Codesmith

Codesmith did a fantastic job of preparing me for my first job as a software engineer. As someone who did not have a background that was even remotely technical, it took me a couple of months to get a high paying job. Granted, this was during a very hot... Read More job market, but I was able to make an impact at my new job from day one. I attribute that to what I learned at Codesmith. I talk to new grads on a monthly basis, and I think Codesmith has done a good job of adjusting their guidance and instruction to students entering the job market right now.

I did the Part-time remote immersive program and graduated in March 2023. Overall, I am highly satisfied with my experience at Codesmith. The instructors are excellent, the content is challenging (you will learn the most relevant skills for the job search)... Read More and the community is fantastic.

Codesmith puts a lot of time and effort into its students; you will have biweekly assessments to gauge your skill level and determine if your technical skills are keeping up with the curriculum. If you do fall behind, they will give you 1-1 private sessions to fill your gaps in technical understanding. The interview and resume support is also fantastic, and this support extends beyond graduation.

That being said, Codesmith is just like any other educational program in that you get out of it what you put in. They don’t hand hold you or just give you answers - that doesn’t make you a better engineer. They teach you ways to problem solve. Expect to be challenged, work hard and you will see results.

I attended Codesmith in November 2022, graduated in February 2023, and accept a job offer 2 months later. Codesmith is not an experience for a person who is not willing to grind. As thorough as the program can be within 4 months, there is a certain level... Read More of ownership you must take over your own studies in order to succeed, both during and after the program. You have to set your expectations from the beginning. The program does a good job at giving you a great overview of both frontend and backend technology, but the studying doesn't stop when the program does. Codesmith does a great job at creating a strong foundation in both technical skills, but also soft skills as well that will set you apart from others. Personally, this program absolutely changed my life. It opened doors for me that I didn't think would ever be possible, but i would be lying to you if I said this wasn't the tough. If I had to do it all again, I would still choose Codesmith as a bootcamp; just be willing to put in the work.

I attended Codesmith in 2022 after growing disillusioned with the Biotech industry - I loved my company but the work was monotonous and not fulfilling. I'd had previous experience programming in college and had taught myself web development as a hobby.... Read More In Codesmith, I didn't just "level up" my development skills, I learned to analyze and write code in a completely different way. My time at Codesmith prepared me for a position maintaining and upgrade the website of a mid-sized start up on a team of two. Within three months, I was able to use Codesmith's Express.js training to refactor their Node server and decrease response times by 50%. Within the first year, I was able to refactor the frontend to decrease load times from 2-3 seconds to 200-300 milliseconds. Codesmith isn't just a bootcamp, it's a crucible for career achievement and a support system during the hardest moments of your career change.

As a former professional in hospitality management and marketing, my decision to enroll in Codesmith proved to be a pivotal turning point in my career journey. Codesmith transcends typical coding bootcamps, offering a transformative experience that caters... Read More to individuals from diverse backgrounds, including myself.

Transitioning from hospitality to the tech industry seemed like a daunting challenge, but Codesmith provided me with the necessary tools and support to succeed. The comprehensive curriculum, led by knowledgeable instructors, not only reinforced my existing skills but also introduced me to a wide array of cutting-edge technologies. The program's emphasis on collaboration over competition fostered a supportive community where I felt encouraged to grow and learn alongside like-minded individuals.

Despite the fast-paced nature of the program, I found the rigorous coursework and hands-on projects to be immensely rewarding. The 'under-the-hood' focus of the material allowed me to gain a deep understanding of engineering principles while honing my teamwork and problem-solving skills. Thanks to the invaluable guidance and resources provided by the Codesmith team, I was able to secure a fulfilling position shortly after graduation, leveraging the solid foundation and practical knowledge acquired during the program.

For anyone considering a career transition or seeking to enhance their technical skills, I wholeheartedly recommend Codesmith. It's not just a coding school; it's a supportive community that empowers individuals to reach their full potential. My experience at Codesmith has been nothing short of extraordinary, and I am grateful for the doors it has opened in my professional journey.

