Makers Academy

Attending Makers was a transformative experience that not only equipped me with practical programming skills but also reshaped my mindset toward problem-solving and continuous learning. This immersive bootcamp excels in cultivating not only technical... Read More abilities but also the adaptability and resilience needed in the software industry. I did the Software bootcamp specialisation after the initial general 8 week foundation course, however, there are other specialisms as well - please do check the makers website for more information and they do run some taster sessions (taster tuesdays) to experience a summary of what they cover in these programs for free, so definitely worth checking that out too!

Pros:
Comprehensive Curriculum: The bootcamp covers a wide array of programming fundamentals and practices (OOP etc), from Python, JavaScript (including hands on experience with non-relational and relational databases) to test-driven development (TDD) and pair programming. Every concept builds on the last, ensuring a solid foundation.

Supportive Learning Environment: Makers creates a space where everyone, regardless of their starting point, feels supported. Mentors are not only highly knowledgeable but also approachable, and they genuinely care about your progress.

Emphasis on Real-World Skills: Beyond coding, Makers focuses on essential soft skills, including communication, collaboration, emotional intelligence and problem-solving. By the end, you’re not just a developer—you’re a well-rounded professional.

Strong Alumni Network: Makers has a robust network of graduates who are helpful, and upon graduation this network opens doors to opportunities and mentorship after the bootcamp.

Job Support: The careers team provides invaluable support, including mock interviews, CV workshops, and LinkedIn tips, which continue even after graduation. This support was crucial to me as I entered and manoeuvred the tech job market - ultimately helping me land my first role.

Cons - not much as negative as it is more considerations to be aware before you get involved:

Intensive Schedule: Makers is an intense 16week program, and balancing the workload can be challenging. Be prepared to put the work in and a high degree of commitment required. The pace can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially if you’re new to coding - I found the pomodoro technique very handy to cope with this.

Cost: Like many coding bootcamps, Makers is an investment - an investment in yourself. While I believe it’s worth it, the cost may be prohibitive for some. The return on investment, however, is strong if you’re committed to a tech career and there are financial options as well (i.e. stepex etc)

Self-Motivation is Key: While Makers provides resources, the bootcamp’s self-directed approach requires a lot of initiative. You’ll get out of it what you put in, so it’s essential to be proactive and ask questions.

In summary, Makers is an outstanding choice for anyone serious about starting a career in software development. It is challenging, but the reward is really worth it. The skills and support from this journey have been invaluable to me, setting me up for a strong start in my first tech job. I wholeheartedly recommend Makers to anyone and everyone looking to career transition to the tech world.

I attended this coding bootcamp, and coming from a traditional learning background, it was a bit of a shock to adjust to the Montessori-style approach. There were no grades, so I never knew exactly how well I was doing, which made it challenging at first.... Read More However, in hindsight, this method helped me develop strong skills in breaking down and analysing technical requirements, which was especially valuable since I already had some coding experience.

I would definitely recommend this bootcamp to anyone looking to sharpen their coding skills and get job-ready. However, for absolute beginners, unless you pick things up very quickly, you should be prepared to spend an additional 3 months to a year perfecting your skills after the bootcamp, especially in today's competitive job market.

Expert knowledge from coaches and amazing support from other staff. A very inclusive and fun environment to learn in and progress towards a new career. The curriculum is challenging but rewarding, with hands-on projects that push you to grow. Highly recommended... Read More for anyone serious about coding!

Things I loved:
1. Focus is on broadly applicable tech agnostic coding practices such as TDD, Pair Programming, Debugging Methods etc. things you can't get from tutorials.
2. Careers service is exceptional with workshops, one on one help with CV and cover... Read More letters, regular check-ins and interview practice for technical and competency-based interviews.
3. Everyone involved is genuinely invested and wants you to succeed. Coaches, career counsellors, wellbeing support staff will all go above and beyond to help you land a role. Even the CEO took time out to help me write a personal pitch for an interview.
4. There is a sense of community which persists long after you leave the course. The network and relationships have been just as valuable in terms of generating opportunities but even just to check in, stay motivated and share insights. These became particularly valuable when it came to interview time as you have a much better chance when learning from each others' mistakes.

Things to be aware of:
1. It's an entry level program so if you are a proficient coder already, don't expect the course to go into great technical depth. The technical elements are more of a framework to learn the approach. The breadth is quite extensive and you have the freedom to dive deeper/ complete extension challenges in your own time.
2. It's fast-paced. It's helpful to do some practice on the basics before you start as it can be challenging to catch up when the course picks up pace (around Week 3).
3. You have to work extensively with other people at differing levels of ability. Some people found it challenging but I would encourage you to lean into it. Ultimately it's these skills which you get asked about at interviews and if you're a career changer, it's super helpful to be able to demonstrate them in technical context.

The Makers Program is perfect for anyone wanting to kick-start their career in the tech industry!
The course is extensive and positively challenging, the coaches are extremely knowledgeable, kind and will instil in you, the qualities needed to succeed... Read More in this industry and the people you meet along the way will (hopefully) become life-long friends!

Wish i could do it all again!

I recently completed an incredible journey as a student at Makers Academy, where I participated in two comprehensive programs: Software Development (February - June 2023) and Quality Engineering (October 2023 - January 2024). This bootcamp has truly transformed... Read More my career, providing me with the skills and confidence needed to excel in the tech industry.

