Tech Elevator

Background

Prior to enrolling at Tech Elevator I worked primarily in the service industry; I have a BBA in Finance from Temple University, though I never worked in the field professionally. After experience severe burnout as a bartender, I started weighing my options as to what my next move would be. I completed some online programming tutorials around that time, and found myself rather enjoying the process. That went on for awhile before it occurred to me that this was something I could see myself doing professionally. I initially considered going back to school for a second Bachelor's degree, though I didn't think I could tolerate another 2-4 years in the industry before making a change. As such, I felt a boot camp would be a good 'meet in the middle' option.

At the time, there weren't a lot of options for boot camps in Philly. While doing some background research on boot camps in general, I found some praise on Reddit for the Tech Elevator program from an individual that had attended one of their Ohio campuses. I started checking out the TE program and, wouldn't you know, they were opening a campus in Philadelphia that month! I honestly kind of figured it was kismet, and I don't believe in such things, but I digress.

After that I started vetting the program as much as possible, trying to find anything negative about TE from someone who had attended. It was, after all, a not insignificant amount of money for the program, and I wanted to be sure I was making the right decision. My search turned up nothing substantive, so I decided to take the plunge and apply.

Overall

I cannot say enough good things about Tech Elevator. This program can and will enable you to make a career change if you are willing to put the work in. I'm very confident in saying you will get as much out of it as you put in. There's no two ways about it: it's tough. It's intense. But if you grind it out you'll amaze yourself with how much you've accomplished by the end.

The cohort I was a part of started in May 2020. We started off virtually, though we were tentatively supposed to go back in person at some point during the program. Obviously, that never came to fruition. At the start I was admittedly pretty disappointed about the prospect of doing everything online, though in hindsight it actually turned out to be a huge positive, as my Philly cohort was combined with the Detroit cohort starting at the same time. I was pretty indifferent about this initially, though having the opportunity to collaborate with the people in Detroit ended up being one of my favorite parts of the whole experience.

Instructors

Both of the instructors for my cohort were great. During each module, one instructor would lead the daily lecture, with the other serving in an assistant / supplemental role. They switched roles -- so that the primary would be the assistant, and vice versa -- between each module. The instructors made themselves readily available throughout -- always beyond just providing lectures -- which was huge, especially in the early days. There was a very palpable sense that the instructors wanted to see us succeed (and weren't just 'doing a job'), which I found encouraging. One instructor did outshine the other, though both were extremely capable.

Curriculum

The program was split up into four modules:

1. Core Java
2. Relational Databases
3. RESTful APIs
4. Front End (HTML / CSS / JS / Vue.js)

A typical day would consist of 2.5 - 3 hours of lecture in the morning, and then an assignment for the evening. This structure works well because learning-by-doing is very much the best (I'd argue only) way to learn programming. Each module would conclude with a capstone project that encapsulated everything we had learned up to that point, including what was covered in the prior modules. This was effective in building a strong foundation as we progressed.
The first module is, in my opinion, the toughest. Not because it is the most complex from a technical standpoint, but because if you're coming in with no (or very little) experience programming, it's A LOT to learn upfront. One of the instructors likened it to 'drinking out of a fire hose', which I think is an apt metaphor. I was able to lessen some of the anguish of the early days due to my self-study prior to enrollment; while not strictly necessary, or even expected, I do think it helped me start off on the right foot. 

My only gripe with the curriculum was the final module. We were taught Vue.js, the least in demand of the three most popular JS frameworks based on what I saw while looking for jobs. Overall, a relatively minor complaint as there's a degree of overlap with all three, and presumably if you knew Vue it wouldn't be too difficult to pick up one of the other two if a job required it.

