Tech Elevator

I graduated from the Java boot camp in Cleveland in Dec, 2017. I was previously working as a human resources specialist in the technology industry in Taiwan where I was born and lived my whole life. I always wanted to be a software engineer but it was unrealistic to give up my job and go back to school for another master’s degree. And honestly, I didn’t have the courage to change my career.

I learned about the program at Tech Elevator while planning my move to the U.S. I knew it was a great opportunity for me and I had to take a chance and take charge of my life. I joined the program right after I moved to the U.S. I have to tell you the course was hard, it will absolutely be harder than you think. But learning with motivated classmates who have the same goal as me was the most astonishing learning experience I have ever had. Also, all of the staff at Tech Elevator is incredibly knowledgeable and supportive. Everyone has the exact same goal as you do; to help you succeed! Tech elevator not only teaches you how to code. It teaches you how to think like a developer, and the Pathway Program helps you to get prepared to land your first job. A lot of the time I felt like they were more serious about my success than I was, and I was serious!

I got two job offers after I graduated and a whole new set of friends who are now in the same field that I am. I am now working with a group of passionate and intelligent people at a great company with a huge increase in my salary and awesome perks like unlimited PTO. I couldn’t be more satisfied with my life now, and most of it is due to the 14 weeks I spent changing my life at Tech Elevator. If you are interested in coding and want to elevate your life, go to an open house, give yourself a try, I did!

Tech Elevator was the perfect choice for me and I recommend it for anyone who wants to learn coding in order to make a career change. Before the bootcamp, I had no technical knowledge, coming from a background in the arts and human services. The structure of the program–daily, live remote, module based–made it easy to stay engaged and learn efficiently. It was hard–very hard–but I felt supported by the structure of the day, coupled with the ability to get help from instructors and peers who were available daily after classroom hours.

My instructor was Rich Seeds, an expert in his field, knowledgeable, and with a great sense of humor. Together with my cohort, we created a learning environment that fostered open curiosity, encouraging active questioning and problem solving in order to master challenging concepts. I also appreciated the Pathway Program, which prepared me for the job search with resume reviews, mock interviews, and networking opportunities. I’m so grateful for the guidance that Claribel Quintana–my one-on-one Pathway Director for my post-graduation job search–has already given me, and I look forward to continuing our work together in the coming weeks.

Because of Tech Elevator, I feel confident in my skills and in my ability to continue to learn other coding languages (Python is my next venture!) on my own.  I am excited about the opportunities ahead as I begin my job search as a junior developer.

As someone eager to transition into a software development career, Tech Elevator provided the ideal in-person learning experience. The instructors and staff consistently supported us, ensuring a solid foundation for our software development journey. The 14-week program was intense but rewarding, covering extensive coursework. The availability of resources, including attentive instructors (thank you, Tom A., Walt, and Tom M.), significantly contributed to my success. Working with Julie Jurich, Pathway Director, significantly enhanced my personal branding, resume, and interview preparation. Despite the workload, the staff took the time to understand my career goals and aspirations. Reflecting on my time at Tech Elevator, I appreciate the dedication of the instructors and staff in fostering success. If you thrive in a traditional classroom setting, Tech Elevator Pittsburgh offers an excellent option for in-person instruction.

If you're considering a coding boot camp, check out Tech Elevator. I went from a web novice to a confident junior developer in three months, and it was an awesome journey. I had previously dabbled in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript with the Odin Project and FreeCodeCamp, but I entered the program with minimal experience.  Our instructor was amazing, their passion for code was contagious, and their expertise felt bottomless. No matter how stuck I was, they were always there, patiently untangling the knots in my logic. Another positive to Tech Elevator is its Pathway Program. It might seem basic if you already have an extensive career history but follow their advice. They know what they are doing. My Pathway Director, another rockstar, helped me polish my resume, refine my interview skills, and build a LinkedIn profile that got noticed. Put equal effort into coding and the Pathway Program – it's like a secret weapon for landing your first tech job.Another great aspect of the program is your other cohort members. Everyone brought their unique perspective and experiences to the table. We learned from each other, supported each other, and built connections that will last far beyond graduation. These aren't just classmates; they're your future network. Now, let's address the elephant in the room: the price tag. Yes, it's hefty, but here's the thing – you're investing in yourself. I was fortunate enough to land a Software Developer job through matchmaking in the program and have been using skills I learned at Tech Elevator every day. Overall, I think Tech Elevator is worth it, and if you’re thinking about doing a boot camp, Tech Elevator is where you should leap.

