The Ironhack Blog

If you’re like us, then you use the internet basically all day, every day. The internet has become an integral part of all our lives and we rely on it for information, entertainment, communication, and financial transactions. Today’s world is more convenient and more interconnected than ever because of the internet—but we must also acknowledge that the same technology that empowers us can also expose us to significant risks. What is a Cyber Threat? Cybersecurity threats, more commonly referred to as cyber threats, are malicious attempts to damage or disrupt a computer, a computer network, or a person using a computer . They can range from simple and broad to complex and targeted attacks—and anyone can be a victim. It doesn’t matter how tech-savvy you think you might be, if you’re not aware of these cyber threats, then you’re at risk! According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), the top five most common cyber threats in 2022 fell under the categories of phishing, personal data breaches, non-payment/non-delivery, extortion, and tech support. If you’d like to read the full 2022 Internet Crime Report, you can find it here . The report shows that anyone can be a victim, regardless of age, gender, or education. The most important thing we can do to reduce cybercrime is to become more educated regarding common cyber threats. Without further ado, here are the top common cyber threats that we think you should be aware of: Phishing : usually performed using spoofing techniques, this attack may take the form of an email or an online advertisement and seeks to convince you to enter sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, or banking PINs on a compromised website. Charity fraud : an alternative to investment fraud where a malicious actor pretends to be a charity raising money for a good cause, but is actually pocketing all donations. Identity theft : when your personal information is used to open accounts, make purchases, or even file taxes. Ransomware : an attack that prevents you from accessing your files, systems, or networks without first paying a ransom. Business email compromise : an email message that appears to come from a known source making a legitimate request Skimming : when your debit or credit card information is stolen using devices that may have been illegally installed on ATMs, fuel pumps, or cash registers. What to look out for Many cyber threats commonly reach you through text or email. Before replying to any message or clicking on any links, you should ask yourself the following questions: Does the sender of the message look a bit strange? Did the message contain any typos? Am I being asked to provide private information? Does the message have an urgent tone? If you can answer yes to any of the above questions, then you might have received a malicious message. Remember that, in the case of emails, you should always be able to find any company’s official email accounts through an online search. When in doubt, you can also send a message to a company’s support email address and ask them if the previous email you received was legitimate. If it wasn’t, then you should immediately delete the email. Some email clients may even allow you to “report phishing,” which deletes the email and may help the client to recognize and filter out similar emails in the future. Common Cyber Threats and How to Deal with Them Don’t just wait to become a victim of cybercrime! Instead, you should go on the offensive—engage in some cyber threat hunting, if you will. Previously, we’ve mentioned some common cyber threats. In this next section, we’re going more in-depth on four cyber threats by giving you an example scenario and teaching you how to identify, mitigate, and prevent each one. Phishing Out of all the types of cybercrime, phishing is easily the most common. Malicious actors can email unsuspecting victims en masse with very little time and effort. Phishing attacks usually aren’t targeted (although they can be) and instead play the numbers game. Here’s a common scenario: Imagine you receive an email from [email protected] warning that your account has been compromised! The email features a link to a webpage where you can enter your current username and password in order to reset your password, and it looks remarkably similar to the real Bank of America website. Unfortunately, it’s actually a phishing and spoofing scam, and if you enter your credentials, your private banking information will be exposed to the cybercriminals behind the racket. What could you have done? First, if you had noticed that the email came from bank0fAmerica (with a zero instead of an “o”), then you probably would have been more cautious. Second, instead of clicking the link in the email, you could have navigated to the Bank of America website using your favorite search engine. This would have ensured that you reached the real website instead of the spoof. Preventing phishing scams Never download files or click on links from unknown emails or numbers. In fact, even if it’s a known email or number, think twice before taking any action! Furthermore, vigilantly check typos in messages—criminals aren’t known for their spelling and grammar! This is especially important when it comes to emails, as malicious actors will purposefully create accounts that look similar to real businesses by replacing similar letters and digits such as l, I, and 1 (in most fonts, you can’t even tell the difference between a lowercase “L” and an uppercase “I”). Identity theft Identity theft is something that can happen to anyone and recovering from it can be extremely difficult and time-consuming. If you believe that you have been a victim of identity theft, you should go to IdentityTheft.gov to report the crime and get started on a recovery plan. An example of identity theft may be: Let’s say you’re considering making a big purchase, such as buying a home. The first thing you do is get your credit checked so that you can have an idea of what kind of APR you can expect to receive from a mortgage lender. On the report, you notice that there’s a credit card account you don’t remember opening. What could you have done? Identity theft is a difficult crime to diagnose because there are so many ways a criminal could have stolen your identity. But, let’s not lose hope just yet! By taking simple measures such as putting a fraud alert on your credit bureau accounts or implementing a credit freeze, you can ensure that no criminal is able to steal your identity–and your money! Preventing identity theft Consider placing a free credit freeze. This can prevent anyone from opening new lines of credit in your name until the credit freeze is deactivated. You should also be consistently checking your credit report to make sure that there aren’t any new accounts that weren’t created by you. Furthermore, you should have complex, unique passwords for every account so that an attacker is not able to log in to all your accounts by virtue of knowing one secret. Business email compromise Business email compromise is similar to phishing in the sense that both cyber threats target your email inbox. In the case of business email compromise, malicious actors send a message that appears to come from a known source and they make a seemingly legitimate request, such as: Imagine you work at a small company. An account pretending to be the CEO emails you and asks you to purchase dozens of gift cards to send out to employees as rewards. After you purchase them, the account asks you for the serial numbers of the gift cards so that they can send the rewards to your coworkers right away! What could you have done? Like in the phishing case, you could have noticed that the email account you were communicating with was actually a fraudulent account. Also, by being aware that cyber threats usually involve some task that needs to be done with urgency, you could have been more cautious and gotten a second confirmation through a separate form of communication that the request was indeed legitimate. Preventing business email compromise Like most cyber crimes, the easiest way to prevent business email compromise is through vigilance. Make sure that the person that’s emailing you is really who you think they are. Scammers use slight differences in spelling to trick your eye and gain your trust. Moreover, never click on any links or download any documents unless you are sure it’s from someone you know. Finally, if possible, always verify payment or purchase requests in person or by phone. Because of the prevalence of business email compromise, many companies train their employees so that they are aware of the scam and are able to identify, report, and archive such malicious messages. Training can be incredibly useful in preventing cyber crimes that require user action. Skimming Most forms of fraud involve abusing your trust, and skimming is no different. This crime is when you insert your card in an ATM or POS terminal and a 3rd party steals your debit or credit card information through the use of a card skimming device. A common scenario is: It’s been a long day of commuting, and your car needs some gas. You’ve just arrived at a gas station that you’ve been to many times and trust. You insert your debit card into the fuel pump card terminal to pay for the gas and a skimming device reads your card information while you’re making the purchase. You pump gas and are soon on your way home. What could you have done? Sometimes there’s nothing you can do to stop some cybercrimes from occurring in the moment. Yes, sometimes card skimmers are placed on top of the original card reader and are easy to recognize, but other times they are hard-wired inside of the existing payment device and are impossible to detect. In either case, by using a credit card instead of a debit card, you could protect yourself from unauthorized charges that may occur in the future. Preventing skimming Skimming is difficult to prevent because it may be undetectable at the moment. However, you can prevent it from happening to you by using credit cards instead of debit cards and by using chip-based or NFC-based cards instead of magnetic-strip-based cards. Furthermore, ATMs and other payment devices that are busy and well-lit are less likely to be targets of skim attacks because they are riskier for malicious actors to infiltrate. What’s Next? Are you passionate about cybersecurity? Do you want to make the web a safe place? Look no further than Ironhack’s Cybersecurity Bootcamps. Offered in several different locations with both remote and in-person options, our cybersecurity bootcamps are a surefire way of preparing yourself for a job in the cybersecurity industry. Come check it out today!