Overall, the material that's covered in the first three modules comprises 80-90% of what's needed for my job on a day-to-day basis, so these skills are absolutely relevant and in demand.
Job Assistance

The Pathway Program is really what sets Tech Elevator apart from other boot camps. When I was applying I felt Pathway was a nice 'cherry on top', but didn't think much of it. Looking back, the Pathway program was at the very least equally as important as the technical skills I acquired in contributing to my ability to get a job. Getting experience with mock behavioral / technical interviews prior to real interviews, panels with actual working professionals, employer showcases with companies that are hiring, match making, tracking down job leads (including after graduating) .. I could go on. All of these things were invaluable. Less tangibly, the Pathway director for my cohort was a tremendous cheerleader, and always there to offer a word of encouragement when needed; it was evident there was a very real desire to see everyone in the cohort succeed.

Closing Thoughts

If you're sure learning software development is what you want to do, I cannot recommend Tech Elevator enough. It is without a doubt a grueling experience, but if you don't give up on yourself, the staff won't give up on you. That's as much as you could ask for.

I have been a stay at home mom for the last decade. For quite some time, I had wanted to restart my career but didn’t know how to go about it. Tired of not getting anywhere with my attempts, and inspired by the reviews of TE alumni, I decided to take the plunge and enrolled at TE.
In a little more than 3 weeks since graduation, I have received 2 job offers, negotiated a raise in salary (again with guidance from TE), and have come to know many people I can reach out to in the future. I have also gained confidence in my strengths, and the technical knowledge that I have amassed at TE.
Now a bit about the process that brought about this transformation for me :)
First, the program was fully remote for my cohort. I was uncertain about how effective and rigorous remote learning could be, but from the comfort of my home, I felt like I was fully engaged in all the activities at TE. I got to work closely with people, and was amazed by how much could be accomplished virtually - we attended classes, employer showcases, panel discussions, presentations, worked in teams for our capstones and paired assignments, participated in whiteboard sessions, interviewed with companies, etc. 
Second, the technical curriculum is very well organized, and is updated regularly. During technical interviews, I came to learn how relevant the curriculum at TE is to current industry needs. My instructor was clearly an expert in the subject matter covered, and moreover, would often give tips about standard practices in the tech industry, stress upon which material was important to know for interviews, etc. Over the course of the 14 weeks, I came to deeply appreciate his availability, concern and respect for each of his students, and his knowledgeable answers to (and endless patience for) my many questions. I interacted in some form or another with each of the Pittsburgh TE staff, and found every one of them to be informed, helpful, and clearly invested in their students’ success. 
Third, the learning process at TE involves much more than technical knowledge. We created resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and “elevator pitches”, and learnt how to make contacts and apply for jobs. We also practiced interviewing for HR, behavioral, and technical interviews. Each one of us, as we are receiving offers, get guidance through ensuing negotiations.
Fourth, TE has a relationship with many local tech companies, and this gives its students a distinct advantage over other candidates for jobs available with these companies. Many of these companies have hired TE graduates, been happy with their hires, and now return regularly for more hires. Closer to the end of the cohort, TE organizes an event called “Matchmaking”, where students interview with companies that are actively recruiting for jobs. This is an invaluable event for the students and leads to job offers for many of them. 
Fifth, students (even remote ones) get to work with others on a regular basis. Paired assignments were given every week, and I got to work with a team for each of the 3 capstones. The last of these was two weeks long, and we followed the Agile methodology (which is practiced by many companies), complete with a product manager and scrum master, daily standups, demos, post demo discussions, and a final presentation to everyone at TE. 
If all of this sounds a bit much for 14 weeks, it’s because it is :) However, it is entirely doable if one treats TE like a full time job, works hard, and trusts the process. Attending TE was a truly unique and wonderful experience for me… I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone interested in revamping/ starting out their career in tech!

After being a teacher for the past six years I decided to quit my job in July. Soon after I received my acceptance from Tech Elevator and began their Java program in September with virtually zero coding experience. Over the next 14 weeks I would be challenged unlike ever before but I would also achieve a sense of accomplishment unlike ever before. Tech Elevator instructors and pathway directors work tirelessly to ensure your success. I could not imagine trying to learn how to code on my own let alone successfully find a job. Working(virtually) alongside other students with similar goals was incredibly helpful. At Tech Elevator you gain access to recruiters, employers, and alumni for employer showcases, mock interviews and matchmaking. The fact that Tech Elevator is able to successfully run their program virtually like it was created to be virtual just goes to show how hard everyone works to make this program a success. I graduated from TE on December 18 and accepted my first position as a software developer this week! I will forever be grateful to Tech Elevator for making my transition from education to technology so incredibly successful! 

