Tech Elevator

5 whole months exactly!

That's how long it took me to go from a barber to an employed software engineer. 

I gave up my business on May 3 and I'm starting my new role as a software engineer at JPMorgan Chase & Co. on October 3! 

I am so excited to join the team there, and start the next chapter of my story! I can't wait to keep learning and applying all the knowledge that I acquired at tech elevator. Most of all I'm so pumped to meet and start working with my team.

When I say this is life-changing for my family and me, I mean it! 

I know that this timeline is different for everyone and I'm not saying this to flaunt the timing. If you have followed my journey at all you know it was a struggle. 

I doubted myself the whole way. I had to make a conscious decision to believe others when they said they believed in me or "you can do this". I had long nights, came incredibly close to giving up on more than one occasion, and if you ask my partner, she would say at times I was the most depressed she had ever seen me. 

But with all that I made it! I'm a software engineer!

I really couldn't do this alone, My partner took on so much while I went to school. I had so many people cheering me on and teaching me everything from coding to what to wear in interviews. 

So some shout-outs are in order!

Everyone at Tech Elevator!
Billy Gura, I wouldn't have even been able to start this process without you. Thanks for seeing my potential and helping me get accepted to TE.

John Fulton and Matt Eland, you two are the best teachers I've ever had. Thanks for pushing me, comforting me, and believing in me. I will never forget the morning coffees and the evening walks we shared throughout my journey at TE. 

Vinny Sanfillipo, You told me over and over again to believe in myself. You taught me some killer morning affirmations, that I still say in the mirror every morning. Thank you so much for constantly encouraging me and helping me have confidence in myself.

Kate Watkins and Laura Coffee, you two work so hard to get us jobs during and after this program! I would have been lost without you both. Thanks for always holding space for me and answering every question one could have about landing that first job. 

David Lyle, You spoke to me so early in my journey and stayed in contact the whole way. Thank you for encouraging me to apply and checking in at every step of the process. 

I have about 50 other people I could thank for helping me in my career change but this post is already looking like a book.

I think I just want people to know, that you can't do it on your own. 
If you are in the process or thinking about a career change, you can do it, you just can't do it alone. Build your support system.

Believe me, if I did it you can too. Keep Moving!

If you see this and you are thinking of changing careers or are in the process and in need of someone to believe in you do hesitate to reach out to me!

If you're thinking of doing a coding bootcamp, do yourself a favor and choose Tech Elevator. I did lots of research before I decided, and I definitely made the best decision. It is an intense 14 weeks of constant new information every single day, but you leave with a skillset to change your life. They tell you to be prepared to spend around 60-70hrs a week, and that is definitely true throughout most of the bootcamp. It's a big time commitment, but well worth it. There will be plenty of times where imposter syndrome starts to creep in, but believe in yourself. If you were a strong enough candidate to get through the application process, you will be just fine! The instructors for both the lectures, and for the pathway sessions (professional development) were amazing, and they truly care about you as a student. They'll do whatever they can to work with you to make sure you succeed!
Pros:Great instructors for both the curriculum and for the professional development pathway sessions. Instructors made themselves available for you, lectures were intense but very practical with a lot of hands-on implementation. But the pathway sessions were just as important as the lecture material. A lot of time spent revising resumes, having group brainstorming sessions, panel discussions with industry professionals, and matchmaking events to give you your first opportunities to interview with potential employers. 
Cons:I don't have many cons. Any suggestions or concerns that were brought up were always addressed and taken into consideration or amended. The time commitment is very real though. I'm sure it's the same with most bootcamps, but it is a lot of material presented and needed to learn to implement in a very short period of time. So be prepared to lock in. It will definitely be the best decision of your life. 

I learned so much and made some great friends along the way. There was plenty of opportunity to get additional time with instructors, and plenty of projects and work to put what you're learning into practice which solidified the concepts for me. What's really special about it is the career support. They help you feel confident in your skills to get the interview, ace the interview and land the job. I had an absolutely great experience and would recommend it to anyone looking to change careers. I was working about a month after graduating. It's not the end all be all dream job, but its a good job and a good next step. I ended up getting hired by one of the companies I met at the TE matchmaking event. 

It's funny to think that just 6 months ago I was reading reviews on this website to decide whether or not to take the plunge. And the truth is that everything I read here turned out to be exactly what TE is all about and can do to change the course of your life. Granted I don't know other bootcamps as I only experienced this one, but I have nothing but positive things to relate regarding picking TE as your bootcamp.

The curriculum, support, fellow people in your cohort, and pathway program that preps you to enter the job market, were all vital to delivering an immersive, intensive, yet guided 14-week experience to set you up to enter the tech world. Most importantly,  the instructors were very supportive and always available to huddle up and work with you on whatever you were struggling with. Quite honestly I found no real downsides to the program.

