“If you have a hard time learning, then any new skill is going to be difficult for you. I think Code Fellows gives you the advantage of it being hands-on, Code Fellows just puts your hands on code way more than any sort of college setting. And finally, if you’re a veteran, don’t be ashamed to use your benefits! You’ve earned them!” – Michael Greene
READ MORE“I joined Code Fellows to level up the position I was in. You find the resources to be a better person, to be a more capable person." – Daniel Nguyen
READ MORE"Being able to find a place like Code Fellows where I could just trust that they would teach me the things I needed to know was major.” – Sara Russert
READ MORE"Being able to wake up and work on things that you enjoy every day, that’s what’ll keep you going.” – David Lindahl
READ MORE“I ended up at Code Fellows, and it was fantastic. It was six months of being surrounded by other people who were really passionate about it and not only did I learn about the software world, how it all works, all the pieces and how they fit together, but when I was talking with other developers, I understood what they were telling me.” – Ben Harris
READ MORE“I dropped out and started learning how to code, I decided to pull the trigger and join Code Fellows. Going into coding, I knew that I wanted to start something and work for myself in biology. We bought a home in the last few years now, something we couldn’t do on a biology salary and I can take time off now to try and work on a startup.” – Michael Porter
READ MORE“Before Code Fellows, I was working 3 jobs, I was stressed, I was tired, and I still was having a hard time making ends meet. I didn’t have a background in computer science or coding, I remember that first day flew by, the instructors and the people in my group just all felt really great to be around. If you do that first 101 class and the time goes by super fast, then don’t be afraid to take the leap” – Rae Helsel
READ MORE“As a military spouse it was hard to get a career going due to the constant need to move. I had taken programming courses before in college, and it was not conducive to my own style of learning. I decided to take a different approach to my learning when I started at Code Fellows to help me succeed and have a different experience this time around.” – Amber Kim
READ MORE“Everybody learns differently, and Code Fellows really is a great environment for picking it up. Make sure you have a plan of what you’re looking for, at Code Fellows, it’s really easy to make a plan because it’s kind of a one-stop shop!" – Brian Alspach
READ MORE“I didn’t have a tech background, I’d never written a single line of code, I didn’t know what HTML was, I didn’t know anything. I think being at Code Fellows, having other people in the same boat as me, and then having instructors who had been through it, they were super empathetic. That really helped me.” – Jo Arroyo
READ MORE“At Code Fellows, I found a community of people that I rely on, even now in my day-to-day job. Now I work from home for one of the largest consulting companies in the world, but I still rely on my community!" – Garfield Grant
READ MORE"I was able to gain a lot of experience in a short amount of time and I think it really helped me find what I enjoy doing. Some decisions are always worth the risk, so whatever your motivation, dip your foot in and see if you think you might enjoy it. Don’t be afraid to take short term, small risks to see if that next step is a launching pad.” – Chris Holt
READ MORE“I came in with essentially zero experience, and one thing about Code Fellows that was really cool, was that it decreases the barrier to entry as far as you not having to get a four-year computer science degree. I think that made it a little easier to digest knowing that it was more fast-paced.” – Sarah Creager
READ MORE“If you are looking to make any career change, and you’re passionate about whatever that is, soak up as much as you can. You won’t regret it!” – Daniel Zwelling
READ MORE“The biggest thing is to be persistent, there are many hurdles and finding the way through eventually will work. Don’t doubt yourself!” – Drew Ferris
READ MORE“It was definitely a hard journey, but it was really wonderful in a lot of ways. It’s kind of surprising, unexpected, and beautiful all the different ways your skills come into play that you would have never thought just musing about making this change” – Eve Denison
READ MORE“You really have to ask yourself, would you dedicate and invest seven months of your life to change your life? If the answer is yes, then absolutely go for it!” – Jessica Parker
READ MORE“The amount that I’ve learned since I joined Code Fellows and post Code Fellows is just insane. So much of software development is commitment, time, and patience. Things will click if you just keep going” – Lydia Minehan-Tubic
READ MORE“Every week I was fully immersed in some topic that I knew nothing about, and by the end of the week, I knew enough to create something to present. They’re supporting and they’re watching every time you do a presentation. They’re there to clap for you, and that kind of support doesn’t come that often. Code Fellows is one in a million for me!” – Roscoe Bass
READ MORE“You’re never going to grow if you don’t end up taking risks. If you really want to be able to have control over your life and make big improvements, then it’s so worth taking the risk and reaching out!” – Raven Robertson
READ MOREMeet Ulrich Wilfred Motchoffo (Will) – Will is a Code Fellows’ Alum and a resilient learner with an incredible story! Will’s journey into tech was not an easy one, in fact, it was far from it, as he faced challenge after challenge, but his persistence paid off.
