If you’re here, you probably understand why tech bootcamps are such great choices for those looking to switch careers and transform their lives. Gone are the days where university degrees and years and years of experience are needed; tech is advancing at a dizzying pace and employers need skilled and driven employees to keep up with market needs. And that’s exactly where bootcamps come into play: they’re intensive, focused, and help prepare you for the realities of working in tech through detailed career assistance. We could keep going and tell you all the reasons (and there are a lot!) why bootcamps are great options, but instead, we’ll let you hear from those who have experienced it themselves: our amazing Ironhack alumni. Ironhack Alumni Experience Our Ironhackers enter the bootcamp with one goal in mind: learning what they need to know about their chosen tech field to land their initial job in tech. They can choose from one of our international campuses or study remotely in the fields of web development, UX/UI design, data analytics, and cybersecurity. Web development alumni Andrew Thomas-Worsley was working in an American public school as an academic interventionist when he decided to take the step to fulfill his dream: becoming a developer. He had worked in tech as a customer support specialist before he worked in schools, but wanted to harness the flexibility that most developer roles offer and become one himself. Once he found the eMerge Diversity in Tech scholarship, he knew he had found the right place for him and enrolled in the full-time, 9 week Web Development Bootcamp to truly immerse himself in the theory of web development. When things got tough, he turned to his fellow Ironhackers and instructors for assistance and support. “The best thing I learned from Ironhack has nothing to do with code. It has everything to do with how to ask for help. Personally, I believe it’s the most important skill to possess.” Andrew landed his first web development job soon after graduating from Ironhack’s bootcamp and feels fortunate to love what he does and benefit from flexible policies. Mariana Leitune Costa began her career as a lawyer, focusing on digital law, but soon realized her true passion was with development. And after ten years working in law, she took Ironhack’s Web Development Bootcamp in Amsterdam after trying a free, online course to see if she really wanted to dedicate her career to development. “Technology is an area that grows every day and encourages a flexible work culture.” She found a job quickly after graduation at one of Ironhack’s “Meet Our Partners” events and despite the fact that she was going to be spending three months in her home country immediately following graduation, she was welcomed by a company that prioritizes employee satisfaction and remote-friendly policies. UX/UI design alumni Originally an architect, Rosa Niggemann didn’t know where to look when she decided that architecture wasn’t for her. She learned about Ironhack’s UX/UI Design Bootcamp, prepped on her own on Figma, and then enrolled. She was initially drawn to Ironhack because of its practical nature; as she already had both university and postgraduate degrees, she wanted to learn the essential skills that would help her land a job. “The job hunt went well! After less than 2 months of "hunting,” I had 3 job offers and could pick the one I liked the most.” During the course, she took full advantage of Ironhack’s Career Services and fine tuned her interview skills and worked on her CV design. Wisler Altidor knew he loved both design and tech, and was looking for a way to combine the door when he was working as a warehouse employee in the US. After a few year-long stints at various jobs, he wanted to make the jump to get into tech and he met an Ironhacker who told him all about what a UX/UI Design Bootcamp could do for him. “I spent the next couple of weeks researching UX/UI and Ironhack to see what it really is and if it was going to be worth investing in it. The more I researched, the more I loved the career! I made the decision to attend Ironhack and that was the best decision I've made in my whole life.” During the bootcamp, he cherished the support he received from fellow Ironhackers and alumni, taking advantage of the remote course option and still using every opportunity to network. He decided to work as a freelance UX/UI designer and now boasts a network of various clients. Data analytics alum Maximilian Soren Pollak enjoyed surfing the internet and learning about tech and decided to take it a step further with Ironhack’s Data Analytics Bootcamp, initially drawn to Ironhack because it was one of the only bootcamps offered both remotely and in English, in addition to being verified by the German government. “Learning about tech can benefit everyone, not just people who want to work in tech later; it can also help people that want to level up their current career path.” He went on to win his class’ Hackathon with a web-based app that helps users pick the best stock option for them and visualize future