Ironhack

I recently graduated from Ironhack's first UX/UI cohort in Miami. It was a life-changing and wonderful experience, which has already helped me transition into the tech world as a UX research analyst and designer. They don't call this a bootcamp for nothing: a LOT of material is covered in the eight weeks of coursework! There is a tremendous amount of information to absorb, perhaps too much, but the material is accessible even to complete non-techies like myself as long as students are willing to commit the time to study and work hard outside of class. Here in Miami our course was taught by two main lecturers who are both seasoned in their work and inspiring. In my opinion, studying alongside these experts in the field and being able to ask them questions as we progressed through the course material was what made Ironhack such a valuable experience. Jacqueline Stetson Pastore and Marcelo Paiva were wonderful teachers and continue to be mentors who are available to all members of our cohort. In addition to the incredible instruction, I was blown away by Ironhack's staff: each person who I came into contact with at Ironhack is intelligent, helpful, trustworthy, and genuinely concerned with empowering their students to change their lives. Our UX/UI teaching assistant Alida Gagliuffi kept the group (and, when necessary, the teachers!) on track to ensure that we kept up with the demanding curriculum, and the Placements Manager Daniel Brito worked tirelessly to connect Ironhack students with employers in the community who had UX/UI needs. The final "career" week of the Ironhack bootcamp culminated in a job fair on campus where 7 students interviewed with 10 companies. To me, that alone was worth the bootcamp's expense!  All in all, I had a great time at Ironhack. I am thrilled to be embarking on a career in web product research and design and I feel well prepared to begin that work after studying with Jacqueline and Marcelo. The only aspect of the course that I did not like was the pressure to participate in a public hackshow after the course had already ended. I felt that the public hackshow pitted students against each other and disrupted the supportive (almost family-like) dynamic that had been in existence up until that moment. Ending the bootcamp on that note seemed much more about Ironhack publicity in the community than it did about students' actual projects and work.

I joined Ironhack only about a week after learning what a bootcamp even was. Call me rash, but I’d most likely not be a software engineer right now if I didn’t make such a decision. I’d only graduated college a couple months back with not much promise—no job, no real-world skills. I’d coded a bit before, taking a couple classes here and there in addition to prowling Code Academy, for it always had piqued my interest. It was only until after I left the Ivory Tower that I could see clearly and was determined to translate my passion for programming into a profession. For nearly 6 weeks I spent long hours teaching myself skills to meet requirements of relevant web-based positions, and finally started applying to jobs and sending resumes to black holes. With no luck, I stumbled upon Ironhack.

Ironhack is an 8-week (10 weeks including non-official curriculum) coding bootcamp that provides the necessary tools to get anyone started in the world of software development. By the nature of the curriculum, this is true. However, there is one thing that is implicitly required from you 100% of the time, all the time: commitment. If you commit to the process, you will be rewarded.

Now, the beauty of Ironhack is that the experience of making that commitment is fantastic. The staff are extremely pleasant, kind, and intelligent. Our teachers were extremely patient and were able to put complex topics into layman’s terms. Ironhack does a great job at making you feel like part of their family as well as connecting you to the Miami tech scene. Moreover, having a group to go through the process with you is extremely beneficial (“cohort” in bootcamp lingo). We had a small group that was able to create a strong bond and get along very well; you could always bounce an idea or ask for help from anyone in the cohort.

The Ironhack team was very supportive and influential in job support. We had at least 1-2 people per week guest lecture on their professional perspectives and experience, and were always invited to local meet-ups or tech events—there was always a large emphasis on networking and putting yourself out there. Between this, resume building, and an internal career fair, we were given a great jumpstart into job hunting and making ourselves marketable.

In the end, I had 3 job offers about a week after graduation. Now, everyone’s stories are different, but I can tell you one thing that will work. If you are willing to work your very hardest every single day and have a passion for what you’re doing, you will be rewarded. For instance, I made it my mission to do at least one coding challenge every day (starting a couple weeks into the program), listen to software engineering podcasts, read up on tech news, etc. If you wake up dreading going to class, it is probably not for you.