Software Development Program:
During the Software Development program, I developed a deep curiosity for coding and emerging technologies. The curriculum emphasized best practices such as Test-Driven Development (TDD) and Agile methodologies, ensuring I was well-prepared for real-world challenges. I gained proficiency in a range of technologies, including:
* Frontend technologies like CSS, HTML, and JavaScript.
* Backend frameworks and languages such as Node, React, Ruby, and Java.
* Databases including MongoDB, MySQL, and PostgreSQL.
* Version control using Git.
I also became adept at using testing tools like Cypress, Jest, and R-Spec, which greatly enhanced my ability to deliver quality code.

Quality Engineering Program:
The Quality Engineering program further expanded my technical skill set. I developed a comprehensive understanding of Quality Engineering fundamentals and honed my proficiency in testing web applications. Key aspects of this program included:
* End-to-end testing with Selenium and API testing with Postman.
* Creating robust test suites to ensure effective validation of web software functionalities.
* Leveraging Java to build efficient and scalable automated tests.
* Active participation in agile ceremonies, such as stand-ups, planning sessions, and reviews, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams.

Thanks to Makers Academy, I am now working as a Software Tester, a role that I am both passionate about and well-prepared for. The bootcamp not only equipped me with technical skills but also instilled a mindset of continuous learning and improvement.

I am immensely grateful to the dedicated coaches and staff at Makers Academy for their guidance and support. Their commitment to student success has changed my life, and I am excited to continue my journey in the tech industry with the strong foundation they have provided.

Having spent nearly 20 years working first as a veterinary surgeon, then in veterinary industry, as a trainer, salesperson, sales manager, and more, I took a leap of faith to pursue my dream of being a software engineer. I knew various people who had... Read More made a career switch through Makers, and all were very positive about the experience... I can now add my own personal endorsement to that roster.

The team was incredibly friendly, welcoming, supportive, encouraging, engaging, and knowledgeable. The course was perfect for giving me the skills and knowledge I needed to land my first role, which I managed less than 2 weeks after finishing the course.

I did the hybrid course, spending the first 6 weeks on-site in London, and the remaining 10 weeks learning remotely (from my home in the West Country). For me, the opportunity to meet the coaches and my fellow 'Makers' face to face was a wonderful opportunity and a highlight of the course, though I must also add that the fully-remote students also reported having had an overwhelmingly positive experience.

One point I feel does need to be made: this is not a course that will spoon feed you with 'the answers'. Indeed, if that's what you are after then it is perhaps a sign that you're missing the point of what it is to be a software engineer. The subject matter is too vast, and the pace of change too rapid, for there to be 'right answers'. Instead, this is a programme that teaches you how to learn, and how to keep learning for a lifetime. There is, of course, a syllabus, and it felt on point to give me the basic knowledge of modern software engineering technologies and principles I needed to get through interviews and technical tests. But more importantly, it teaches you how to find answers for yourself, how to break problems down to solve them, how to manage challenge and failure, and, of course, how to celebrate success!

In summary, if you truly want to become a software engineer but for whatever reason didn't take that path as an undergraduate, you should look no further than Makers. Go on, you won't regret it!

(N.B. Whilst I didn't have the option to select Software Development Bootcamp for this review, that's what it was - it was NOT 'just' a web development bootcamp.)

Before Makers, I struggled to stay committed while studying online by myself. Makers not only helped with the commitment but also provided exceptional support from the coaches whenever I faced difficulties. Coming from a non-traditional office background,... Read More Makers taught me a lot about what to expect in real-world work scenarios.

The foundations of the program were excellent. Although there are a few areas in the curriculum that could be improved, such as the Swift module, which wasn't as popular as the others, the consistent support from the coaches made a significant difference. I was thrilled to complete the bootcamp with such an amazing project.

After finishing, I found the next steps somewhat overwhelming, especially given the challenging job market. However, the career guidance from Makers helped me define a clear plan and reach my goals.

One of the best parts of the Makers experience which is not highlight enough is the continued support once you have completed the bootcamp. As an alumni, I have received consistent career support from the Makers team, in the form of job offers and apprenticeships... Read More they have received as well as CV reviews and interview prep. As an Alumni I also feel like part of a community with my fellow alumni.

An important note is that it may not be the best experience for everyone, the curriculum follows as strict pace, although anything you want to work on can be done in your own time, that being said some of my fellow cohort struggled to keep up and this can be very demoralising for some people. Being part of a cohort does mean that you do have peers to aid you, as was my experience.

Overall the experience was well worth it, between what I learned to the community I became part of.

This bootcamp provides a great experience for those with no prior tech experience (such as myself!) and you are taught the basics of what is required to flourish in the tech industry. You are taught in-demand languages, frameworks and technologies whilst... Read More also learning how to efficiently learn/teach yourself new technologies. You learn industry ways of working in teams such as agile metholodies, TDD (Test-Driven Development), pair-programming and how to conduct stand-ups. By the end of the bootcamp you can effectively build full-stack projects in agile teams and are given the tools for success.

However, the mission is not finished when you graduate from Makers as you still need to build up your tech skills, behavioural skills and projects to get interviews for jobs. The support from Makers is lacking for job-hunting, but I hear they are improving it for alumni which is promising news.

I would advise prospective students to always keep learning new things and building upon their skills as this will benefit their portfolio and skills bank and therefore improve their chances of being employed.

I was in the March 2023 cohort and just started my first tech job last week so it is possible, but you need to perservere and not give up!

Makers coaches are pretty good and the curriculum is good and with the good support that is provided during the course I am sure you will be able to achieve your dreams!