results and intends to continue developing his design and then bring it to life. Cybersecurity alumni Knowing he loved client relationships and tech, Jean-Baptiste Gallot wanted to find a role where he could continue connecting with people and work in tech. He saw the importance of the relationship between technology and data privacy and found Ironhack’s Cybersecurity Bootcamp. “ Going back to study after many years working in the same field at an expert level can make you feel nervous because you have to start from zero. The Admissions team answered all my questions, gave me guidance and I was confident to say: if I do this, I know I had to give 100%. So it's all in!” Due to the pandemic, Jean-Baptiste took an online course, but was impressed with the ability to still connect and network with fellow students and instructors. Today, he works as a cybersecurity professional, protecting client data from emerging threats. In her previous role as a Project Manager in the aerospace industry, Ioana Oprea frequently encountered cybersecurity and took it upon herself to teach herself the basics of cybersecurity so that she could better do her job. As she learned, it sparked a real interest in the field and inspired her to switch careers. “Looking back now a year later, I can say beyond the shadow of any doubt that it was one of the best professional decisions I had ever taken.” Ironhack’s Cybersecurity Bootcamp was challenging but doable and Ioana relied on her classmates for assistance as needed, continuing their relationship well into the job search post-graduation. She received multiple offers after completing the bootcamp and was able to choose the best role for herself, thanks to the career assistance provided by Ironhack. Have we convinced you? There’s truly no better way to make a career change than at Ironhack and we’re eager to help you take the first steps. Ready? We’re excited to hear from you!

Today’s spotlight is on Ariel Carmona Muñio.  He’s an architect who immigrated from Cuba and found his calling in UI/UX design. After completing Ironhack’s 9 week part-time UX/UX Design Bootcamp at Ironhack Miami, Ariel is now able to combine his love for design with practical skills essential to the tech industry. Check out his story here: My name is Ariel Carmona Muñio, I am a Cuban architect and have worked in this profession for the last 4 years in Cuba. I have always felt inclined to other branches of design and especially to how a product can positively or negatively affect people's behavior. UX/UI design is the space where I can combine all my passions: drawing, graphic design and, although it seems unlikely, also architecture. The Ironhack Experience What was your experience with the enrollment process? Immediately after arriving in the United States, I began looking for ways to prepare myself to be part of the world of technology as a designer, since Miami was becoming the main tech hub of the Americas. Ironhack instantly moved up my list of possible options, not only because of its renowned quality, but also because of the scholarship opportunities that would allow me to have access to a high-level education, after being in this country for only two months. I am grateful for the eMerge Americas scholarship, which offered an immigrant like me the opportunity to achieve my dreams, have equal opportunity to others, and be part of a community that I am very proud of. Before, during and after finishing the bootcamp, I told myself: “I want to be an ambassador of this experience for my community and for the world” What was your experience with the full-time UI/UX Bootcamp at Ironhack Miami? I learned to work in a team, negotiate, meet customer requirements, empathize, how to use color, fonts, grids, shapes, new softwares, wireframes, prototypes... the list is endless! But Ironhack is not just about acquiring new skills, it's also about the connections you create, the relationships with your classmates, your instructors. Throughout the program you’ll feel like you belong in this place. Life After Ironhack As an architect, I feel that I have not changed my career at all. UX/UI design is an extension of my path and every past experience is important, but in this new field all design parameters are involved. I envision my future designing life-changing products. I guarantee you will learn, cry and laugh, sometimes be frustrated yet frequently proud of your achievements, but you will be 100% a true designer after this. —- A big thanks to Ariel for sharing her thoughts about Ironhack’s UX/UI Design bootcamp. We loved hearing about how he found a sense of belonging with our community after moving from Cuba. You can connect with Ariel on LinkedIn or check out his website to follow his journey and learn more about his current projects. If you’d like to upskill to enhance your current skills and be part of Ironhack’s supportive community like Ariel, we encourage you to check out our UX/UI Design Bootcamp, in addition to our Web Development and Data Analytics Bootcamps. We look forward to seeing you in class!

