Zip Code Wilmington

Zip Code Wilmington was the best decision of my life, and I don't say that lightly. In some ways it seems like the people who work for ZCW or graduated from there are pedaling a fantasy: "Change your life in 12 weeks and gain new skills and a lucrative... Read More career." But that is exactly what happened for me, I had little coding experience prior to applying to ZCW and started with a limited understanding of Javascript. Graduating with a good base understanding of core Java, JavaScript, Spring, HTML + CSS, and a little React is amazing to me. I won't lie, I did struggle along the way and wish I could have attended in person but due to the current situation my classes were strictly online. As a former Math teacher I know first hand how difficult lesson planning and teaching virtually can be and my instructors never missed a beat. Although this program is extremely challenging (and more so if you like me had no coding background) it was worth it. I love being challenged, and being under pressure. I bonded with my cohort mates over late nights and complex problems. That was another great thing about the program, the collaboration and group projects. Working in groups can be difficult because of work ethics and communication styles but in the real world of software engineering, no one works in a silo. Getting the chance to experience this at ZCW definitely gave me a leg up when joining my team at my job. I understand agility and scrum, peer programing, and stories. Aside from the programming aspect to ZCW, one thing they do exceptionally well is their professional development. The team that works with the students on this is superb. Weekly you will have the opportunity to connect with experts in the field and learn about exciting technologies, or hear amazing backstories that will inspire you to strive to do your best. They will work with you on your resume, interviewing skills, and other soft skills that will make you competitive and attractive in today's job market. ZCW has many great resources including the instructors, and professional staff but one hidden gem is the alumni network. ZCW has graduated over 500 students in the last 7 or so years. That is a lot of people, most of whom are still in the Delaware area. This is amazing because not only are these zip coders working at all the big name corporations you are probably aiming to work at, they have the unique shared experience of being in this brutal, intensive yet rewarding program. I have met so many awesome alumni through different events and lectures and the advice they give is invaluable. When I joined my team at my new job I was delighted to learn that there was a zip coder on my team, she graduated about 2 years ago and welcomed me with open arms. The connections and job opportunities that the alumni can open up for you is a huge perk. I am so proud to be an alumni myself now and continue to return to ZCW to help the new class of cohorts. The last thing that I want to touch on is diversity. While in ZCW I was so happy to see that diversity matters to them and not just because it is currently relevant but something that was ingrained from the start. If you are considering applying, stop considering and just do it. Take that step.

I loved every minute of Zip Code, but it's not for the faint of heart. They have to teach you enough to be hire-able ... in three months. So needless to say, it's a grueling pace. Long hours, at least one day on the weekend, maybe 80 hours a week. But... Read More it doesn't even feel like work. There are so many interesting things to learn about that by the time you feel like you've started to get the hang of something, it's time to challenge yourself again.

One of the best things I got from Zip Code was the soft skills training: from how to apply for and get a job, to how to work on an agile software team. There's so much more to software development than just typing into the machine, something I hadn't realized before going in.

The new space is beautiful, the tech is top notch (I came out and got a job straight away writing Angular),

Zip Code was the best and hardest experience of my life! I did not have a background in technology. I was a teacher and fundraiser but was thinking about a career change. I became interested in coding, studied for a year, and then applied to Zip Code.... Read More The interview process and the program are both very challenging and intense but, if you are determined and motivated to succeed, Zip Code provides you with the opportunity that is needed to learn how to code proficiently and to find a career in software development. The best parts of Zip Code are the connections you make with cohort peers, staff, alumni, and professionals in the tech field and its curriculum not only helps you to be a great programmer but helps you become a better you. It truly is a special and unique bootcamp.

Zip Code Wilmington is honest (the time commitment is REAL). If you do the work, they will WORK for you.

There are tremendous people across the board at ZCW who want nothing more than for you to succeed. Truly a not for profit that has a formula that works.... Read More If you get the opportunity to attend Zip Code Wilmington, take it. There are no downsides... ok it's hard, but steel sharpens steel, right? Invest 3 months of your life in yourself and don't let up.