After coming from a few different careers the idea of starting a coding bootcamp seemed ridiculous to me. Being able to have a new career after 3 months seemed like the biggest scam to me but after meeting and talking with the faculty at Tech Elevator I quickly realized this was the furthest thing from a scam. Everyone that is employed there is thinking of your best interests and the ultimate goal of getting a job. There is not enough words to express how amazing everyone who works here is. They care about you as a student and as a person and want to help you in every way. The program is very difficult and they know this and take it into consideration every step of the way. They were always available for assistance if you needed help with something and that was easily the best part about the program. If you had a question someone was there to help you. Having a pathway program that helps you on your soft skills and interviewing was amazing. Coming from an undergrad degree and a masters program where no one takes your careers into consideration this was a fantastic change of pace. I felt prepared when applying to jobs and interviewing. The technical aspect was amazing as well. With incredible instructors who take their time and help you learn the material. I feel confident going into my new career as a junior developer.  It was a fantastic experience that I would recommend to anyone who is considering a career change. You could not be in better hands than the people who work at Tech Elevator.

The biggest part that separates this bootcamp for others is the fact that they help you get a job. On top of all your lessons they also provide sessions after your class to help you prepare for getting a job and also set up various interviews in order to help you have a job lined up after the class ends. Even if you don't have a job lined up at the end, they will continue to help you after you graduate so you're not just leaving desolate. Most bootcamps can teach you how to code but very few can teach you how to land a job.

I can't say enough good things about Tech Elevator! I'm a fairly risk-averse person, so quitting my previous job and taking a chance on a full-time bootcamp was a huge decision. I had heard good things about Tech Elevator from previous students, and everything they said turned out to be accurate. Tech Elevator provided the instruction and support I needed to go from someone with no technical background to a full-stack developer in just 14 weeks. (NOTE: The pace of learning and the workload are not for the faint of heart, but Tech Elevator was upfront about this from the beginning. If you are willing to work hard and trust the process, you'll be successful.)

One thing that sets this bootcamp apart from others is the Pathway career preparation program. I had no idea how to prepare for a career in tech, but the Pathway team guided me and, most importantly, provided direct access to employers looking to hire students like me. I officially graduate tomorrow and, thanks to Tech Elevator's employer matchmaking process, I have already accepted an amazing position as a full-time software developer at a major company in my area.

Finally, the people at Tech Elevator are its strongest asset. Throughout the 14-week program, all of the instructors and staff provided much-needed encouragement, ample academic support, and genuine enthusiasm and investment in our success as students. I recommend this program to anyone looking to "elevate" their career!

I was a Java student in pittsburgh’s first fully remote cohort, and it was the best choice I’ve ever made. I didn’t know much (anything) about coding before I started, but I knew I needed to make a career switch.  In 14 weeks I went from knowing nothing to graduating with a job offer as a software developer. I didn’t know everything leaving, but I left with a solid framework to build upon and the confidence that I could learn what else I needed to on the job.  And so far I have, and I’m so glad I made the switch and so glad I chose tech elevator.  They are not just there to collect your tuition and push you out the door. They want to help you get a job. And unlike other boot camps they actually set up interviews with local hiring partners, which is how the majority of my cohort got hired.  Curriculum aside, the instructors, pathway director, and staff are just good, caring, wonderful people who are genuinely dedicated to getting you a job and seeing you succeed.  I cannot say enough positive things.  Choose tech elevator. You won’t regret it.  

I came into this with 0 coding experience, and can say that this program far and away exceeded my expectations. I never felt out of place in anything that we went over and loved how willing the instructors are to go out of their way to assist students. 