The tech industry is undergoing a remarkable shift towards recognizing the importance of a diversified and inclusive workforce. While there have been notable strides and a number of shattered barriers, the representation of the LGBTQ+ community in tech remains an area that requires significant attention. Before we get into initiatives that are driving change, let’s define what representation really is and why it matters. What is Representation? In today’s increasingly interconnected and globalized world, representation is a crucial concept; it encompasses the idea of ensuring diverse individuals and communities are adequately included, portrayed, and empowered in various aspects of society. In the context of the tech industry, representation refers to the fair and accurate depiction, participation, and inclusion of individuals from all backgrounds. This includes gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, and other underrepresented groups. Let’s look at some of the reasons why representation matters: Tackling bias and discrimination: when a company promotes diversity and inclusion, it challenges unconscious biases and fosters a more safe and considerate environment for all. No industry is immune to bias, but adequate representation plays a vital role in addressing these systemic issues. Cultivating an inclusive culture: when individuals feel seen, valued and included, it fosters a sense of belonging and boosts overall morale. In prioritizing inclusion, an industry attracts top talent from a wide range of backgrounds , reduces employee turnover, and promotes collaboration and cross-pollination. Most importantly, it builds trust between employees, companies, and consumers. Fostering innovation: when a multitude of perspectives, experiences, and ideas are brought together, it fuels innovation and problem-solving skills. This leads companies to create more robust advancements that cater to a wider audience. Why is it important to the tech industry? Embracing and promoting representation is not only the right thing to do, but it can also encourage the tech industry to further innovate and benefit society. Let’s look at some of the responsibilities the tech industry carries and how representation can further advance industry growth: Ethical responsibility: in its substantial role in shaping society, influencing decision making, and impacting individuals’ lives, the tech industry carries an ethical responsibility to ensure that its products and services are developed with social good in mind. Diverse workforce representation ensures that the values and needs of all communities are considered and respected throughout the tech ecosystem. Economic empowerment: in providing equal opportunities for underrepresented groups, the tech industry opens doors for financial empowerment, social mobility, and reduced income inequality . Inclusive environments ensure that talented individuals from all backgrounds can access high-paying tech jobs, launch startups, and contribute to the growth of the industry. Reflecting user diversity: in incorporating a diverse array of voices in the design, development, and decision-making processes, products and services can better serve tech’s multifaceted user base . From cultural backgrounds to unique preferences, it’s crucial that the industry relates to users from around the globe. LGBTQ+ Representation in Tech Now that we’ve touched on the critical role of representation, let’s look specifically at the challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community in tech, as well as the initiatives and organizations that are driving positive change in the industry. Challenges facing LGBTQ+ tech employees A history of industry oppression: according to the history of the LGBTQ+ community and tech, LGBTQ+ influence stretches back to the early days of computing. Historic tech figures such as Alan Turing and Lynn Conway were pioneers behind paramount advances in information technology and microchip design ; however, they also faced discrimination and even legal persecution for their sexuality and gender identity. While this type of overt discrimination might seem like a thing of the past, historic anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments bleed forth into the tech community of today. Underrepresentation: according to Lesbians Who Tech , LGBTQ+ underrepresentation is endemic in the tech sphere, causing a lack of connection for LGBTQ+ employees and scarce levels of social capital at work. This lack of visibility stifles the voice and contributions of the LGBTQ+ tech community, contributing to a cycle in which underrepresentation perpetuates itself; aspiring LGBTQ+ tech employees have less role models and examples of success within the industry. Workplace bias and discrimination: according to a report from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), 46% of LGBTQ+ employees are not open about their identities at work due to fear of discrimination. Often, preconceived notions or stereotypes may prevent LGBTQ+ folks from accessing equal opportunities or leadership positions. Another study reported that only 35% of LGBQ employees felt that they were represented by their company’s upper management. Wage gap: a study by HRC found that LGBTQ+ workers in the US earn, on average, 10% less than their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts . This disparity in pay highlights how historic bias trickles into the modern day, and speaks to changes that need to be addressed going forward. Opportunities for growth and change Amidst the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in the tech industry, there is a silver lining that shines brightly: a growing number of voices and organizations dedicated towards making a difference. Let’s take a look at those who have made a commitment towards reshaping the industry to include more LGBTQ+ empowerment: Companies that foster inclusion: several players in the industry have taken steps to distinguish themselves as LGBTQ-friendly tech companies. These companies prioritize diverse representation, implement inclusive policies, and provide support through employee resource groups. Examples of LGBT-friendly tech companies include Microsoft, Apple, Google, Salesforce, IBM, and many more. LGBTQ+ led entrepreneurship: many LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs are deciding to take matters into their own hands and cultivate a greater LGBTQ+ tech industry. By founding their own companies, folks create their own work culture that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community in tech, and sets an example for the broader industry. Organizations that inspire change: various pro-LGBTQ+ tech organizations and events have popped up across the industry, working to empower, educate, and employ LGBTQ+ tech workers. The gap in representation in the industry has motivated change-makers to work tirelessly to combat anti-LGBTQ+ bias and increase visibility. LGBTQ+ tech organizations making a difference Lesbians Who Tech: a global community of LGBTQ+ professionals and allies in technology. They organize LGBTQ+ tech conferences, summits, and events that provide networking opportunities and promote visibility and representation within the industry. TransTech Social Enterprises: an organization dedicated to empowering and employing transgender and gender non-conforming individuals in the tech industry. They offer instruction, mentorship programs, and LGBTQ+ entrepreneurship support to create pathways for success. Out in Tech: a non-profit that aims to unite and support LGBTQ+ professionals in the tech sector. They arrange events, educational programs, and career fairs to promote inclusivity and diversity. Alliance of LGBTQ High Tech Employees (ALTHE) : an alliance of LGBTQ+ professionals working in the tech industry advocating for inclusive policies, fighting against discrimination, and providing resources and support to LGBTQ+ employees. StartOut: an organization that empowers and assists LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs in the tech industry. They help folks acquire the resources and guidance they need to start and scale their businesses, with the mission to foster a more diverse startup ecosystem. Human Rights Campaign Foundation: a foundation that focuses on workplace equality and inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community in the US. Their Corporate Equality Index (CEI) helps rate and recognize companies’ inclusive policies and practices for LGBTQ+ employees. LGBTQ Tech & Innovation Summit: an annual conference that brings together LGBTQ+ tech employees and allies from all sides of the industry. It functions as a platform for knowledge around LGBTQ+ tech jobs, a space for collaboration between employees, and a driver towards further LGBTQ+ inclusion in tech. Pathways to further inclusion Beyond mere numbers or quotas, aiming to create a truly inclusive environment is a step by step process. Let’s outline a few proactive strategies that tech companies can implement to promote inclusivity of the LGBTQ+ community within their organization: Establish an inclusive culture: Develop and enforce anti-discrimination and harassment policies, and provide diversity and inclusion training for all employees. Encourage employees to express their identities without fear of retribution. Implement LGBTQ-friendly policies: Offer comprehensive healthcare coverage that includes gender-affirming care. Establish gender-neutral restrooms in offices. Provide funding for employee resource groups dedicated to LGBTQ+ identity. Foster LGBTQ-inclusive hiring practices: Ensure that job descriptions and recruitment materials use inclusive language. Proactively seek diverse candidates by partnering with LGBTQ-specific job boards or recruitment agencies. Implement blind resume screening processes to reduce unconscious bias, and provide sensitivity training to hiring managers. Create LGBTQ-inclusive products and marketing: Feature diverse representations of relationships and identities within advertising campaigns and media. Develop inclusive products and services and conduct user research to gather feedback from LGBTQ+ customers. Support LGBTQ+ community initiatives: Sponsor LGBTQ+ Pride events, donate to nonprofits that promote the health and safety of LGBTQ+ youth, and/or promote volunteer opportunities for employees. LGBTQ+ representation isn’t just a nice-to-have in tech-- it’s an absolute necessity . By including and celebrating the talents of the LGBTQ+ community, the tech industry has the potential for next-level growth and creativity and this begins with cultivating inclusivity. We each carry the responsibility to relegate prejudice and foster a vibrant tech landscape where all are welcome. If you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community and looking to hone new tech skills or find your perfect job, look no further: check out our blog or sign up for our bootcamps.

The modern-day fight for equality for the LGBTQ+ community has been raging on since the 1960s when people took to the streets with their banners, signs, and desire to make a change. Although the LGBTQ+ collective continues marching and organizing to fight for the LGBTQ+ rights movement in person, their efforts have become enmeshed in the fabric of the virtual world too. Technology has had a big influence on the development of the LGBTQ rights, but before moving onto how technology has shaped the LGBTQ rights movement, let’s dive into the history of LGBTQ rights. History of LGBT Rights Throughout humanity’s short history, LGBTQ+ rights have been questioned constantly; however, people have united time and time again to stand up for their rights, especially in the last century. At the end of the 19th century, the term homosexuality was coined by Karoly Maria Benkert, but many used the term to begin classifying same-sex attraction as a disease or illness, judging it as a lifestyle choice that wasn’t natural or acceptable in society. Moving into the 20th century, smaller and localized LGBT groups started to form and later in the 1960s, the Stonewall uprising gave the movement more momentum, making headway for future generations to continue the LGBTQ social justice movement. As more LGBTQ+ groups formed in the 1970s, so did the visibility of the community and many countries decriminalized homosexuality thanks to those efforts. Unfortunately, the LGBTQ+ community incurred a heavy loss at the hands of the HIV/AIDS epidemic; people were afraid of this new illness that society associated with the LGBTQ community. However, in the early 2000s, the world was changing and LGBTQ+ social justice was at the forefront. The Netherlands was the first country to legalize same-sex marriage, making headway for other countries around the world to follow suit. Transgender rights started to gain more attention and visibility at the time, gaining some legal protection from discrimination. The LGBTQ+ community is still battling for equality all over the world and it’s important to remember how the movement began, acknowledge all current efforts, and keep advancing. LGBTQ Social Justice Social justice is the belief that all deserve equal economic, social, and political rights and opportunities and although most of the same social justice issues exist for the LGBTQ+ community, they also vary depending on the nation. The LGBTQ social justice issues that are occuring in one country are not the same ones that are occurring in another, for example. For this reason and more, the LGBTQ+ community needs to lean heavily on technology to ensure that their push for LGBTQ human rights reaches everyone, no matter their circumstances. Tech’s role in advancing LGBTQ+ rights As LGBTQ+ rights continued forward into the 90s and 00s, they saw the possibility to lean into the many ways that technology can benefit them and the cause. Let’s dive in: Visibility and representation Thanks to devices and the internet, the LGBTQ+ community has been able to show themselves authentically, becoming more visible and widely understood. In many ways, ignorance and bigotry are because of upbringing and a lack of understanding. Society tells you what to believe and think about a person through what we are taught, but by giving a platform and voice to real people with real stories, many can see, hear, and connect with others. The internet is a place where LGBTQ+ stories and representation can be easily found and some of the best places include: Blogs like Medium and Wordpress Social networks Youtube Streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus Online groups and organizations Elevating LGBTQ+ voices and stories show that the fight for LGBTQ+ rights is also a push for human rights for everyone. Community building and support Since the Stonewall uprising, the community has worked hard to unite as one group to further the cause; carrying that out can be quite the difficult task without the use of the internet. In the past, word of mouth and printed publications were the only way to notify people of when gatherings, protests, and other meetings would take place. Nevertheless, using the internet, we have access to all the information in the world at the click of a mouse. Not only can organizations, communities, and groups build LGBTQ networks, but they can also spread information quickly and support both individuals and smaller groups. There is power in connection and numbers and online groups can be a place to find the support and understanding that LGBTQ people can’t find in person. Understanding and support makes people feel linked and connected to a cause and meaning, motivating them to support others and the movement too. Some spaces that support community building include: Social networks such as Instagram and Facebook Meetup TrevorSpace LGBTQ+ Amino Empty Closets Transgender Pulse Activism and awareness Raising awareness and promoting activism can be quite difficult, although the internet highly facilitates it in so many ways. Instead of standing on a corner looking to get signatures for a petition, there are websites such as Change.org that not only help spread the word about injustices, but also give people the opportunity to support them with a signature and money. Similarly, fundraising websites such as Crowdfunding, can be extremely beneficial in spreading awareness and supporting people on a smaller, more individual scale. Activism can also be spread through social media campaigns that are oftentimes highly successful; mobilizing people to follow a cause can be as simple as posting a video on TikTok or a story on Instagram and sending it to as many people as possible. Social networks have given people the power to raise their voice and awareness of social injustices to new heights. Education and resources One of the best ways to take advantage of technology for social justice is to educate since it gives people the chance to explore, investigate, and learn more about what it means to be a member of the LGBTQ+ or a supportive ally. This can take many forms such as: Webinars Online workshops Educational platforms Podcasts and YouTube videos Direct classes aside, resources that educate people can be distributed more easily as well. Members of the LGBTQ+ community can access pertinent information about their own lives easily, learning more about themselves, the community, and the vision for equality that the LGBTQ+ community is working so hard to accomplish. Knowledge is power. Safe spaces and anonymous support There are many spaces that can seem hostile or dangerous in both the real and virtual world; however, there are online spaces that are accessible from anywhere and can provide anyone with a safe space to express themselves. Since there are many countries that still criminalize LGBTQ+ acts, these safe spaces can be the only opportunity to have a place where they can share their stories. Another aspect that technology provides for safe spaces is the possibility to stay anonymous. Technology is integrated into so many parts of our lives and for the LGBTQ+ community; it has been and will continue to be a tool that not only provides them with a judgment-free zone to express themselves and a path to connect with others , but also lifts their voices and spreads their message for social equality. Without technology, the visibility and representation that the LGBTQ+ community has gained wouldn’t have been possible. If you want to help develop, enhance, and design the websites and apps and help support the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, you can check out our courses page and learn more about how you can support the technology that advances the cause.

