A French and Canadian national, Clémence is an ironhacker who is passionate about the world of design and the way of working as a freelancer. After completing the UX/UI design bootcamp at the Ironhack Barcelona campus in 2020, Clémence began to manage her network of contacts throughout Europe and found a niche within the freelance world. Learn about her story in this interview! How was your experience at Ironhack as an international student? Studying at Ironhack changed my life at every level. I chose Ironhack as a school because the it was more advanced, so it's very high and demanding. I was looking for an immersive experience that could level up my designing skills. And it exceeded all my expectations. I applied for a scholarship from Canada and chose to study at the Barcelona campus, and I fell in love with the city. Now, after a year, I am still here. What did you do before doing the bootcamp? I originally studied Systems Engineering. During my first 3 years of career, I became passionate about work methodologies and tried different roles in technology such as Scrum Master and Product Owner, and in the end, UX design. I was able to gain design experience through this work and then switched to freelancing. So I was working as a freelance UX designer before doing the bootcamp! The bootcamp helped me deepen and solidify my skills. Do you think that having previously worked in other countries has helped you in the world of design? How? Sure! Since I started my career in Canada, I have been primarily exposed to the North American culture of working. This means that in the world where I grew up, entrepreneurship and autonomy were highly valued. It was a world where I felt like I had the freedom and support to grow in the direction I wanted. That allowed me to change careers several times and launch myself into freelancing without fear. Also, the fact thar I speak 3 languages gives me many job opportunities. For example, I have a project with an American company where I have to do User Research with people in Spain and France! Are you enjoying working as a freelancer after taking the course? Actually, I was already working as a freelancer in Canada, before the course started. So when the course ended and all the students were applying for positions here in Spain, I was doing a lot of networking all over Europe to create my network of contacts from scratch. And now I have job opportunities in different cities in Europe and I have the privilege of being able to choose my favorite projects. How is your day to day as a freelance UX / UI designer? Being a freelancer allows me to have flexibility in my day-to-day life. I work 3-4 days a week from where I want to, and I collaborate with several people in different companies throughout Europe, which allows me to continue growing and learning in a very open context. All graduate students have access to the Ironhack campus to continue working by their side. What do you think of this opportunity? This was one of the reasons why I chose Ironhack! Since I finished the bootcamp, I go to work from campus almost every day! I use a lot of space. Even people think I work for Ironhack 😜 But also, I love the idea of being able to visit the other campuses because I move around a lot in various cities, and that allows me to have access to a workspace and a local community! For example, I went to visit the campus and the team in Berlin, and that gave me opportunities to do events and collaborate with companies in Germany! Would you recommend someone in your family or friend to take a course at Ironhack? Of course! I love talking about my Ironhack experience and all the positive things it has brought into my life. I highly recommend the school for people who want to dedicate themselves to changing careers, and who are looking for a very dense and practical type of education. But I also know that it is a big decision, so it is important that each one think carefully about the best form and the best time to change careers. Just doing a bootcamp is not enough to become a UX designer, but the course is the beginning of a great adventure 🚀 Can you imagine doing a bootcamp and having the opportunity to work as a freelance? Don't think twice and apply to our bootcamps !

