Tech Elevator

Tech Elevator helped me pivot in my career to a more technical role, land a great web developer position at a major U.S. university, and fast track my way to a 35% annual income increase. 

That's not to say it was easy or for the faint of heart. There's a lot of complex material to learn very quickly - in and out of the classroom - all while gearing up for a job search in a new field. The good news is that Tech Elevator gives you the tools and resources to be successful. 

Perhaps just as importantly as learning to code, the curriculum also taught me how to think like a programmer. I found this to be one the most valuable takeaways and a skill I use everyday in my new job, even when I'm not writing code. 

Before entering the program, I had completed both undergraduate and graduate degrees in more conventional institutions, so I feel confident saying David Wintrich is one of the most talented instructors I've had in my educational career. Being able to communicate complex material to a room full of students with varying technical skill levels - and also hold the attention of a classroom for four-plus hours a day, five days a week for 14 weeks! - is a real talent. 

As a first-generation professional, the Pathway Program taught me skills that I'll continue to use throughout my career - from more effectively networking and confidently negotiating a starting salary to navigating technical interviews.  

One drawback (that I think was mostly unforeseen given my cohort was one of the first sets of Winter graduates) was the timing of our December graduation. The holiday season is generally a slow hiring period which left many students with an anxious energy and a slightly longer job search than our counterparts who graduated in the Spring and Summer. Anecdotally though, I'd say 90% of my fellow classmates were able to land tech jobs once things picked up in the new year.  

With all that said, coding bootcamps aren't for everyone. The learning is very fast-paced and it requires a certain tenacity to continue your learning outside of the classroom while also job hunting. I think Tech Elevator's high job placement rate attests to the strength of their program and admission screening process.

Overall, I had a great experience, made some friends along the way, and was able to successfully take the next step in my career. I think Tech Elevator is doing great things to put the state of Ohio - and particularly the Northeast Ohio region - on the map as a growing technology hub. 

[My Introduction]

Tech Elevator is a school that I did research on for a few months before taking the plunge to attend. While I've posted numerous videos about my coding journey on YouTube (Search ‘Daniel Volosov’, if interested), the summary is that I graduated from university in 2014 with a B.B.A. in marketing, and began a career in sales. I left my first company after a year due to a long feeling of isolation, and really missing the teamwork aspect of working on team projects in college. I moved onto a recruiting position which I felt was not a good fit for me. I felt like I wasn't being challenged enough in the technical sense, and I couldn't imagine building a career this way. I ultimately accepted another sales role in Miami, FL. The location seemed unique, and I packed my bags and made the move to a place where I didn't know anyone or anything about.

While I felt successful in my new role, it wasn't until 6 months in that I started writing code at coffee shops after work. I was learning and practicing with free online resources, and felt that I finally found something that challenged me and resonated with my tech interests. After 7 months of self-study, I finally decided that it was time to do something about my newly discovered fascination. I knew that it wasn't in my interest to go for another bachelor's degree, so instead; I started reading about coding bootcamps.

I knew that I wanted to attend a bootcamp that specialized in an object oriented language like Java, and also knew that I didn't want to stay in Miami for much longer. I started looking in my hometown of Cleveland, and discovered Tech Elevator through its Course Report reviews and website. I had an interview afterwards, and was committed from the get-go. Moved back to Cleveland to attend.

[Review Begins]

Tech Elevator was one of the best decisions I've made in my life. It was the catalyst to the start of my software development and tech career.

Curriculum - Tech Elevator gives you the choice to specialize in the Java programming language, or .NET. I've had people reach out to me and ask which one to begin with, but ultimately, it does not matter. The two are very similar and there are many jobs out there which ask for skills in one or the other. I picked Java simply because I gravitated to the open-source environment, and was already reading about it before the bootcamp. While you will specialize in one of the two, you'll also learn about databases, front-end development, MVC, security and many topics in between.

Daily Structure - My day would start at 9 a.m., although I'd try to arrive earlier to set up and grab a cup of coffee from the kitchen. The kitchen was stocked with unlimited coffee, as well as little snacks like pretzels, animal crackers and mints. We would be seated in the classroom at 9 a.m., and have lecture for approximately 3 hours. My instructor, Joe, was fun to learn from and was an all around great guy. Also very funny. After lecture we would typically grab lunch with friends or individually, and then begin on individual work or pair programming exercises. You also had the option to schedule appointments with Craig for additional support and guidance. Craig is one of the nicest guys I've ever met, and I was thankful for his patience and understanding. Some days would be structured differently based on if there were employer showcases or pathway program events.

Employer Showcases - These were scheduled events where different employers from the area would present their company to the group. They brought in lunch and gave us insight into the field and what their company was looking for. It was a great chance to ask questions and further expand our networks.

Career Support - Tech Elevator's Pathway Program was fantastic. They would help students with everything from resumes, to interviewing skills. They would prepare students for technical interviews through instructors and software developers in the field. This was all very valuable to me, but it was especially remarkable to watch some of the more introverted students blossom and fulfill their true potential by the end of the program.

