Tech Elevator

I graduated from the Java boot camp in Cleveland in Dec, 2017. I was previously working as a human resources specialist in the technology industry in Taiwan where I was born and lived my whole life. I always wanted to be a software engineer but it was unrealistic to give up my job and go back to school for another master’s degree. And honestly, I didn’t have the courage to change my career.

I learned about the program at Tech Elevator while planning my move to the U.S. I knew it was a great opportunity for me and I had to take a chance and take charge of my life. I joined the program right after I moved to the U.S. I have to tell you the course was hard, it will absolutely be harder than you think. But learning with motivated classmates who have the same goal as me was the most astonishing learning experience I have ever had. Also, all of the staff at Tech Elevator is incredibly knowledgeable and supportive. Everyone has the exact same goal as you do; to help you succeed! Tech elevator not only teaches you how to code. It teaches you how to think like a developer, and the Pathway Program helps you to get prepared to land your first job. A lot of the time I felt like they were more serious about my success than I was, and I was serious!

I got two job offers after I graduated and a whole new set of friends who are now in the same field that I am. I am now working with a group of passionate and intelligent people at a great company with a huge increase in my salary and awesome perks like unlimited PTO. I couldn’t be more satisfied with my life now, and most of it is due to the 14 weeks I spent changing my life at Tech Elevator. If you are interested in coding and want to elevate your life, go to an open house, give yourself a try, I did!

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Tech Elevator is a coding bootcamp that lends you the opportunity to hunker down and learn how to engineer a full stack web service, from scratch, in as little as 14 weeks! If you take it seriously, practice hard, ask lots of questions, and believe in yourself. You too can finish the program with the confidence you need to bash code from thought and enter the job market your chin held high.
TE hosts a solid curriculum that allows even complete novices to quickly gain traction and jump into programming.
The instructors are very knowledgeable and want you to succeed. Pathway is an excellent addition with university level instruction on how to enter the job market with your best foot forward.
The bootcamp is very intense and fast paced. If you don’t feel comfortable asking for help when you don’t understand, you can find yourself behind the ball in an uncomfortable position. Read less

Tech Elevator was the perfect choice for me and I recommend it for anyone who wants to learn coding in order to make a career change. Before the bootcamp, I had no technical knowledge, coming from a background in the arts and human services. The structure of the program–daily, live remote, module based–made it easy to stay engaged and learn efficiently. It was hard–very hard–but I felt supported by the structure of the day, coupled with the ability to get help from instructors and peers who were available daily after classroom hours.

My instructor was Rich Seeds, an expert in his field, knowledgeable, and with a great sense of humor. Together with my cohort, we created a learning environment that fostered open curiosity, encouraging active questioning and problem solving in order to master challenging concepts. I also appreciated the Pathway Program, which prepared me for the job search with resume reviews, mock interviews, and networking opportunities. I’m so grateful for the guidance that Claribel Quintana–my one-on-one Pathway Director for my post-graduation job search–has already given me, and I look forward to continuing our work together in the coming weeks.

Because of Tech Elevator, I feel confident in my skills and in my ability to continue to learn other coding languages (Python is my next venture!) on my own.  I am excited about the opportunities ahead as I begin my job search as a junior developer. Read less

Everyone involved at Tech Elevator makes it very clear they care about you and your success the whole way through. From when you start to the day you get a job, they are there every step of the way. All you need to do is try and put in the effort and they'll carry you the rest of the way. You'll make good friends and trust me when I say everyone is probably feeling the same nerves and anxieties as you. Just reach out to your classmates or instructors and you'll get the help you need. Read less

I had an amazing time studying at Tech Elevator. The program prepared me not only on the technical side but also in the soft-skill aspect as well. Although there are limited options through matchmaking, the career team of the program worked diligently to get me placed in a job. Overall, I strongly recommend it. Read less

As someone eager to transition into a software development career, Tech Elevator provided the ideal in-person learning experience. The instructors and staff consistently supported us, ensuring a solid foundation for our software development journey. The 14-week program was intense but rewarding, covering extensive coursework. The availability of resources, including attentive instructors (thank you, Tom A., Walt, and Tom M.), significantly contributed to my success. Working with Julie Jurich, Pathway Director, significantly enhanced my personal branding, resume, and interview preparation. Despite the workload, the staff took the time to understand my career goals and aspirations. Reflecting on my time at Tech Elevator, I appreciate the dedication of the instructors and staff in fostering success. If you thrive in a traditional classroom setting, Tech Elevator Pittsburgh offers an excellent option for in-person instruction. Read less