Today’s spotlight is on Alvin Sewram. Prior to enrolling in Ironhack he was a retail store manager with a passion for graphic design, tech, and a hunger for learning new things. After completing Ironhack’s 9 week full-time Web Development Bootcamp at Ironhack Miami , he was able to build a fulfilling career as a Software Engineer. Alvin learned the top frameworks used by development teams, how to code for long periods of time, and became comfortable with using the Ironhack community for support during challenging times. The knowledge he gained from Ironhack helped Alvin realize what he was able to accomplish in a short amount of time. Check out his story. Hey Alvin! Tell us about yourself and what life was like before enrolling in Ironhack. Hey everyone, my name is Alvin and I am an Ironhack Alumni, briefly an Ironhack Assistant Instructor, and now officially a full-fledged Software Engineer, but it was not always this way. In fact I didn’t even know it was a career path I wanted to pursue just 2 years ago, but I am super grateful for this decision and everything that has come along with it so far. Prior to this change in passion, my work life could be divided into two separate parts, sales and art. Starting with sales, for most of the time I’ve been employed in general, I have been a salesperson. In my first sales job I was employed by a manager that took selling a little too seriously. It was tough, but he drilled into me some core fundamentals that apparently made me attractive to other sales employers as well. I didn’t consider selling a passion, but my experience did give me some value in being able to sell myself, negotiating, and to be a less timid person in general. I eventually took a position at my company at the time that wasn’t sales related, but dealt with the maintenance of  operations and auditing of the locations within the district. The next aspect of my work life prior to Ironhack revolved around art. This started ever since I was a child watching anime and cartoons, trying to capture the exciting moments on paper. This then naturally grew into a fascination for graphic design, where I was given an abundance of new tools to use to bring my artwork to life. In an attempt to turn this passion into a more lucrative one I began freelancing this skill. This led me to take part in a lot of projects I was not accustomed to at the time, which included several UI/UX design work. It was at this point that I decided that I wanted to take my art to the next level, so I gathered a few friends to assist me in  opening  my very own clothing brand that would showcase some of my work. The entire process of setting up this company and being able to create something that I could bring to life in the form of a product or shirt was very rewarding to me. I eventually had the opportunity to sell my products at a vendor booth at a convention which was a huge personal milestone. Within a month after the convention is when the Covid quarantine began, which gave me some time to reflect on my current path. As I was still in the motivational momentum from the event, I wanted to change my main job into something that could accelerate the growth for my company. With the idea of programming implanted by a friend, and my prior experience with UI/UX work making me somewhat familiar with at least the visual layout of what I’d be embarking on, I decided at that point I would try my hand at Web Development . I did not, however, expect to enjoy this path as much as I did. What was the catalyst for changing your career? After several months of back to back personal projects and online courses, I began getting a feel for the material. However, even if I could manage my way into a completed project, I felt that there were gaps in my overall understanding of what I was doing as a whole. I needed to hone in on my fundamentals and the foundation of my skills before I propelled myself forward. When explaining this to the same friend that encouraged me to start programming in the first place, he told me about IronHack, a bootcamp that several people he knew went through and heard good things about. This to me felt like the natural next step I needed to take so I decided to pull the trigger and here we are. Roughly one year of work that transformed me from a retail employee to a Software Engineer. I thought when I started my programming journey that I would be in it alone. But having a community that I can lean on for support and advice really does make all the difference. Why did you choose Ironhack over all the other bootcamps and what was your experience like? My overall decision to join this particular bootcamp came from a friends’ recommendation. Since I joined with a degree of prior knowledge, a lot of the topics in the beginning felt like a very in depth review and helped me to really understand what I was doing. Also, even when we were going over topics I felt comfortable with, the sheer amount of time of nonstop programming and immersion definitely helped. I feel like one of the very underrated takeaways from this course is how you get accustomed to programming for long periods of time. As for my mindset, after being introduced to new topics during the bootcamp and having to learn and apply them on the fly, I have gained a lot of confidence in what I’m able to accomplish in a short amount of time. What are some of your biggest takeaways after completing Ironhack Miami’s Web Development course? My biggest takeaway probably would be the community I am a part of now. I thought when I started my programming journey that I would be in it alone. But having a community that I can lean on for support and advice really does make all the difference. My advice in this area would be not to be shy when it comes to connecting to other Alumni. Everyone I reached out to was very eager and willing to help a fellow Ironhack member. Some advice I can share is that you get out of these programs what you put in. If you are in class and you are confused about a topic, you can’t