Matchmaking - This was a unique event that allowed us to have speed-dating esque interviews with employers in the area. If you click with an employer, they may invite you for a second interview. I actually met my current employer through this event. Even if you don't end up working for one of the employers at the matchmaking event, you will still gain invaluable interviewing skills through the sheer amount of interviews you have during those two days.

Conclusion - Tech Elevator was a life-changing experience for me. I expanded my tech-network significantly, learned the fundamentals of programming, built on my soft skills and even walked away with my first job in software development. With that being said, I think the most important part of being successful at Tech Elevator is to trust what the instructors and staff are telling you to do. They have the experience, and are not going to steer you in the wrong direction. Students that commit to ALL aspects of the program will be the ones who walk away with the most success.

A big thank you to the Cleveland Tech Elevator staff, and I can't wait to see what the future will bring!

Before I attended Tech Elevator I was working a boring, tedious job as a 3rd shift quality control chemist in South Carolina. I felt trapped in a dead-end career where I was completing the same tasks over and over again, and filling out (by hand) lab paperwork that could have been done electronically over and over again. I knew I needed a change in career, but didn't want to go back to college. One day, after telling my mother for the upteenth time about how I loathed going to work every night, I mentioned how I was interested in software, but didn't know how to start. She mentioned that a friend of her's was talking about a coding bootcamp in my hometown of Cleveland called Tech Elevator, which piqued my interest. Long story short: I applied, got in, and graduated in December 2016 from the Java cohort.

The instructors are top notch, and definitely know there stuff. I spent countless hours with Craig after class, who was extremely helpful, and stayed well after 5 P.M. to explain concepts to me. While we attended class and worked on projects, Tiffany was setting up interviews with local companies for the us.

I learned a ton, and enjoyed almost every minute of it (except when I had the flu for a few days and still attended class). I now have a job with a rather large regional bank. I'm paid well, valued as someone who does good work, and most importantly: I'm happy.

That all being said, there were a few cons I feel the need to point out. First, was that the lead Java instructor at the time had just had a baby, so he was out to take care of things at home a lot. I understand that it's not something anybody can do much about, but I did feel that the Java students weren't fairly compensated in instruction during that period. Secondly, I graduated in December when many companies just aren't hiring much. I didn't start a new job until April. I felt that the lack of jobs during that time of the year was downplayed some by the Tech Elevator staff. Many students graduating in the cohort after mine (Spring) were accepting job offers before graduation.

Overall, I think attending Tech Elevator was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Before learning about Tech Elevator, I spent around 6 months learning HTML, CSS, and JavaScript while working on a blog for my work as a private guitar instructor. I found I really enjoyed the challenge and creativity of programming, and began considering a career change to web development. Though I was making progress through self-study, I knew I needed help building my skills if I wanted to become employable.

It was around that same time that Tech Elevator announced it would be opening a campus in Columbus. I took the online assessment, attended an orientation, took part in an interview, and eventually accepting a spot in the Spring 2017 Java Development cohort. Everything I saw and read about the organization suggested it was the real deal, so I took a bet on myself and went for it.

Though the program is challenging - the equivalent of 14 straight weeks of college finals, with an extensive job search thrown on top - the personnel and structure ensure that anyone with the proper aptitude and drive will succeed. The instructors were amazing - knowledgeable, patient, and continuously offering their time and support. The Pathways Program was just as important; they worked to get us in front of dozens of top companies, and prepared us to shine in those meetings.

In the end, the hard work paid off. I had multiple job offers before graduation, and eventually accepted an software development position with JPMorgan Chase & Co. I’m learning a ton every day, working with many of the same technologies taught during the program.

Thanks to Tech Elevator, I’ve completely changed the trajectory of my life. If you’re a hard worker, an avid learner, and interested in a career in technology, I highly recommend you consider this program

Attended: Cohort[5], May - August 2017

For those seeking to upgrade their skill set or pivot into a new career as a software developer, business analyst, or quality assurance specialist, Tech Elevator (TE) is a solid investment.  If you had told me three months ago that I would end up working as an IT consultant for Fortune 1000 companies, I would have called your bluff…and yet here I am today!  The company’s CEO, Mr. Anthony Hughes, likens the 14-week course to an “inflection point” for many of its students, and I think his description is accurate.  Truthfully, I don’t think I will grasp the total significance of my decision to enroll in the boot camp for several years to come.

Why Tech Elevator?

Dedicated, Experienced Instructors – I was in the C#/.NET class, which originally wasn’t my first choice.  However, I am now very glad I decided to join that group because sometimes your instructor can make or break your experience, and Josh Tucholski is one of the best instructors that I’ve ever had, period.  He’s patient and humble with a good sense of humor and a passion for seeing students succeed. He’s also a vegetarian and long-distance runner, which makes him cool in my book.  :D  You can tell that he puts in way more than a 40- or 50-hour week just because he cares.  He arrives at the building early every day and alternates between teaching, interviewing new students and faculty, developing the curriculum, assisting students and other instructors, and meeting with students one-on-one for check-in sessions.  If you check the time of his emails and messages, some of them read 9:00 or 10:00 p.m.  When I went to the open house and spoke with him, I could envision myself learning under him.  I highly recommend going to an open house if you can just to interact with the instructors and ask them questions about what you’ll be learning.