If you're considering a coding boot camp, check out Tech Elevator. I went from a web novice to a confident junior developer in three months, and it was an awesome journey. I had previously dabbled in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript with the Odin Project and FreeCodeCamp, but I entered the program with minimal experience.  Our instructor was amazing, their passion for code was contagious, and their expertise felt bottomless. No matter how stuck I was, they were always there, patiently untangling the knots in my logic. Another positive to Tech Elevator is its Pathway Program. It might seem basic if you already have an extensive career history but follow their advice. They know what they are doing. My Pathway Director, another rockstar, helped me polish my resume, refine my interview skills, and build a LinkedIn profile that got noticed. Put equal effort into coding and the Pathway Program – it's like a secret weapon for landing your first tech job.Another great aspect of the program is your other cohort members. Everyone brought their unique perspective and experiences to the table. We learned from each other, supported each other, and built connections that will last far beyond graduation. These aren't just classmates; they're your future network. Now, let's address the elephant in the room: the price tag. Yes, it's hefty, but here's the thing – you're investing in yourself. I was fortunate enough to land a Software Developer job through matchmaking in the program and have been using skills I learned at Tech Elevator every day. Overall, I think Tech Elevator is worth it, and if you’re thinking about doing a boot camp, Tech Elevator is where you should leap. Read less

This bootcamp did everything I had hoped for and more, both on the tech side and the job-support side. As a former desktop developer, it was a great refresher for relational databases, plus it checked all my boxes for topics I was dying to learn: OOP, C-based languages like Java and JavaScript, HTML, CSS, how to be Agile, how to code unit tests, and how to use Spring to complete the magic of API calls that make web applications work. Our instructor was incredibly knowledgeable and always available to answer questions. Truly the only limit for how much I could learn was my brain's ability to absorb information. The Pathway side was equally valuable. Our amazing Pathway Director helped me translate my twisty-turn-y job history into a coherent 1-page resume, helped me build a respectable LinkedIn presence, and fed me employment leads appropriate for my interests and abilities--one of which resulted in a job! Tech Elevator is worth the tuition, it's an investment in yourself, but you have to make room in your life, because it's a lot! Read less

I still can't get over how surreal this whole experience was. First of all, the other thirty-something students in my cohort were amazing. Everybody was so nice, helpful and got along so well that it really made it quite sad to leave the bootcamp at the end of the three months.

Additionally, I learned that I REALLY loved to code. I thought this might be true given that I started teaching computer science partway through my 16-year career in education (and generally enjoyed it), but I was afraid that when we got to the tough stuff at Tech Elevator, it might break me down...thankfully I was wrong. I came into class nearly everyday excited for whatever concepts would be thrown at us. I never once dreaded coming into class like I did when I was teaching. Better yet, my wife can attest to the fact that I came home (even on the super long days) from class in a better mood than I had been in for the last I-don't-know-how-many years in my previous career.

Thirdly, I ALWAYS felt supported at Tech Elevator. If I ran into any problems, I knew I could talk to my instructor, one of the other instructors, some of my classmates or rely on our online "textbook" for help. I never once felt alone in any of this. Any time that I was struggling, I could find comfort knowing there was a VERY good chance a bunch of the other students were struggling, too (does that make me evil?). Programming can be difficult!

I worked my butt off at Tech Elevator and you know what? I got a job before the bootcamp was even over. Add this to the list of things in life where you will get out of it what you put in. I sat up front (something I NEVER did in high school or college), I never once used ChatGPT to give me answers, I (almost) always did the readings before class, and I really thought hard about how the code worked as I typed out solutions to the practice assignments. I put tons of time into this class, and the class rewarded me with a job!

Attending Tech Elevator was one of the best decisions I've ever made as a human being on this planet. I cannot wait to start the next chapter of my life as a software engineer! Read less

I thought the curriculum was well designed and gave me a very solid understanding of fundamental programming principles. The access to in person instructors one on one daily was very valuable, as well as the connections with hiring partners (though there were limited offerings at matchmaking for my cohort). Read less

Tech Elevator is a fantastic program! With their combined technical and career instruction, I was transformed into a complete novice in coding to an employed Software Engineer before I graduated. I believe anyone, with the right attitude, can complete this program and become extremely prepared for a life in tech. The instructors were insanely compassionate, and my instructor in specific was a Tech Elevator alum herself, so she understood our position excellently. Only consider this if you are truly interested in coding because if you are, you will find the work energizing and fun! Read less