Today’s spotlight is on Kassandra Ueling.  Prior to enrolling in Ironhack, she was struggling with many life challenges and was in search of a stable life. Kassandra did some research on new career paths and she discovered the field of UX/UI design and realized that getting the right skills to start a career in tech could help her improve her difficult situation. After completing Ironhack’s UX/UI Design Bootcamp at Ironhack Miami, she changed her life and now has a career of which she is proud . Check out her story here. Hey Kassandra! Tell us about yourself and what life was like before enrolling in Ironhack. My name is Kass. I lived in Southeast Iowa for the first 29 years of my life. Right before my 30th birthday, I took a massive leap of faith and moved to South Florida to change my life. I have struggled with addiction and mental illness since I was 14 years old. Learning used to be my world. I had the intention of going to school to be a doctor or a lawyer. I was in accelerated classes and gifted programs since 4th grade, but my world turned upside down after I started using substances and developed the mental illnesses that still challenge me today. I was enrolled in high school until 11th grade, but pretty much stopped going to class after my freshman year. I officially dropped out when I was 17. Shortly thereafter, I earned my GED. After dropping out of school, all of my dreams of having a fulfilling career fell to the wayside. I worked random minimum wage jobs for several years and my addiction and mental illnesses worsened by the day. I eventually landed a job in disability services and worked in that field for 7 years. There are too many details to go into for the sake of this interview. But my world fell apart more and more over time and I lived in a state of absolute hopelessness, thinking I would never have a happy life. In March of 2021, I left my career in disability services behind and moved to Florida for a fresh start. With nothing more than a 9th grade education and a GED, I saw no real hope for having another career that meant anything to me and lived in fear of forever living paycheck to paycheck. But then something beautiful happened. Through a series of events that I can't really explain, Ironhack and UX design fell into my lap. After I did some research and saw the wage that even a junior UX designer made, I thought it had to be a scam. But I kept researching and the massive amount of evidence that I found corroborating my initial research dispelled my fears of it being a scam and I enrolled in Ironhack. The Ironhack Experience What made you choose Ironhack to start your career in UI/UX Design? After doing a search online for tech bootcamps, I quickly came across Ironhack. There were many search results for other tech schools too, but Ironhack laid out the details of their bootcamps in such a clear and inviting way. I loved the idea of passing or failing instead of focusing on a grade. Pass or fail meant that my success was in my hands and not contingent upon comparisons to the work of other students. It allowed my focus to be on absorbing as much information as possible without the stress of trying to get a high grade. When my focus is on a grade, I begin to pander to the party in charge of deciding those grades. When my focus is on sink or swim, I swim like hell to the finish line. What was your biggest take away from completing the UI/UX Bootcamp? My biggest take away from my experience at Ironhack is that we can all truly do whatever we want in life . I had everything working against me when I was in the UX bootcamp. I was fighting to stay sober every day (I was 4 months clean the first day of classes) and I felt like I didn't fit in at first because of my past. I was living in a sober house with 15 other women, sleeping in a twin bed in a tiny room, sometimes with multiple roommates. I was struggling with some very serious and wildly undertreated mental illnesses. My personal life created perceived barriers in my mind pretty much every day. But Ironhack offered me an opportunity for a career that brings me joy and pays more than I ever thought possible with my educational background, or lack thereof.  I felt like I would always be financially stuck in a job I didn't like. Today, the absolute opposite is my truth. What is life like after graduating from Ironhack? Working as a UX designer at a design agency is so rewarding. I get to challenge myself every day and I get to work from home, which is massive for my mental health. I get to help design things that are geared towards improving the life of the users I am designing for. I have the financial capabilities to be able to buy a house one day and I can pay all of my bills without stress. I have even been able to pay off debts and even raise my credit score. To the prospective future student reading this: join Ironhack if you are ready for a positive change. Join if you are ready to love your career. If you are someone who loves to see the fruits of your labor and feel a sense of accomplishment in your professional life, then I recommend you take action. Ironhack is an investment that will be paid back tenfold. —- A big thanks to Kass for sharing her thoughts about Ironhack’s UX/UI Design bootcamp! We’re so proud of how far she has come and we’re so happy that she’s loving her career as a UX/UI Designer. You can connect with Kass on Linkedin and check out her website to follow her journey and learn more about her current projects. If you’d like to change your life with a career in tech and be part of Ironhack’s supportive community like Kass, we encourage you to check out our UX/UI Design Bootcamp in addition to our Web Development and Data Analytics Bootcamps. We look forward to seeing you in class!