I also had the privilege of working with Craig, an instructor available to help students individually and in small groups.  Craig explains concepts very well and is an invaluable resource for those trying to master OOP.  He is also a secret sketch artist and makes beautiful wireframes for our capstone projects.

Full-Stack Curriculum – I had never built a dynamic web application before the class, but I now have a better understanding of how the many components of a website fit together in the context of the browser-server relationship.  I left the course excited for how I could apply my new skills and develop projects.  It would have taken me many, many months to get to that point on my own.

Good Location – parking is free, and the lot is gated.  I always felt safe.  You receive a key fob that lets you open and close the gate and get in the building 24/7. There are several other companies in the building, which made the environment more fun.  Across the hallway we had a window into a lab where technicians experimented with fruit flies and mixed chemicals with pipettes.

Talented, Kind, and Interesting Classmates – In our cohort alone, we had a magician, a PeaceCorps worker, a farmer, a high school valedictorian, an English teacher, an EPA worker, and a yoga teacher.  I enjoyed getting to know everyone and hope to stay in touch after the program.  There was no drama, competition, or mean-spiritedness in our .NET class; everyone got along well and frequently took breaks to talk over lunch, walk outside to food spots, or play ping pong.

Consistent Career Development Practice – At times I became frustrated because it was challenging to balance both the Pathway (career development) and class sides of the program, but I gained a lot of useful practice with behavioral and technical interviews.  TE staff members practice interviewing with students, but also bring in professionals to conduct mock one-on-one interviews and provide detailed feedback.  The Employer Matchmaking session, which is essentially speed-dating with eight or nine different companies over a two-day period to determine if both parties want to move ahead in the interview process, also helped me to become comfortable interviewing through its sheer repetition.

Varied Employer Network – Most of the prominent software companies and IT shops are in TE’s network, from financial services and insurance to healthcare to custom apps and consulting.  Students have opportunities to network with representatives throughout the course of the program and receive assistance if they are interested in a company outside the network.

Strong Program Outcomes – In our cohort alone, I can count at least ten people including myself (we had around 25-30 people total) who had jobs before the end of the program.  At the open houses, program representatives say there is a 98 percent job placement rate so many days after graduation.  I was impressed when I heard that number and based on how many people have been hired already, I am hopeful that our cohort will match that statistic.

Tips for Success​

• Really go in with some practice under your belt; you will get much more out of the course and be able to scaffold your learning better.  I recommend taking Udacity’s “Introduction to Computer Science” course (Python) with Dave Evans from UVA or any other MOOC that has structured assignments and a blog community that discusses answers to questions.  While you experiment with different courses, see if you like coding and can imagine yourself doing it for several hours at a time every day.  If you enjoy puzzle-solving and creativity, you probably will! :)

• Have one or more side projects that you can discuss with employers.  Every time an employer came to visit us, they talked about the importance of standing out and showing your passion with projects.  You also learn a lot by doing side projects.

• You’ll also get more out of the Pathway (career prep) side of the program if you help the staff help you and have a list of companies you might want to apply for and what roles you might want to pursue.  This doesn’t have to be set in stone, but a working list is helpful.  Also, if you want to work outside of Ohio, move to apply quickly because once the Employer Matchmaking session hits, application timelines move extremely quickly—sometimes you may receive an offer within the span of a week.

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While browsing course reports earlier this year, I struggled to determine whether I was ready to invest my time and money in a boot camp and if so, how to go about selecting one.  Here is a little window into my decision-making process and how I landed at Tech Elevator, in case that might be helpful to anyone:

Choosing a Coding Boot Camp

Why choose a coding boot camp compared to other forms of education like online certificates, associates programs, or second bachelor degrees?  I started with "learn-to-code" websites originally, but eventually I decided to opt for an in-person experience because I knew I could accelerate my learning through:

(1)  Access to experienced mentors who provide feedback, guidance, and instruction on “what you don’t know you don’t know”

(2)  Larger and more complex assignments and projects

(3) A community of peers with whom I could share ideas and encouragement

(4)  Total immersion

From there, I had to choose between a formal degree program and the boot camp model.  I eventually settled on the latter for financial reasons.  If you actually compare the total number of credit hours at a university with the total number of hours of class instruction and career support at a boot camp, you get a lot more “bang for your buck” with the boot camp.  Furthermore, even though boot camps have a high flat cost, securing jobs through them can be easier because they specialize in building employment networks and are incentivized to help students find jobs in order to maintain their employment outcomes.  As a consequence, you may be able to pay off your debts more quickly than going through a university.