Interested in being your software team’s go-to for technical questions? Dream of becoming a leader in your department? Excited about utilizing new technologies to guide innovation within your department? If these all sound familiar, then tech lead could be the perfect role for you. In this article, we’ll break down the responsibilities and requirements of a tech lead to figure out if it’s the right fit for you. What Is a Tech Lead? By looking at the term “tech lead,” we can gather two things: they work in both a technical capacity and a leadership position. So then, what does a tech lead do? A technical lead – or tech lead for short – oversees the technical aspects of a software team by making architectural and design decisions, guiding team members in technical matters, and supervising system modifications. Some key job responsibilities of a tech lead include: Establishing project specifications and technical direction Creating a framework of technical standards and procedures Overseeing software quality and system modifications Guiding team members with troubleshooting technical issues Analyzing existing operations to identify risks and redundancies Conducting comprehensive assessments to develop solutions In other words, as a tech lead, you’re basically setting the technical direction of the project and clearing the way of any programming hurdles that may arise, whether it be closing technical knowledge gaps, finding answers to product questions, or streamlining existing operations. As a tech lead, you'll engineer, guide, and implement technical solutions and improvements with the help of your software development team. You can get your hands dirty and do some coding once in a while, but that isn’t your main job responsibility. So, if you’re someone who enjoys both the technical and interpersonal aspects of software development, a tech lead may be the job for you. With Whom do Tech Leads Work? Together with team leads and product owners, tech leads play a leadership role in a software or engineering department; each leader focuses on a different aspect of the production process. A product owner will focus on overall product development and a team lead will focus on people development; a tech lead focuses on technical development. Together, they set the project’s direction and guide the team members to ensure the project’s deliverables are fulfilled. Some essential members of the software development team include: Product Owner : leads product development to fulfill client’s requirements Team Lead/ Engineering Manager: guides team through development process Project Manager: oversees the development, organization, and delivery of a product Software Developer : designs and develops software to fit the users’ needs Quality Assurance Engineer: confirms developed solution fits specifications Software Tester: executes tests to ensure solutions fit performance and security demands UX/UI Designer: designs features to enhance customer experience and interaction A software team works together to ensure the smooth delivery of a product;as a tech lead, you must be able to balance priorities, communicate clear goals, and make apt decisions , all while taking into account your team’s capabilities and the product’s deliverables. Since each position on the team has some involvement in the technical operation, you must make sure that each team member has a handle on their portion of the software development process to ensure the delivered product meets the client’s expectations. What Skills Do Tech Leads Need? A tech lead can be considered a leader, developer, and architect all in one, which defines their essential skill set: As a leader , they supervise team members, delegate tasks, issue feedback, evaluate risks, and resolve conflicts. As a developer , they apply programming tools, utilize design patterns, perform automated testing, and refactor code. As an architect , they perform technical assessments, oversee development lifecycles, direct release management, and adhere to federal regulations. As you can see, tech leads must not only have the technical expertise to develop products, but have the people skills to lead teams as well. Some crucial skills of a tech lead include: Communication and leadership Project and crisis management Software architecture and systems testing Technical guidance and decision-making skills Quality assurance Problem solving and innovation Ownership and vision How Can I Become a Tech Lead? You can develop these skills by gaining professional experience along with taking technical and leadership courses. A tech lead isn’t an entry level role; starting off, tech leads often have 5+ years of experience in the field and a bachelor’s degree. But remember, a tech lead also isn’t just a senior software engineer: just focusing on programming knowledge is not going to get you there, you need to build interpersonal skills as well. So, how can you do that? Well: You can apply some professional approaches , such as supporting coworkers, providing technical advice, suggesting new initiatives, creating innovative solutions, and requesting performance-based feedback, to show your resourcefulness while developing new skills. You can use some administrative tools , such as a strengths and weaknesses chart, a professional development plan, and a goal breakdown, to guide your learning and development while focusing on the professional skills you need to reinforce. With a proper plan of attack, you can be well on your way to becoming a tech lead. As you know, the job title has the term “lead” in it, which means it’s considered a senior role – but still a great target position. Since tech leads are considered to be both technical experts and competent supervisors, you’ll need a decent amount of experience first. Our Web Development Bootcamp is a great first step that you can take to establish the essential hard and soft skills needed to form a strong foundation in web development that you can build on with professional experience. Web development has boundless possibilities, with a tech lead being one of them. We can’t wait to see where you go next!

What is DevOps? DevOps, short for Development and Operations, is a form of software development that combines software development (Dev) with information technology operations (Ops) to increase collaboration and improve efficiency in the software development process. The term was first coined by Patrick Debois in 2009 and has since become widely used by folks who work in IT and software development. DevOps aims to disrupt the barriers between development teams and operation teams and instead, through communication, integration, and automation, streamline the software delivery process. It’s important to understand DevOps as a methodology. It’s an umbrella term that refers to a culture, process, and mentality used to optimize and streamline software development . DevOps works to secure faster feedback loops, updates, and repairs during the software development process. The methodology has become increasingly popular in the software industry due to its ability to increase collaboration, advance software delivery, and improve the overall quality of software systems . Key principles of DevOps The DevOps approach requires that developers and operations personnel collaborate closely, sharing responsibilities and tools, to create a stronger and more reliable software delivery . The key principles of DevOps include: Collaboration: DevOps encourages collaboration between the developers and operation teams to achieve their shared software development goals. Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD): the DevOps methodology promotes the use of automated testing and deployment processes in order to quickly and continuously integrate code changes, decreasing the time between software development and deployment. Automation: DevOps encourages the automation of manual and repetitive tasks like building, testing, and delivering software. DevOps automation helps reduce errors, increases efficiency, and leads to enhanced reliability in the developing process. Infrastructure as Code (IaC) : DevOps utilizes code and configuration management tools in order to enable infrastructure setups to be version-controlled, reproducible, and easily scalable. Monitoring and feedback: monitoring and feedback is a core component to the DevOps methodology. The continuous monitoring of applications and infrastructures is crucial in providing feedback loops that help identify errors, enhance performance, and improve user experience. These key components make up the base of the DevOps methodology. DevOps practices are gaining significant traction in the software industry because of the method’s promise to increase collaboration, advance software delivery, and improve the overall quality and dependability of software systems. What is a DevOps Engineer? A DevOps engineer is a tech professional who straddles software development with expertise in IT operations and system administration. Their role is crucial in managing and implementing DevOps practices within an organization. DevOps engineers are necessary in bridging the gap between development teams and operation teams. They need strong technical skills as well as soft skills in order to facilitate collaboration, monitor the software system development processes, and enhance the delivery and dependability of software systems in a DevOps environment. The principal responsibility of a DevOps engineer is to support collaboration between development and operation teams and streamline the software development process. DevOps engineers work closely with development and operations teams as well as other stakeholders in the software development process in order to ensure the efficient delivery and operation of software systems. The role of DevOps engineer is to facilitate the DevOps methodology, meaning that their main work includes: Collaboration and communication: DevOps engineers need to have strong communication skills in order to facilitate collaboration between development and operations teams. Engineers must mediate knowledge sharing, support conflict resolution, and keep everyone aligned with the established goals and objectives. Continuous integration and delivery : is a crucial component of a DevOps engineer’s work. They must create and support the automated processes that aid continuous integration, software testing, and delivery. Their role in implementing and managing CI/CD pipelines is necessary in deploying reliable software updates. Infrastructure automation: DevOps engineers utilize infrastructure as code (IaC) tools and technologies in order to automate the configuration and management of infrastructure resources. This work includes the design and implementation of reliable and scalable infrastructure setups that adapt the various needs of the software systems. Performance optimization: is a crucial component of a DevOps engineer’s work. They must coordinate tracking and logging solutions to monitor the performance, availability, and security of software systems and infrastructures. DevOps engineers utilize this information to identify issues in order to optimize system performance and facilitate positive user experiences. Proficiency in DevOps tools: DevOps engineers must be well-versed in a variety of DevOps tools and technologies in order to be successful implementing the DevOps methodology. These tools include version control systems, CI/CD platforms, containerization technologies, configuration management tools, and cloud platforms like Azure , AWS , or GCP . Ongoing learning and adaptability: DevOps engineers must embrace the notion of continuous learning and improvement. This means they need to stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends, best practices, and technological advances. Being committed to ongoing learning and finding ways to adapt to constantly evolving software development practices will help DevOps engineers be successful in their work. In sum, DevOps engineers are multi-skilled professionals who must be proficient in soft skills like communication and team building , while also possessing strong technical skills that will allow them to optimize performance and ensure positive user experiences. DevOps engineers are skilled professionals who’s combined expertise in software development, operations, and automation support the streamlining of software development processes and ensure that strong, reliable software systems are delivered. What is DevOps Azure? DevOps Azure refers to the implementation of the DevOps methodology and tools within the Microsoft Azure cloud computing platform . The platform offers a complete suite of cloud servers that allow organizations to construct, manage, and deploy applications and infrastructures in a streamlined and scalable manner. DevOps Azure brings together the key principles of DevOps with the additional tools and capabilities of Azure to enhance the software development process and maintain continuous integration, delivery, and deployment of software systems . Microsoft Azure offers a number of tools and services to aid the DevOps process, including: Azure DevOps: Azure DevOps offers numerous development and collaboration tools that facilitate team planning, development, and testing in the software production process. Azure DevOps facilitates software delivery through features like version control, agile planning, continuous integration, and deployment management. Azure Pipelines: is a continuous integration and delivery platform that facilitates automated build, test, and deployment processes for DevOps engineers. The feature enables teams to establish pipelines as code and automate the software delivery process from source code to production. Azure Repos : is a DevOps tool that provides version control services to help manage source code repositories. Azure Repos supports