Today’s spotlight is on Wisler Altidor.  Prior to enrolling in Ironhack, he was working at an Amazon warehouse with a desire to start a career that combined his love for design and tech. After completing Ironhack’s UX/UI Design Bootcamp at Ironhack Miami, he was able to build a fulfilling career as a UX/UI Designer. Wisler learned the top frameworks used by product design teams and connected with the Ironhack community to get his foot on the ground. Check out his story here. Hey Wisler! Tell us about yourself and what life was like before enrolling in Ironhack. My name is Wisler, and I graduated from Ironhack's UX/UI bootcamp in 2021 . Currently, I’m a freelance UX/UI designer working on a variety of projects for clients. Right before I started my bootcamp, I was working at an Amazon warehouse as a team member processing online orders. Before that, I worked as a server for 5 years with some other jobs in between. From a luxurious café to 5 star restaurants in South Beach, I could never keep a job in the service industry for more than one year. It always started with me feeling excited for the new journey, happy about meeting my new team members, and ending with me feeling empty, lost and unaccomplished. Although I gained a lot of knowledge when it comes to customer experience, within a year or so into a job I felt disappointed in myself and the situation. One reason I felt disappointed  was because I felt like I wasn't working towards my goal of having a career in the tech industry. After quitting my last job as a server, I decided it was time to try a different industry. That's how I ultimately ended up at Amazon and eventually enrolled at Ironhack. The Ironhack Experience What made you choose Ironhack to start your career in UI/UX Design? I got into UX/UI because I love creating new things and bringing life to them with colors and interactions. For as long as I can remember, I always loved art and creative things. I used to draw in high school and at the time I ended up getting certifications for most of the Adobe software. In college, I was working towards becoming a graphic designer, but as college got more expensive and working a full time job became more challenging, some things just didn’t work out. Fast forward a year or two, when I met the person that pointed me in the right direction to find my dream career. This person was a student at Ironhack at the time. We talked about my goals of becoming a graphic designer and she told me I should consider becoming a UX/UI designer. She gave me a quick rundown of what a bootcamp is and suggested I take the Ironhack course if I really wanted to do it. I spent the next couple of weeks researching UX/UI and Ironhack to see what it really is and if it was going to be worth investing in it. The more I researched, the more I loved the career! I made the decision to attend Ironhack and that was the best decision I've made in my whole life. The bootcamp was amazing! I’m not gonna lie, it was stressful but most importantly it was life changing. I met teachers that ended up being my mentors and my T.A. was super supportive, even after a year after my graduation. I even met new classmates who I ended up being friends with and would occasionally meet up for coffee and talk about UX/UI. The Ironhack community is ridiculously amazing with all the support you get. After completing the bootcamp my mindset changed from "how can I do this?" to "who can I connect with to get this done?" I now understood the true power of networking. What was your experience with the UI/UX Bootcamp? My biggest take away is that Ironhack has a lot of resources available for you to use and be successful in your bootcamp/career. Do not be afraid to use them! If you are looking to join Ironhack and are not sure if this is the right place for, well there's 3 things that Ironhack offers. As a grad it's very useful to me and I think it's something to think about if you are thinking of a long term career. Ironhack offers long-term support to all alumni Everything you do in the remote class will be accessible and available to you The Ironhack community is massive When I was job hunting, 7 out of 10 times I was interviewed or met with an alumni from Ironhack. Networking is key. What is life like after graduating from Ironhack? I’m currently working as a freelance UI/UX designer. Prior to this, I worked for Niantic as a UX/UI designer, and it was amazing. I received great feedback and everyone was super friendly and working hard to accomplish our goals. Whether I’m working with clients or at a company, my day to day varies. I work remotely, but when I worked at Niantic I would go in about once a week, mostly to build team chemistry. I submit deliverables on their due dates and usually kick things off with team stand-up, and I have meetings throughout the week for check-ins and updates. Having a fully remote position has allowed me to spend more time with my friends and family and do more of what I love outside of UX/UI. —- A big thanks to Wisler for sharing his thoughts about Ironhack’s UX/UI Design bootcamp! We loved hearing about how he used all of Ironhack’s career resources and connected with our community to grow his career. You can connect with Wisler on Linkedin and check out his website to follow his journey and learn more about his current projects. If you’d like to upskill to enhance your current skills and be part of Ironhack’s supportive community like Wisler, we encourage you to check out our UI/UX Design Bootcamp in addition to our Web development and Data Analytics bootcamps. We look forward to seeing you in class!