My last step was to find the boot camp that best met my needs.  I didn’t want to relocate for the program, so I looked only in the greater Cleveland area.  I HIGHLY RECOMMEND doing research on different options available and asking as many questions as you can when speaking with representatives.  One boot camp I investigated seemed very disorganized.  Different recruiters contacted me and didn’t seem to communicate with each other or follow up with my messages.  The recruiters also couldn’t tell me who the lead instructor of the course was, what employers were in their network, or what their program outcomes were.  It was only through persistent questioning that I learned that I would be applying for the camp’s inaugural class.  I backpedaled on that option and ultimately chose to apply for TE because it had established a solid reputation in the community, was open about its employer network and program outcomes, and had a transparent and rigorous application process (a sign of high-quality, in my view).

Assessing Your Interest and Readiness for the Boot Camp

Unlike other boot camps with part-time options, TE only offers full-time, intensive study.  Lectures take place from 9 a.m. to noon with a mid-morning break, and then following lunch, students are expected to work on their afternoon programming assignments from 1-4:30 p.m.  Career preparation events take place either over the 12-1 lunch hour or in the evening after class and have included activities like networking with recruiters and employers, formatting LinkedIn profiles and resumes, answering behavioral and technical interview questions, and participating in panel discussions with school alumni or industry professionals.  (Besides the mandatory career preparation events, you have the flexibility to determine when to take your lunch break and whether you need to leave early on any given day.)

How did I gauge my level of interest and readiness for the course?  Normally, I’m the type of person who agonizes over making any sort of life decision—especially one that is time-consuming and costly.  Eventually, however, you have to come to the place where you feel comfortable making a calculated risk.  I came to TE after graduating in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in Religion and spending 2.5 years at a nonprofit teaching GED, financial literacy, and life skills courses for youth facing barriers to employment.  While the work was enjoyable and very meaningful, I found myself delving more and more into programming and computer science through books, Udacity courses, and side projects during the evenings and weekends.  I had an itch to further develop my programming skills and grow professionally, but I was hesitant to make the time and financial commitment.  I was finally able to escape my decision paralysis and apply for the program after:

• Attending an Open House.  Seriously, doing so makes the idea of attending the school much more concrete.  The C#/.NET instructor, Java instructor, CEO, and Pathway program representatives are usually there, and you’ll have the ability to interact with them, ask questions, tour the facility, and listen to presentations about the curriculum.  If you are able to go, I highly recommend it.

• Considering the Purpose of the “Defining Decade.”  This tip is for fellow twentysomethings, who also, coincidentally, represented the majority of the students in the program when I attended.   Although there is undoubtedly substantial opportunity for growth and change beyond one’s twenties, I agree with clinical psychologist Meg Jay’s argument that actions taken during this decade can set our long-term trajectory in terms of income, health and family.  It is easier to take risks now when you have fewer obligations and expectations made of you, and the payoff could be enormous.

• Rethinking the "Career as Identity" Philosophy.  A graduate student once advised me to approach my career more like a scientist and less like a lover seeking her soul mate.  Rather than trying to find the “perfect job” or “perfect next step,” he recommended that I run quick, iterative tests to determine what I liked and didn’t like and then adjust accordingly.  Today I feel much more empowered to try new things by simply reframing my thoughts from “What am I born/meant to do?” to “What would I like to try next that would be enjoyable and important to me?”  Reframing your thoughts like this is also helpful when bumping into industry stereotypes about who is “technical” and who is not.  Don’t believe that just because you don’t match popular depictions of tech workers—if you don’t have a CS degree, are female, a minority, etc—that you don’t “belong” somehow.  There are many people succeeding, and more companies are realizing that such stereotypes are a problem, as was recently illustrated by the firing at Google.

• Researching the Occupational Outlook for Software Developers.  Programming is ubiquitous. During the program, you’ll hear time and again that “every company is a technology company.”  With the skill set you begin building in TE, you can eventually hold a technical role in virtually any industry—from healthcare to finance to manufacturing to higher education—and move anywhere you want to for work.  That flexibility and freedom was appealing to me.

Tech Elevator actually lives up to the hype and delivers on their promises, if you are willing to put in the work. The program itself is not easy. There is a ton of complex material to learn in a very short amount of time, but the teachers and staff are very helpful and committed to your success. I have to say I was skeptical of the school. It seemed too good to be true. But I now have a much better job, making much better money, with much more upward mobility for the future. Well worth the cost and time. Would recommend to anyone interested in programming.

Imagine realizing your dreams are finally coming to fruition, yet looking back and finding it challenging to believe there could be better days and better people ahead. Tech Elevator will leave you exactly there, if you let it.

In my particular case, I’m 31, I have an associates degree in electronics. I had been working as a technician of sorts for years, a role it would seem i was self-relegated to be for life. I would stay up into the wee hours of the night vacillating amongst dreams of creating the future, and the unyielding afterthoughts that i’d missed said opportunity. Four more years at ohio state? My credits don’t transfer?  How can I possibly explain to people I’m falling off the earth for 4 months?