both Git and Team Foundation Version Control (TFVC), enabling teams to collaborate, track changes, and securely manage code repositories. Azure Artifacts: is a package management system that supports teams in creating, hosting, and sharing packages throughout their organization. The tool ensures consistent and dependable access to packages during the software development process. Azure Monitor: provides monitoring and diagnostic services to applications and infrastructures constructed in Azure. The tool allows teams to collect and effectively analyze telemetry data, identify issues, and secure insights into the performance and availability of their software systems. Azure Infrastructures as Code (IaC) tools: the application offers a number of tools like Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates, Azure PowerShell, and Azure CLI that support the provisioning and management of infrastructure as code. These tools enable the automation and reliability of infrastructure deployments, facilitating the management and scare of Azure resources. Overall, DevOps Azure aids the software delivery process through offering numerous tools and services that help facilitate collaboration between teams, increase reliability and efficiency, and create dependable deployments of softwares. DevOps engineers should be well versed in the Microsoft Azure cloud computing platform. Securing a DevOps Certification A DevOps certification is a way to formally recognize an individual’s knowledge, skills, and expertise in development and operations. A DevOps certification demonstrates one’s proficiency in applying DevOps methodologies, in utilizing DevOps tools and techniques, and in carrying out software development processes. Earning a certification may prove useful in the following ways: Certifications validate skills and knowledge of DevOps methods and best practices. Possessing a certification increases one’s credibility and makes you a stronger job candidate. Grants recognition by employers as a strong DevOps tech professional. Occasionally leads to exclusive networking opportunities and tech communities. Increases opportunities to advance your career and secure DevOps engineer jobs. DevOps certifications are granted by numerous organizations and training institutes after an individual completes a DevOps training program or demonstrates their proficiency in DevOps processes. A few of the most well-known DevOps certification programs include: AWS Certified DevOps Engineer : the Amazon Web Services (AWS) certification confirms that an individual possesses the technical expertise to deploy and manage the AWS platform. Amazon explains that “job listings requiring this certification have increased by 52% between Oct 2021 and Sept 2022.” Azure DevOps Engineer Expert: is a certification offered by Microsoft to demonstrate one’s proficiency in carrying out DevOps practices alongside Microsoft Azure technologies. The certification focuses on skills like continuous integration, continuous delivery, and infrastructure as code. DevOps Institute Certifications : the DevOps Institute is home to a variety of certifications including the DevOps Engineering Foundation , DevOps Leader , and DevOps Continuous Testing . Each exam verifies a specific aspect of a DevOps engineer’s work, including DevOps culture, leadership, automation, agile service, and continual testing and improvement. Google Cloud DevOps Engineer : the Google Cloud certification highlights one’s expertise in carrying out DevOps practices on the Google Cloud Platform (GCP) . The credential covers everything from continuous integration, delivery, monitoring, and automation alongside GCP services. Earning a certification demonstrates one’s knowledge and mastery of DevOps practices and may be beneficial as you advance in your career as a DevOps engineer. In all, DevOps is a relevant aspect of the software development process and has become widely utilized by IT and software development professionals alike. Its focus on breaking down silos between development teams and operation teams has made it a successful methodology through the streamlining of operations and promotion of collaboration, integration, and automation in the software development process. If you’re interested in becoming a DevOps engineer or simply improving your DevOps skills, look no further! Ironhack offers DevOps bootcamps that will help you hone your soft and technical skills.

Does artificial intelligence seem like something that is completely separate from your daily life and is only relevant for those working with robots on a daily basis? We get it; the use of artificial intelligence has grown exponentially over the past few years and is something that’s so ingrained in our daily life that we almost forget it’s there. After all, when we think of artificial intelligence, we think of ChatGPT or machine learning, and not simple things like spam filters in our inbox or Netflix’s recommendations. The reality is that artificial intelligence is surrounding us constantly in more ways than we can really count. Our article would be quite lengthy if we included all of the ways artificial intelligence surrounds us daily, so we’re going to break it down into a few categories. But first, let’s explain what artificial intelligence is, its origins, and what we can expect from the future. What is Artificial Intelligence? You might think that artificial intelligence is tough to understand, but it’s really not: it’s just the simulation of human intelligence by computers. This means that, with limitations, artificial intelligence machines are able to mimic human behaviors or intelligence to help automate tasks, make decisions, and analyze large amounts of data. It seems a bit dull, but artificial intelligence has expanded far past simple sifting through data and making decisions for companies; it’s something we all use every single day. How does artificial intelligence work? Artificial intelligence tools require special programming and development and don’t work with a specific programming language; some variation of each will be needed for a specific task. To actually be put into work, AI engineers feed the system with large amounts of data that it then takes and processes; only after that is it able to use what it’s learned to make informed decisions. For example, a chatbot on a store’s website is fed with information about return policies, shipping details, and contact information so that it’s able to free up customer service representatives and talk to customers. When programming the AI tool, the following four areas are highlighted: Learning : every AI tool is powered by algorithms that instruct it on how to use the data it is provided with and complete the requested task. Reasoning : for advanced AI tools with multiple purposes, reasoning is installed so that the tool can deploy the correct function for each specific situation. Self-correction : AI tools with the ability to remember past experiences and evolve have the capacity for self-correction, continuously improving and providing better outcomes. Creativity : the most popular and fun usage of AI includes creativity, when AI tools are able to create new text, sounds, or images based on user input. What are the origins of artificial intelligence? For ages, stories have been filled with tales about robots or devices that could think like humans, but the artificial intelligence that we know today was far from reality for quite a while. When artificial intelligence became a serious pursuit for scientists in the 1950s, computers were extremely expensive and certainly not something everyone had, independent research nearly impossible. Throughout the next few decades, various scientists and government agencies tried to encourage AI research, but it wasn’t until the end of the twentieth century that computers became skilled and widespread enough to take on such a challenge. Today, artificial intelligence has absolutely skyrocketed over recent years and is an integral part of our daily lives. We know it might be hard to believe, but we truly mean it: artificial intelligence is everywhere. Real Life Examples of Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence, in some form, is something with which we interact every single day. To help prove our point and show that artificial intelligence is only going to continue advancing and growing, we’ve collected eight of our favorite examples of artificial intelligence in real life. Let’s dive right in. Social media accounts Has the thought, “is my phone listening to me?!” ever crossed your mind? If you’re a social media user, probably! And although you might think that it is in fact listening to you, there’s a much simpler reason: artificial intelligence. Through artificial intelligence tools, websites can keep track of user behavior, suggesting content that they think you’d enjoy. Through these tools, you’re able to get a customized user experience that shows you ads, content, and material that’s similar to what you’ve interacted with in the past. But that’s not all: artificial intelligence tools have been further developed to provide even more functions, such as deleting or hiding harmful comments or flagging content that has been highlighted as misinformation. Digital assistants One of AI’s biggest triumphs is taking basic human tasks, such as setting reminders or turning on/off lights, and automating them, freeing up a person’s time and making things just a little bit easier. While these seem simple enough, teaching your Google Home or Alexa to recognize your voice, speech patterns, and accent is quite the artificial intelligence feat and one that’s been developed over time. Lots of online companies also use chatbots to free up their customer service agents and direct customers to the right space, providing details about order status, shipping and returns, and how to get in touch with the company. Maps & navigation Long gone are the days of printing out directions and bringing it with you in the car, hoping that traffic will be okay and you’ll arrive on time. Map applications such as those developed by Google and Apple provide you with not only directions, but real-time updates for traffic, public transportation, closed roads, and anything else of which you should be aware. Rideshare apps like Lyft, Cabify, and Uber also use artificial intelligence to take your location, pair you with a nearby driver, and decide the price based on the time, length of the trip, and demand for drivers. Banking When was the last time you physically went to a bank to transfer money, get account information, or change your mailing address? You probably can’t remember and that’s because the digitization of financial services and inclusion of artificial intelligence has truly transformed the industry, making it much more convenient for users to use an app or website to handle their money in a completely safe and private manner. Artificial intelligence systems for banking have also been curated to flag for potential fraud by analyzing the data of user’s typical spending habits and sending an alert when something seems out of place. Recommendations Have you ever finished an amazing show on Netflix and immediately see a suggestion for yet another show you just know you’re going to love? Thanks to the content you interact with and searches you make, streaming services use artificial intelligence tools to suggest new shows for you. Online stores also use recommendation AI tools to look at your previous purchases and searches and provide suggestions based on what they think you’d buy. For example, if you buy the first book in a series on Amazon, you might get ads or suggestions for the next book in the series or new books that have similarities. Facial recognition Facial recognition has completely transformed our phones, allowing us to access any app or unlock our phones without a passcode or fingerprint. Through both detecting that there is a face and then using artificial intelligence technology to recognize your specific facial features (which can now be done even through a mask!), you have a uniquely secure way to access your personal information. This technology has expanded beyond just phones; airports and high-security institutions now use facial recognition to validate your identity quickly and efficiently. Writing Thank God for spell check, right?! For those that grew up in the age of computers, spell check played an incredibly important role in underlining mistakes and showing us how a word should actually be spelled. But artificial intelligence tools have advanced over the years and now offer prediction options as you write, offering you suggestions based on the database of human speech they have. Just like you learned grammar and spelling in school, AI engineers and researchers work with machines to teach them rules so that they’re better equipped to assist you with your writing. And when it comes to suggestions, they predict what you want to say by reviewing and analyzing tons of data. Self-driving cars This may seem like something purely from the future, but autonomous vehicles are here. There’s still a long way to go, but companies like Tesla are using artificial intelligence to connect to other cars on the road, sense trends, and anticipate and prevent crashes. As this technology becomes more and more advanced, offering even safer alternatives to drivers, we’ll see the number of autonomous vehicles skyrocket. These eight uses of artificial intelligence are just some of our favorites and ones we see all around us. But there are so many more out there and even more that are just around the corner. And the best part? As such a new and rapidly expanding field, the possibilities in the field of artificial intelligence are wide reaching. If you’re interested in diving into artificial intelligence, look no further: Ironhack’s bootcamps are just what you need.