be shy to ask questions or reach out to the instructor outside of class time. All of the instructors I've met are passionate about helping their students, but they can only do so if they know you need help. Another thing that I felt helped me during my time was to acquire knowledge on the material prior to the bootcamp itself. I’ve seen Ironhack help many people that started with no knowledge in the field, but studying ahead of time definitely makes things more comfortable as the topics get more involved and complex. My last bit of advice when it comes to Ironhack would be DO NOT SLOW DOWN after graduation. Your work doesn’t end until you find a job. After graduating I was arguably busier than when I was in the program. My days consisted of algorithms in the morning, applying/interviews midday, and personal projects at night. Also, commit every bit of code you do to GitHub. You do not want to lose momentum especially when you’re now starting to speak with individuals in the field and convincing them to give you a shot. Immersing yourself in programming, backed up with helpful staff, a supportive community AND the career services after graduation were all huge catalysts in helping me break into this field. What’s it like working in tech as a software engineer and where would you like to take your career next? Because I inherently enjoy programming, I really enjoy my role developing sites and mobile applications for my current company. My current position consists of managing multiple project deadlines for clients, assisting other employees, and of course, non-stop on the job learning about new frameworks, languages and other different aspects of the tech field. I am actually very impressed with myself for being able to keep up with this intensity in spite of the Imposter Syndrome I felt early on. In a matter of a few months, I can confidently say I am leagues beyond the programmer I was prior to this role and I am grateful for that. If I had to think ahead to my next role, I think it would be exciting to be a part of a company that is developing its own products and/or services. Also one with more peers I could learn and gain experience from. I personally enjoy being a small fish in a big pond because then it allows me the opportunity to grow as an individual and as a programmer. What do you love the most about working in tech? There are so many perks to being in tech that I never even considered before. The biggest perk to me is the ability to work remotely, which I never considered how big of a benefit it was. I have already taken trips to Orlando, Daytona, New York and I’m planning a few out of the country this year. I am able to enjoy all of these experiences without missing a beat at work. Why would you recommend Ironhack to others? There are many reasons why I feel Ironhack is a great choice for anyone thinking of becoming a developer. Immersing yourself in programming, backed up with helpful staff, a supportive community AND the career services after graduation were all huge catalysts in helping me break into this field. If you are someone that wants or needs to change into a career that’s rewarding, in demand, pays well, and enjoys learning more about the software industry, I believe Ironhack has the right tools that will start you on your journey. --- A big thanks to Alvin for sharing his story and advice. It’s amazing to see how he used his previous experiences, time, and dedication to build his career in tech. We’re so proud of him, and wish him the best in everything he does! You can connect with him on Linkedin here , to follow his journey. If you’d like to follow a similar path as Alvin and are looking to change careers, we encourage you to check out our Full-Stack Web Development Course in addition to our UI/UX Design and Data Analytics courses. We look forward to seeing you in class!

Product Managers work very closely with developers every day. After all, Product Managers are the glue holding product development together. But it’s not uncommon for PMs to see developers making software come to life with their bare hands, and to feel a sense of jealousy. “I want to be a builder too!” some of them think. Jeroen van Bart, former Product Manager turned Junior Developer and Ironhack alum, took the leap and joined our Web Development bootcamp. He kindly sat down to chat with us about his experience, as well as sharing some advice for how others can make the same journey. Can you tell us about yourself? My name is Jeroen van Bart. I live in Amsterdam with my wife and dog and next to coding I love to paint. To display my paintings I often played with the idea of creating my own website, but never found the time to dive into the world of coding. Then the world was struck by Covid and that gave me the opportunity to rearrange my life. A few of my friends and Ironhack alumni pitched me the Ironhack bootcamp and this is where my coding journey started. What was your experience at Ironhack like? Ironhack was  a rollercoaster ride with many ups and downs and a pace that at times didn’t seem manageable. But after the ride almost everything made sense. The amount of information you have to deal with in 9 weeks is insane and at times I felt I was not going to make it, but after the first few weeks the puzzle pieces fell in place and I started to make sense of everything. So my experience was intense, at times stressful but I learned so much that looking back, Ironhack was definitely worth the challenge! What did you do before joining the bootcamp? For the last nine years I have been working for a company in the IT branch on a commercial level. But the technical side of things always had my interest. So with the whole Covid situation I had time to think about how I wanted to rearrange my life. Since I knew a few people who went through the Ironhack bootcamp already and the positive stories they told, I decided to start my Ironhack journey too. Why did you decide to make a career change? In life you spend most of your time working and sleeping, so