Like roots gradually upheaving the sidewalk, hope eventually eroded the barriers in my way. I dropped off my deposit and my quixotic adventure was enroute to materializing. I wanted to develop, just the word itself a living illustration of my desires. The pre-work was a nice introduction to what was in store down the road, further feeding my insatiable drive to learn. I submitted my two week notice then prepared, or so I thought, for the forthcoming journey.

The phrase “fake it till you make it” really takes precedence here. You are cast into a new, well, everything. Though all of the students have immensely diverse backgrounds and skill levels coming in, soon enough you’ll find you are all adrift in a bizarre comfort zone-less sea. Each day brings new material, new programs, new software, each building on the last. It’s kind of like building a brick house, you don’t know how to build a house(eh, maybe you do?), you don’t know where to start, but each day you just tote your bricks, one by one. You place it where they tell you, you morter it how you were instructed. You repeat. Over and over and over again having no clue how all these pieces fit together. Then at the end they say “look, you can build a house!”. You would disagree if you were not standing alongside the house you just built. You may have been faking it, but you most certainly find yourself making it.

Oh, and the whole  “carry your bricks” deal, don’t let them pile up. The workload is immense to be sure. Getting behind would be a much more grave issue were it not for the exceptional staff and students at your side. No matter which path (c# or java) you undertake, The staff is always there for you. I recall countless days staying late, and as my instructor was headed out the door, he would do one more round of checks to see if anyone was struggling with anything at all. I couldn’t ask for better instructors, they really do care that you succeed.

Just as crucial are the professional resources that Tech Elevator offered. Do not overlook the pathway program. If Tech Elevator is the doorway to a brighter future as a developer, the pathway program is the key. You can be a truly talented developer, but if you are unable to enunciate your strengths properly, employers may be convinced you have none. I personally had the chance to see why professionalism and communication are so important, even when i thought it didn't matter. Do not overlook the pathway program. For redundancy now. Do. Not. Overlook. The. Pathway. Program. Katie, Terry, and Kalyn were the motor oil here. You may not notice or understand the importance, but things come to a screeching halt without them.

My personal favorite though, are the peers. I can’t remember being in a crowd of people more genuine and modest, all of which possessed the same fervor for learning. Given, this may vary from cohort to cohort, but the people i spoke to daily became friends. I’m not sure about you, but it’s hard to make new friends when you are 31, let alone 28+ of them. Who would have known spending 60 hours a week vociferating obscenities at compiler errors would lead to quality friendships? Seeing the individuality was just amazing, from settlers of catan to smoked meats, people brought themselves in their entirety, and it was a privilege to connect with people at their most honest and exposed level. I will say, tech elevator did an astounding job of finding others who authentically embraced problem solving, proof that they really do filter the passion from the pride.

And now, with the cohort several months past, I’ve found myself truly happy. That quixotic adventure? My reality. I’m developing robots, staging quantum computers for next generation logic gates, Digging my teeth into AI and data modeling, and learning how to take projects from ideas to plans, and plans to products. That’s really what you learn here, how to attack problems without giving up. That’s all a problem is right? a number of unknown steps you can take to get what you want? You know what companies want? People who can tackle their most insurmountable problems without giving up. I chose the java path, and I’m currently utilizing pretty much everything but java, so don’t sweat the path you choose.

I guess the takeaway here is to believe in yourself. Tech elevator isn’t the destination, it’s not your answer, it’s a tool, an elevator. You jump in, work harder than you ever have before, and it takes you up a few floors. Life is made of those things, those floors. It’s always a challenge to go up another. You have every reason, every comforting convenience to incline you to stay where you are. But nothing I’ve ever known elicits stronger emotion than feeling the progress rendered through hard work.

On a final note. when I accepted the job offer designing robotic applications, months ago a certain impossibility, they didn’t even ask for a copy of my tech elevator certificate.

That’s when i knew tech elevator was worth every cent.

I wanted to wait to be employed for a couple months before writing this review, so I can speak a bit about what it's like being a developer fresh out of Tech Elevator.  I honestly feel the bootcamp model was designed for people like me.  I worked as a chemist for 4 years after grad school, and then as a nuclear engineer after another stint in grad school.  But as far as practicality and quality of education go, none of my previous experiences could top what I got for my tuition at Tech Elevator, and today, that little certificate means more to me than my bachelor’s degree and two masters’ degrees combined (and both masters’ degrees were from top ranking universities).