Over the past several years, the “cloud” went from being a buzzword to being the standard. In today’s day and age, the expectation is that information will be readily available anywhere, whether that be your personal data such as photos and messages or your favorite media, such as movies and tv shows. Instead of having to wait for DVDs to be sent to our houses, we can now watch practically anything we want anywhere, anytime, all thanks to the power of the cloud. But, do you know what the cloud actually is? Let’s find out! What is Cloud Computing? Here’s a cloud computing definition for you: cloud computing is the on-demand delivery of computer resources over the internet . In most cases, cloud computing features a pay-as-you-go model, which means that you only pay for the amount of compute resources that you use. Cloud computing enables customers (students, developers, companies) to access services such as storage and compute power without the need to buy and maintain their own servers. As a consequence of the customer not having to manage their own computer resources, customers are able to work from any location and deliver their product to anywhere and everywhere with ease. The advantages of cloud computing cannot be understated. We know what you’re probably thinking: what are the drawbacks to cloud computing? Since cloud computing offers all these great benefits, there must be at least some disadvantages, whether it be the cost, difficulty of use, or something else entirely. Well, that’s partially correct—there are some disadvantages to cloud computing, but they have nothing to do with cost or ease-of-use! In fact, for the vast majority of cases, it’s significantly cheaper to use the cloud than it would be to purchase and maintain servers on-site. Furthermore, cloud providers usually offer various pre-configured servers that make it super easy to get started with product deployment. When it comes to the cloud, there are three major drawbacks: control, security, and internet-reliance. Control : you pay to use computer resources, but since you don’t own the system, you have no control over things such as system updates, scheduled downtime, or pre-set defaults. Security : when you use the cloud, you’re sending all your precious data over the internet to a third party system. Make sure that all your data is always encrypted at rest and in transit! Internet-Reliance : you don’t own the system and the only way you can access the servers holding your data or hosting your website are through the internet. Without internet access, you have no way of managing resources. These considerations are very real—it’s tempting to always have complete control and access to your cloud computer, but it’s probably not something you truly need. Consider that corporations of all sizes, whether it be small startups or multi-billion dollar juggernauts, all use cloud computing even if they can’t have complete control and access to the systems they pay a lot of money to use. If all these companies, some in industries that have strict legal requirements regarding data handling and privacy, are able to use cloud compute resources, then you can too. Cost, Convenience, and Control Otherwise known as the 3 C’s of cloud computing, cost, convenience, and control define the cloud computing services landscape. When customers shop for a computing platform, they’re searching for a solution that minimizes costs and maximizes convenience and control. Let’s break these three considerations down. Cost In general, one of the best benefits of cloud computing is the cost-savings . This is true whether you’re a single developer working on a personal project or whether you’re a massive company working on a global platform—but costs may matter to the two of you for different reasons. A brief lesson on corporate budgeting: there are two kinds of costs: capital expenditures and operational expenditures. Capital expenditures : large purchases of fixed assets to be used long-term Operational expenditures : the costs to run the business on a day-to-day In general, managers and executives don’t want to be associated with large costs (buying more servers for the data center) and so they have a large incentive to instead pay for things over time (pay-as-you-go compute services). By sheer coincidence, it would most likely be cheaper for a company to pay for cloud compute services anyways! And if you’re someone working on a personal project, it will probably always be cheaper to use the cloud than to buy your own server, especially with all the free options offered by services such as AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. Convenience What’s more convenient than on-demand?! Don’t know how to set-up a development-ready computing environment from scratch? Cloud services providers have tons of pre-configured options that you can use so that you can focus on your product and not on managing the underlying infrastructure. Are you launching a product soon and are expecting a large number of visitors to your website? Don’t worry, most cloud services providers are able to scale the amount of compute power dedicated to you when required without any action needed to be taken on your part whatsoever! Are you expanding to a new market? Cloud services providers offer services in different geographical zones that encompass the entire globe. With small configuration changes, you’ll be able to serve your product to people anywhere in the world at lightning speed. Control Most of the time, people want to have as much control over their infrastructure resources as possible. With cloud computing, you don’t have as much control as you would if you had a physical server room—it’s not possible to walk up to the cloud and plug in a computer like you could do with an on-site server. Plus, if your internet connection is down, then you have no control over your cloud services at all! How do cloud services providers deal with these two issues? Control Spectrum Most of the time, you don’t need as much control as you may think you do. While it may be fun to tweak the infrastructure to be exactly how you want it, there are established industry standards that will most likely work for you out-of-the-box. But, that’s not to say that cloud service providers don’t offer products for people who want complete control (or no control) over their infra resources. In general, there are three types of cloud computing: Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) : basic building blocks of IT, but on the cloud. Infrastructure engineers are expected to build and manage the infrastructure to create the solution that will best support the company’s goals. Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) : no need to manage underlying resources! Develop and deploy your application on the cloud and the cloud service provider will take care of capacity planning and software updates for the underlying infrastructure. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) : no need to care about the underlying resources or services! All you have to think about is how you’ll use the software to achieve your objectives. Internet Connectivity What are cloud services providers’ answer to the internet connectivity problem? In truth, they don’t need one: if your internet is down and your infrastructure was located in-house, then none of your customers would be able to reach your services! What would you prefer, to not be able to control your services for a few minutes or for your customers to not be able to use your services for a few minutes? For the vast majority of cases, it’s much better that the customers stay satisfied with the product at the cost of a little control. What’s next? Now that we’ve gone over all the benefits of cloud computing, you’re probably dying to get started working on the cloud. The great thing is that the cloud is finally mainstream—you can get started today! And, if you’re interested in working in the tech industry and creating cool cloud-powered products, then we think that there’s no better place to start than Ironhack’s bootcamps. We offer bootcamps for just about every role in tech, and there’s never been a better time to join the industry. Let’s learn to make the most of the cloud; we can’t wait to see you in class!

Artificial intelligence has been all the rage lately and there’s a reason why: its power has been harnessed to transform the way we live, think, and interact with others. But as it’s become such a powerful tool, its uses have been expanding rapidly–there are probably uses of artificial intelligence that you haven’t even heard of yet! It would take us ages to go through absolutely every use of artificial intelligence, so we’ve decided to break it down into four main areas: reactive machines, limited memory, theory of AI, and self aware. What do each of these mean? How are they similar and different? How do we use each on a daily basis? We’ll have the answers and more in this article. Artificial Intelligence: What is it? Simply put, artificial intelligence is the theory and development of computer systems to be able to perform tasks that are typically reserved for humans because they require human intelligence. It can take lots of forms, but the most common are visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and language translation. And how does it work? Well, let’s keep it simple: artificial intelligence mimics human decision-making processes using real time data to simulate a human response to a situation. This might sound similar to automation, but there’s a key difference: while both use data input to tell the machine what to do, automation is limited in that it simply repeats the task it was instructed to do, regardless of errors or areas for improvement. Artificial intelligence, on the other hand, is able to use real-time data to recognize errors and make adjustments to prevent them in the future. The benefits of artificial intelligence What we described above sounds pretty cool, right? It is, but that’s not the only benefit of AI. Let’s break some others down: Artificial intelligence helps improve decision-making : business decision-making is infinitely easier with artificial intelligence; AI can predict various outcomes based on proposed solutions, allowing businesses to have a preview of diverse possibilities and make the best choice for them. Artificial intelligence simplifies the research process : AI is capable of collecting, sorting, and drawing conclusions from large data sets, a task that can be quite time-consuming if handled by a human. Using AI, data scientists can make informed decisions in much less time. Artificial intelligence doesn’t have typical human limitations : one of the biggest challenges facing humans is bias; unconscious biases seep into even the most skilled data scientist’s work. AI doesn’t have these biases and when provided with clean data, it can make a truly unbiased decision. Artificial intelligence handles mundane tasks : a lot of data-driven jobs and tasks are quite repetitive and tedious; artificial intelligence can automate these tasks and let data scientists focus on what really matters. Uses of Artificial Intelligence in Our Daily Lives You might be thinking that self-driving cars and human-like chatbots that can joke around with you are the only examples of artificial intelligence that are frequently used, but the reality is that artificial intelligence is everywhere. Don’t believe us? Take a look: Facial recognition technology : ever unlocked your phone with just your face? Or logged into a bank account using facial recognition technology? This is AI at work, scanning your face to verify your identity. Social media recommendations : do you wonder just how your phone knows you’d love to look at cute videos of puppies all day? Well, AI can take the data of what you search/look at to provide a customized feed for you. Spelling/grammar suggestions : there’s nothing as cool as typing and seeing the word you’re thinking of appear right in front of you. How does that work?! You guessed it: artificial intelligence. Here, AI uses data from natural language processing to recommend words/edits based on previously collected information. The Four Main Areas of Artificial Intelligence Now that you’re clear on what AI is and how it can help humans with their tasks, let’s dive right into the four main areas of artificial intelligence. Reactive machine artificial intelligence This first category of artificial intelligence is the most basic form and the original; this type of AI is reactive and can react to prompts or user inputs, but can’t use past knowledge or experiences to make new decisions. While reactive machine AI tools are great for one specific task, they have little to no use outside of that determined function; they’re not able to perform other tasks or use new data to continue improving and will respond identically to requests because their database is exactly the same. Here’s a few examples of reactive machine AI: Spam filters in your email inbox Recommendations on streaming services Google’s AlphaGo game player Limited memory artificial intelligence Our second artificial intelligence category is a step more advanced than the first; limited memory AI tools have just that: a limited memory . They’re able to store and use information from past experiences to learn new tasks, but still requires data to be pre-programmed for a specific use. It can analyze real-time data to make predictions and suggestions to humans and evolve based on past experiences. Examples of limited memory artificial intelligence include: Chatbots Self-driving cars Theory of mind artificial intelligence The third category of AI, theory of mind, is a type that hasn’t yet emerged, but is being actively researched and developed. When this type of artificial intelligence is released, it will possess a new capacity that sets it apart from any other technology that exists today: the ability to understand human nature , thoughts, and emotions, and make correct decisions based on that information. As this is a type of artificial intelligence that is still in the works and doesn’t yet exist, we can’t give you any examples. However, we can say that once this type of artificial intelligence enters our world and is able to make human-like decisions and react to what’s happening around it, technology will have reached an entirely new level. Self aware artificial intelligence The final category of artificial intelligence is also far from emerging as a reality, but it’s an area that will truly transform technology and human life; self aware artificial intelligence will be able to form opinions and emotions about themselves, not depending on human-imputed data. Although self aware artificial intelligence is a long way from becoming something that we have in our toolkit, these other three kinds are very real options that can transform the way we think and work. The future of artificial intelligence is bright and we can’t wait to see everything that will happen over the course of the next few years. And if you can’t either, check out our bootcamps and let your tech dreams come true.

