FastTrack

I found the FastTrack’D program shortly after obtaining my college degree. When most, if not all, other employers in the area were looking for professional experience on entry level positions, Cook Systems offered training and the prospect of a career... Read More through the FastTrack’D program. Through my 4+ years with them, I worked multiple contracts, with the last leading to a full time position with that company. Cook Systems and the FastTrack’D program opened the door for me into a career in IT, and for that I am very grateful.

After graduating a 4 year uni with a degree in computer science, I couldn't find a job due to "lack of experience". This class really helped me get my foot in the door. The 3 month course instills
many necessary skills needed in the field, and the career... Read More placement departments helps you in finding that first job. Great instructors, challenging classes, and overall a rewarding (and free) experience!

Not everyone that starts this program will finish it. However, those that do will have no problem with whatever they may face in professional level programming. It is a lot to cover in a short period of time but I have personally witnessed the graduates... Read More of this program (including myself) not only survive, but rapidly advance again and again in a tough and competitive field of commercial software development. It seemed too good to be true when I started, but you earn what you get and you get out of it what you put in it. Five years later, in retrospect it opened the door to new career and and changed my life for the better. I was an accountant before. I was good at it but it was just a job. Programming uses both sides of the brain and gives me an outlet for my creative side but is very technically demanding as well. I truly love my job now and often find myself playing with code during my off time. I've seen a lot of programs, some o.k., some not so much. If you really are serious and want to do this for a living, this is the best program of its kind that I know of anywhere on the planet.

After graduating college with a bachelor's degree in software engineering, other than an internship I worked at for a few months, I was unable to find any work. After almost a year, I joined FastTrack'd. The class covered java with spring and javascript,... Read More the first two weeks were largely review for me with my academic background, but the proceeding 6 weeks were very informative and valuable. After that, Cook got me on a contract with american express, and 2 and a half ears later and several contracts later I am still with cook, and very happy with it.

Pros:
Great training
Training is free
Placed on contract with little to no effort on student (I only interviewed for a contract once and have been on 4)
Great way to get into the industry

Cons:
Long wait time to get into class
Long wait time to get placed after class
Must stay with cook for 2 years

I completed the program in March of 2016, and was on my first contract less than a month later. I just recently finished my two year anniversary, and was hired on by the company where I was working my second contract, as a Sr. Level Developer. The program... Read More is tough, and not for everyone. But, if you are willing to put in the time commitment, and hard work, it can help jump start your career as a software developer.

Pros
- You don't have to pay for the training, up front. They recoup their costs, if they are able to place you on a contract after graduation.
- The training will prepare you for a career in software development, as long as you put in the time and work
- A good chance that they will be able to place you on a contract, if you graduate the class
- If they do find a contract for you, you'll actually be a salaried employee of Cook Systems, which means full benefits through them
- Cook genuinely seems to care about the program, and their employees
- There is technical support for you after you are placed on a contract, through Cook, and FastTrack peers. This means, if you are stuck on a problem, you have a good resource, because it is not uncommon, that the typical contract on which you'll be placed, the prior contractor is going to most likely have been another FastTracker.
- If you don't graduate the class, then you owe no further commitment to Cook. If you do graduate, but they are not able to find a contract on which to place you within 60 business days, you also owe no further commitment to Cook. (Keep in mind, these specifics may have changed, since I went through class, in 2016)

Cons
- Starting salary is a little lower than entry level, which is how Cook recoups its money for the training.There are scheduled raises, though, so you wont' be at that lower salary for too long.
- There is a two year commitment to Cook, if hired. This means that if you are hired by Cook, and then leave on your own before the two years are up, you may be required to pay back a percentage of what they value the training, to be. Note, that this only applies if they find you a contract, and hire you, within the first 60 business days. Some of the specifics may have changed since I finished the program, but that is the gist.
- The time commitment to the class, is eight weeks on site, in Memphis, TN, which means you'll need some savings, or other means of support for those 8 weeks. When I attended, they did put us up in an extended stay, but we were responsible for our own food and transportation.The class is on site, and is pretty much standard business hours 8-5, with a lunch hour. To get the most out of the class, you'll probably also want to spend some time each evening, reviewing what you learned that day. Those that are local to the Memphis area, could probably still attempt to work nights while in the class, but I wouldn't recommend it.

This program started out with fundamentals and grew steadily in intensity, with enterprise front and back-end frameworks. It was partly training and partly evaluative, so it’s sort of like a boot camp but also like an interview process. They have a balanced... Read More focus on soft skills as well as technical. Experience with projects for portfolio and working with a team in a git repo.

I would not be in this field if it were not for Cook System's FastTrack'D program. While intense (and I do mean really intense), the program teaches you to hit the field sprinting with developing skills that leave your future employers speechless. The... Read More material covered in the program is in high demand; however by making it through the program you gain a very unique and valued skill... being able to teach yourself new skills and tech on the fly. This skill is what landed me my Senior Engineer position with my current company. Once they saw me as a contractor pick up an entirely new language and framework within two weeks and start pushing out really good software, they converted me to a full time hire right away.

Pros:
- Teaches you invaluable skills
- Pushes you to be not just a average developer, but a great one.
- They hire you if you complete the program
- Fastest way to get your "foot in the door" in this field.
- A lot of support within the company
- Decent benefits

Cons:
- VERY intense program (not for the faint of heart)
- High stress, as every couple of weeks in the program you are tested. If you fail, you are out
- Bench time varies. You are not on their payroll until your first assignment
- Business model not the best and needs work (this may have changed since I was there)
- Low low low starting salary for a developer (however, while it stinks... I felt it was worth it to get the experience needed to get into the field)
- No income while doing the full time program (pretty rough... but I would NOT recommend trying to juggle a part time job with the program... I didn't sleep for
2 months in this program)

Even though the con's list seems pretty crummy. Here's the thing... the program costs nothing (or at least it didn't when I did it), they pay for your hotel while doing it, and if you are able to push yourself past your limits... you have a job in one of the most amazing fields out there. The company supports you after they place you in the field, and even have a program in place to give you good raises so you aren't too hurt about the low starting salary. Study hard, be willing to pay your dues, and this company will help you become an amazing developer.

I graduated from the program 3 years ago (in their own Phoenix location) and left the company a year ago... so I'm not sure how much information is accurate. But this is how I remember them.

I entered Fast Track'd with a degree in Computer Science. After graduating from college, I assumed I would find a job in no time, but I quickly realized that my lack of experience and relevant skills was an insurmountable obstacle in finding employment.... Read More My favorite thing about this program is that no matter who you are or where you come from, if you are willing and capable, they will give you the opportunity that no one else will. Even if you don't have a degree or prior coding experience, this program is designed to build you skill set from the ground up.

The program is challenging, but it is worth it. Even with my prior experience, I still learned something new almost everyday. And by the end, I genuinely felt confident that I was capable of entering the field in positions that I previously did not qualify for.

I looked for a job for 10 months after college. I waited 4 weeks after Fast Track'd to get my first interview, and I landed the job! I believe that had I not found Cook's listing online, I never would have found employment. Thankfully, now I make a living as a developer, and I love what I do!

The class is free, and lasts around 2 months, and covers both front and backend.
It moves at a swift pace, and simulates, to some degree, the crunch that one is very likely
to feel at times once on the job.

Once complete, they will assist with job placement,... Read More and even provide support/answer questions
if you get into a tough spot on the job.

Overall, I don't have any complaints.

The program is very fast-paced. You learn a lot of great material very quickly. FastTrack'D will get you ready to work. It can take a lot of late nights and frustration, but it is worth it. You are ready to contribute as soon as you start with your contract.... Read More