It seemed like a big risk to switch, but if you've seen what sort of jobs exist in the real world like I have and have ever written a line of code, you might have already decided that software development is perfect for someone loves problem solving and being challenged every day.  Today, I work for a company that values me and my life experience, and possibly even more so than a fresh-out-of college grad, because I made a choice mid-career, to quit my job and pursue development.  After 2 months, I’ve contributed enough that I no longer feel like I’m “just” a bootcamp grad.  I might not know some of the theoretical stuff that others do, but that’s all things I’m now learning on my own time, and I can debug code and add features as well as my fellow CS degreed junior developers, except I have way more fun doing it!  One thing that was stressed in the bootcamp was that once you learn one language (Java in my case), you can pick up other languages much more easily, and this was the case with me, because I’m mostly working in Python now.  Coming from Tech Elevator, I had the confidence to say “Cool, I get to learn a new language” when I found out I wouldn’t see much Java.  If you can get through Tech Elevator, you can learn just about anything the dev world throws at you.

I won't talk about all the things you can read on the Tech Elevator website, just my own opinions, interactions with the staff, and overall experience with the program.  Practice was key, and the saying "You get what you put in" really holds true.  I was addicted to coding from day one, and I had no problem staying later to make sure I not only solved the second half of the day's practice problems, but I solved them following good coding practices as best I could.  The capstone projects were fun, exciting, and rewarding.  My instructor (Casey) is one of the best teachers I've had in my educational career.  He has a very structured approach to teaching, rarely digresses from the lecture topics, and is incredibly easy to follow along with when doing examples.  The workload wasn’t always as time consuming as they tell you it will be (there’s always going to be people who pick up the material quicker than others).  On average, I probably had to stay late (7 or 8pm) to finish up work once or twice a week during the middle of the cohort, when the material became more difficult.  One student in my cohort who didn’t always get the concepts right away, often stayed late, putting a lot of effort into all aspects of the program.  This person got a job at one of the most coveted companies that came to our matchmaking event, which you can read about on the Tech Elevator website.

The pathway program (run by Katie) was probably the reason I decided to do the bootcamp in the first place.  I can't stress this enough, NOWHERE in life have I gotten the career assistance that I got at Tech Elevator.  This program provided interview prep, strength finding assessments, elevator speeches, LinkedIn profile building, resume editing, networking, job offer negotiating, and overall confidence boosting.  That's not to say you don't have to put in an equivalent amount of effort.  They truly set you up for success, but you have to do the very reasonable things they ask of you.  There were a few students in our cohort who I saw constantly being hounded about doing the things laid out in the Pathway Program, simple things like updating their LinkedIn profile, or getting their resume to her on time, and it appears as of 2 months after graduation, two of those people are still unemployed.  Like I said, "you get what you put in."  I've also seen people struggle, and some drop out, but unsurprisingly, those are the people that make excuses for not doing the crucial pre-work that's sent out a month or so before the program starts.  I wouldn’t be surprised if those are people that are leaving bad reviews here, because if you are expecting to be handed a job after 14 weeks without putting in the time and effort, please don't waste your money, and more importantly, the staff's time.

However, if you are eager to get into this industry and will do whatever it takes to become a junior developer, you will immediately see that the staff there will bend over backwards and do everything they possibly can to land you the job.  The staff there take their jobs very seriously and their passion for what they do becomes very obvious as you get to know them.  Take the program seriously, and it will be the greatest career/educational/professional experience of your life, just as it was for me.

TL/DR: The best decision of my life.  The instructors are phenomenal and you’re surrounded by talented, smart individuals that promote a fantastic learning environment.  I initially wasn’t sold on it all myself, but after speaking with past graduates about their success after graduation I knew this was a solid career decision.  If you’re willing to put in the time and effort and adhere to their learning curriculum you’ll be a successful student at Tech Elevator.

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In-Depth Review

Short Personal Background :  Again, as much as I hate clichés, Tech Elevator truly did change my life.  I’ll provide you with a bit of context on my background and situation before Tech Elevator.  I graduated college in 2015 with a degree in engineering and out of college the job outlook for my industry plummeted due to economic reasons that I won’t go in details about.  The point is I was out of a job and I had college payments approaching quickly.  For the next two years I worked odd jobs all over Ohio and Pennsylvania trying to find a position that would stick.  From working in retail, to working in a steel mill, and countless application rejections, I eventually realized I had absolutely no idea what I wanted or where I was going with my career.   It was a difficult truth to accept, but one I had to face.  I spent the next several months reevaluating my passions and, after having a talk with my brother (a programmer), I was convinced that I should have been in the field of technology all along.   He mentioned that his company had hired from Tech Elevator and I decided to attend an open house to get a feel for it all.   After listening to Anthony and David passionately speak about their company I decided to take the next steps and enroll as a student.

The Course: It was by far the most intense 4 months of my academic career.  From day one you’re diving straight into code and learning fundamentals. From that point on you are continually building off that foundation with daily exercises and quizzes.  Lectures last about 4 hours depending on the amount of material you’ll be covering that day.  After that the afternoon is yours to do as you please… but I recommend working on your exercises while the ideas are fresh in your mind.  At the end of each module you have a large project, or capstone, that is a culmination of everything you’ve learned up to that point.  You’ll be paired up with random classmates and have a couple days to complete the project and present your work in front of the instructor(s).  This was an incredibly beneficial step in the learning process since they break down your code and offer a ton of useful feedback to write cleaner, more efficient code.  I absolutely loved every day of class – Oh, I think I used another cliché.  Finally, for the final two weeks of the cohort you’ll create an entire application from start to finish. 