Like most industries, the tech industry would not be as strong as it is if it weren’t for the contributions of LGBTQ+ professionals to the field. There’s a long history of LGBTQ+ activism in the tech industry , from workers struggling for more inclusive workplaces to queer folks utilizing technology in social movements within and beyond the tech sector. Considering the ways in which technology mediates our lives, undoubtedly there’s a history of queer identities intersecting with the development of technology , the internet, technological advances in reproductive care, and in all sorts of developments that disrupt outdated understandings of gender and sexuality. The tech industry in many ways promises the ability to re-engineer our world , something queer individuals have been struggling with for centuries. LGBTQ+ Individuals and Technology We hear it all the time that social media and technology, for better or for worse, has transformed the way that we socialize. That said, for many queer folks, technology has offered one of the few ways through which folks can find a community, develop their identities, and beat isolation in an otherwise heteronormative world . Technology has helped mediate queer identities and construct LGBTQ+ communities through: Creating online queer communities that provide information and advice to LGBTQ+ folks Serving as a tool in LGBTQ+ activist movements Offering a space to explore and develop one’s identity Beating isolation Someone who grew up in a rural area or in a context where they may not have felt safe being openly LGBTQ+ may have turned to the internet to find a community. Rachel M. Schmitz and Jennider Tabler explain in their piece, “ Here and Queer in Rural American ,” “ Our awareness of queerness as rural-residing youth was burgeoning , but limited to depictions in popular media, such as Will and Grace .” But with the introduction to the internet , suddenly there was a “new world of easy access to knowledge and social connections previously unimagined.” The internet offered everything from information to community to visibility for queer individuals. From threads about pronouns to anonymous chat rooms, the internet has fostered spaces where queer folks can share experiences, advice, and ask questions without the fear of potential violence. Search histories can be deleted and one can go on their way with often greater knowledge than what is offered at school or from medical professionals. Equally, the transnational aspect of the internet cannot be underplayed. Folks who find themselves in political contexts like the United States, where the conversation around queerness is either non-existant or actively criminalized, the internet again may offer everything from community, visibility, and reassurance for queer folks who may otherwise feel isolated or endangered. The internet and LGBTQ+ activism The internet has been an organizing space for decades. Whether it be the terrain for campaigns like “ It Gets Better, ” or solely a space for hilarious pride month memes , it’s a crucial battlefield for the LGBTQ+ movement. This dates back to the 1970s and 1980s when the early bulletin board servers (BBS) “provided an anonymous place to explore sexuality, share ideas, and even organize political movements.” Most notably, in the 1980s, the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power , or ACT UP, an international activist organization that organized to end the AIDS pandemic, utilized technology to aid their organizing work. ACT UP made use of early online bulletin boards, email lists, and other digital platforms to organize and disseminate information, coordinate actions, and communicate with their broad membership base. In the 1990s, online bulletin board services were one of the main ways the international AIDS community remained informed and organized. As explained in Stephen E. Stratton and Sarah Barbara Watstein’s “ The Encyclopedia of HIV And AIDS ,” these bulletin boards “constituted and fostered the emergence of a new kind of activism.” They became a platform for specialists to share information among clinicians, patients, and individuals who were knowledgeable about AIDS and its research. At that time, a lot of independent research was conducted because many LGBTQ+ folks were “dissatisfied with the lack of progress in AIDS research, [thus they took] it upon themselves to learn the basic science and engage credibly in the ongoing dialogue on AIDS therapies.” These online platforms played a significant role in pressuring politicians to take action, and in shaping the agenda for the development of AIDS treatments . Today, the internet remains a crucial resource for queer folks from promoting visibility, to building online communities, to research and political organizing , it’s a tool whose importance to LGBTQ+ activism cannot be underplayed. Technology and exploring one’s identity Technology has offered a landscape by which individuals can escape the bounds of the gender binary and heteronormative expectations and develop their identities through the digital sphere . Video games and music production softwares are two areas that have proven useful to queer folks and gender performance. Video games For many, video games offer an escape from our daily routine and into fantasy worlds unmediated by the contemporary bounds of modern life. However, in many ways that “escape” may actually be an opportunity to connect to something different. The digital avatar becomes an alternative way to express oneself. According to a recent survey conducted by Nielsen Games, “ LGBTQ+ gamers are 29% more likely to play role-playing games and 54% more likely to play simulation games than the general population.” This is undoubtedly because of the space granted to players to perform alternative parts of themselves, explore their identity, and be something possibly outside the limitations of heteronormative life. Nielsen explains that , “For LGBTQ+ gamers, gaming isn’t just about winning and losing, it’s about being all that you can be.” Music production Many LGBTQ+ artists have utilized music production softwares to explore their gender through manipulating and transforming the pitch of their voices. In this sense, vocal modulation features have become a less invasive way to achieve voice feminization . Sessi Kuwabara Blanchard explains this concept so clearly , “SOPHIE’s stunning new album, OIL OF EVERY PEARL’S UN-INSIDES , amplifies this transsexual spirit of self-engineering by using sound as artistic flesh for surgical operation .” Whether it be the internet, computer softwares, or video game avatars, technology has mediated opportunities to explore our queerness, perform non-normative identities, and disrupt the bounds of heteronormative life. And using technology for reengineering the world remains an ever expanding frontier. The History of LGBTQ+ Inclusion into Tech Workplaces LGBTQ+ folks have long since been on the front lines working for more inclusive workplaces in the tech industry. This timeline offers a general look into LGBTQ+ inclusion into workplaces as well as some tech specific activities that mark big tech as one of the few industries that’s been relatively LGBTQ+ inclusive throughout history. 1953: President Eisenhower signed an executive order banning LGBTQ+ individuals from serving in the federal government. The reasoning was simple: in the midst of the Cold War, the US Government needed to strengthen national security, and LGBTQ+ individuals would obviously threaten it. This widespread discrimination towards LGBTQ+ individuals in this era has become known as “The Lavender Scare,” and in many ways sets the stage for workplace discrimination that continues today. 1960s and 1970s: these years were a period of unrest in the United States, with big activist movements from the Civil Rights movement to the Black Power movement. Queer organizing was no stranger to this period of political protest, with LGBTQ+ groups organizing against discrimination by law enforcement and businesses. There were sit-ins at establishments that refused to serve queer folks and, of course, the Stonewall Riots , a series of protests led by trans women of color in New York in 1969. 1980s: marked a period of harsh discrimination towards LGBTQ+ folks as a result of the AIDS crisis that led to the death of over 100,000 individuals between the years of 1980 and 1991. Because of ignorance surrounding the transmission of AIDS, many LGBTQ+ individuals were terminated from their jobs . In the 1980s, we saw queer organizing within and beyond workplaces. 1986 : Apple became one of the first major corporations to offer equal benefits to same-sex partners. 1990s: saw the growth of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) for LGBTQ+ employees. ERGs were initially started by workers of color in the 1960s to address workplace discrimination and to increase employer focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Following their lead in the 1980s and 1990s, LGBTQ+ employers started ERGs that “expand beyond race-based groups to include groups based on gender, sexual orientation, and disability.” 2002: big tech was well represented in The Human Rights Campaign’s first “ Corporate Equity Index ” that examined employee benefits, workforce protection, inclusive company cultures. In 2002, Apple, Lucent, Intel, Avaya and Xerox all earned 100 percent ratings, reflecting well on the industry’s core values. 2015: tech companies from Adobe to Zynga made up 39 of the 200 companies that signed onto an amicus brief that urged the Supreme Court to invalidate Proposition 8, the California law banning Marriage Equality. 2020: the Supreme Court ruled on Bostock v. Clayton County asserting that workers cannot be terminated based on their sexual orientation. The struggle for LGBTQ+ inclusion in tech workplaces has been one marked by years of struggle. On one hand, the tech industry in many ways has been a pioneer in supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion and gender diversity in the industry . On the other hand, there’s still immense work that the industry needs to do in order to create more inclusive workplaces for LGBTQ+ tech professionals. LGBTQ+ Activism in the Tech Industry Today LGBTQ+ activism in the tech sector continues with a sense of urgency and dedication to building intersectional movements that expand from the fight for inclusive workplaces to a broader struggle for social justice. In recent years, we’ve seen the establishment of LGBTQ+ inclusive non-discrimination policies , workshops on utilizing correct pronouns and inclusive language , gender neutral restrooms , and sensitivity and bias training implemented at many tech companies. Beyond that, we’ve seen efforts to secure resources to make tech education accessible to marginalized communities. Look out for LGBTQ+ tech organizations such as Lesbians Who Tech , Trans Tech Social Enterprise , and Out in Tech which continue to grow across the country and around the world. These organizations have been established with the explicit purpose of supporting LGBTQ+ workers, creating networking opportunities, conferences, and mentorship programs that support visibility and inclusivity for LGBTQ+ tech professionals. Their work should not go unnoticed!