We recently met with Daniel, a 32 year old front end developer. He trained with Ironhack in the very first Madrid cohort which started at the end of 2012. Being first to market in Spain meant that the first group of trainees would enter a whole undiscovered opportunity. It gave him the chance to be part of something bigger from the start. 10 years later he reflects about his experience and his journey which lead him to become a Senior Front-end Developer. He is now based in London, a capital for tech working with Beauhurst. Here is what he told us: What was your perception of bootcamps back then? What made you want to start? Back then, the tech “bootcamp” was not well known in Madrid, so Ironhack was really the first one coming up! It caught a lot of attention since it was something really new! At the time, we studied Ruby on Rails, the concept of tech bootcamps was still unknown, and it was an incredibly exciting opportunity. I was taking the bootcamp with both Ariel Quinones and Gonzalo Manrique, the co-founders of Ironhack, joining as fellow students. Before joining I did a Computer Science degree at university and I wanted more experience coding. I thought Ruby on Rails would be good for my CV, and thought why not learn something new! What have you been up to these past 9 years? I haven’t stopped learning! There are always new languages to learn. I’ve studied React, and Angular. Right now I’m focusing on React as I’m doing personal projects with React and using View in my work. It’s good to know the basis of these languages as you can compare what you like and what you learn more easily. I moved to London in 2015, started working almost immediately. What benefits did you get from doing Ironhack? One of the main benefits is the community! I’m still talking to the guys that did the bootcamp with me, some are in the US. You have this community that you can ask when you’re looking for someone with certain skills, you can help them and get help from them! Sometimes you get drinks together, sometimes you get interesting emails. So one of the best benefits is definitely the community. The other benefit would be the skills that you get that are actually used in work. It’s not like in university, where you have a lot of theory, in Ironhack everything that you do is applied in real work. Why did you move to London? Can you tell us about your experience finding the job and working in London’s tech scene? I learnt English in the USA, in San Francisco, and I asked them what is the place in Europe most similar to San Francisco, and they said London! It’s the most cosmopolitan, everyone speaks English, there’s a lot of buzz in fintech and job opportunities in tech in general, so it was the place to be! My first day in London I went to a meetup and got a job, The fourth day since arriving to London was Monday and I started working! This city is crazy, always busy and always changing! People care about how you’re treated, the companies care for you, you work with people from around the world, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, English, etc. The salaries here are excellent as well. What has been the outcome from the time you took the bootcamp to what you’re doing today? I guess if I look back from the boot camp until today, I think it helped me a lot to open my mind, to know what my strengths were at that moment but also, help me a lot to Interact with people much older than me and work as a team. Remember that I was 21 when I did it. So all these points are things that from the bootcamp I realized I needed and today I am still trying to improve them. What have been some of the most amazing achievements that you have accomplished since then? Well, I am quite proud right now of the Beauhurst platform, the company I've worked with over the last 5 years. It is something that I care about a lot. What is your current role, company and responsibilities? How have they changed over the years? Right now, I am a senior front end developer at Beauhurst.  We are redesigning the entry platform and at the same time I need to help juniors to progress to their task. Since the beginning I remember the first website I made… I will say to myself, good job but you need to improve in this or that, so keep going! Lastly, what would you say to someone who’s thinking about breaking into tech or just getting started? First I would tell them to try any tutorial and try to build something to get the feeling of if they’d like to work in this industry. Check job offers and their requirements, try to see yourself working in that environment and if it suits you. If you want to work remotely, try working by yourself for a couple of days and see how you feel. If you want to work in a company, try working in a coffee shop with a little bit of noise and see how that feels. Go to meet-ups, meet people, open your mind and see if it’s really what you want to do. Now Daniel joins the alumni network that we’ve built for Ironhack in the UK. He keeps building more connections while learning and supporting others and taking part at community events.