My advice to you before fully enrolling is to try out some programming on your own to see if you somewhat like it first due to how costly the camp is. With this in mind, it could only be beneficial to you if you have some familiarity with the concepts and terms—I found the redundancy and reiteration of topics I learned on my own and then subsequently in class to be enlightening. Overall, I was very happy with my experience at Ironhack—great people, working/learning environment, and support. I am excited to continue my career as a software engineer and will always be able to tip my hat at Ironhack for having a fantastic program.  

My intention in coming to ironhack was to accelerate my capacity in understanding code - development procesess. I would definitely say that Ironhack has helped me accomplish that. What I like the most is that wether you are aware or not, the course has it's own pace that will naturally help you tacke each and one of the challenges at hand.

On top of that, add that you have a dedicated team of experts helping you everytime you're on class. Not just from the teachers in your course but from everyone in the building. Also, Ariel, founder of IH is in constant communication with everyone in the team which is great. All the staff is pretty attentive and willing to help.

This was definitely a challenge but it has definitely paid off, I've already applied most of my learnings in my day to day work / as well as generated some free-lance clients that have given me the opportunity to try put my new learned skills to the test. 

Last but not least, Ironhack is truly a community, after graduation I still talk to my class members and from time to time to other Ironhack Members. It's up to you to keep communication and involvement in the scene but if you're up to it there is so much potential in networking and getting aid/support for anything.

Hello IronHackers is Unai Camino.

First of all thanks for the bootcamp, because is opening so many doors for me.

I would like to express how I felt during the bootcamp.

In the prework I got basic knowledge about Ruby and Javascript, but in my opinion I would suggest to study more lessons about Ruby and a bit deeper in Javascript.

During the six weeks studying Ruby on Rails, Javascript, HTML and CSS, I was so happy and motivated. I have nothing negative to say about it. The teachers were so good, seriously all the different teachers were very professional and they knew how to impact the classes and also help when I needed it, they were available after classes and even now. Whenever I needed something they replied. I give them a 10.

Also the material and the structure of the bootcamp in my opnion was perfect. To be honest it was the best course I’ve done.

The final project helped me to put into practice everything I’ve learnt. Alfonso and Alex were very willing to help even using Slack.

To be honest I am very pleased for being part of IronHack. Two weeks after finishing the bootcamp I got my first formal offer, now I am getting more opportunities and I can choose in which company I want to work.

I would like to explain and give a few advise to the next IronHacker generation:

I think is very important to do the prework with one month in advantge to get a solid knowledge of what you are going to study.

During the bootcamp I worked 12h/day weekend included and I would suggest study 14h/day. Seriously IronHack is just 8 weeks, and this is nothing, so it’s important to put in the hard work. The more you work the more you get it.

To make a good final project is very important to solid your knowledge, make a plan for it, ask teacher for advise and think about it before starting, think, think and think.

After bootcamp I came to London, I firmly recommended to go outside Spain, the good offers are here UK, Holland, Germany….

What I did to get a job, I download a list of all startup in London and I applied to them through emails to get interviews and test, didn’t stop until I got response. The same as the bootcamp 12h/ day sending emails, replying them, doing interviews…….

Get a plan and follow it through, if your planning doesn’t work change it, but continue with confidence in yourself until you get it.

My last point, companies know your level they don’t expect too much from you, what they want is motivation. show them your passion about programming and be very thankfull with them in every moment, that’s what worked for me and I think is the best approach.

My best wishes IronHackers

Work hard, Play hard

The admissions process was simple and practical, did a short informal coding challenge to prove I understood the basics of programming. The prework gave me a foundation to start the course. Loved the teaching style and the instructors are amazing, the TAs were also very helpful. After the bootcamp I received great guidance from career services in order to prepare my resume and linkedin profile. Kept coding and practicing on my own in order to prepare for the interviews. Then came the interviews, I felt prepared and confident. Landed a Jr. Full-stack developer job after 2.5 months of completing the bootcamp! The overall experience changed my life and helped me start a new career!!! Super happy with the whole thing. 