You’ve heard about learning coding languages–that’s the only language you need to worry about in tech, right? Well, as much as we’d like to tell you that it’s true, we have a secret: learning a foreign language is just as important. We understand your confusion: how can you work in web development without knowing how to code?! You probably can’t, and you may not have to prove proficiency in a foreign language to graduate with your degree or certification, but that doesn’t mean it’s useless. Lots of people draw a distinction between the humanities and sciences, frequently assuming from a young age that they have to pick between one or the other. It’s similar to when, growing up, people feel they have to play sports or take part in theater. Although they seem quite different on the surface (and they are!), you can learn valuable skills from both sides which can help advance your career later on. Before we dive into why foreign languages can help your tech career, let’s keep it simple and explain why learning foreign languages in general is a great choice for both your personal and professional lives. Why Should You Learn a Foreign Language? When thinking about foreign languages, you may just think about long lists of verb conjugations and boring vocabulary charts; while that is a part of the process, the benefits of dedicating your time and energy to such a pursuit are totally worth it. Among lots of other reasons, foreign languages provide you with: An increased understanding of other cultures : like we mentioned above, language learning goes much further than just learning words; when you start learning a foreign language, you’ll be introduced to an entirely new culture and way of thinking that can help you better connect with people from different backgrounds. An increased understanding of your own culture : yes, you read that right! When you start to interact with another culture, you’ll better understand your own culture and what makes it unique. Improved communication skills: have you ever tried to communicate with someone who doesn’t speak the same language as you? It’s quite tough and those that are equipped to handle challenging and difficult situations are overall better communicators. Improved analytical and problem solving skills : bilingual people have a higher capacity for both problem solving and analytical thinking. Not convinced? Foreign language learners also benefit from: Better listening skills and memory capacity Increased tolerance and openness Increased creativity Professional reasons to learn a foreign language Now that you’re well-versed on why learning a foreign language is crucial to you personally, let’s discuss the professional reasons why it’s a great idea: You’ll have more job opportunities : the world is becoming increasingly interconnected and if you’re able to communicate with those around you, regardless of their native language (and understand them culturally!) you’ll be seen as a great candidate. You’ll be lined up for success : as we mentioned above, foreign language learning sharpens some of the most important skills, such as communication, teamwork, and cultural awareness. You’ll be a better candidate : employers know everything we’ve outlined above; they’re looking for candidates who are willing to branch out, breaking down barriers and connecting with everyone. We convinced you, right?! Now let’s see what’s next. What language should you learn? This is a specific question that depends almost entirely on you, your language skills, career goals, and interests. First we’ll explore some of the world’s most-spoken languages and then we’ll cover some important details about them, such as their difficulty or things to keep in mind. Mandarin Chinese : there are more than 1 billion Mandarin speakers in the world–most are located in China, but it’s an incredibly crucial language as China continues to emerge as a world power in business. The language itself, however, is quite difficult as it uses an entirely different alphabet (symbols) which will take some time to understand. Spanish : another widely-spoken language is Spanish, with over twenty countries boasting it as their official language and many more where it’s frequently spoken as well. It uses the same alphabet as English and shares lots of similar vocabulary words, which helps facilitate the learning process. German : Germany has long been a major player in both the business and tech worlds and knowing German, despite the widespread use of English in the country, can help you land new opportunities. French : French was the international diplomatic language for a long time and is still widely spoken; in addition, France offers lots of amazing opportunities for techies. Arabic : 22 countries around the world speak Arabic and learning how to speak this frequently-spoken language will help you land more opportunities. Things to keep in mind when choosing a language Although you might have a clear idea of what you want to learn, there are some important things to keep in mind when making your decision: Dialects differ significantly from country to country and even if you learn to speak European Portuguese, you might face challenges if you try to live in Brazil. Make sure you research the dialect of your chosen country and try to familiarize yourself with that specific branch of the language. Check out the estimated difficulty of the language you want to learn; if it’s an extremely challenging one and you can only dedicate a short amount of time to learning it, it will be hard to make it worth your while. However, if you research what you’ll need to do and make it a priority, it’s definitely achievable. Be realistic with yourself and your own abilities; if you already speak Italian and want to learn Spanish, the process will be easier. However, if this is your first language and you want to jump straight into Japanese to be fluent in just a few months, you may need to first lower your expectations a bit. Foreign Languages in Tech You may think that with just English, you’re all set. But as we mentioned above, your foreign language skills can help you land new jobs in all sorts of areas. And if you’re interested in going abroad for work, employers will also look for candidates who can fit in and interact positively with the rest of their company. Following COVID-19, everything became increasingly digital and the distance between countries (virtually speaking) became much smaller. What does this mean? Well: Companies are looking for candidates who are bilingual and can interact successfully with foreign markets/employees. Remote working took off and digital nomad visas are popping up all over; if you’ve ever wanted to live abroad and work remotely, now’s your chance. The increased cultural awareness that comes with foreign language knowledge is a skill that’s highly-demanded by employers. Have we convinced you? We thought so! Now’s the perfect time to get into both tech and foreign language learning and make the world your oyster.

Leaving home can be quite the challenge, but especially when you’re headed abroad. And whether you’re going to travel for a few weeks, take a course abroad for a few months, or move indefinitely for work, you’ll find that the beginning is full of unexpected, new things that may leave you a little shocked. Depending on your personality and past experiences, you may take these challenges in stride and move on, but you might hit some roadblocks in certain areas. When you head abroad to a new place (or even to a place you’ve been before, but have never lived!), it can be quite overwhelming. After all, as soon as you arrive, you’re facing lots of decisions and things to do. Do you have health insurance? Where’s the nearest grocery store? Is your immigration status all set or do you need to register with city hall? Oh, and have you set up a bank account yet? Because adapting to a new environment abroad generally speaking and a new tech environment go hand in hand, we’ll start by covering an overview of tips for moving abroad and then dive into tech-specific tricks that will help you excel in any situation abroad. Ready? Moving Abroad: Why? Well, there might be one more thing to tackle before we dive into tips for once you arrive abroad. After all, your move came from one big decision: taking that step to try something new and head to another country. Why would techies decide to move abroad? What benefits does living abroad offer? There’s a lot of reasons. Tech professionals decide to move abroad because: Lots of bootcamps are offered internationally, giving you the chance to kickstart your tech career while simultaneously exploring a new place, learning a new language, and experiencing a new culture. The vast majority of tech roles are remote, which means you can work from anywhere! You can even pick multiple destinations if you can’t decide on just one; becoming a digital nomad is a great way to explore the world while still earning a paycheck. The skills taught around the world vary significantly and by heading to a new place, you might discover a need that exists in another country that simply isn’t relevant in your home country or you could learn about a completely new way of learning that will help your work at home. Benefits of living abroad include: The chance to hone your foreign language skills; even if you won’t reach fluency during your time abroad, developing language skills is an incredible benefit of living abroad. Even conversational levels of a foreign language can help spice up your resume and set you apart from other candidates. And, of course, it’s a useful and cool skill to have! Facing a whole new set of challenges; no matter what you’ve accomplished so far in both your personal and professional lives, there’s nothing like that moment when you realize you’ve arrived and you’re on your own. If you don’t speak the language, you’ll be faced with even more difficulties with even the simplest of tasks; ordering coffee or asking directions successfully will become a triumph in and of itself. Getting a whole new perspective on life; seeing how people live and work in completely new and different circumstances will open your eyes to so much. And you might even learn something! Watching for new and interesting ways of doing this may tip you off to something you could incorporate into your life once you’re back home. Alright, you get it. Moving abroad is a great choice, no matter why or for how long. So now that you’ve got Google Flights open, let’s cover some basic tips for moving abroad that will help you with all the basic stuff. Adapting to a New Environment Abroad We’ve said it before and we’ll never stop saying it: moving abroad is tough. Your friends who’ve gone abroad might have just posted their beach pictures with their Aperol Spritz’, but that’s not an accurate portrayal of life abroad. In fact, most people you talk to will openly discuss their struggles, especially when they first arrived. But there are ways to combat these difficulties and make your abroad experience the absolute best it can be. Let’s dive right in: Be open-minded : you’ve heard this before, we’re sure, but we truly mean it; being open minded can make the difference between a fun few months and lonely weeks that feel like a lifetime. Even if you don’t usually take part in a certain activity at home, say yes abroad! Try new things, find ways to meet people and interact with locals, and fully engage with your surroundings. Make an effort to connect with the locals : heading abroad with friends or coworkers makes the process a bit easier, and you may find expats upon arrival, even if you moved alone. As tempting as it is to just stick with people from your country or that speak your language, branching out and trying to meet new people, especially locals, will make your experience so much more enriching. Try to adapt to local customs : listen, we’re not saying you need to fully adapt every single custom of your new home, but doing your research before you arrive can help you be prepared to handle cultural differences and not accidentally offend anyone. And when you can, try to adapt your normal habits to those of where you are, which will help you fit in--a social and safety benefit. Put yourself out there : it’s tempting to just curl up in bed and watch Netflix on a Friday night when you don’t know anyone, but putting yourself out there and trying to meet people is an absolutely crucial part of heading abroad. Use local meetup apps or groups or reach out to organizations of which you’d like to be part, such as soccer teams or running groups. Find a balance with connecting to home : you’ll miss your friends and family and probably even your dog--but be careful about over-communicating with those at home. Not only will this just strengthen your feelings of loneliness and homesickness, but it will also prevent you from truly experiencing life abroad and forming a life there. Adapting to a New Tech Environment Abroad Great! You’ve arrived, you’re settled, and now it’s time to get started in a new tech environment abroad. While you think that coding languages are universal (hint: you’re right, they are!), there are lots of other factors that might affect your day-to-day as either a tech student or a tech professional. Don’t believe us? We’ll show you what we mean. Research workplace customs Your last job or school could have been very laid back or relaxed, or it could have demanded an extremely strict dress code and adherence to breaks. Depending on where you’re from, this may change when you head abroad; before you arrive, do some research to familiarize yourself with what life will be like studying or working in a new country. Try to get answers to these questions from social media, contacts you have abroad, or internet research: What is the dress code like, generally speaking? Are there any articles of clothing that would be seen as offensive or inappropriate in a workplace/school setting? What are traditional working hours? Is punctuality a cultural norm and you’re expected to never be even a minute late, or are you given some leeway? What’s the culture like surrounding food? How long is your lunch break? Is it considered rude or disrespectful to eat or drink while at your desk? Your internet research will help you get answers to some of these questions, but not all. If you still have doubts heading into your first day or week, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification; more likely than not, everyone will be very helpful. And if you’re not totally comfortable looking to others for help, be observant the first week and see what you can learn from just watching those around you. Be smart with your safety You may be coming from a place where you could leave your bag open on the floor while you head to lunch or walk home with your headphones playing music and your phone in your hand, but that may not be the best choice in your new city. Even if your new home has a reputation for being safe, be cautious at first. Odds are you’ll look like a tourist for at least a little bit, if not the entire time, and it’s best to not draw attention to yourself. Here are our tips and tricks: Get in the habit of dropping your work materials off at home after work if you’re headed out; if you don’t live close, it may be better to leave your computer in the locked office overnight instead of walking around with it daily. Be aware of your surroundings and try to fit in with those around you, especially during your first few weeks. Trust your gut and research areas to avoid and the best places to live/walk. Make copies of all your important documents and carry the copy around with you instead of the actual document: passport, visa, IDs, and anything that you wouldn’t want to lose. Get ready to think outside the box Even if you’re the world’s most experienced professional and you’re totally well-versed in every tool on the planet, you’re still going to experience some differences and it’s best to be fully prepared for them. People are products of the environments in which they’re raised and being ready to tackle new ways of thinking, new meeting etiquette, and ways of handling conflict may be something you didn’t expect at all. Make an effort to fit in Regardless of your new location, the vast majority of companies operate primarily in English. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to at least learn some basic words in the local language, greeting your coworkers in their language and showing them that you’re trying to fit in. After all, if they’re making an effort to speak to you in your native language, why not do the same? Are you ready to excel while living abroad?! No matter if you’re headed overseas for work or studying, it will be a challenge, but one you’re totally equipped for. Now that you’re convinced, check out our bootcamps and take advantage of any of our awesome campuses to get that abroad experience while kickstarting your tech career.