READ MORECourtney Hans is a lifelong learner with a diverse set of skills, an avid adventurer and an amazing Code Fellows Alum! Courtney spent her early career as a whitewater rafting and worldwide adventure travel guide before getting her MBA and joining REI. During her time at REI, she worked on the adventure travel team, new business strategies and adventures entrepreneurial unit, as well as a marketing unit in local brand engagement. That was until she was laid off as a result of COVID-19.
READ MOREKate Zurlo-Cuva moved to Seattle for family, only to discover her love for front-end development, and a new career as a Technical Project Manager.
READ MOREChristopher Cohen has always been one step ahead of technology. As a Code Fellows graduate and chief technology officer of FiLMiC Inc., Christopher is not only pushing the boundaries of what smartphones can do (and presenting his groundbreaking innovations to Apple developers at Apple Special Event Keynotes)—he’s pushing the boundaries of what he can do, too.
READ MOREHear some of the lessons Code Fellows graduate and current software developer Dezireé Teague has learned as a person of color working in the tech industry.!
READ MOREIzzy Baer doesn’t let a challenge stop her from achieving her goals. That’s why she thrived at Code Fellows, where students are encouraged to confront challenges head-on with a growth mindset. For Izzy, grit in the face of an obstacle is where the magic happens: “Your brain has the capacity to learn absolutely anything, as long as you just keep trying.”
READ MOREWhen it comes to professional networking sites, LinkedIn is the way to go. For veterans specifically, LinkedIn can be an invaluable tool when transitioning into the workforce outside of the military. Here, our very own military program manager and military spouse of 24 years, Teri Pfeffer, shares her top LinkedIn tips for veterans.
READ MOREWhen Amber Kim started Code Fellows, she wasn’t afraid to fail. In fact, she wanted to: “The faster you learn, the faster you know where the holes in your logic are, and the faster you can either pivot or work on your weak links.”
READ MOREWhen Jen Carrigan enrolled at Code Fellows, she dove in headfirst: she quit her job, dropped out of her computer science degree program, and devoted herself completely to the Code Fellows program instead. It may have been a risk, but it paid off royally—today, Jen is a Code Fellows graduate and software development engineer. Jen’s journey to Code Fellows may have been full of some twists and turns, but she reached her destination by taking it one step at a time.
READ MOREWhen Hector Norzagaray enrolled in Code Fellows, he expected to learn how to code. What he didn’t expect was to find a community of people who rallied together to help him believe in himself—and make it through.
READ MOREInterviewing can be brutal. But it doesn’t have to be.
READ MOREMeet Ivette Cortez! Knowing the importance of STEM education for young students, she wanted to add programming to her skill set and to her curriculum as a middle school language instructor. After finishing Code 201, she integrated more technology into her classroom, organized after-school coding classes, and started working with ChickTech. Learn more about her journey and how she’s using her education to benefit her community!
READ MOREAs you progress in your career as a software engineer, one piece of advice you may hear, from coworkers, friends, or a manager, is that you need to be more “visible.” What do these well-meaning people have in mind when they tell you to increase your visibility?
READ MOREAvalara has hired several Code Fellows alumni over the past several years, with each one bringing grit, passion, and top-shelf training in software development. We sat down with Lee Broxson, Senior UX engineer here at Avalara and our first hire from Code Fellows’ program, to talk about his career after studying at a coding academy, and how programs like Code Fellows—his “alma mater”—are helping to shrink the IT skills gap.
READ MOREAs a software developer, one of the most important skills you can cultivate in yourself is the ability to learn new things. Keeping up with industry trends, learning new technologies, and constantly improving your own skill set is an endless endeavor. With that in mind, here are some of my favorite resources for keeping up-to-date with Java trends and improving your Java skills.
