Makers Academy

There is a large number of positives when it comes to taking the Makers course, but in terms of the negatives, the only real downsides have been that some of the course material is a little outdated (with everything constantly changing this is bound to... Read More happen), and having joined the course at such a trying time for us all, there wasn't the guaratneed job offer that they normally provide. Now in terms of the positives, there are far too many to list, but for me the biggest things were the coverage of the important areas, giving you a real foothold in terms of understanding the coding world, and a good foundation to learn other languages and frameworks, and the support offered throughout, with not only curriculum support and job hunting, but also with mental well-being.

Pros: + Excellent course material which teaches you a surprising amount in a short space of time. + Good experience working as a team and programming in pairs. + Good feedback on your code, CV and job applications. Cons: - Can go for days without hearing... Read More from coaches, especially in project weeks. When learning remotely this can seem like poor value for money given the price of the course. - If students lag behind it is left up to others students to catch them up via pairing. This is a worse learning experience if you're a stronger student. - Students are encouraged to find answers themselves rather than contact coaches, and can often be rebuffed. I don't completely disagree with this as a learning approach but it does again make you question value for money.

It is a great way of learning how to code and how to find your way in the vast world of software development. The curriculum is very well structured and I found very useful the way they organise solo work, workshops, pair programming and group projects... Read More throughout the program. It is very focused on self-learning so don't expect to be guided and told what to do 100% of the time, but you'd always have someone to ask for help or advice whenever needed. This was a bit disappointing for some of my colleagues but for me it was ideal and it definitely represents how your future working as a developer will feel like. Their mental health parallel curriculum is very well structured too and covers all the fundamentals on how to create healthy habits both for your career and your life. After graduation, I felt very supported at all times from the careers team, with some extra technical courses and lots of advice and workshops on how to approach companies and get ready for interviews during your job-hunt. To summarize, a great experience if you are ready to take on a big challenge and willing to put 100% of yourself into it.

One of the main reasons to choose this bootcamp out of the others in the UK at least is the size of a cohort. I was a part of 15 people cohort and the majority of people were extremely dedicated, motivated and driven. Being surrounded by people like that... Read More is crucial and also makes a massive difference to your experience. For the first 6 weeks students spend Monday to Friday 2pm - 6pm pair coding on tasks (changing your pair every day). When you are a part of such a driven and hardworking cohort - pair coding flies by and you learn a huge amount of information not just about the theoretical stuff but also about how others think and how to describe your thoughts when coding. Another massive plus of this bootcamp is the alumni, after you graduate you can be in touch with 3000+ more people that have done the same course, experiences the same stress and intensity of the learning process and these people are super generous with their time to help you. They will be keen to describe what they do professionally, how to apply for a job in their company if there is one going, how to approach balance between learning but also applying for jobs. The people support is very moving and unbelievably helpful. I have spent about 6 weeks searching form my first software developer position and everyone I have spoken to from the Makers Alumni gave a fantastic advice- what to do, what to concentrate on, what to avoid etc. There were people from companies that I liked that I've spoken to and were extremely generous with their time. I would say that people is the main reason you should apply to Makers- the students on your cohort and the alumni make a huge difference when it comes to believing that you can actually complete the course and make a professional career out of becoming a software developer!

One of the main reason to choose this bootcamp out of the others in the UK at least is the size of a cohort. I was a part of 15 people cohort and the majority of people were extremely dedicated, motivated and driven. Being surrounded by people like that... Read More is crucial and also makes a massive difference to your experience. For the first 6 weeks students spend Monday to Friday 2pm - 6pm pair coding on tasks (changing your pair every day). When you are a part of such a driven and hardworking cohort - pair coding flies by and you learn a huge amount of information not just about the theoretical stuff but also about how others think and how to describe your thoughts when coding. Another massive plus of this bootcamp is the alumni, after you graduate you can be in touch with 3000+ more people that have done the same course, experiences the same stress and intensity of the learning process and these people are super generous with their time to help you. They will be keen to describe what they do professionally, how to apply for a job in their company if there is one going, how to approach balance between learning but also applying for jobs. The people support is very moving and unbelievably helpful. It took my just under 2 months to find a job and I graduated just before Christmas, so you can basically take one month out of the job search. I spoke to make alumni that were happy to share their experience and give advice on what I should work on, what to add to my CV. Some even asked me to send the CV and they would pass them over to their managers in company they worked in. Everyone is extremely kind to each other, there is no sense of aggressive competition at all- people want to help!

Signing up to do Makers was one of the best decisions I have made in my life. I got stranded in the UK because of coronavirus and lost my job because I couldn't return to China. After some months without work I decided I need to do something, so signed... Read More up to start Makers in August. Now 6 months later, and just 2 months after finishing the course, I am about to start the job of my dreams with great pay and an amazing career outlook, I couldn't be happier. The course was intense, and at times difficult, but the staff are all fantastic people who provided an unmatched level of support. They are all genuinely knowledgable and caring individuals. Both during the course, and after in my job search I have felt totally supported. I would 100% recommend signing up if you are looking for a change.

Things you'll get experience of at Makers that perhaps self taught courses don't teach you are: - working in a team on projects in an agile way - how to de-bug your code - the process of problem solving - emotional intelligence and valuable soft skills... Read More that you'll need in a job. - growth mindset Plus you'll gain a whole network of like-minded people to bounce ideas off and help you.

Overall this was one of the best things I have ever done. I met some amazing people, learned some amazing things, and now just starting my new job as a front-end dev. Short-sighted me sometimes wondered why I was learning a less in-demand language than... Read More other Bootcamps, but now I am working I totally get it. Makers don't teach you syntax, they teach you how to learn and succeed working environment. I came into this Bootcamp thinking I would learn how to code and then try and find a job, instead, I learned the importance of testing your code, how to work properly within a team, how to plan effectively, how to transfer my knowledge of one language to another and the list goes on. Whilst I can't recommend this bootcamp enough one thing to note is its very hard work, luckily Makers take a holistic approach to this and care about your mental health. TLDR: Go for it, it's the best thing I have ever done.

Pros: - Women and Gender Minorities Discount to promote diversity - A holistic approach learning process meaning that I have to be very clear with my learning goal in order to progress - Emotional curriculum that ensures the progress of inner development... Read More - Great post bootcamp career support with helpful workshops for interview methods and job application methods - Great alumni community to network, ask questions and learn new trending technology - Dedicated and caring coaches Cons: - The curriculum could be very intense for a learner who has no prior coding experience - Some parts of the curriculum are outdated, it would be great to have constant updates It was a very intense journey for me during the pandemic and having a three-year-old running around at home. However, looking back at it, I am glad that I made it. I didn't only learn about new technologies, but also the process to learn a new thing, the process to work in an agile team and most importantly -- the process to understand myself. I also got the chance to meet a world of people and professions that I wouldn't have come across from my old job, and gained some long-lasting friendships.

It is really challenging but I think that is the fun of it. The things you are doing in your final weeks you would never conceive of doing 12 weeks before. The speed of growth is absolutely incredible. The makers community is also so great, everyone is... Read More so keen to help each other even years after they have left. Having been remote I thought it may have impacted the dynamic of our cohort but it didn't, everyone has made some solid friendships coming out of the course.