Transitioning from a non-technical background to software engineering was a daunting decision for me. The fear of regretting such a significant career change, coupled with the financial investment and uncertainties surrounding immersive programs, made... Read More me hesitant. However, in 2020, I took the leap and enrolled in the full-time remote Codesmith immersive, a decision I now cherish as one of the best I've made.

My journey with Codesmith began with their free JSX course, which not only provided me with a solid foundation in JavaScript but also introduced me to their supportive community on Slack. Their free online Hard Parts workshops further cemented my decision to join their full-time program, showcasing the community's commitment to building confidence and providing empathetic support to engineers.

Enrolling in their CS Prep course was the next step for me, serving not only as preparation for the immersive program's interview but also as a personal gauge of my commitment to the full-time program. The CS Prep course was fantastic, once again immersing me in their supportive community and affirming my decision to pursue software engineering with Codesmith.

Ultimately, I committed to their full-time online immersive. Though intense, the curriculum was exceptional, covering TypeScript/JavaScript to React and Redux, and Node and Express. While challenging, the hands-on projects and insightful educational lectures equipped me with the skills crucial for my first role.

What truly sets Codesmith apart is its community. Throughout the program, I felt supported, encouraged, and challenged, especially during moments of imposter syndrome. The post-program support, including resume assistance, mock interviews, and career guidance, further underscores their commitment to their students' success.

Four months after graduating, I secured a software engineering role with almost double my previous salary. Codesmith equipped me with the foundational knowledge I needed. While there were still gaps in my knowledge (which is expected in any new SWE role for any engineer at any level at any point in their career), Codesmith instilled in me the mindset of continuous learning and problem-solving, which has been invaluable in my career.

Now, several years outside of the program, I continue to excel in my career as a Software Engineer and utilize Codesmith’s alumni resources. It's a community I know will accompany me for a long time.

Overall, while Codesmith offers the technical foundation for a software engineering role, achieving success demands dedication and effort. It's essential to recognize that success isn't guaranteed; Codesmith provides the tools and guidance, but it's up to you to put in the work. This entails committing to deepening your skills, practicing rigorously, and actively networking. If you're prepared to roll up your sleeves and fully commit, Codesmith will undoubtedly pave the way for your success. However, if you're expecting a passive experience and hoping to coast through the program effortlessly to land a job, I would advise against taking the leap.

If I were to offer one suggestion for improvement for Codesmith, it would be to provide more support on System Design interview preparation. While some time is allocated during the immersive, additional dedicated time in this area would be beneficial. Nonetheless, I was able to supplement my technical knowledge independently to excel in my interviews.

I'm genuinely grateful for my decision to join the Codesmith immersive. The strong community, comprehensive curriculum, and post-program support make it an excellent choice for anyone looking to transition into software engineering.

I initially started looking into a career change after not being happy with my previous career trajectory and consulting with a friend that was in the industry. After doing some initial research into another program, I noticed that Codesmith had superior... Read More analytics in regards to job placement and salary. It's very important to do your due diligence because you are spending big money so you want to make sure that those funds aren't being wasted. Once I knew that CodeSmith would be my target, I started using their free JS learning resources (at the time called edx) and attending their free workshops. This gave me an introduction to some of the lead instructors, some of the teaching fellows and the format of the lectures. I also decided to enroll in both of the prep courses (since the cost was subsidized from the Immersive Tuition) and from there started to prepare for the interviews to get into the immersive itself. I ended the CS Prep course in mid-july and pretty much studied from then till I got accepted into the course in October of that year. There were two formal interviews, the first was a character interview where you spoke with someone over the phone to confirm your cultural fit, after you pass that you then need to pass a technical interview, which was done over zoom and was pretty much a coding interview. (One thing here is that this felt very similar to the actual job interview process). It took me three tries to pass the technical interview but when I did I had a call with the lead instructor who told me I had passed. Once I reserved my place in the cohort (maybe 2 weeks before it started) I was given some pre-course work which was setting up my environment with ide, connecting to github and working on pre-course work to prepare me for some of the upcoming work. (again the whole prep process was very similar to what it would be in a professional environment). At this point the course started, i believe there were 4 weeks of lectures/smaller partner projects, 4 weeks of group projects, 4 weeks of capstone project and 2 weeks of job searching preparation. I'd say my biggest takeaways from the learning/project side, is that Codesmith didn't necessarily pump all the information into me to make me a capable senior reaCT engineer, instead they more gave me a taste of technologies, and during the project phase, it was up to us to know how to research/read documentation to make things work (again very realistic to a professional setting). Drilling into us how to research and problem solve was one of the biggest benefits to the program. I've heard in other programs, people are just coding along and copying the instructor but with Codesmith we were literally building things from the ground up and figuring out how to do that. When I got my first job I quickly realized that the process of building and problem solving felt very similar to the project phases at Codesmith. And if you need extra help or are falling behind, the staff is there to help and assist. During the lecture phases there were weekly assessments and if you struggled during those, you would get 1 on 1 sessions with staff. I think I had a 1 on 1 session for every assessment I took. The last 2 weeks of the program were also invaluable. During this portion Codesmith helped us build our Resumes and Social media presence as well as going through interview prep with each other and also Alumni. It was very similar to what I experienced during the job hunt. and the Career assistance is for life! In conclusion, I would like to say that the journey through Codesmith and the job hunt were not painfree. I think I was interviewing and studying for a good 6 months before landing a job and even though there were some embarrassing interviews, I learned from each one and continued to learn and prepare for the next one. It's very Cliche but you get from Codesmith what you put in. The harder you work there the easier the transition will be into the workforce. I stayed at my first job for 1.5 years and recently got referred and hired to another company. I wouldn't say my life is stress free nor would i say software is easy, but I am in a much better place then before thanks to Codesmith.