Tech Elevator was an incredible experience. The teaching staff was incredible and it is obvious they are passionate about educating people. The support staff is also incredible, from to bottom the entire staff is always available to offer whatever support you need. One of the things that made me feel compelled to write this review, is that during my cohort I face some rather tough personal challenges. Still, I never felt that additional stress because it was obvious I had the full support of Tech Elevator. Overall, awesome experience and great confidence builder as you jump into your new Software career. Read less

I joined the boot camp straight after high school. I have always been a hard worker and a dedicated person who had his life goals set years prior. Although there was a lot of new information every day, I believe I received the help and instructions I sought which then helped me succeed overall. I had zero interviewing experience so going through that I had a lot of practice with the pathway director(s), also had my elevator pitch perfected by the time we stopped presenting them. I had Steve as my Java instructor in Columbus and enjoyed his class every day and the way he explained and answered concepts made it very clear for me. Tech Elevator also made it a comfortable place to get out of your comfort zone (I know it doesn't make sense) so I was able to ask whatever question that came to my mind even if it was just a clarification. Great experience overall 100% would recommend it. It just took me to find my job longer than I anticipated, and the problem wasn't my interview preparations but rather no recruiters would reach out. I followed everything I was taught at the boot camp, but I don't even know how Tech Elevator could've helped a high school graduate with no job or education experience land a job quickly. Read less

My time at Tech Elevator was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. Not only does their staff want you to professionally succeed, they care about their students as well. It's hard to believe how much I was able to learn over the 14 weeks. The instructing staff is extremely knowledgable and will always go the extra mile to make sure you are learning and understanding the concepts. The pathway staff is always hard at work trying to weed out more opportunities for TE grads. The current job market is tough, but I was lucky enough to receive an offer through the program's matchmaking a month after graduation. The TE staff will keep working hard for their students to make sure they get a job -  but you do tend to get out what you put in.

I highly recommend this program to those who are willing to put the work in, are wanting to make a career change, and are wanting to connect with others through the process. I would not have had as good of a time in this program if I had not also invested myself in my fellow classmates. Tech Elevator Columbus is amazing.  Read less

I was really hesitant about putting so much money down to join a Bootcamp but I'm really glad I did. The proof of how good this boot camp was is how quickly I got hired which was one month after graduating and the pay was great, way more than my current job. I can't praise this school enough. I went in with a lot of pre-prep and learned a great deal when I entered and the best tip I could give would be to learn by yourself for a couple of months, get familiar with the curriculum, and then apply for Tech Elevator. I didn't have the best instructor but I had access to other materials and help after class that made up for his lackluster teaching. I made some lifelong friends there and loved my time. 10/10 would do it again.  Read less

This decision was a long time coming for me. My family and I suffered from repercussions of COVID and the crazy inflation. I was holding out, hoping for something to open up in my previous field, but it never did. I had looked into online programs for Software dev, but was never confident enough to try. Then I had a few friends complete the TE program and get jobs. What gave me the courage to finally take the plunge was TE's track record for student, job placement, and their promise of continued support. It was a requirement for me to take the course online, which they offered, and it was a compressed period of time. My family had to make huge sacrifices for me to be able to do this, but the promise of gainful employment and the ability to take a real vacation for the first time, was enough for us to power thru. I would absolutely recommend the program and would do it all over in a heartbeat. Read less

Before attending Tech Elevator I was an Ohio State graduate with about 6 years of experience in mostly sales and customer service positions. I wasn't happy with my compensation, the monotony of sales, the work-life balance, or working in the office 5 days a week. After doing much research and conversing with a friend who had graduated Tech Elevator years prior, I decided to take the risk of quitting my job for this bootcamp (I did the full-time 14 week program). 

Tech Elevator was honestly a perfect experience--the program's hardworking, dedicated, and caring employees were all amazing. The curriculum was paced and structured well to help students with no prior experience learn efficiently. Collaborating with classmates on larger projects helped us apply our newfound knowledge while building our portfolio. The support from instructors was fantastic as well and I'd like to highlight my instructor Matt Eland in particular who regularly went above and beyond for me and other students. Matt is incredibly passionate about the tech industry and loves sharing his knowledge with others. He demonstrates that he really cares about his students often and works hard to understand each student to accommodate their specific learning styles and challenges. Matt is just one example of the incredible team at Tech Elevator and I'm sure if you read other reviews here and elsewhere you'll learn about many more brilliant instructors eager to help students begin their tech careers.