The Ironhack community includes everyone who enrolls in our bootcamps, as well as everyone who has already graduated from them– our Ironhack alumni! It also includes our awesome teachers and TAs (because what’s a school without teachers?), our on-campus staff and, of course, Team Ironhack! (Like the people writing this article… hi there!) Ironhackers are people who have decided to take the leap and start the tech career of their dreams. We are inherently diverse. Ironhackers are often tech newbies and career changers, which is a very open definition; our community includes people from all walks of life, demographics, and lines of work. We have Ironhack campuses in 10 countries, and that’s not counting our remote students and campuses! However, we all share a set of values and traits that make us true-blue Ironhackers. Our sense of community defines us: we collaborate and support each other, and organize many networking opportunities and Ironhacker events to meet and come together, like the Ironbeers events. As you can see in this video, with 10 years of Ironhacking and over 10,000 graduates, we’ve become a large tech family! What Makes An Ironhacker So, do you have what it takes to become an Ironhacker? Read on to find out about our core values that define exactly who our Ironhackers are. A love of learning Working in tech requires constant learning. There’s a myriad of coding languages, programs, and technological advances out there, and their number grows every day. A relentless thirst for knowledge is, therefore, a must to face the daunting world of tech and thrive! At Ironhack, everyone shares this enthusiasm: we pick up new skills, we learn from each other, and we share what we’ve found to be valuable in our social media channels, live webinars, and more. Just take a look at our podcast, where Ironhack alumni and industry experts tell us about the unique tech careers they’ve built and how they did it. Or check out some of our blog posts, where we talk about stuff like digital nomads in tech or ethical hacking ! The spirit of adventure If as a kid you fantasized about exploring jungles, oceans, or even other planets, the tech world might be the place for you! It takes guts, nerves of steel (or rather, iron!), and, especially, a love for change and uncertainty to work in tech, where trends and technologies change in the blink of an eye. Ironhackers know that flexibility is key to improve, and are ready to jump into adventure. Some of our alumni even cross borders to change their lives! Ironhackers aren’t afraid to embrace change, going as far as moving to a different country or turning their careers around to follow their passion, like Amr did when he left Syria for Germany and used his background as a fine artist to become a UX/UI designer . Respect and empathy Ironhack is for everyone: we love people and their stories! Diversity makes us stronger, and that isn’t just a catchy phrase: it fuels innovation, bringing in new voices and a variety of perspectives that spark new ideas and out-of-the-box thinking. Research has proven that the more diverse the team, the more fruitful and original the results of collaboration will be. But being open to diversity also changes the way we think and behave. If we consciously make an effort to listen to others and put ourselves in their shoes, no matter how different their viewpoints, what we put into the world will be more inclusive of differences and constructive, too. We’ve all seen the studies on how face recognition AIs can share the unconscious racist stereotypes of their creators. Our biases and prejudice reflect in the technology we create; but our actions to respect and include those that are different from us will have a profound effect, too. Ambition Everyone who comes to Ironhack comes because they have a goal. Whether you want to take the plunge into tech for the first time, level up your current skill stack, or completely transform your life, Ironhackers are all in! We're driven and ambitious, and we can adapt to any environment in order to reach our goals; we’re committed to long hours of learning (bootcamps are intense!), and we don’t wait to start our own projects. In Ironhack, we’re always hearing about the latest ideas our students and alumni have come up with. We’re just that