Software Development Academy

My story will be a story of success or a story of perfectly matched coincidence or a story of a stubborn person.
It happened in the beginning of the March I accidentally bumped on the adv of SDA Software testing courses. Of course because I was searching... Read More for it in google, but I am sure I am lucky just because it was SDA and the info meeting was in couple of days so I registered and attended. Most valuable information that played final part in my affirmative decision was: -possibility to pass ISTQB exam after graduation (the price for exam was included), -SDA cooperate with Tootukassa (so my study was completely sponsored by Estonian government and I think it’s incredible supporting program).
The study process: a lot of practice with lectors who actually work in this field with a huge experience and the most important ability to transfer knowledge. The most popular and widely used tools. And of course all theoretical material based on ISTQB syllabus.
As you guess I successfully pass all tests got certificate of SDA and later the same happened with the ISTQB FL.
The useful tip: register yourself on any croudtesting platform and get rated there in order to have some proven testing experience in addition to your FL certificate from ISTQB (it equals necessary education in IT field).
So in order to became an attractive candidate for employer this will be enough.
As a result of my 6 month journey I got 3 official offers from Estonian IT companies (1 of them found me via LinkedIn page, so keep it fulfilled and updated. Barbara will help you).
I said “YES” to Derivco Estonia and now I am a QA Specialist!
Wish all of you good luck. Don’t doubt, everything is possible when you working hard to get it.

The trainers and management team are very professionals in what they do, so i highly recommend SDA to those who want to enter the IT industry.
From zero knowledge to becoming a java software engineer by studying at SDA!
Special thanks to the career advisor... Read More ''Barbara Ciach'' for the support and advises during course period and after graduation.

I attended to the remote Java online classes. In the beginning I had some doubts about the course because it was remote, but it was a nice experience. The most appreciated fact by me at this was that the trainers had a lot of patience with the students... Read More and they explained everything by the book. Our first trainer (Bogdan Judele) and the forth trainer (Radu Furnea) did a good job learning us the basic concepts of Java, Hibernate and Spring. We also had an HR class where we were taught how to properly write out resumes. Overall, it was a good experience and I would recommend it to other people.

Pros:
- I am working a full-time job, so the ability to take classes on weekends. You can concentrate on studies from early morning, do homework and self-improvement during the week and continue on next weekend - perfect for me;
- great communication from... Read More administrative personnel (keeping in mind covid situation);
Cons:
- there is no list of lecturers so you do not know who will be teaching you in advance;
- some lecturers just sits through hours, but others (most of them) prepare very well, so 50/50;

My path in IT started with the SDA course. And I’m not regreting, that one day I’ve decided to take this step!

The most important that in the SDA I’ve gained the belief in myself. I realised that finding job in IT and changing my life is possible. But... Read More my self-education path hasn’t stopped yet! It was only the beggining! Thanks a lot!

Very good trainers , well prepared .I actualy got the first job before i've finished the course. All of the interview questions were made in class and beucause the course is well made it was easy to pass that interview.It was a realy nice adventure and... Read More got me at the point of a career change.

Pros : Great support for students before, during and after curse. The teachers are active specialists and tell up-to-date information about the work process, which technologies and how they are used.
Cons : This is a plus, but also a minus - the course... Read More is very intensive, except for 7 grueling hours in class on weekends, you have to study at home for a decent amount of time. A couple of times there were problems with the class, but this was solved quickly.

Pros
- teachers' patience to explain everything
- the course is making you more responsible and object oriented :)
- great atmosphere in the class

Cons
First and the most important: it felt that this course it wasn't design for people with jobs, rather for... Read More people that have free time and want to develop more and are familiar with those concepts.
- you have too much information in short time and it FAILS TO TEACH BASE CONCEPTS PROPERLY
- order of lessons is messy
- there is no test of ability, before starting the course to see the level of students (to work with a computer, to absorb new ideas) and from this starts the inability of teachers to raise the level of teaching and practice with exercise
- some teachers where just reading this concepts from their computer like a robot, without to much explanation (why was invented that concept, from where derives, how is working in the computer that concept)
- a few times, I felt that it would have been better (financially & time consuming) if I started an online course with 1% from this course price
- the knowledge is not sufficient for a junior position/ career change if you had a normal job and you learn after work

Overall I think the course is a guide in my way to understand better what I have to do/ to learn from now on to be a developer.

In the same time I am deeply disappointed with the lack of group projects (only the final project), if it were up to me I'll do all the projects/ homework for teams, because recruiters look at junior's what they know and if he know to work in a team.

And I believe that greater emphasis on team work, would help students grow faster and better!

The modules are well chosen and based on what you need to become a software developer.
Too much information in a short time.
Trainers concerned with assimilating information and trainers less concerned with this aspect.
Personally, I felt that the course... Read More should be longer than the duration.
But I enjoyed it and I really feel that I have improved my experience.

I am amazed by the fact that the programming field was here all the time.
I have heard people saying that this field is not for everyone which is true. It's not for everyone that is lazy and enjoys the comfort zone.
This field is for the ones that enjoy... Read More learning, that enjoy getting out of the comfort zone and start innovating the needs of society through software development.
It is quite insane the fact that ideas really come to life here.
If you want to create an app that does something, you can google stuff and there you have it.
It's just a matter of time until you find the recipe and cook it for world wide web.
I had the most amazing trainers alive out there.
I want to thank them for having the patience and not kill me for all the questions during the course.
Above all this awesome remarks, there are a few negative ones from me.
First of all, the learning material is awful, not enough descriptive content, just a bunch of lines of code thrown here and there. Really bad descriptive content.
I had to read Baeldung website all the time because of this failure.
Just please rewrite your content for the future learning groups cause it's impossible to achieve something with those awfully written pdf courses.
Actually guys, you are lucky with the trainers cause they are a well of knowledge, else would have been a hard time learning something. As far as I know, the content from which I learn is the back bone of your course, but this back bone is filled with rigidity, and I am not pleased at all.
If not for the trainers I would have drop out.
Thank you.