I attended full-time web development bootcamp in Barcelona in the fall/winter of 2015. My original profession was not in technical field what so ever but I was always around computers and did few static websites.
Before I did the bootcamp I did studying on my own, becoming beginner at Python and trying out few other languages in my spare time, learning basics of databases.
I think this is what helped me a lot eventually and made the experience worth the expense and time.
Ironhack was a huge financial investment (the conversion rate from my currency to EU is not very favorable) so I was very worried if I would eventually find a job as developer - this was my goal from the beginning. TLDR - I succeeded so I'm very happy.

But also it was very challenging. There were few people in my cohort which I knew weren't very happy with the outcome. The truth is, you must really like problem solving and programming to make it work. Right now it seems like people think that "being a coder" makes you immediately cool and earns you a lot of money. I don't think it's the right attitude. Nothing is free and you will have to work very hard to do the bootcamp and once you start working as programmer profesionally, it's another challenge.

Do not underestimate the preparation period/pre-work for the course! Also, getting your feet wet at programming basics beforehand (I did it for about a year as a hobby, programmed simple program etc.) will help a TON! I feel like some people were really struggling because they underestimated this part.

I am writing this review, almost a year from starting the bootcamp. I am now full-time employee of mobile-focused company as part of their back-end Ruby on Rails team, but mostly I'm the front-end guy. I'm happy because I go to work every day to do what I want to do. Different people, different goals but for me it was definitely worth it. 

If you think you'll come to bootcamp and leave as a fully-developed programmer, you're wrong. You will leave as junior developer at best. I'm not saying this as a negative thing. I'm just saying you have to be humble. I had a career before and I started out at junior position in new career. First months in my job were really, really hard. I had to make up for the lack of the experience, stayed late, did coding on the weekends. Now I feel like I reached junior level and feel more confident.

But the best part of the bootcamp? Apart from learning a lot and meeting interesting people, it gives you confidence. And in my case Ironhack team did a great job, especially in regards to job counseling. Ironhack helped me land my current job. And I'm not from Spain, they managed to secure job interview in my country thanks to their job advisor and I ended up working there.

Definitely worth the money and changed my life for better.

Before attending Ironhack Web Development Bootcamp, I was working at a law firm with the aspirations of becoming a lawyer. Right before deciding what law school to attend, I began doubting my decision to pursue law. I had a yearning for learning and creating that my chosen profession at the time could not provide. I had always dabbled with computers and very basic HTML/CSS but always thought that pursuing web development as a career, would require a bachelors in computer science. I started researching alternatives to the traditional route of web development education and found Ironhack. Right from the first interview, I knew that the program was right for me. What makes Ironhack distinct from many other bootcamps is that they gear you for success right from the first interview. Placement into a cohort is dependant on passing a technical interview. It is very important that a potential student meets the technical criteria before attending the bootcamp because the material and course is not easy! After placement, there is a very hefty load of pre-work which I believe is just as important as the 8-week course itself. Completion of the pre-work is essential! The 8-weeks that follow move fast but there is plenty of help and support along the way. Each topic is taught by building on what was previously learned. The the last 2 weeks, which are dedicated to the final project are when all the concepts are really ingrained into your memory. Overall, the experience is life changing to say the least. Ironhack really does care about their students and graduates. Upon graduation, you will have top-notch career support to get you working as a developer, and access to a HUGE network of Ironhack alumni.

It's difficult to explain what Ironhack is, you have to do it! They can tell you about the 6 weeks of classes and about the 2 weeks working 24/7 on your final project. But only by doing it you realize what it means and the opportunities that it will open for you. It's important to say that you need to work on it.

I came to Ironhack with some previous experience coding. Before that, I was working for a marketing agency as an intern creating web layouts, I was tired of always doing the same and because of the low salaries I decided to quit and explore other educational options. After much searching I found Ironhack. It sounded challenging but I decided to apply.

Ironhack is not an introductory course, but neither is a specialization one. It's kind of what you want it to be. I would have to say two very important things: you need to love what you're doing and you need to have some previous experience. Frustration moments are inevitable during the bootcamp, but it is important to overcome them and take it with humor (something that I certainly did during these 8 weeks).

Of course, this is not something to try to discourage prospective students. On the contrary, if you like this world, doing the Ironhack is probably one of the best decisions you can ever take.