Perhaps one of the other biggest highlights of this program was their Pathway Program. Comprising around 30% of the bootcamp, the Pathway Program is focused entirely on empowering students to leverage their new skills to actually get a job. Students undergo several modules and 1-on-1 coaching sessions on all things critical to landing your first tech job (resumes, behavioral interviews, technical interviews, elevator pitches, networking, job applications, working with recruiters, etc). Tech Elevator understands that being able to effectively communicate your skills and experience in the job market is pertinent to landing a role and thus places an appropriate amount of emphasis on developing these soft skills with each and every student.

Upon graduating, my job search was made more difficult by my personal decision to only apply to fully-remote positions (I was trying to move across the country). Despite this self-imposed restraint, I was able to find an entry-level software development position about one month after graduation. I'm about 6 months into that role now, making double what I was in sales in a fully remote position with a considerably better work-life balance. Looking back I can easily say that attending Tech Elevator was just about the best career decision I've ever made! Read less

My career change was successful and efficient thanks to the guidance of Tech Elevator Cincinnati. After being accepted into the full time program, the onboarding process went smoothly. My questions and concerns were always addressed quickly, and the overall organization was very good. In 14 weeks, I gained many relevant tools and skills to apply for my first job. Additionally, Tech Elevator has additional curriculum called the Pathways program that focuses on fine tuning resumes, how to network/apply, and ace interviews. If you stay on the path, trust the process, and ask questions, the experience will be a success. Even during a time where the tech industry is going through mass layoffs, I got a great job with a reputable company 3 months after graduation. Thank you Tech Elevator for helping me with a career change that dramatically improved my quality of living! Read less

Yes its expensive, Yes its hard, and Yes its worth it.
Before TE I was working doing tech support and was unhappy with my prospects in that field. So I made the jump and picked TE for two main reasons. 
First - Success Rate. I'm a fan of data and CIRR report was what tipped me over the edge to make the jump
Second - it was remote and flexible.  Since I have a family I needed to support at home as well. 

The program curriculum you can look up and its challenging for people who aren't technical but it will push you regardless of your comfort coming in. Vue isn't as popular but its a great gateway to other frameworks imo and if you land a job with Vue then you're well positioned. Make time to study and start a discord group as assignments are not just meant to build foundations but also expand your understanding of software architecture. The final project is group based, but a real challenge is to do the project again but alone and in the same time frame.
But what I want so write about is not about the hard skills you build there.
What I want to write is that during the program I found out my wife was pregnant again and the pressure cooker was on. I was on the verge of growing my family and I needed to provide assuming I could find a job at the end of the program. I made it but what I want to say is that its thanks to the staff at TE who helped my with interviews, resume prep, and the network of people who will lead you in the right direction. 
The program got me to where i can support my family and while it wasn't the dream job, it is enough.  Read less

This program was a great experience. The curriculum was well-structured, challenging, and empowering, the instructors were passionate and attentive, and Tech Elevator has great relationships with its hiring partners. I graduated with a $75k job offer! I can't recommend them enough. Read less

I was in an online class (National Live Remote) but attended the Pittsburgh pathway program via zoom since I live in the greater Pittsburgh area and was looking for a job in my area. If you would like to attend remote classes but live near a campus location I highly recommend that you attend an NLR cohort that coincides with the in-person cohort so that you can attend the local matchmaking at the end of the bootcamp.
The pathway directors did an outstanding job all throughout the bootcamp, offering individual support and advice with resume, LinkedIn, interview prep, job search, and went above and beyond organizing matchmaking. I am currently working as a software engineer associate, a job offered to me as a result of matchmaking. 
Be aware that this is an incredibly intense program. For me, having never done any coding aside from the prework (which I found a piece of cake), this amounted to 80-90 hours a week during most of the bootcamp. If you have prior experience, it will obviously not be as intense for you. In hindsight, I wish that I would have spent time learning the basics of Java in addition to the prework before the bootcamp. It would have decreased the stress level of the first two weeks. 
A typical day for me included 3 hours of technical lecture in the morning, a 1-hour pathway program in the afternoon, followed by several hours of graded homework (many days it took me 6-8 hours to complete the homework), reading several chapters for the next day, completing a quiz on the reading, completing a tutorial, and then it started all over again. Every NLR class had an academic fellow who was available for tutoring in the afternoon. Our academic fellow offered half-hour zoom slots in the afternoon to anyone who was struggling with the homework or any concept, which was super helpful and made a huge difference. The weekends were busy with pair programming and pathway homework. I literally didn’t have time for anything else during the bootcamp. Note that the first two weeks are by far the most intense, so don’t give up, it does get better! 


Was it worth it? 100%! I can totally recommend it as long as you know that you are signing up for the 14 most intense weeks of your life and plan accordingly.  Read less