excited about tech! Do You Have What It Takes To Be An Ironhacker? The Ironhacker life is challenging, but incredibly rewarding. As we said at the beginning of this post, we aren’t just any tech school: we value our community more than anything, and we care for our own. No one is an island, especially in the world of tech. When you become an Ironhacker, you get a family for life. The friends you make along the way, as you acquire tech skills and become job-ready, will accompany you after you finish the bootcamp. We keep in touch; we constantly hear stories about alumni who met on campus and started projects, startups and other ventures together! But with Ironhack, you also get much more than a top-tier education and a diploma: we are outcomes-focused, which means we want you to get that tech career you’ve been dreaming of! We give our students personalized career support and access to our list of hiring partners so you can start your tech career with a bang and an unshakeable confidence in your career prospects. With Ironhack, you’ll join a global community of learners and tech lovers. Download our syllabus and start your journey into tech!

It's not uncommon for people to discover their love of the tech industry whilst they're in the middle of a completely different career. Pivoting into tech is actually more common that you think. We got to chat with Dominik, a former Customer Success Manager turned Ironhacker, who studied Web Development with Ironhack Amsterdam and realised his dream of becoming a Front-End Developer. From Customer Success Manager to Front-End Developer Tell us about your experience at Ironhack It was intense for sure, to the point that I spent several weeks even coding in my dreams! But it was also great: my progress was immediately visible. Day by day, week by week, I was able to create things I wasn’t able to before. I went through the ups and downs of coding, the frustration and successes, together with the people and friends I met there and a tutor we could always rely on. What did you do before doing the bootcamp? I was a Customer/Partner Success Manager before. It’s a job which I mostly spent in meetings, listening to the customers’ needs and challenges and orchestrating our own internal departments to provide a fitting solution. Why did you decide to make a career change? As much as I enjoyed my previous job, along with my colleagues and management, ultimately I felt something missing from it. I enjoy creating things, be it drawings, stories, music or even games, and I found that my job didn’t include this aspect. I just mentioned games: At one point I started tinkering with game engines as a hobby, out of curiosity. With that, I needed to learn about coding, and I was immediately hooked. I didn’t want to make games professionally, but I enjoyed the process of programming, and the problem solving that comes with it, so much that it became clear to me that this is the track I wanted to steer my career on. Do you think having been a Customer Success Manager has helped you in the world of programming? How? There is this idea that coding is mostly done in solitude, which really isn’t the case. It’s very important to know how to play together in a team and how to communicate well. These were also some of the focal points in my previous job and it helped me a lot to gain traction as fresh developer. After graduating, you found a job. What would you highlight from your current company and position? I would say that I found out that as a developer you might be more flexible than you realize. I worked on some projects that included tech stacks I never worked with before, sometimes even picking up a new program language along the way. And that’s the beauty of this profession for me: you always, always learn new things. Problems that seem initially insurmountable can be broken down into smaller problems and solved after all. What advice would you give to those people who want to get started in the tech sector and are afraid of change? My advice is to feel the waters first. Do a basic coding course, see if you enjoy it and really do write a few pieces of code on your own. If you enjoy doing it and you do see yourself doing this as a profession, then simply go for it. This is how I did it and I am happy that I followed my gut.

