Makers Academy

My experience at Makers Academy has been nothing short of awesome. Sure, I could have taught myself how to loosely code, but I wouldn't have made the connections, friendships, or solid coding practices without them. They provide you with fantastic resources,... Read More coaching help, practices that you can take into your career. The after Makers support has been better than any of the other courses I've taken. The mentorship program has been an added touch that has helped me keep from getting overwhelmed. If you're unsure, just do it or talk to a past Maker! There isn't a person I've met, who has said they should have waited or not taken the course!

The course is very involved but we'll structured setting you up with the fundamental principles of programming that are universal across a lot of languages. You also work in pairs throughout the course and in groups when it comes to projects, both of... Read More which you would do in a professional setting. Projects are run in an Agile way, again, software development best practice. There is a lot to take in and can feel overwhelming but if you trust the process and accept you won't complete everything you'll look back in awe at what you have learnt. Everyone is very supportive as you are all on the same journey and the post course career support is great with CV help and interview prep. I was able to get an offer within less than two months of finishing. A lot of my cohort got jobs much quicker than that. Overall a really great experience that has paid off for me. If you don't enjoy your current job and get a kick out coding - go for it.

Pros Makers has a very supportive, progressive atmosphere and culture. I started last year and had to defer because I got ill, and the coaches were really helpful. I started again later in the year and completed the course last week. The coaches are fab.... Read More You do have to reach out to them if you need something but once you do, they are very supportive. If you have any health issue or you’re finding the course stressful – speak to a coach!

 I have some health issues and they were really helpful, kind and proactive in their support. I got a job immediately the end of the course through a personal contact, so I cannot speak for the careers side from personal experience, but from what I can tell from the cohort I started with last year, everyone seems to have good jobs that they enjoy. The careers service seems very comprehensive too, and I had CV support as soon as I asked for it. The pairing and team work that you do at Makers is a real strength of the bootcamp and this cannot be replicated by trying to teach yourself coding. I feel much more relaxed and confident working with other people because of all the pairing and groupwork. I’ve met some amazing people through Makers and I hope I end up working with some of them sometime during my career. We had a lot of laughs as well as bonded over seemingly impossible problems (which all got solved in the end). Cons Some of the materials need proof-reading and can be a bit difficult to understand when they don’t need to be. I can imagine this might be an additional challenge if English is not your native language. Sometimes it can feel a bit like you’re on your own, working through self-led learning materials. There isn’t a great deal of teaching (a couple of coach-led workshops most weeks) which can sometimes be frustrating. The idea is that you learn to figure things out for yourself, but I think Makers should hire some more coaches to be able to answer learners’ queries more quickly as there was sometimes a bit of a wait to get coach input. I cannot fault any of the individual coaches, but as a course provider, it feels like there needs to be a few more coaches. Conclusion Makers was a great experience and I’m delighted to have finished it. I definitely feel ready to take on a junior developer role, and I’ve been offered a decent paying job the week I finished. As a way into a career in software development, I would recommend Makers. It can feel a little frustrating sometimes during the process, but the course gets you job ready and in a good position to apply for junior dev roles.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a career change if you are willing to put in the hard work. Makers puts you in a position to succeed and its up to you to get the most out of it. Exellent career support and lots of partners to apply to after course... Read More concluded, got a job offer 3 weeks after graduating.

I joined Makers Academy hybrid Bootcamp in November '21. I embarked on this adventure without realising what a rollercoaster it would be: yes, it's very intense, but in the best way possible, we make new friends, we learn loads through pairing and self-learning... Read More sessions, we get advice from a formidable team of coaches! Once the Bootcamp was over, I had a dedicated career team who helped me get a job just after three weeks. They organised a career fair where we could meet and talk to potential employers, a golden opportunity for junior dev to network and meet other alumni. Not to forget, we get emotional intelligence training which helps us develop our confidence. We get much more than an education in software engineering when we join makers; it's a life-changing experience; we improve so quickly when surrounded by exceptional people!

This sixteen week course will provide you with all the skills you need to land your first developer job. The first four weeks make up a pre-course which teaches you the basics of coding. If you have free time during this period I'd strongly recommend... Read More to keep learning to build up as much of a foundation as you can as once the main course begins it is intense. The subsequent twelve weeks were a blur, you develop so many skills during this time you'll be amazed when you look back. There is a focus on pair programming, self led learning, mental well-being and team projects. Excellent coaches are always on hand to support you, both technical and personally. I'd highly recommend Makers to anyone wanting to change their career!

This bootcamp will teach you how to develop a growth mindset. Studying with a partner will give you the confidence to communicate what you've learned, but you'll also learn not to be hesitant to ask questions when you don't understand something. These... Read More are extremely valuable abilities to have while applying for jobs. There is a lot of technical and emotional help available if you ask for it, so don't expect too many lectures and be prepared to do some extra self-study. The EQ curriculum is what makes a big difference, and the career team will help you apply for your first job in the best way possible. Great Slack community from which you will benefit and may contribute, as their quote goes, "once a Maker, always a Maker."

I've been to university before that, and I have to say that I have learned more in 4 months at Makers than my 2 years at university, hands down. The programme is condensed, not for the faint of heart and anyone planning to do that part time (we were working... Read More 70h/week) but it is so worth it and absolutely guaranteed to get you a good first position in tech ! I was able to learn so much so fast thanks to the coaches who are absolute angels and very understanding of your everyday struggles, but also thanks to the whole cohort. One treasure you will gain out of this experience is the people you've shared it with, they will be your teachers and sometimes your students and you will grow so much more thanks to sharing that experience with 20+ other people. All in all, I highly recommend Makers as a bootcamp choice if you're in London, it's an amazing opportunity for change and growth :)

Makers is an intense 16 week Bootcamp but in the end, you are in a good position to look for that first job! The support throughout the course is fantastic and you do learn to trust their process as the weeks go on. When I did makers the course was fully... Read More remote, I wasn't the biggest fan of studying remotely but I know some people preferred it so that's down to personal preference. Once you complete the course the team that help you with the job hunt are fantastic. It took me 3 months to find a job :)

The Makers Bootcamp is not for the faint of heart, but it is also very well supported by a lovely bunch of people. It is intense, it gets frustrating and glorious, but it is certainly effective in making a career change and getting into a tech job. Makers... Read More are a strong community that will stay with you and support you long after the Bootcamp. I had a blast.