Makers Academy

Pros - Bootcamp content is interesting. You learn Ruby and JavaScript along with testing frameworks such as Jest and RSpec. - Weekend challenges are useful and challenging. - Fundamentals of OOP and things such as pair programming, TDD etc. Cons - Left... Read More to your own devices too much - Rather have skipped learning Ruby and had content for React instead. - Coaches can be difficult to contact

The quality of teaching at the bootcamp was exceptional. The instructors were highly knowledgeable and delivered the material in a way that was both engaging and easy to understand. The overall organization of the bootcamp was professional, and I felt... Read More supported throughout the entire program. Despite the high number of cohorts and students at a time, the support level was excellent, and everything was well-coordinated and curated. The curriculum was modern and up-to-date, with a focus on fundamental and high-level concepts that are in demand in the industry. The atmosphere on the course was amazing, and everyone was very supportive, contributing to the overall wellbeing of the students. The bootcamp prioritized personal wellbeing and learning, ensuring that everyone had the resources and support they needed to succeed. Although the course is very intensive, it is a unique and valuable learning experience that can help you change your career. You may not finish everything in one sitting during the course, but the important thing is to focus on learning and developing your skills. I met amazing people from my cohort and other cohorts, and the course has amazing perks that you have access to even after graduation. We worked on very interesting team projects and it was pure fun. Overall, I am extremely satisfied and can wholeheartedly recommend the course. I am grateful to the entire Makers Team for their support throughout my journey, both in good times and in bad.

Throughout the pre-course, I was experiencing quite a bit of imposter syndrome (arguably not an uncommon feeling for a career changer). However, since day one of the full-time course, the empathetic and patient environment that the Makers team provided,... Read More enabled me to overcome those initial fears and realise my own potential in programming. With numerous group engineering projects and 'give it a go' encouragement from the coaches, the course works really well in preparing us for our future tech jobs - to the extent that I was able to draw from many of my Makers experiences when interviewing for jobs. The EQ workshops are an invaluable addition, especially when wanting to making the most of those group engineering projects. After 4 months of intense learning and self-development, I wasn't sure how much energy I had left to then look for a job but the careers team had us covered. I've never experienced motivation that abundant and readily available. With the job-searching process being quite a daunting experience for me, I made sure I leant on the careers team and their resources as much as possible and I don't think I would have found a job as quickly as I did without them.

Pros: Learn javascript + ruby very well and indepth in 12 weeks Learn frameworks and supporting technologies that are high in demand and relevant in todays workplace. Fantastic support in learning via coaches and mentors. They will answer each and every... Read More question. Experience working through projects in real-life, work applicable methodologies such as AGILE. Be part of a cohort with like minded individuals who push each other to succeed. Immense job support after the course through 1 to 1 tailored coaching, group sessions and interview advice. Access to an exclusive network of Alumni Makers, many in senior and lead positions today. A rubber duck as a souvenir. Cons: Will require effort. It's a full time endeavour, very intense and will require your full attention and effort. Overall, I had a fantastic experience at Makers. Regardless of the extremely tough job market toward the end of 2022 and beginning of 2023, I managed to secure a very desirable entry level job with one of my favourite languages that I was taught at Makers. There are concepts that I had no idea existed in web development that were taught at Makers and my success singlehandedly goes out to them. If I could do it all again I would 100%.

When I was looking at the bootcamps I could apply to, I saw many bootcamps that promise "belonging to a community", but Makers truly provides that. Receiving training in my current company just isn't the same...I actually wish I was still at Makers for... Read More this principle of togetherness! Their approach to learning is so welcoming and unique, I've never experienced anything like this in my life (and I don't think I will again). The holistic way of teaching whilst making space to ensure wellbeing and wellness is so effective. I think "EQ" (emotional quotient) training really goes hand in hand with tech. Aside from reaching out to coaches or your cohort, they even have joy officer whom you can talk to if you have any blockers. The coaches were amazing, always great in spirits and couldn't do more to help. There's a clearly a very stringent vetting process for anyone that works for Makers, because everyone was a "people person" whilst also being very knowledgeable on the technical side. Don't get me wrong, the course is very hard and demanding but every employee at Makers is there to help and they are very good at nurturing your development. After I left Makers to find a job, their aftercare was unbelievably good. There's bespoke support you'll receive for interview training, CV's and cover letters. They also have many plans in place to ease your transition and they are really hands on, right until you get employed...even then, I am still using their offices, so even though I'm employed, they're still supporting me! I'd hate to sound hackneyed, but after graduation you realise being a Maker is a way of thinking and a lifestyle!

Attending a holistic boot camp was one of the best decisions I've ever made. The immersive and well-rounded education I received helped me develop a deep understanding of my field and a strong set of practical skills. Not only did it prepare me for a... Read More successful career, but it also fostered personal growth and allowed me to connect with a supportive community of like-minded individuals.

I would sincerely recommend enrolling at Makers Academy if you have any intention of switching careers or interested in becoming a software developer. The course has a great focus on independent learning mixed in with pair programming, so you get to learn... Read More a lot while working closely with other people in a similar position to you, which can really help make the learning process a lot more fun. You also get a lot of hands on experience working with Ruby, JavaScript and React.js making a wide range of projects, ranging from small programs, to full social media websites, to whatever you want your final project to be. One thing I would say however is you need to be aware that the coaches are fairly hands off, so if you're struggling, you need to make them aware directly, but also try and use other resources like YouTube videos and forums to help get you unstuck; just be kind to yourself! It's insanely rewarding once you make it through to the end.

I was quite skeptical about the whole thing of becoming a Software Developer in just 4 months. However, Makers has been great, and after finishing the course I'm building my own app from scratch! The curriculum is intense and very fast-forward, but it... Read More totally prepares you for becoming a developer. I enjoyed pairing with other students to solve coding challenges and the knowledge we learned during the team projects. Overall, intense, demanding, and definitely worth it.

A supportive and inclusive environment that helped me career switch into the tech. Self-directed learning allows you to personally and technically develop into the best version of yourself. The projects allowed us to mimic the work of junior developers,... Read More which really impressed interviewers and helped me land my current software developer role.

The Makers Academy course blends learning to code and learning to be a collaborative developer. These are not the same skills, and actually the second set is arguably more important to getting hired as a junior dev. If you wanted you could learn to code... Read More alone, using online tutorials, but there's no substitute for having to actually use those skills with other people to build something together. As we found out, a job in software is a team sport, and the course perfectly sets you up to make that career switch. They have fantastic people and culture at makers. The curriculum is well thought out and constantly updated, the coaching is quality, and the ongoing support after course end to help find a job is strong. It can be a challenge to fit in everything you want to get out of the course in the time you have, I personally could only spare about 40 hours per week and I think it would merit about 50, but you will be fine either way. Highly recommend.