A number of recent articles, in particular one in the New York Times have discussed the growth in tech jobs, especially in the field of coding (computer programming). In response to this increased need, a number of creative options have popped up that allow regular people to learn this valuable skill without having to attend college or get a special degree and to do so fast. This may be an ideal option for the frum job seeker.
For anyone looking for a totally new kind of career, and even without too much prior computer experience, this may be a good option. First check out the New York Times article, As Tech Booms, Workers Turn to Coding for Career Change.
Locally, Crain’s Cleveland Business features a Cleveland company called Tech Elevator that promises graduates a job or their money back. They are having an open house next week and even offer an online aptitude test to see if a candidate would be right for the job, based on analytical abilities not computer knowledge.
Yosef says
This is a great idea. I know someone who did this in a “frum” school in Lakewood, and was taught virtually nothing. I loved the idea, and was so disappointed in what was being taught that I wanted to start one in Cleveland. However, I then discovered that there was already a good “boot camp” in Akron (which was started and sold earlier this year by the owner of “Tech Elevator”) so I did not pursue it.
This is not an “easy” job. It will require 10 plus hours a day of hard (mental) work for the 14 week course. You will need to be a good self motivator and a hard worker. It is also not for everyone. You have to be the type of person that enjoys riddles and solving challenges.
But at the end, you will have learned the most important skill of all – how to think. And that is more important than the specific language.
L says
costs $12k for the 14 wk course – see http://www.techelevator.com/faqs/
JobSeeker says
Yes $12k and that is a lot less than a 4 year degree and a lot less time. Furthermore they guarantee you a job or your money back and unlike college they won’t accept just anybody if they do not think you will cut it. I think it is a great deal – wish I could do it.
Yosef says
JobSeeker is correct. Starting salary now-a-days for a software developer is over $50k/year. So you can pay tuition for 4 years, and then go look for a job, or you can pay $12k for 14 weeks, and then earn $200k over the next 4 years while your friends still paying tuition in college.
Clarification says
Just to clarify — Tech Elevator does not say that they guarantee a job or your money back like it says in the LJN post “promises graduates a job or their money back”. The Tech Elevator website says this: “if you don’t receive a job offer within 120 days of graduating, we’ll refund your tuition.”
More Clarification says
Tech Elevator’s program produces “Junior Developers” according to their website. They don’t make $50K/yr. for a starting salary, they’re lucky if they make half of that. I am not denying the benefits of this program — it’s a great program, but the facts need to be made clear of what this program really is.
NachumE says
Having spoken as an employer with folks who work with this program, I can confirm that people coming out of the program are typically getting $50k starting salary job offers. And they are usually snapped up very quickly. It is simple market economics – there is a huge shortage of programmers relative to demand,. It is also worth mentioning that mid-level salaries will be in the $75k range, and good programmers (5+ yrs experience) will command $100k and up. The question should not be whether it is worthwhile to participate in the program; the bigger issue is getting in, given their selectivity and limited slots.