I will say that if you are coming into this with a coding background, you may not learn much in the beginning. However, if you were self taught, the .NET instructors do a great job to ensure you understand good code format and writing techniques to make your code easily readable and fixable. They teach test driven development in the beginning and proper formatting to get you on a similar playing field to those who have been coding for years.

While this is a coding camp emphasized on student success, I must mention that it is still up to you to take full advantage of what is being taught. Self motivation is still key here, and knowing when to reach out for help is an important character trait to be successful in this program. 

Onto the Pathway program. This entire part of Tech Elevator is dedicated to getting you job ready, and is separate from the coding instruction. They provide plenty of opportunities to meet other companies, attend coding events in the area and online, and to destress with others in the camp. However, some of the required presentations, in my opinion, were a bit unnecessary. I also felt students would ask very strong questions regarding things like the interview experience and how to present yourself, and I do not feel the answers to these types of questions were very strong. That being said, your resume and LinkedIn will look incredible by the end of the program if you take their advice. This is and the matchmaking events more than makeup for any downfalls I have with the Pathway program as a whole.

TL:DR

The instructors are very passionate and want to see you succeed. They start from the ground up and do a great job breaking down basic topics without wasting time on unnecessary information. Classes are highly interactive and questions are addressed seriously and immediately to the best of the instructors knowledge's. The Pathway program is hit or miss, but you can be sure you will leave this program having met plenty of potential companies and with a killer resume and professional presence on LinkedIn. 

Overall Schedule
The first 3/4 of the program is highly focused on teaching you to code, while the last 1/4 is mostly focused on getting you ready for the job market.

I'm coming up on graduation in 6 days, and I can emphatically say this was a great decision.  Tech Elevator has a solid curriculum, taught by exceptional teachers, and is run by a passionate staff.  They all want you to succeed and are willing to put in the work if you are.  To be clear: it was a LOT of work and is not for everyone.  But if you are determined, willing to put in lots of effort, and eager to learn, this is the bootcamp for you.  They will give you technical skills AND networking skills.  I personally was very weak on the networking/interviewing side of things and chose TE partially because they build that into the curriculum.  Why that isn't the standard way of teaching in every field is beyond me...
I give 5 stars in each category unreservedly.  If you can make it through a bootcamp and want to start a career in software development, pick Tech Elevator.  It will give you all the tools you need to succeed.

 This bootcamp worked for me.  And by 'worked' I mean I am now working as a software engineer, about to have my 90 day review at a company and job that I love and it has only been 7 months since I started the program. Only 3 months after graduating, I am earning over double any of my previous salaries.  Prior to starting Tech Elevator, I had dabbled in HTML and CSS and tried to teach myself more but it never worked. However, going in Tech Elevator does not require you to have any coding experience. They start from the ground up and build the fundamentals you need to think like and become a developer. Starting with either Java or C#, you learn the core concepts of object oriented programing and then move on to databases, APIs and end with some experience in front end technologies.  Alongside the tech portion is the 'Pathway Program'. It is this side of TE (along with their excellent graduation and job placement rates) that originally drew me to this bootcamp. They have dedicated staff who help you craft your new tech forward resume, update your LinkedIn, and network with TE's hiring partners in your area. This help is INVAULABLE. You could be an amazing self taught programmer, but if you don’t know how to present yourself to possible employers you wont get very far.  Added to this the instructors are incredible. They are impressively knowledgeable, passionate, and have real industry experience. One of my teachers told us that he wouldn't let us graduate if he could see himself hiring us to his own development team. So while it could just be a 'factory' where they push you through like some bootcamps, they are truly dedicated to the end result of you being an employable and competent programmer.  But ultimately Tech Elevator is more than the sum of its parts. It becomes a community to help you through an intense program and into your career beyond. I built a network of peers and mentors that I know I can count on moving forward. My passion for this program makes me want to stay involved and mentor current students in turn and that is what makes Tech Elevator special.  All sentiment aside, if you are able to dedicate yourself full time to a 14 week intensive bootcamp, Tech Elevator can turn you into a developer and help you get that job. Their numbers speak for themselves.