you best make sure you have a good bed and a job you love. It is important to know what gives you energy and where you get most of your satisfaction from. For me that happens when I am able to create. For any creative process however, there is a need to have an understanding of the world and the present reality. Therefore, for me to gain a better understanding of the world nowadays it was inevitable to come across coding, since most of what we do, see and feel happens in the context of technology. I wanted to dive deeper in the world of this technology so my career change actually comes from the fact that I want to spend my time creating something useful while doing what makes me tick. Do you think having been a Product Manager has helped you in the world of programming? How? No I do not think being a Product Manager helped me in any way to be a good programmer, the closest my work came to learning to program was using formulas in Excel. But I do have a good understanding about products, services and markets. So in the long term I think my previous experiences will help me in my career. After graduating, you found a job. What would you highlight from your current company and position? First of all, I am super grateful to the people of YPA for their guidance and for offering me an opportunity to learn on the job. I actually have an Ironhack alumni as my mentor and she recognizes many of the struggles I am going through. She has been a tremendous guide during my onboarding and I would love to pay it forward one day and become a mentor to another Ironhacker myself. Working at YPA, which is an agency, I get to work on different cool projects for a variety of clients. The diversity of work and the mix of signatures in projects are such a “deep dive” into learning how to code. During Ironhack I was not really aware of the complexity in understanding code made by others. So far, understanding code has taken up to 60% of my time on the job and while it’s a big challenge it is also thrilling to solve a puzzle. Looking back on my time at YPA as Junior Front-end Web Developer, I cannot believe how much I learned in such a short time. I can honestly say that I truly love my job. What advice would you give to those people who want to get started in the tech sector and are afraid of change? Just do it! If you start a journey like Ironhack you have to find peace with the fact that you will spend your first weeks mostly confused and wondering why you chose this. Don’t give up, push through and enjoy the rollercoaster ride until the end! And who knows, maybe it will be as life-changing for you as it’s been for me.

Today’s spotlight is on Dria Thomas. Prior to enrolling in Ironhack she was a Middle School Technology Teacher with a passion for web design. After completing Ironhack’s 24 week part-time Web Development Bootcamp , she was able to take her coding skills to the next level. Dria learned the top frameworks used by development teams, how to create responsive and user friendly designs in front-end development, and how to be comfortable with back-end development. The knowledge she gained from Ironhack gave her the confidence and courage to sign up for a 9hr hackathon hosted by J.P. Morgan Chase. Here’s her story. Life before Ironhack After a year of teaching web development during the pandemic, I realized I have a big passion for web development. This spark began when I was in my senior year in college. Our group was working on our capstone project and I was in charge of creating/designing the web page on WIX. I noticed I had more fun creating/designing the webpage than editing the video. I was more proud of the work I had done for the web page than the actual video editing. I felt discouraged to look further into web development because I felt that website builders such as WIX and Squarespace existed so I didn’t feel the need to dig deeper into the subject. Everything changed when I became a middle school Technology Teacher during the pandemic. I found myself watching endless amounts of youtube videos on web development on a Saturday night. That's when I realized it's time for a change. I’ve heard great things about Ironhack and have seen students go from zero to hero! After hearing so many success stories, I wanted that for myself. Why did you decide to enroll in Ironhack? To continue my journey and growth in web development , I decided to enroll in Ironhack’s Full Stack Web Development program. I’ve known of Ironhack’s existence since my freshman year of college at FIU. I’ve heard great things about Ironhack and have seen students go from zero to hero ! After hearing so many success stories , I wanted that for myself. We saw that you participated in the JP Morgan Chase Code for Good Hackathon. Can you tell us more about it? JPMC Code for Good hackathon is a great opportunity for individuals who want to switch into or start a career in the tech industry. You experience what it’s like to work in a fast paced environment with different individuals who have different knowledge of tech stacks. JPMC Code for Good is a 9 hour virtual hackathon where you team up with 6-7 team members to help a non-profit organization. Each team is also given two mentors who guide you throughout the hackathon. What was your experience completing the hackathon? My experience completing the hackathon was eye opening to the different approaches to web development. During the hackathon I wanted to challenge myself by working with the backend. I usually work on the frontend and wanted to see if I could learn something new. I was able to convince my team to use Mongodb instead of SQL because the setup is a lot quicker since we have limited time. Some of my team members were not familiar with Mongodb so I used my teaching skills to teach them. We used a npm package I learned about at Ironhack to help speed the process of setting up the backend. While I was teaching, I discovered what I didn't know about Mongodb and what I did know. This helped me gain new knowledge about the