Codesmith is your best bet for a coding bootcamp. The support and community is top-notch. Everyone from instructors to TAs to alumni to support staff go above and beyond to make you feel welcome and battle imposter syndrome. Everyone feels safe, supported,... Read More and seen. The emphasis on projects is where you get your money’s worth and is the cornerstone of your resume and interviews. You’ll learn the basics of git and have plenty of options for answers to behavioral questions during interviews. They also really mean lifelong career support. Plenty of alums still use their postgrad career services. There are also some opportunities to connect with alumni during the program which proved valuable on the job hunt. Overall, I’m glad I did Codesmith because it helped me find a SWE job in a pretty brutal market between the career and alumni support but just know what you’re getting into if you go for it. Codesmith isn’t a golden ticket to a well-paying job. You’ll have to work hard to get through the program and you’ll need to supplement that with your own studying. If you’re not afraid of working hard and staying determined, Codesmith will be a good choice for you.

Codesmith is one of the best decisions I ever made. Not only does their unique approach to teaching engineering truly set them apart, but the folks I met along the way have become some of my most important friendships. Learning to code is tough, and the... Read More environment they foster and the standard of excellence they promote is second to none, allowing their students to grow and learn in ways most of my classmates doubted were even possible. Many of my classmates were changing careers, didn’t have a background in tech, and most had never seen any code before, begging their application process. While they set themselves apart by expecting students to work hard to understand the concepts, they also are incredible at tailoring the experience to make sure every student is able to succeed. Everyone struggled with one concept or another at some point, and yet, all of them came away from the program with serious, industry-ready skills that set them apart– even from folks with computer science degrees. Being a professional engineer means constantly facing new tech, concepts and challenges– one of Codesmith’s greatest strengths is that they teach their students “how to learn” in a way you simply don’t see elsewhere. I came away from the program not only with a really solid foundation, but also with the confidence that I’d be able to tackle anything new in my career. I learned how to break down problems and incorporate new tech and skills on my own As a student that went through the program and graduated in the midst of the 2023 tech lay-offs that happened world-wide, I was scared to say the least when it came time to hunt for a job. In the end I found one within six weeks after completing the program. Not only had they prepared me, more than perhaps I even realized, but they also provide incredible post-graduate support that helped me every step of the way. I wholeheartedly would recommend this program to anyone, it sounds corny to say so, but it really changed my life.

I went through Codesmith in the latter half of 2022 and was placed within a job just under 3 months of graduating. Like many, I was transitioning from a non-tech background, but as soon as you even start learning about and integrating into the Codesmith... Read More community, you'll realize how many others like you there are. Also, it's one of the most empathetic and uplifting communities I've been a part of and I still talk to my cohort mates months after graduating together.