Everything culminates with matchmaking in weeks 10 & 11 where you are paired with hiring partners in your area. Not everyone finds jobs through this, and I don't know percentage-wise what it amounted to in my cohort, but many people were hired from this process right out of bootcamp, including myself. Not many bootcamps have this to offer -- which is why I personally wanted to go with TE over others. They are known in the industry and people trust the graduates that come out of the program.

Full disclosure: I had no previous coding experience or exposure prior to this. Neither did many of my peers who quickly found jobs within weeks of finishing the program. I think that if you are reasonably intelligent, motivated, and willing to fully invest your mental and emotional state, you will succeed. If you lack discipline and get discouraged quickly, coding is likely not for you, and going to bootcamp won't serve you any good. However, you don't have to be a technical genius to figure out how to write code and develop software. Don't doubt yourself and go in knowing you will have to push yourself day in and day out and you will be fine.

Hope this helps others who were in my shoes not too long ago.

I have been wanting to break into Tech for many years and I did a lot of research into my options including looking into self-study, degrees, certifications, etc. In the end, I went with the Tech Elevator bootcamp because the following reasons:

• You get a high-quality, structured, curated curriculum that gives you the foundation for success
• The program and your peers truly motivate and inspire you 
• The career coaching and networking really help you with the hardest part, landing your first tech job

In hindsight, it's the best decision I could have made. The instructors were deeply experienced and truly cared about each students success. The other students in the program were very diverse and enriched the program with their unique backgrounds and perspectives, in fact, I've made lasting friendships with many. The curriculum itself, while challenging, gave you confidence during recruitment and the skills to go from not knowing a single line of code to being able to develop fully functional web applications. Last, but not least, the career coaching and networking opportunities gave us an edge in getting our foot into the door with our first tech job. 

On a final note, I will say that success in this program ultimate depends on you but having a professional training environment and being able to leverage the reputation and industry connections that Tech Elevator offers, in my opinion, is what sets it apart. 

Best of luck in your endeavors.

The TE experience is the full deal.  There are knowledgeable teachers who strive to see the students succeed.  Often times I had access to help beyond expectation.  The curriculum covers the full stack, mostly on the language of the cohort you are attending.  There is definitely enough education on the other portions (databases and front end) to prepare you for an entry level role.  I found I was able to self-teach and build upon my lessons during my time after the bootcamp to better prepare for some of the roles I was applying for.

Another fantastic aspect of TE is the pathway program.  They have experienced recruiters who help you understand all the ins and the outs of the industry and the job search.  There are countless helpful events from exposing you to companies, practicing elevator pitches, refining your resume, and even interview coaching.  This was a much more valuable aspect of the bootcamp than I anticipated.

I found that the job search is quite challenging.  You must have a lot of mental and emotional fortitude to endure the course and subsequent job hunt but the rewards are there for those willing to put in the effort.

Class mates were helpful, the environment was always supportive, and the best advice I can give you is to get extra sleep and learn to ask for help early and often.

TL;DR: The program worked for me. Seriously, I loved it.
Why? I graduated from Tech Elevator's fully remote 14-week full-stack Java bootcamp in February 2022 and accepted a job offer in software engineering four weeks later. 
Initial impressions: I was drawn to TE's focus on career development and job placement -- and its transparency in sharing those metrics. Another thing that compelled me to enroll was the ease with which I was able to get information about the program itself. The website was organized and I had a chance to learn specficis and ask questions during a virtual open house. (If a bootcamp's website leaves you confused -- if you can't get answers to simple questions from program reps -- that's a red flag.)
HOWEVER: Will this work for me??? I mean, leaving your job (and maybe an established career, like I did) is a big deal and there's no guarantee you'll thrive or succeed. Also: Are bootcamps, like, still relevant? Are there really that many unfilled jobs and opportunities for bootcamp grads? Will I regret leaving my job? Am I too old for this? Am I a sucker??? (OK -- I'm taking some dramatic license here but you get the point: I am a bit of a skeptic.)
And then ... The instructors. The program. The career development. The coursework. The book! (Yes, there is a book that you can read and study and have access to after you graduate. I took a part-time, six-month Trilogy bootcamp in 2017 and there was no book. Having pages makes a HUGE difference IMO.) As soon as the program started it all clicked for me: I absolutely felt I had made the right decision. My instructor was enthusiastic, so knowledgeable, compassionate, funny, organized, etc. etc. She answered tons of questions every day. She cared. She was a professional instructor, to boot! And the Pathway Program was excellent also. You get so much career advice and meet industry professionals and companies and former students. They set you up for success. They celebrate your excitement about taking the plunge. It's a fully supportive, professional, exciting environment and I only wish it had been a bit longer because I truly enjoyed every moment of it.
Final thoughts: This program worked for me, but it's not easy. You have to work at it. Be dedicated. Give it 110%. If you do enroll, take it all in. Enjoy every opportunity they present to you and give it your all. You deserve it.