backend. Now, I feel more comfortable taking on the backend more than before. Overall, JPMC Code for Good was a great experience to meet and learn from other developers on the same level. Tips for participating in the Code for Good Hackathon (or any other Hackathon): Plan ahead on what tech stack your team wants to work on Separate team into frontend and backend before the hackathon Make sure you learn and have fun! What’s next in your journey ? In the future I would love to become a Unicorn developer because of my love for design and web development. I believe I have what it takes to become well versed in both of these skills. I want to be able to design and develop web applications to help make people's lives easier and safer. — A big thanks to Dria for sharing her Ironhack experience and tips for participating in a Hackathon. It’s amazing to see how she went from middle school technology teacher to a self-motivated web developer that is ready to take on any challenge! We’re so proud of her and happy to share that a few weeks after the hackathon she accepted a position as a Software Engineer at J.P. Morgan Chase. If you’d like to follow a similar path as Dria and are looking to change careers, we encourage you to check out our Full-Stack Web Development Course in addition to our UI/UX Design and Data Analytics courses. We look forward to seeing you in class! — Apply for the next Web Development Bootcamp Here Schedule a call with Admissions to Learn More

Whether you've just qualified as a UX/UI designer or are planning a career change, a strong design portfolio is the key to getting the job you want. Before you start scanning your drawings from high school art class (don’t get us wrong, we’re sure they’re beautiful), think about what employers are looking for in a portfolio: project-based work that shows you can take a brief and turn it into something extraordinary. A good way to get a kickstart is by signing up for a bootcamp , since the work you do can form the basis of your portfolio. Or, if you're already established as a designer, look back over your projects and choose the ones that inspired you most. These will form the backbone of your designer portfolio. Previously, portfolios would have been physical pieces of work carefully bound into a book. Today, they're online and can be easily shared with a few clicks, so prospective employers see a lot more portfolios than they used to. That means your work has to stand out and make an immediate impact. How do you go about creating a design portfolio that will “wow” whoever takes a look at it? The Ironhack team has put together seven inspirational tips to help you do just that. 1. Aim for Quality and Diversity Time and attention spans are short and — wait what were we talking about? Oh yeah, attention spans. Hiring agents have many applications to review so it's important not to overload them with a crowded portfolio. Yours should be compact, crisp, and compelling, delivering an exciting reflection of you and your work. Aim to include (depending on your experience) between three and ten examples of work. Go through your work with a critical eye, choosing pieces that you're proud of and that received positive feedback from clients. Aim to show your range of skill by including, for example, a website designed for one company and an advertising project for another. 2. Bring Examples to Life with Backstories Images are central to your portfolio but they don’t always speak for themselves. Brief accompanying texts should answer these questions: What was your brief? What inspired your idea? What did your design achieve? Did you encounter any problems? If so, how did you solve them? What would you do differently in retrospect? And don’t be afraid to brag a little. If your design gave the client a measurable upturn in business, talk about it! If a project received a glowing testimonial, include it! Not every example needs to be a complete case study but pick one or two and use them to highlight your design process in full. Providing this extra information helps prospective employers decide whether you and your ideas will add value to their design team. 3. Make the Portfolio "Yours" Once you've selected your best designs and created backstories, you need to put them together in a cohesive way that sells you and your work. You need to create your “brand.” Think about how the different examples work together and then choose a consistent color theme and font that complements them. Avoid distracting movements or animations. Instead, let one image roll gently into the next. 4. First Impressions Count Your portfolio's homepage is the first thing potential employers see. It should be as attention-grabbing as an album cover or a movie poster. Easy-to-find and follow navigation links such as "my work" and "about me" are non-negotiable (you’re a UX/UI designer after all!) but the layout and colors of the rest should give readers a clear idea of you, your brand, and your style. Have contact details clearly visible, ideally via a link from every page. Create a standout homepage and reap the rewards with a new career in UX/UI design. 5. Showcase Your Work and Skills with the Right Web Host Your portfolio is ready and now you need a platform for it, one that makes browsing a pleasure. To some extent, this choice of platform depends on your technical know-how. The most flexible ones assume some coding knowledge (HTML or CSS) while hosted websites such as Carbonmade and Dunked are easier to work with but have fewer customization options. If you have coding skills to show off and want a fully customizable platform, choose a self-hosted website or create your own website from scratch. Whichever route you take, ensure that all images are correctly sized for your chosen template. Prospective employers don't have time to wait for oversized photos to download. Make use of tools such as TinyJPG to compress pictures without sacrificing quality. 