This bootcamp did everything I had hoped for and more, both on the tech side and the job-support side. As a former desktop developer, it was a great refresher for relational databases, plus it checked all my boxes for topics I was dying to learn: OOP, C-based languages like Java and JavaScript, HTML, CSS, how to be Agile, how to code unit tests, and how to use Spring to complete the magic of API calls that make web applications work. Our instructor was incredibly knowledgeable and always available to answer questions. Truly the only limit for how much I could learn was my brain's ability to absorb information. The Pathway side was equally valuable. Our amazing Pathway Director helped me translate my twisty-turn-y job history into a coherent 1-page resume, helped me build a respectable LinkedIn presence, and fed me employment leads appropriate for my interests and abilities--one of which resulted in a job! Tech Elevator is worth the tuition, it's an investment in yourself, but you have to make room in your life, because it's a lot!

I still can't get over how surreal this whole experience was. First of all, the other thirty-something students in my cohort were amazing. Everybody was so nice, helpful and got along so well that it really made it quite sad to leave the bootcamp at the end of the three months.

Additionally, I learned that I REALLY loved to code. I thought this might be true given that I started teaching computer science partway through my 16-year career in education (and generally enjoyed it), but I was afraid that when we got to the tough stuff at Tech Elevator, it might break me down...thankfully I was wrong. I came into class nearly everyday excited for whatever concepts would be thrown at us. I never once dreaded coming into class like I did when I was teaching. Better yet, my wife can attest to the fact that I came home (even on the super long days) from class in a better mood than I had been in for the last I-don't-know-how-many years in my previous career.

Thirdly, I ALWAYS felt supported at Tech Elevator. If I ran into any problems, I knew I could talk to my instructor, one of the other instructors, some of my classmates or rely on our online "textbook" for help. I never once felt alone in any of this. Any time that I was struggling, I could find comfort knowing there was a VERY good chance a bunch of the other students were struggling, too (does that make me evil?). Programming can be difficult!

I worked my butt off at Tech Elevator and you know what? I got a job before the bootcamp was even over. Add this to the list of things in life where you will get out of it what you put in. I sat up front (something I NEVER did in high school or college), I never once used ChatGPT to give me answers, I (almost) always did the readings before class, and I really thought hard about how the code worked as I typed out solutions to the practice assignments. I put tons of time into this class, and the class rewarded me with a job!

Attending Tech Elevator was one of the best decisions I've ever made as a human being on this planet. I cannot wait to start the next chapter of my life as a software engineer!

Tech Elevator is a fantastic program! With their combined technical and career instruction, I was transformed into a complete novice in coding to an employed Software Engineer before I graduated. I believe anyone, with the right attitude, can complete this program and become extremely prepared for a life in tech. The instructors were insanely compassionate, and my instructor in specific was a Tech Elevator alum herself, so she understood our position excellently. Only consider this if you are truly interested in coding because if you are, you will find the work energizing and fun!

Tech Elevator was an incredible experience. The teaching staff was incredible and it is obvious they are passionate about educating people. The support staff is also incredible, from to bottom the entire staff is always available to offer whatever support you need. One of the things that made me feel compelled to write this review, is that during my cohort I face some rather tough personal challenges. Still, I never felt that additional stress because it was obvious I had the full support of Tech Elevator. Overall, awesome experience and great confidence builder as you jump into your new Software career.

I joined the boot camp straight after high school. I have always been a hard worker and a dedicated person who had his life goals set years prior. Although there was a lot of new information every day, I believe I received the help and instructions I sought which then helped me succeed overall. I had zero interviewing experience so going through that I had a lot of practice with the pathway director(s), also had my elevator pitch perfected by the time we stopped presenting them. I had Steve as my Java instructor in Columbus and enjoyed his class every day and the way he explained and answered concepts made it very clear for me. Tech Elevator also made it a comfortable place to get out of your comfort zone (I know it doesn't make sense) so I was able to ask whatever question that came to my mind even if it was just a clarification. Great experience overall 100% would recommend it. It just took me to find my job longer than I anticipated, and the problem wasn't my interview preparations but rather no recruiters would reach out. I followed everything I was taught at the boot camp, but I don't even know how Tech Elevator could've helped a high school graduate with no job or education experience land a job quickly.

My time at Tech Elevator was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. Not only does their staff want you to professionally succeed, they care about their students as well. It's hard to believe how much I was able to learn over the 14 weeks. The instructing staff is extremely knowledgable and will always go the extra mile to make sure you are learning and understanding the concepts. The pathway staff is always hard at work trying to weed out more opportunities for TE grads. The current job market is tough, but I was lucky enough to receive an offer through the program's matchmaking a month after graduation. The TE staff will keep working hard for their students to make sure they get a job -  but you do tend to get out what you put in.

I highly recommend this program to those who are willing to put the work in, are wanting to make a career change, and are wanting to connect with others through the process. I would not have had as good of a time in this program if I had not also invested myself in my fellow classmates. Tech Elevator Columbus is amazing.