Tech Elevator

Before Tech Elevator I was a chemist with absolutely no knowledge in coding. The science industry wasn't what I thought it was going to be after graduating college so I was looking for a career change and software development caught my interest. In the... Read More 14 weeks I spent at Tech Elevator I learned how to do front end and back end development, gained enough knowledge to know how to create my own website and did so, made a bunch of friends, laughed a lot, worked really hard and got a job before the bootcamp ended through Tech Elevator's pathway program (even in the midst of the COVID madness). I am so happy with how my experience went. I have an awesome job that I get excited about now and a whole career ahead of me.

Overall a great experience. I made lifelong friends, not just in other students but in the staff members as well. The instructors are incredibly knowledgable and amazing at sharing that knowledge. A job is not guaranteed once you graduate but they have... Read More some of the best placement numbers around. I obtained my current position through the matchmaking process, which is probably the distinguishing factor for Tech Elevator versus other bootcamps and very valuable as a new member of the tech field. I highly suggest the .NET course; John Fulton is hands down the best teacher I've ever had the honor of learning from and Matt Eland is on his way to be of the same caliber. I went from never looking at a single line of code to being a functional full stack developer in the span of a few months. It was exactly what I was looking for in a career change.

As a creative person, I always thought that computer programming was way too analytical to be a career option for me. But I went to an event hosted by Tech Elevator in which they showed me how I could utilize my creative genius to create beautiful websites!... Read More
I took the test and signed up for the Spring Cohort. I had several months to hash over my decision... "Did I do the right thing?" "Was the risk going to pay off in the end?" I went through with it and I am so glad I did!
The instructors are out-of-this-world amazing! The curriculum is incredible. But the best for me were all the amazing people I met that I now call my friends. The pathway program is the best and within a month of graduating I was able to land the most amazing job I have had in my life!
If you are concerned whether or not it is worth the risk, I can assure you, it is more than worth it! I don't regret a single thing and have already recommended it to a friend who is currently in the program and loving it. Even with Covid-19, they work with you and help you become the best you could be. Thank you Tech Elevator!

So if you're like me, prior to signing up for Tech Elevator (TE), you're reading every review you can find about TE because it sounds like a program you want to do but you're a bit terrified of the price tag. I assure you that if you are willing to put... Read More in the work and time required (and are aware that learning to code isn't easy!!!), you will be very glad you chose TE.

I went through TE's C#/.NET cohort starting in January 2020 and graduating in mid April... right when it sounded like a terrible idea to be looking for a job due to the coronavirus situation. I was worried the job market would not be friendly to those of us with no work experience in the field, but I was contacted by a recruiter from a company that was looking for junior developers and already had many TE grads on staff and I ended up getting a job offer from that very company just a few weeks later.

The staff at TE is incredible. The instructors are all extremely well versed in the curriculum and are dedicated to helping you get through the material. Do not be afraid to ask for help. In addition to technical instruction, you will spend some of your time with the Pathway program. Don't dismiss the importance of pathway. This is the part that focuses on the job search and you should take it every bit as serious as the tech skills side. Even the elevator pitch, take it seriously.

The curriculum is all very relevant and the exercises, pair programming assignments, and capstone projects are very well designed to challenge you and make sure you understand the materials. Do not fall behind. It is called a bootcamp for a reason. Do your homework and the daily reading.
Take this seriously and you'll have a new set of very valuable skills, new friends for life, and be in my position where you are eager to encourage people to take the leap.

When I chose to come to Tech Elevator to become a Full Stack Developer one of the large draws was the in person instruction. After trying multiple online courses I knew I needed that personal connection with an experienced, knowledgeable developer. I... Read More was a student spring of 2020 when COVID19 hit. When we had to transition to a remote classroom I know there were some reservations by a lot of us in the program but Tech Elevator came through and delivered a great experience like they do in all other areas. I still got live lectures with my instructor every morning and was able to interact with them in the same capacity. They were always available to help out and answer questions I may have had about lecture or an assignment. Tech Elevator also set up several virtual spaces for me and my classmates to collaborate and socialize during a time of social distancing. Throughout this entire transition Tech Elevator was extremely transparent and incredibly supportive to all their students. Upon graduation at record high levels of unemployment in the US we were still able to interview with a ton of companies and within a couple weeks of graduation I had my first job as a developer. I couldn’t be more happy with my choice to enroll at Tech Elevator!

I was torn between return to college to finish my computer science degree and attending a bootcamp, and ended up choosing to attend Tech Elevator. From day 1 it was clear that I had made the right choice, the technical portion of the course was top notch... Read More and comprehensive, but what makes Tech Elevator stand above the rest is the pathway program and their commitment to getting you a job in the field after graduation.

One of the best decisions I have made. Met a lot of great people and mentors. I felt very prepared when looking for jobs and received a job offer two weeks after graduation. The staff at Tech Elevator really cares about you and will be there for you even... Read More after graduation.

Possibly the best money I spent. I pored over reviews and spent months looking for a coding bootcamp. No regrets, super happy with my decision. Granted, I graduated pre-coronavirus so things may be a little different now, but knowing what I know about... Read More everyone at Tech Elevator, I have no doubt that the latest graduates are in the best hands. Their goal is not only to prepare you for a job, but to get you one. I seriously recommend them to my friends and random people whenever it gets brought up.