It was a bit long run before I got accepted by this bootcamp. I was wondering why it takes such long process to send my money to a bootcamp.... When the course finally started, I realized that they wanted to make sure you have a good understanding about what you will learn and what you will experience during the program. Many people around me doubted if I can really switch my career after several years of another great career. Here I want to say, don't doubt about yourself if you really want to make a change! Tech Elevator helps me successfully switch my career. I was considering taking a graduate CS course or taking a bootcamp. I am glad now that I chose the latter. 

My instructor - Greg, TA - Kevin and all Pathway program people really helps me whenever I need them, but only during weekdays.... Most of the time, it's not I went to talk with them, it's they came to talk with me. Until now, I still feel unbelievable that I can really make applications that I want through 3 months of learning experience! 

And most important part, they try to introduce many great companies in the matchmaking event. So you can really talk with the hiring recruiters from each company you are interested in. They are all great IT and financial companies all over the nation. 

The only thing that I found a bit disappointed is, some company was hiring during matchmaking, and then during the further hiring process, they decide not to hire at that time. The job market is up and down, you never know... But I'm glad that I still find an ideal job! 

Big shout to Tech Elevator!!

I couldn't be happier with my decision to attend Tech Elevator.

The program was intense but the tradeoff is thoroughness. A typical day consisted of lectures in the morning and afternoon, followed by homework assignment and finally Pathway events/training. The Pathway component of the program was extremely valuable. It consisted of resume building, LinkedIn tweaking, networking, as well as facilitating both mock and legitimate interviews with hiring managers in the area. 

The instructors were experienced and always willing to answer questions and spend more time explaining more difficult coding concepts. The program was divided into 3 modules. The first being backend programming, we went over data structures, algorithms, etc.. as well as had mini projects to complete over the weekends with a partner. The second module consisted of learning about relational databases and how to query them with what was learned in the first module. The third module consisted of frontend languages and frameworks. All culminating in a final capstone project where teams of 3-4 students built a full stack application and demo'd it in front of friends, family, peers, and potential employers.

It was overwhelming at times trying to balance homework, group projects and my outside life but nothing worth having comes without effort and/or sacrifice. I'm pleased to say I've received 4 offers since graduating Tech Elevator and all being software engineer/developer roles.  

If you're reading this, you're probably considering if Tech Elevator is worth it.  Emphatically yes.  You might find yourself asking, "can I do this?".   And again yes, but only if you can be disciplined.  This is not an In/Out program.  This requires you to focus and spend time learning.  

I wish I could say, "sign up and you'll change your life".  But fortunately, this program will push you to the edge of your potential.  This is a good thing.  Imposter Syndrome is real in this field, so it is good to enter it with the mindset that you are more capable than you previously gave yourself credit for.  Companies are looking for people that know how to code and can deal with pressure.  This program will provide both, as long as you commit.   

Before being accepted, you must go through a behavioral assessment and take a test (mostly logic, no programming knowledge required).  If you are accepted, you have what it takes to complete this program, remember that.   This program consists of 12 weeks of instruction culminating in a 2 week Final Capstone project.  You will be exposed to frontend and backend technologies.  You will complete projects through this program, but to really shine to employers, you should also complete some of your own projects. 

The part of this program that makes it stand out is the Pathway program.  At times you may feel like it is not going to be helpful for your career and you should probably be spending the time coding.  However, Pathway is how you get a job.  It provides invaluable networking and personal skills that make you stand out.  Take the Pathway program as seriously as you do the technical side of the program.

The technical side of this program will give you the tools to excel in your new career.  You have to learn how to use them.  The instructors and TA's are incredible and will provide you with everything you need to succeed.  Shout out to Rich, Greg, and Jess for being awesome.

I have nothing but positive things to say about this program.  It has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.  

If you're looking for a coding bootcamp that, in addition to teaching you the basics of software development, will also give you the coaching and practice you need in order to find your first job in tech, then take a VERY close look at Tech Elevator!

I attended Tech Elevator remotely via the Pittsburgh campus in Fall 2021. I came in with extremely little programming experience, and with no actual experience/employment in the industry. The bootcamp was a lot of work, but I'm now working as a Software Engineer I and thoroughly enjoying my work!

Do your research. Take Tech Elevator's aptitude test. Make sure you're a motivated learner who is OK with struggling (and failing) while learning something difficult and complicated.

If you're willing to put in the work, then Tech Elevator will get you where you want to go!

This was definitely a life changing bootcamp. I highly recommend it. I worked as a cook for over a decade and decided to take the leap into the world of programming. I had close to no experience with programming and they turned that around in 3 months. It is very intense, and I felt like quitting many times. Imposter syndrome was prevalent the whole time. The support from my fellow classmates, teachers, and pathway directors was amazing and never ending. It helped to keep me going. The job hunt was strenuous, and my will to keep looking fluctuated. Tech Elevator continued to help me search for almost 6 months until I finally accepted a position. The endless support is there. You can complete the program, and you will find a job.