Job Assistance | Pathway Program : The Pathway program is great.  At college, I didn’t have a program in place to prepare me for interviews and networking the way Tech Elevator did… and that’s huge.  Tech Elevator is constantly inviting and hosting a variety of employees of reputable tech companies in the area.  You’ll also have mock interviews, both behavioral and technical, all preparing you for the Match-making event.  By the time the real interviews roll around you’ll be prepared… and, if you’re not prepared, the staff at Tech Elevator will always take time out of their schedule to help you practice. 

Advice : I wouldn’t stress too much about picking either Java or .NET if you’re stuck on that decision.  I attended the Java cohort at Tech Elevator, and upon graduation I am now working for a company in Hudson writing C#.  Tech Elevator provided me with a strong understanding of core fundamentals allowing for an easy transition into a language I didn’t study directly.  Once you’ve learned your first language it’s MUCH easier picking up another. 

Final Thoughts : Looking back, I’m incredibly proud of myself for completing the course at Tech Elevator.  On day one I didn’t even know what a Boolean was and 14 short weeks later I was creating entire web applications.  That’s a powerful testament to not only myself, but to the other students who’ve attended and the ability of the instructors.  The peace of mind I now have since I’ve obtained a full-time job doing work I enjoy is… I honestly can’t thank them enough.  I’m excited for what my future holds, both professionally and personally – and I owe it all to Tech Elevator. 

I’m proud to be part of the growing, loving family that is Tech Elevator and I look forward towards welcoming you to our family as well.  

I’ll start by saying that this was the best professional decision I’ve ever made in my life. I was hired as a .Net Developer two weeks prior to graduation and started working the Monday after. While I won’t reveal my exact salary, I nearly doubled what I was earning prior (and no, I was not working at minimum wage). I’ve had plenty of highs and lows at companies prior so I just want to start by providing some background information on my journey.

Background:

I graduated from high school in 2005 and went to college for one year before dropping out. I took five years off, working odd jobs before returning to finish with B.A. in Political Science. Afterward, I moved to Ohio and worked on several statewide political campaigns, in the state legislature as an aide, and on a U.S. Senate race. The schedule was exhausting, the pay was low, and my morale after so many losses was even lower. I was at a crossroads in my life.

I always had a knack for working with computers but no real programming experience outside of my love of spreadsheets (if you would even consider that programming). During the last campaign, I was assessing an issue with one our routers when a coworker offhandedly asked me why I wasn’t doing this (IT) for a living. I was taken aback by the comment because I just had never seriously considered it. A lot of it had to do with how I decided to pursue political science, not computer science, while in college. The thought stayed with me for days. I browsed Indeed & Monster for IT jobs but was bummed that I just didn’t think I would have any way of figuring out all of the required technologies on my own. There’s a lot to know even for an entry-level job!

So after the 2016 election, my job ended and I was looking for the next thing. I was talking with a friend who works in the tech industry and he recommended I check out coding boot camps and specifically mentioned Tech Elevator. He said that his company had hired from there and that they look for boot camp graduates specifically.

Admittedly, I was nervous. I was tens of thousands of dollars in debt from student loans, car loans, credit cards, random life events, etc. The price tag seemed too high. If it didn’t work out, I don’t know if I would have been able to recover. But I knew that if I stayed in politics, I would be in the same position that I was the year before: overworked, underpaid, and worse – unsatisfied. I was going to have to take out a private loan for the course. Luckily, because my previous job had ended, I was able to stay collect unemployment compensation while taking this course (it’s considered workforce re-entry training). Was it a scam? A money grab? I deliberated for a couple weeks then I did it:

I took a leap of faith.

My time at Tech Elevator:

If you apply for this program with the expectation that it’s going to be easy, don’t even bother. For the entirety of the 14-week program, I was completely consumed in code. Any semblance of free time on nights and weekends was gone, but I was okay with it! I wanted to learn more and grow my skills as much as I could. My instructor John is a bright, passionate, hilarious person. He seemed to be available pretty much any hour of the day when I had a question for him (sorry John’s family). He was patient with students and put in the time to work individually when anyone needed it. I cannot speak higher of John’s knowledge of .Net and his desire to teach others.

As for other staff at Tech Elevator, Katie was every student’s career guidance counselor / guardian angel. She would go out of her way to get students focused on the bigger picture (i.e. finding a job) and would go to bat for us if we felt like we were in a tough spot with an employer.

Around the time employer match-making ended, a recruiting company reached out to me via LinkedIn about a potential opportunity. In my previous career, anyone reaching out like made me suspicious but in technology, that’s par for the course. The field is so in-demand right now! I had to complete 4 separate interviews (3 with the recruiting company and 1 with the company I’m placed at right now) but I got the job! The technologies I had learned lined up almost exactly with what they were looking for.