6. Get it Checked You know when you hear a word over and over and over again, and it just starts sounding like gobbledigook? While creating your portfolio, you’ll be looking at your text and images so much that it’ll all kind of just become a blur, making it easy to overlook errors. Ask someone you trust to check it. Does it look professional? Is it easy to navigate? Does it flow seamlessly? Finally, double (or even triple) check it for typographical, spelling, and grammatical mistakes. You're looking for employment and nothing damages your credibility and chances more than basic misspellings and punctuation mistakes. 7. Promote your work Even the best designed portfolio only produces results if people see it. Promoting it is essential: Join an online design community (such as Dribble or Behance ). Other designers can see your work and give feedback. This improves your portfolio while creating a business network for you. Also, employers visit these sites in search of exciting new designers. Use social media. Publish links to your portfolio on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Remember to keep the links updated. Friends and colleagues will remember your portfolio when they hear that someone is looking for a designer. Channel the power of “word-of-mouth.” Show former and existing clients your new portfolio (especially if their work is in it!) and ask them to share it if they hear of a job opening. Once you've created, launched, and promoted your designer portfolio be sure to keep it current. Schedule regular review dates on your calendar for editing and adding your latest design successes. Taking an Ironhack UX/UI design bootcamp gives you the hands-on skills to succeed in the design world. The design projects you work on during your course can form the basis of your portfolio. You'll have a headstart when it's time to look for a new career.

Mariana is from Brazil but has been living in Amsterdam since 2019. She joined the Ironhack Full Stack Web Development bootcamp in May 2021 and we interviewed her about her experience during and after the bootcamp. You always dreamed of being a magistrate of a criminal court, how come you changed your mind? I have always considered myself a very fair person and wanted to use that to make my country a better place to live. But after doing a postgraduate degree in digital law, my curiosity to learn new things led me to do an online Udemy Bootcamp about Web Development. And after 10 years involved in law, I realized that I want to change the world in another way. So I started planning a career transition and, after finishing the online Bootcamp, I joined the Full-Stack Web Developer Program at Ironhack in May/2021, which I finished at the end of July. I'm an adaptable and focused person, who likes to plan things carefully and keep them tidy. On a personal level, I love traveling and learning about different cultures. Tell us about your experience at Ironhack. My experience at Ironhack couldn’t be better. I learned a lot about development, but I also developed other skills, like communication,  for example. In addition, they helped and encouraged me during my job search. It’s very challenging and tiring, but definitely it’s worth it. What did you do before doing the bootcamp? I used to be a lawyer in Brazil. My last permanent employment was at the same law company that I worked at since I left the university. They kept me in the job when I moved to the Netherlands, but then I decided I wanted to have a work experience here in the Netherlands and I looked for a company that outsourced catering services.With that, I worked for a while as a dishwasher at the company where my boyfriend works as a developer. So I discovered a new universe for me and started to open my mind to new things. A year later, I started thinking more seriously about transitioning my career, so I took a Udemy course on full stack development to check if I would like it before investing in a bootcamp and then joined the Ironhack bootcamp in may of this year. Why did you decide to make a career change? Because I would like to have more space to explore my creativity.  In addition, technology is an area that grows every day and enables a flexible work culture. I chose web development because I like the idea of ​​being able to reach the whole world with my work and also because, because of my personality, I like being able to test things I do before presenting them to other people. Do you think having been a lawyer has helped you in the world of programming? How? Yes. Having been a lawyer has helped me to focus on finding solutions and meeting deadlines. After graduating, you found a job. What would you highlight from your current company and position? As it is an agency, Ii work on several projects, which helps to learn more dynamically and develop different skills. I found my job through Ironhack. When I finished the course I was a little insecure about looking for a job, mainly because I was going to spend three months in Brazil at the end of the year, which restricted my job options. But, through a "Meet our partner" meeting promoted by Ironhack, I met Strangelove, which is a company that combines remote-first approach together with flexible office spaces, and I applied for the position through my career coach, Carla Martin. What I can highlight about my work is flexibility. Now I'm in Brazil, visiting my family, and I still manage to work in Holland. Expats certainly know that this is a huge advantage. And about my position as a front-end developer, I find it very rewarding to be able to build things that people in different places can use. What advice would you give to those people who want to get started in the tech sector and are afraid of change? Changing careers is certainly not easy, especially when we spend a lot of time on our previous career.  But it's never too late to pursue your dream and with effort and dedication everything is possible. If you felt inspired by Marian’s story and you are interested in making a career change, check out our bootcamp in Web Development and take the leap!

