| | Anonymous | I completed my journey with CodeClan about a month ago and I want to share my experience as the course seems to be receiving some rather mixed reviews and I am wondering how my experience could have differed so much to the other previous students.
I decided to apply to CodeClan, like many others, as I was looking for a career change that offered daily challenges, get one foot in the door to an industry that excites me and to build on previous skills. I had done a lot of research before applying and had spoken to some CodeClan graduates about their time on the course and if it was worth the investment. Almost everyone I spoke to said it was great and before long they were working in development roles. So to sign up was a no brainer.
I knew it was going to be a hard 16 weeks. CodeClan do not shy away from letting you know this and with all their pre-course work and information you really start the course knowing exactly what is going to happen and how you can get the most out of it.
I am a firm believer in that 'nothing comes from nothing' and CodeClan's course is no exception to that. If you think you can cruise through the course, get a certificate and then expect to be given a job then you are going to be hit with a massive reality check. CodeClan never say you are guaranteed a job at the end of it, but they make sure that all the steps are in place to be just as employable as the next person. The support after you have graduated in just as strong as when you are on the course, but you have to be the driver with those conversations as, understandably, they are busy themselves. They do not just dump you like some other reviewers are making it sound like. For example, someone in my class has just received a job offer having been told about it through the careers service. But you have to put in the extra work and use the time wisely. I have a feeling from reading some of these reviews that there is a sense of bitterness that it hasn't gone their way and want to pass the buck.
I graduated during the COVID-19 pandemic and had to make the transition to remote learning (CodeClan did an AMAZING job to adapt the course so quickly without it feeling like any of the material or experience was compromised). The job market has frozen and I am sure it is going to be a while before the job market becomes as open as CodeClan market it as. But this is not anyones fault and there should not be any blame put on anyone for this. But again, I fall back onto the 'nothing comes from nothing' attitude. I am now using my time to consolidate my learnings, learn new languages and build my portfolio. I know to others that this time must be really frustrating as what we were promised like speed networking etc could not happen due to obvious reasons, but having spoken to some of the senior staff members (who have been more than willing to take time out of their day to offer support) they have been clear with their advice: Keep going and keep learning as it shows more character rising to the challenge than getting defeated. Thanks to CodeClan's teaching, curriculum and support network I can do all this feeling confident about what to do and know what I am capable of.
Anyways, I am so glad I took the plunge and did the course and I cannot explain how much I have learnt. So much happens in those 16 weeks that I could write about it all day. I have also made awesome friends who I look forward to seeing succeed!
If you are thinking about doing this course make sure you really do your research and understand what you are signing up for. When you are ready to give it your all then GO FOR IT!
I cannot wait to see where the next chapter of this journey will take me! |
