Avocademy

This review was a long time coming, but I wanted to wait to write it until my first job offer came in - which I knew it eventually would. Avocademy is simply incredible. They have taken a process that can be so difficult (and by process I mean both UX and career pivots) and break it down into manageable steps. In doing this they have created a program where you really learn the ins and outs, become a top tier competitor in the UX job market, and truly become a designer. While the job search can be tolling, I was constantly praised for my expert work. In one interview, I was told to be proud of myself as I had been one of 20 interviewed in a pool of over 600 applicants. Avocademy is life changing, and I highly recommend it to anyone hoping to switch into UX Design.

This UX/UI foundations course with Avocademy was really great, all the mentors are super supportive and really care. I was able to create a project end to end and all the material in the course was easy to understand and filled with various resources as well. I came from a background with no UX/UI experience and thanks to this course I was able to create my first project and join their career jumpstart course where I have worked on three client projects and am in the process of finding a career in the field. I really enjoyed my time with Avocademy and recommend it to anyone.

This was the perfect program for me to join while still working full time because there’s enough flexibility to do coursework only nights and weekends. I was ready to work hard though so I wanted something I could power through in a relatively short time so I wouldn’t burn myself out. The mentors are fantastic and very knowledgeable. It’s much better than teaching yourself a new career from scratch and cheaper than other programs too. I feel like I have the support I need to get a job in UX/UI!

I am going to be finishing my run in Foundations for Avocademy here in a couple of weeks. The course is split up into 6 modules that guide you through *lots* of reading, videos and other literature, which prepare you for Activities. Activities are based on what you've learned and have incredibly clear instructions. 

When you complete an Activity, you submit it to the community Slack channel where it is reviewed and approved by a Mentor. On the Slack channel you can also ask questions, talk to other students, and participate in others work. The work is always very manageable but it does get intense- I just finished module 4 and the Wireframing Activity was crazy intense for me and took about 10 hours. 

The allotted 6 weeks is enough time to get through the course, but I had to add 2 weeks (which you are able to do for free) because of poor time management and imposter syndrome. 

Overall, the course is set up to guide you through each step of the creation of an app or program you want to make. The entire time you are moving through the program they are constantly reminding you to reach out to Mentors for help when you need it, which is very encouraging. I have truly loved this program and can't wait to move into the Career Jumpstart portion, where I will get to work on real world projects with other students. 

As a fresh college graduate with a background in Computer Science and Digital Arts, I had a huge lack of self confidence when it came to landing my first UX/UI related job. Career Jumpstart provided ways to help build my portfolio by giving me project opportunities where I was able to work with real life outside clients and a design team. On top of that, through great mentorship, I was able to gain valuable feedback and improve the way I was approaching interviews because honestly, I was a nervous wreck in the very beginning of my job search. The course includes many valuable resources such as 1-1 mentoring, resume reviews, weekly check ins, portfolio reviews, project opportunities, and mockup interviews. I also enjoyed being part of the strong, supportive and encouraging peer community. It offers a great way to connect and network with individuals all over the US coming from diverse backgrounds. Plus, previous graduates give lots of helpful advice and share job opportunities that come across their way!

Overall, Career Jumpstart was a very positive experience for me. I started off feeling a lot of uncertainty when it came to job hunting, but Maca and her team has taught me so much and I am forever grateful and glad I was part of this course! 

I'm so glad and grateful I was able to job search with the Career Jumpstart program! Job searching is such a stressful and confusing process, and I truly don't think I could've done it myself. Let alone find a job in a month! The online modules had such helpful and essential info that prepped me on every step of the process, and mentors were always available to provide additional personal help via Slack, messages, or calls. I mainly worked with Maca (aka bugged her whenever ANYTHING happened and any thoughts or worries came up) and she would always give constructive feedback and suggest next steps to help me push through. The mock interview preps were super helpful, which definitely helped me feel more confident and ready in interviews. Overall, it was a very supportive and practical experience and I would give the program a lot of credit for my success in finding my first UX job!

This program is amazing! After graduating from my Foundations course with Avocademy, the Career Jumpstart allowed me the opportunity to work on real projects with real clients and collaborate with other designers. It wasn't only the fact that it was so hands-on, but the guidance that I had from Maca was exceptional. She was there every step of the way, and we never lost that personal touch that makes a world of difference especially in an online setting. I'm thankful to have learned all that I have in such a short amount of time, and I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to be a UX/UI Designer.