There are linear life paths and people who have always known what they wanted to do. Jordane Lelong is not one of them. Between passion, questioning and personal quest, her story is like that of each of us: unique. Whether you are a student or a professional in transition, you may find yourself in her story. Whether you do or not, what is certain is that her story will not leave you indifferent. And for those who, like her, are a little lost in finding their "way", we invite you to discover the excellent advice that she so well shared at the end of this article. From education to passion Jordane is a young woman of 28, passionate about music and travels "even if it's a bit complicated to travel at the moment" . Product designer at Free since last July and co-founder of “ UX Challenger ” that she created with another Ironhacker, Morgane Favchtein , Jordane seems to be really fulfilled today. But it wasn't always like this. Like many, she was asked at 18 what she wanted to do with her life without having any idea how to choose. Her taste for school being limited "except for English, art and computer science" and without really anyone to help her, she settled on a "safe" choice: that of a career in international trade "because there are more opportunities in this field.” Except that several years later, with a master's degree in hand, her questions were still there and none of the jobs that her studies could lead to appealed to her. Jordane, as creative as she is passionate, turned to the only environment that really attracted her: music. This was followed by 6 years as an event manager organizing concerts all over the world. But far from a life of dreams, as an intermittent performer, she had to face a lot of dedication, difficulties and sacrifices. At the beginning of 2020, a burnout and a first confinement later, her job and her health were gone. So it was time to "think about what I wanted to do with my life". Being inspired by others Beyond her incredible personality and proven creativity, what is striking about Jordane is her independence and her need for freedom. So it's not surprising that, while searching on social networks, she was attracted by videos of women explaining how not to depend on a salary. That's when she first heard about web design and her future job. Little by little, Jordane trained herself in "no code" tools and started to create her first websites for friends. By the end of 2020, not only was she financially successful thanks to several projects and clients, but she also discovered a new and growing interest in web design and UX/UI issues. Thanks to her thirst for learning and her unlimited curiosity, Jordane has managed to completely turn her career around in a few months, so why launch into a bootcamp when everything is so well (re)launched? You probably know the answer. It is sometimes really difficult to fight against the imposter syndrome and to succeed in thinking that you are legitimate to join a new sector or a new job. That's why she joined Ironhack, to be accompanied, to learn the basics and apply them on concrete projects but also to join a community of enthusiasts. Hesitations and fears she had a lot of them: "3 months is short, what's going to happen after?" "I'm a woman, do I really belong here?" “What if I fail in this area?” Becoming an Ironhacker However, thanks to her determination and the help of a scholarship from Indeed, created especially for people who lost their jobs due to the covid crisis, she quickly joined the bootcamp. From that moment on, all her doubts evaporated: theory combined with practice every day was her magic formula. She learned to trust herself by practicing, by "putting her hands in it" and especially by seeing how much she was able to progress day after day. Not to mention the fact that, at Ironhack, you learn in a group. Having feedback, being able to share her questions and receiving support when things weren't going well were all essential elements in her learning process. Knowing how to do things and knowing how to behave are the two keys that allowed her to unlock the door to the self-confidence she was missing. What she says when asked what the bootcamp did for her? "I came out of it energized. I was a new person, prepared for this new adventure that I was about to embark on. [...] Ironhack taught me that I can start from nothing and go far. [...] I had a really bad experience when I left the music business because of my burn out, my world collapsed and with the bootcamp I proved to myself that I was not an old dinosaur who could not do anything anymore, quite the contrary. Too often we think we are too old to learn new things, change careers, start a business, but we are not. In general, habits condition too much our way of doing things and of apprehending changes. You need to have a good environment and a good mindset to learn new things, that's what Ironhack gave me". Staying true to herself Jordane finally reconciled her life as a freelancer and a salaried employee by joining an agency just a few weeks after the bootcamp, and then, today, the Free group: "I didn't think I would find a job so quickly. Ironhack has a very good reputation in the UX world and companies are impressed to see the work we manage to do in 9 weeks. I felt confident talking about my background and I wasn't ashamed at all when I walked out even though I didn't have a specialized profile." To stay in line with her convictions (editor's note: she has been vegan for 8 years and practices "0 waste"), she had