Ironhack do not guarantee you a job, but definitely it will help you finding it. During the Hiring Week you will have many interviews with different companies. In my case I´m currently in three hiring process and I have already received one offer. It's important to say that it didn't came alone: you have to work a lot to achieve it.

"Every kid is one caring adult away from being a success story" - Josh Shipp

Imagine what you can do with an entire company of caring adults at Ironhack!

First off coding isn't for everyone. I don't believe "everyone should learn to code". I knew I wanted to code for a living so a bootcamp was the right choice for me. College is also not for everyone, but if you want to learn to code (even if you are in college) a bootcamp should be mandatory!

Ironhack wasn't the only bootcamp I applied to, but it was the only one that I felt I was talking to people who weren't just clocking in like the other bootcamps. From my first interview I loved the staff at Ironhack. They were people who treated me like a person not a prospective client. They helped me through the decision of which bootcamp was right for me, knowing it might not be with them! Thankfully for me it was.

The downsides are:

1. 8 weeks is a really short amount of time, and there are some topics I think should have been covered.
2. Miami is still finding itself as a tech hub, so competition for true junior developer positions is tough.

That being said:

Ironhack has a process that works. All you have to do is trust it and put in the work.

Every person on the entire staff cares and does everything they can to assist. From the first interview to the job placement help they aren't just doing a job, they want to help you change your life.

I am part of the Ironhack family for life and couldn’t be more proud of it.

 

I always wanted to learn how to code when a friend of mine talked to me about Ironhack. 

I had no idea what a bootcamp was so i decided to investigate a little bit. 

When I saw all the good reviews it had  I thought it was the perfect time to go through it, and I wasn´t dissapointed at all. Now I turn my head back and realize the amount of stuff learned is just huge. 

In a couple of months I learnt how to build solid and complete web applications from 0, both back-end and front-end sides combining programming languages like ruby, javascript, HTML and CSS.

I think enrolling Ironhack was one of the best choices I´ve made.

I would highly recommend Ironhack to anyone who wants to learn about programming, beginner or not.

I ended up at Ironhack sort of by coincidence, and I am glad I did.  

I was considering many web development bootcamps and I hardly knew anyhting about the field at the time so I made an uninformed choice based on convenience and I chose Ironhack.  Lucky for me, Ironhack turned out to be exactly what I hoped my web development bootcamp experience would be.  

There are other Bootcamps with bigger reputations, more prolific presence on the internet, or more famous graduates, but none will provide the educaitonal experience that Ironhack will.  Don't be seduced by bold statistics or sexy names.  IMO, smaller organizations care more about teaching you.  

Ironhack truly gives their students the opportunity to go 0-60.  They do not expect or require students to come in with any knowledge of coding (which is why I went to a coding bootcamp in the first place, duh)  and they don't let anyone fall behind.  While other for-profit educational institutions allocate more of their resources to marketing, branding, and cultivating relationships with hiring partners, Ironhack focuses on giving their students the skills they need to succeed in their new career.  

I'm not saying hiring partners aren't important.  But hiring partners won't matter much if your coding bootcamp doesn't teach you how to code at a professional level.  

Mine did.  How about yours?

My name is Juan Luis and I have been involved in working with comics my whole life. I've worked in printing companies and as an old school graphic designer.

The world is changing really fast and design changes even faster. Nowadays most of it is oriented to web, and I want to be part of that change.

Among the existing options, I was searching for one that provides me an educational experience close to what the market is demanding, and I chose Ironhack.

Frustration and fatigue are two big issues that you have to deal with during the whole bootcamp. It was really challenging because I haven't wrote a line of code before and I came from a very visual world. In this world, you need other approach to face the problems you find.

Ironhack will not leave you indifferent. The immersion in the course is complete, there is a moment that you realize that your world moves only around Ironhack.For me, it has been a really enriching and powerful experience. I am very very satisfied and would not replace it with anything.

I felt great by doing something which involved a continuos challenge. It really motivates me. And also, it required -and it will be unfair to forget it- a  lot of moral support from my friends and family.

Some good tips I'll recommend you to follow before the bootcamp: caffeine is your friend, get rid off past frustrations and preconceived ideas, add illusion and tons of patience.

From a designer point of view it had been a really enriching to learn everything that involves a web design.