READ MOREMeet James Billard! He realized he needed a change after seven years as an elementary school instructor. He studied in our nights & weekends track, and now works as a UI Developer at Indigo Slate. Read his advice, struggles, and ultimate triumph as he made a massive career change to pursue his goals.
READ MOREMeet Gregory Dukes! His career path lacked direction until he decided to learn to code at Code Fellows. Find out how he made the decision to study ASP.NET, what his job search looked like, and how he went from new hire to lead dev in just three weeks on the job!
READ MOREMeet Caleb Wells! He wanted a career in tech but wasn’t sure if coding was for him. After pursuing his education at Code Fellows, he was hired as a Software Design Engineer at Alaska Airlines. Read how he changed his career potential in just five months!
READ MOREMeet Yana Radenska! She was accepted into an apprenticeship program through WTIA’s Apprenti and completed her technical training at Code Fellows before starting her apprenticeship at Avvo.
READ MOREAs the first coding academy in the Seattle market, we launched our operations in 2013 with hopes of improving the quality of tech education and access to careers in tech.
READ MORENathan Maas wanted to use his knack for innovation to help people stay connected, regardless of their location. After learning to code at Code Fellows, he went on to start pennypost as a way to help people stay in touch around the world.
READ MORERae Helsel is a yoga instructor who decided to make a career switch to mobile development. She shares how her background made her the perfect fit for a New York startup, what she loved most about her learning experience, and her advice for anyone considering a similar transition.
READ MOREMeet Kaylyn Yuh! She graduated from Code Fellows as a full-stack JavaScript developer and now works as a software engineer at Bevy. She shares more about her time in class and what has surprised her most about her new role in tech.
READ MORELee Broxson used a systematic schedule to apply for jobs and start a new career as a UX Engineer. Read on to learn the gameplan that leads to job offers from three different companies, plus his insight on how to land the right job after a coding bootcamp.
READ MOREWhat do military veterans have to say about their time at Code Fellows?
READ MOREStefanie Hansen was struggling to find a career path that was creative, intellectual, meaningful, and collaborative—until she started learning to code. Read along as she shares about her journey, getting accepted to Microsoft’s LEAP program, advice for aspiring developers, and more.
READ MOREIf you met Tara Kreft last fall and then ran into her again today, you’d notice two major differences.
READ MOREFor professionals and hobbyists alike, software has become a necessary component for the recording, mastering, and distribution of music. Code connects artists and audiences in ways unimaginable to the rock stars of yesteryear. The laptop—while lacking the stage presence of an electric guitar—has emerged as the hallmark tool for a new generation of music makers.
READ MOREClare Monahan spent half a decade as a protein engineer. As she neared her financial limitations as a scientist without a PhD, she turned her attention to writing code. Clare shares with us about her transition from the lab to the classroom, and then to a new career as a software developer.
READ MOREAlexandra Norcross had 15 years of software development experience behind her when she opted for a change. After hearing about Code Fellows from a recent graduate, she decided to switch from developing for desktop and the web to programming iOS apps. She shares her experience during her course and what surprised her most about the program.
READ MOREMonica Davidson is a seasoned Code Fellows alumni and software developer who studied front-end development in a Bootcamp (now Code 201) and Development Accelerator (now Code 401). She shares how she used her training at Code Fellows to achieve a life-long dream and how her training as a journalist helped her become a better software developer.
READ MOREKasim Siddiqui spoke with us about his return to Seattle, his search for a more purposeful career, and the importance of a supportive spouse. Siddiqui received a scholarship to attend Code Fellows in 2015, and studied full-stack JavaScript.
READ MORECan Code Fellows really replace a 4-year degree? Read the story of Kate, a Code Fellows graduate who dropped out of college, enrolled in Foundations I, and hasn’t looked back.
READ MOREFive days. It’s not a lot of time to plan, build, debug, and present a fully-functioning app, but it’s what we ask our Development Accelerators students to do after seven weeks of intense training and practice. We talk with a team of graduates who decided their project wasn’t quite finished, and made plans to make it even better.
READ MOREBefore graduating from their Development Accelerator, students complete and present a final project. Robert, a JavaScript student, brought in an idea that involved an AR Drone 2.0, Mindflex Duel headsets, and an Internet connection. He teamed up with two other students and a TA to get his project—quite literally—off the ground.
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