choices plus other randomly assigned companies. This event makes the whole course worth it. I received 8 on-site interveiws from the matchmaking event, and I had a few job offers to leverage against one another before graduation. 

I now make 3.5x what I used to every year.

I learned a ton, made some great new friends, and switched into an exciting new career. The course is smart, exciting, and overwhelming at times, but it really paid off, and I'm grateful I extended the time, money, and effort. It was worth every cent.