Conclusion:

I have a new career as a .Net Developer at a major energy company in Columbus. Given that I have a non-IT college degree, I needed to follow a non-traditional path to break into the field. Taking that leap of faith was the most worthwhile thing I’ve ever done. If you’ve always had a knack for technology and want to make a career change – seriously – take the leap. You won’t regret it.

Final Thoughts:

- Say goodbye to your social life, say hello to code

- You will not be able to have a full-time job during this course. Part time? Maybe, but I wouldn’t have been able to concentrate enough if I had done that (some did)

- Go to networking events! Don’t do what I did and not attend a single one. Even though I am gainfully employed and loving it, who knows who I would have met or where I’d be if I had gone. Just do it!

- It’s okay to feel overwhelmed by the enormity of what you’re undertaking. You will not leave an expert in any of the technologies and no employer worth their salt would ever expect you to be able to perform the duties of a senior or mid-level developer

- Practice talking about the technologies you’re learning. My biggest hurdle was confidently communicating what I learned to industry professionals. I eventually wised up and did a TON of practicing, but do not underestimate how important it is to do this

- Don’t expect to be the best programmer there. You’ll have to pass aptitude tests to even get in, so they don’t just let anyone become a student. Their standards are high. Every student had strengths in different areas so listen and learn

- It’s worth it

I have to admit that I was pretty skeptical of Tech Elevator’s bold promise to help me get a job with just 14 weeks of training. After talking to a Tech Elevator alum, I decided to take the plunge, and I’m so glad I did. By the end of the program I was offered a job paying about 45% more than I was making before.

Tech Elevator’s greatest asset is its instructors. Josh, the .NET instructor, is phenomenal. His understanding of the material is thorough, and he has the ability to deliver the material in a way that is easy to understand. Beyond that, though, he sincerely cares about his students and their success. He was always available to give students extra help with difficult concepts, provide review sessions, or give advice about projects we were working on. Even in the evenings or on weekends, he would be on Ryver answering questions. Even now, two weeks after graduation, Josh is still sending us messages, and giving us advice on how to keep our skills sharp. His commitment to his students’ success far exceeded my expectations.

Another component of the Tech Elevator program is its Pathway Program, which provides Tech Elevator students with guidance relating to our job search. There were regular seminars focusing on different aspects of the job search (writing resumes, using LinkedIn, etc.), as well as mock interviews. The Pathway director met with students individually and helped us to tailor our job search according to our individual aspirations. The highpoint of the Pathway program was the Matchmaking event, a two-day event involving about 20 companies. I interviewed with 10 companies during the Matchmaking event, and ultimately received a job offer as a result.

On the first day of Tech Elevator, we were told that we would get out of the program what we put into it. This turned out to be true. If you decide to enroll in Tech Elevator, make sure you’re ready to completely devote yourself to the program and to acquiring the skills that will make you marketable. If you’re willing to put in the work, the Tech Elevator staff will be there to support you. 

Greetings,

So you're considering a coding bootcamp? I was in your shoes not long ago. I chose Tech Elevator's coding bootcamp in Columbus, OH. I was part of their Jan-April 2017 .Net cohort. Let me tell you a little about my experience.

The decision to attend Tech Elevator was not one that I made lightly. The cost of the program and the time commitment were the largest hurdles I had to consider and clear before attending. I am so glad I made the sacrifices necessary. I was resolute that I would not only participate but I would put all of myself into the 14 week program. It required all of that--and sometimes a little more. Tech Elevator did a good job of letting me know what to expect and the fast pace at which things are taught. A little joke we had was that it would be 14 weeks of drinking from a fire hose. IT WAS.

That is not said to scare you away, so much the opposite! It was an intensive, exhaustive 14 weeks but I was able to learn at an accelerated pace unparalleled by any other education I have had. In my eyes the difference between Tech Elevator and other bootcamps are twofold.

First, the team assembled to assist you along the way are unlike any others in their field. The instructors are a deep pools of programming knowledge and the epitome of what a mentor should be. If I had one word to describe the instructors it would be Invested. They are wholly invested in your success.

The second differentiator that sets Tech Elevator apart is the Pathway Program. This is the career prep portion of the coding bootcamp. It is a streamlined series of events that is planned with precision and ensures that if you are putting in the effort that is advised you will be prepared to launch a career in the tech industry before graduation. Take the Pathway Program seriously and it will pay dividends.

By graduation I had multiple offers from reputable companies within Columbus, Ohio. Thanks to Tech Elevator I was well versed in programming and (equally as important) I could confidently communicate the knowledge I had learned. On the day of graduation I accepted one of the offers I had received. Today (5/1/2017) was my first day as a Software Engineer. I owe everyone at Tech Elevator a substantial debt of gratitude. The program prepared me for a successful career in the tech industry and has drastically changed the trajectory of my life.

I highly recommend Tech Elevator.