given herself the mission to accompany entrepreneurs in the field of ecology, health, or well-being. Finally, she finds her usefulness not only in these projects but also at Free, on a daily basis. Her job consists in having a more responsible approach towards the user, putting him at the center of the strategy so that "technology is at the service of people and not the other way around." One might think that Jordane is already quite busy with all this, but that's not knowing her well. As if that wasn't enough, she set up a volunteer project “ UX Challenger ” with another Ironhacker, Morgane Favchtein , whom she met during the training to "give back what she benefited from" . The principle is simple: 1 pitch = 1 project. Between the two of them, they regularly launch "design challenges" so that young designers can practice and offer them mentoring after the project is submitted. "The designers in the making are very happy to have constructive feedback that will help them progress". Spontaneity is key As you can see, her desire to help is matched only by her passion for her job. So it is here that we share with you the advice she so eloquently put forth: "If I had met myself back when I was lost, I would have said to myself: stop overthinking and trust yourself. It's too easy to compare yourself to people, especially on social networks, you have to take a chance and go for it. Ironhack was almost a spur-of-the-moment thing but I had nothing to lose. At first, I felt bad about making a decision so quickly but, in fact, it takes spontaneity to shake things up. If someone had told me a year ago where I would be today I would have laughed. When the bootcamp is over, we continue to learn, that's when the work really starts. Then it's a different kind of learning, you're confronted with reality, with business problems, you have to deal with all parts of the company. You have to tell yourself that every opportunity is good to improve. That's how you learn who you are and what you want to do, or not do.” Want to be like Jordane? Start your UX/UI, web developer, data analyst or cybersecurity journey today by taking one of Ironhack’s Bootcamps . Our courses will equip you with the essential skills to get started on a career path in the dynamic and exciting tech industry.

Meet Maximilian Soeren Pollak , who is not only one of our Ironhack Alumni but also the Hackshow Winner of his Data Analytics Bootcamp in August. We took the chance to interview him and find out more about his remote experience. Why did you choose to join Ironhack and break into tech? Was there a key moment that helped you to make this decision? When I decided that a bootcamp would be the right step for me, I looked for different ones offered by the tech schools present in Germany. Ironhack was one of the only schools that offered bootcamps in English as well as Remote and is verified by the German Government to use the “Bildungsgutschein” there . To be honest, there wasn’t a single key moment that I could pin-point. It was more of a gradual realisation that there could be more done with a computer than just playing games and browsing the Web. I was curious to explore the different opportunities. How did a Remote Bootcamp fit into your plan? Why did you choose Remote instead of an on-campus bootcamp? Learning remotely was great . I would choose it anytime again instead of being on campus. You have the ability to stay late into the night if you want to. On top of that you don’t waste any time commuting and with today’s technology it felt almost like you were in a room with the other people. And what was important for me as well, with the bootcamp being remote I got the opportunity to get to know people from all over Europe, which wouldn’t be possible with an in person Bootcamp. What was your best moment at Ironhack? I would say the best moment was when I was able to help my classmates with their project or any exercises and to see their appreciation and that they understood what I taught them. In general, being with like minded people and experiencing our development together was pretty amazing and motivating. You won the Hackshow with your project. Can you tell us a bit about it? It’s a bit complicated to understand, but I will try my best. I created a web based app that will look through over 5k of dividend paying stocks, and select the best of them (based on Yield) in regards to many filters and parameters you pick. It then will calculate how many of each stock you need and how long (in years) it would take you can reach your goal with that investment strategy. I chose to develop something that sparks joy for me and fits in my interests. What are you aspiring to do next with your new skills? I want to improve my Hackshow project further, and implement new functions and make it overall better. My plan then is to find a Python based Software Engineering position in a Startup or Scaleup where I can help them flourish. Thank you for being so open about your experience. Do you have recommendations for anyone who is thinking about changing their life with Ironhack and tech? I would say that learning about Tech can benefit everyone, not just people who want to work in tech later, but also people that just want to level up their career path they have now. Make sure that the Bootcamp you do is the one that will give you the best chance of doing what you imagine in the end. Make sure that you are in the right mindset when you start the Bootcamp. It’s not an easy venture but one that is for sure worth it!