Before 2020 it would have seemed impossible to change the course of your career with nothing but a laptop and some free time. But our student, Ioana, took the leap with an Ironhack remote Cybersecurity bootcamp and did just that! Let's hear from Ioana on how she made the change to became a Cybersecurity Officer, overcame self-doubt, and listen to her advice for building a career you love without fear! Hi Ioana! Tell us a bit about you. Hello there ! I’m Ioana , currently living in Paris. In my professional life I work as a Cybersecurity Officer in the Defense industry, in my personal life I like to travel, to paint, to play guitar & to regularly learn new things on a general basis. I used to be a Project Manager in the aerospace industry, at the crossroads of IT & Engineering - type of - projects. Why were you interested in Cybersecurity in the first place? On my last project I had to accidentally deal with a cybersecurity-related part as the project was in a military environment. So I had no previous knowledge of cybersecurity and I somehow had to start training myself on my own the best I could in order to make the project go smoothly. Why did you decide to make a career change? With plenty of time on my hands due to Covid, I was also financially able to invest in a new career as it was already on my mind for some time. The hardest was the first step - meaning the decision to dive in a new field, after that, everything kind of started to fall into place gradually & quite effortlessly. Looking back now, a year later, I can say beyond the shadow of any doubt, that it was one of the best professional decisions I had ever taken. How was your experience at Ironhack during the course? During the bootcamp I experienced a mix of fulfillment at what I was achieving sprinkled with frustration here and there, on the more technical or complex parts. I would say the most important is: to never give up even if it may look hard, or close to impossible at times. Success is going all the way, effort and resilience always pays back in due time. How was the remote collaboration with the rest of the class? It was nice and easy, and although remote, my colleagues were always eager to help out when someone gave them a shout. We even continued our collaboration after the class, when recommending different positions and/ or companies among us. It’s a pity we didn’t create a group on Signal or some other rather safe social network, we could have definitely kept in touch for longer. What did you enjoy the most about the self-learning format of the Bootcamp? It was done remotely in the comfort of my home - I tend to learn quicker and work more efficiently when I am in a psychologically safe / Home-like environment. I was also able, up to a point, to manage my own learning rhythm & adjust it accordingly based on my brain-sharp or brain-lazy hours during the day. After graduating, you found a job. What would you highlight from your current company and position? I actually found several positions and I worked for 3 companies already since I graduated last year, all of them in cybersecurity. It was hardest in the beginning due to the obvious lack of cyber work experience. But once I got on the cyber market, it literally rained with opportunities and I was no longer forced to let other people choose me, I chose the best for myself. Piece of advice on this one: life is short so never settle unless you feel appreciated, valued & fulfilled where you are. And yes, it does exist. How did the Bootcamp prepare you for the job market? I honestly don’t think I could have been here without the Bootcamp. It definitely provided the necessary tools, knowledge, technology and the self-confidence that came with all these. It was thanks to the bootcamp that I managed to get on the cyber market, make my career change, and ultimately proudly work in an awesome company that I greatly cherish. What advice would you give to those who want to get started in the tech sector and are afraid of change? Whether we like it to admit or not, our entire life means constant change. Look at it this way: yes, it’s scary to make a big change (& fear potential failure) but you know what it’s even scarier? Regret, of not having risked it when you had the chance, energy and finances. So be scared, if you cannot help it, but do it anyway Do you have any final thoughts or advice for others out there like yourself? Whenever you feel not experienced or skilled enough for a position you’d like to apply for, and you somehow don’t feel ready, do it anyway. Take the risk, let a company tell you no (it’s a possibility), but don’t tell yourself no beforehand, don’t sabotage your own opportunity. Don’t forget to celebrate success, even small successful moments, remember you are your biggest fan, be kind to yourself and understand that this is a process - stairs to climb one by one - and not a one-time target to hit. Fear is an illusion, most of the things we fear do not happen, train that resilience and mental strength, run risks regularly and know that failure is a greater teacher than success, and a perfect trainer to prepare you for better things to come. Now go and be courageous and enjoy every bit of that cyber ride out there !