My profile before Tech Elevator:
* Had some experience with programming (Java in high school, Arduino/Raspberry Pi/Python stuff in college, Android development as a hobby after). Already knew I loved it
* Was a tutor for a couple years, then an assembler
* Bought a Web Development Udemy course, but couldn't focus on it and finish
* Didn't know how to get a programming job, or if I was even qualified
* Thought about getting into software for years, but didn't have an actual plan. Any time I'd start trying to learn something, five new questions would pop up for every answer I'd get

Just a few reasons I love Tech Elevator:
* The instructors are amazing and really care about your learning. Always happy to share their experiences (and they each have tons of experience). Some of them are working on some pretty cool stuff outside of work as well, I'd ask them about it!
* The academic fellows are also graduates of the program, so they know exactly what you're going through. They're also always there to help
* Pathway people are on top of it. I'm pretty sure Katie Detore remembers where every student ended up lol. They meet with you individually, and you can also reach out to them with question or concerns. It's great
* Pathway program does more than show you how to write a resume. There are panels, visitors, employer showcases (companies coming to speak to you), mock interviews, real interviews...
* "Always learning" and "get comfortable with being uncomfortable" are phrases I heard a lot there and they've stuck with me. I'd never been one to do extra work outside of work, but now I see myself seeking out new things to do and learn

Me after Tech Elevator:
* Associate consultant working at one of the many retailers here in Columbus. I can't imagine what my life would be like right now if I hadn't gone through the bootcamp and gotten a job in an industry where working remotely isn't a foreign concept
* Making more money. Thinking of buying a place soon
* Happier with my job
* Not that this field is immune to coronavirus, but I'm not that worried about losing my job. Chances of it happening are relatively low, and even I do, I'm still seeing recruiters reach out.

Advice:
* Especially for those who aren't working or have kids while in the bootcamp, put as much time into this as you can. If you're done with your assignments, work on side projects or learn something else. As confusing as some of the topics may be at first, go to Meetups.

I had been trying to break into the programming field for several years by the time I started seriously considering bootcamps. Stagnant office jobs that paid the bills but left me bored were all I could seem to find. I was caught in the old catch-22 of... Read More needing experience to get experience. Knowing that programming bootcamps were focused on getting entry-level positions for their students, I came to the decision that I'd give one a go. After doing several weeks of research, including open houses and reading plenty of reviews, I finally decided to apply to TE's Cleveland campus, and joined the Fall 2019 class (if the review says 2020, it's because it didn't let me choose the right one on their dropdown!). The technical instruction was stellar, and thanks to Mike, Josh, and Craig I learned more about programming in a few months than I had in the prior eight years.

But the real ace up TE's sleeve is their Pathway program, which was ultimately the reason I went with them over similar bootcamps (including the one from my alma mater). They focus on the soft-skill portion of job hunting, with a laser focus on the tech industry in particular. Resume crafting, interviewing, social media profile building, and pitching yourself--all things I kind of hate doing, but that are vital to actually landing a job, no matter your technical skills. Val, Marty, and Kelly are some of the most dedicated people I've ever met, always available to help and eager to push their students into improving those sometimes-uncomfortable areas. Not only do they arm you with the skills (and practice!) to sail through interviews, they've built up a wide network of contacts with the northeast Ohio tech community, and use those connections to help you get a foot in the door. Easily the most important factor in choosing TE over others.

Over three quarters of my class including me were placed with jobs before the bootcamp had even ended, and after four months in my new career I'm still having a great time. I'd highly recommend the program to anyone who's looking to get started in programming.

I did my fair share of research, using mainly this site as well as others. After 14 intense weeks I look back with no regrets and happy that I chose this program. The curriculum itself is designed very well, taking you through programming fundamentals,... Read More database and SQL, then on to MVC pattern of making web applications and finally javascript and front-end web programming. There is a bit of jump in difficulty halfway through, but instructors, campus staff, and even fellow classmates were all very helpful. You get the sense that everyone is in it together and trying to succeed for all. My instructor explained concepts very clearly and in a simple way. And all the exercises and code you get to write really builds confidence in your own newfound abilities. The pathway program is stellar as well. Tech Elevator really does have a lot of connections in the area, and they guide you well through the job market, resumes, interviews, networking, and more. From the planning to the execution to the people you get the sense that they really have it together.

All that being said, the world as it was when I entered the program is fundamentally different from the world as it is when I left the program. I felt they handled the transition to virtual very well, but at the same time a lot of the experience was lost when we could not do in-person immersive anymore. I've found that with added motivation it's completely possible to learn and work your way to being a software engineer just in your room. Hopefully we will be in-classroom during the Fall, but if I had to give some advice for those considering an online bootcamp, I would say that while I feel Tech Elevator is top of the class, you can learn and succeed anywhere given your motivation and confidence. Even in this new world coding is likely to be an important and necessary skill. I'm convinced that if it wasn't for the pandemic I would have a job right now (just a week out from graduation). I really enjoyed the whole experience and made some good friends too! Despite the last 5 weeks going virtual I'm still sending a 5/5 for the school that I'm grateful and proud to be an alum of.