I can not recommend this program enough. Zip Code has changed my life and it's only going to get better from here. I was always interested in programming but never knew how to start. By luck I heard about this program and thought it was too good to be... Read More true. It's insane the amount you can learn in just 3 months and the support you get for work placement. The instructors teach you in accordance to what is practiced in the industry as opposed to giving you a textbook to work through. That is the biggest advantage you will have when you complete the program. Your life for 3 months will be nothing but code but it'll be worth it in the end

If you are willing to put in the time and effort, Zip Code Wilmington will help you further your career goals. The course work is intense and faced paced, but the staff is awesome and supportive. If you stay focused and get through your coursework, you... Read More will be able to professionally develop software. They provide excellent support for you while you are applying to jobs. All around, it was a great experience. I made a lot of good friends and joined a growing network of professionals in the Philadelphia, Delaware are.

When i first found myself learning to code there were too many resources available online for me to really know where to get started. I came across Zip Code students at a local hackathon and it was easy to see that this bootcamp knew what they were doing.... Read More After doing some research and speaking with some of the alumni it was clear that if i wanted to become a better programmer and make a successful career change into the tech industry that Zip Code would be my best bet. Also, because Zip Code has corporate partnerships with local companies, the curriculum is designed to teach what these partners are looking for. This not only serves the needs of the companies but it ensures that you are learning employable skills, lets be honest, the goal is to get a job upon completion. Zip Code also has a strong alumni network that you can seek help from while in or out of the cohort. If you are having a hard time grasping the information you are learning you can easily request a tutor and Zip Code will provide you with an alumni willing to help. As you get to the end of your program you begin to focus on getting a job. Once again, Zip Code excels in this area. You will have many opportunities for networking with hiring managers from many of the corporate partners. In addition to networking, the alumni come back to help with mock interviews. By the time the real interviews come around you are more than prepared to knock them out of the park. Interviews are another unique aspect to Zip Code. Unlike other bootcamps, Zip Code brings the interviewers to you. Corporate partners come into the school to conduct interviews to fill their positions. Good luck finding an opportunity like this anywhere else. Overall, I am 100% satisfied with my experience at Zip Code. Zip Code is the reason why I was able to successfully make the transition from Produce Manager to Software Engineer in a matter of months.

From a stay at home mom with a science background , to a software engineer in 3 months ....... sounds almost impossible! But that's my story !
This was my dream , that I never let go of. I was not sure how I would achieve it , given the big gap in my... Read More career , but Zip Code Wilmington made that almost impossible dream come true. I am thankful to all the faculty and staff for believing in me, encouraging me and supporting me in every possible way .
Zip Code Wilmington made me realize that, if we have the desire to achieve a goal and are willing to work hard, nothing is Impossible. My motto during the whole 12 weeks was "Failure is not an Option".
Zip Code Wilmington challenged us daily and taught us skills that helped us excel at interviews and get multiple job offers !
I don't have adequate words to express my gratitude to this wonderful group of educators and staff who work tirelessly to help us achieve our dreams !
Today , as I work at a leading bank as a software engineer, I thank Zip Code everyday for the skills I learnt and the self-confidence that I have, as I walk into my office everyday.
Joining ZipCode was absolutely the best decision that I have ever made !

Started out coding at ZCW with less than 1 month experience in programming. The only experience I had was the pre-course work that was sent out to be completed to apply for acceptance into the program. After 3 incredibly difficult months, late nights,... Read More long weekends, sweat, and maybe some tears...I completely changed my life. I was stuck in a labor job that was overall a dead-end, with little experience in any other field I found it impossible to break away from what I was doing. Enter Zip Code. The staff and students were all amazing. I learned so much more than I thought even possible in such a short amount of time. If you are willing to do what it takes, Zip Code will change your life.
I went from a laborer for a construction company to an employed Software Engineer in 3 months.