Has anyone ever told you that everything worth doing is worth doing well? We can guess that yes, you’ve heard this at one point or another. But your definition of “doing well” might differ quite drastically from someone else’s. And even more importantly, you may have different ways of working or deciding what’s important; after all, with the wide range of options out there, you can fine-tune basically anything these days. Prefer shopping in a store? Done. Do you want to have your groceries delivered to your home? Check. This myriad of options isn’t limited to just your shopping preferences. These days, your education opportunities are incredibly broad, thanks to the internet and the rush of digitalization that the world witnessed during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. But we’re not just talking about remote learning options; as more and more people use the internet for educational purposes, the amount of learning material online has skyrocketed. You can take courses in practically any subject for a wide range of costs ; these courses have risen exponentially particularly in the tech industry. Whether you’re looking for a free coding bootcamp or paid bootcamps, there’s tons of options out there. And we understand you probably have lots of questions about bootcamps in general, especially when it comes to financing options. Are paid bootcamps worth it? Do you get paid to go to bootcamp? Are there any free bootcamps? We’ll cover these doubts and much more below, but let’s first cover the basics of what a bootcamp is and why you should be interested in one, be it free or paid. What is a Bootcamp? A bootcamp is an intensive course held over a few weeks or months on a certain topic. Because of the extremely fast speed at which tech is moving, they’ve become increasingly popular with those looking to make a career change and jump into tech . These days, most bootcamps boast in-person or remote options and the choice of taking it full-time, everyday over the course of a few weeks or months, or extending it a bit more and taking advantage of a more relaxed part-time schedule to continue working or studying. But where you’ll take it and how long you’ll be in the course for aren’t the only decisions you’ll have to make. You’ll have to choose a specific area of tech in which to focus and, most importantly, decide if you want to take a paid or free bootcamp. Unsure of which is best for you? Let’s explore both options. Free Bootcamps If the financial commitment of a paid bootcamp is intimidating to you, free bootcamps do exist; in fact, some of the best free coding bootcamps are highly praised and offer a great education. However, as with anything, there will be some limitations with free bootcamps . Let’s check them out: While free bootcamps are, well, free, lots will have additional or useful materials behind a paywall which means that while the course itself is free, you won’t have access to other resources you may need for success. Free bootcamps frequently lack specialized attention and support; if you’re new to tech and struggling with a concept at the beginning of the course, it may be difficult to reach the instructor and clear up your confusion. Personalized support may be an add-on in lots of free bootcamps. For example, if you’re looking for a free data science bootcamp but have no clue how to use Excel, you may find that a bootcamp that dives right into the nitty gritty is too advanced for you. This depends on the topic of your bootcamp, but lots of systems and tools require subscriptions or only offer limited basic trials; free bootcamps won’t include access to these tools in your course and you may have to take on that cost yourself to use it, even if it’s essential to your bootcamp. A free software engineering bootcamp may teach you how to use a certain software but lack the permissions to actually practice what you’ve learned. Your career assistance may be quite limited as the tips and tricks you’ll get will be generalized and applicable to your course as a whole, instead of your personal situation and unique background. Even with all these points, there are some specific cases when a free bootcamp would be the best choice for you: If you’re looking to dip your toes into tech without a financial commitment, a free course or bootcamp is a great way to sample what one would be really like and try out some basic concepts before making your final decision. If you don’t have the financial means/haven’t found a financing option that works for you, but are still interested in learning tech. You work better on your own and want to focus only on topics that you’re interested in and aren’t looking to follow a predetermined curriculum. Aren’t sure you fit in any of these categories? Well, that’s where paid tech bootcamps come into play. Paid Bootcamps If you’re sure a career in tech is the next step for you, paid bootcamps may be the ideal choice. Here’s why: Your tuition will include the full cost of the bootcamp and any additional aspects that you may not think of at the beginning: access to any tools you might need, bootcamp gear, additional resources, and more. Paid bootcamps also include prework, which is work you’ll be assigned before the course even starts! This helps everyone enter the bootcamp on the same page, with all the necessary foundational knowledge needed for success. High-quality bootcamps will limit their students to a certain number so that the ratio of student to instructor is low; others will even offer teaching assistants that are typically graduated bootcamp students that can provide even more support and personalized attention to each and every student. Here’s where paid coding bootcamps differ from free ones; these courses move fast and if you fall behind in a free course, you’re pretty much on your own. Paid bootcamps will give you the chance to reach out to the teaching staff for any help you might need. Paid bootcamps offer much more to students; this can include personalized and curated career support, job boards, on-campus events, remote/hybrid options, skilled instructors, and more. When choosing your bootcamp, make sure you check out all your institution offers and get the most out of it. If you’re still torn between the two options, we think a paid bootcamp is best for you if: You benefit from structure and guided courses, instead of open studying methods where you lead your own progress. You find a financing option that can help you spread out the payments over time, have a scholarship, or can afford the full cost of the bootcamp upfront. You are serious about finding a role you’re passionate about right after you graduate and want to benefit from your institution’s career services and alumni network. Paid vs. Free Bootcamp Burning Questions We hope we’ve covered all your questions so far, but just in case, let’s answer some of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to the financial aspect of bootcamps. Is bootcamp free at tech schools? Is coding bootcamp free? We get this question frequently and well, as you read above, it depends on the course you choose! If your bootcamp is free or not will depend entirely on the course you choose and its set-up; if you’re not sure if a bootcamp is the right choice for you, lots of institutions offer free resources to help you make that decision. Check those out! Do I get paid to go to a bootcamp? In the majority of cases, you won’t get paid to go to the bootcamp, but you’ll benefit from an incredible career change where you’ll be poised to make a competitive tech salary. If you’re worried about losing your income during the bootcamp, consider part-time options where you’re able to keep working while learning. Do bootcamps provide financial assistance? Yes! Those who run bootcamps are aware of their cost and why you’re interested in taking one: the opportunity to transform your career and get started in a new field where your earnings are high. That’s why lots offer financing options such as scholarship, payment plans, income share agreements, and more to help make them accessible for you. Tech Bootcamps with Ironhack At Ironhack, we’re proud to offer bootcamps in web development, UX/UI design, data analysis, and cybersecurity. Our tuition fees vary depending on the length of the bootcamp, your chosen modality, the topic, and the location, but we’ve designed them to be as affordable as possible and an incredible way to dive into tech. Here’s how: All our bootcamps are taught by sector professionals that have years of experience in the field. The student to instructor ratio is low and provides lots of opportunities for one-to-one assistance if you fall behind. We also have teaching assistants in our bootcamps who are often Ironhack alumni themselves, experienced in the material and being successful in the course. We constantly update our curriculum and syllabi to match market needs: has a new tool emerged? Are employers looking for candidates with a new skill? We work hard to ensure that our graduates are uniquely suited for entry-level positions in the tech world. Our Career Services is designed to help you reach success through personalized, one-to-one assistance where you’ll meet with our Career Coaches who are HR professionals in the tech field to perfect your resume and interview skills and find the best role for you in the shortest time possible. Each of our campuses offers financing options that are specifically curated to make the bootcamp as affordable as possible. If you can’t pay the entire cost upfront, we offer payment plans to help spread out the cost. And if you’d rather wait and start paying off your bootcamp once you’ve landed a job, that’s also an option with our income share agreements. No matter your situation, our Admissions team will work with you to find the best solution for you. So, what do you think? Is a paid bootcamp the right choice for you, or should you consider free courses? No matter what you decide, Ironhack has something for you. Check out our courses and start your jump into tech today.

Got yourself a computer science degree ? Why not consider a data science career? You’ll be at the forefront of exciting new innovations. Technologies that inform the world of tomorrow, like AI or the metaverse, all come from data scientists. What’s more, the industry is booming. By 2030, it’s predicted to have a value of $378.7 Billion . If you’re realistic about a career in data science, there’s one skill that is essential . We’re talking, of course, about coding. There’s no denying it’s a daunting concept. And with so many languages to choose from, where do you even start? Luckily, this article is here to put your mind at rest. We’ll look at some top programming languages that can get you started. We’ll also uncover some of the questions that people have about Data Science Programming languages and explore the latest Data Science trends . So, let’s get started! Python There’s a good chance that you’ve heard of Python already. There’s a reason for that; it’s the most popular programming language in the world and according to the TIOBE index , it’s held this title since 2001. Platforms that we all know like Google, YouTube and Spotify, were all written in Python. Given its continued longevity, it’s a good idea to learn Python for data engineering . Let’s look at some of the reasons for Python’s popularity: Pros of Python It’s excellent for beginners: if you’re new to coding, there are few better places to start than Python; it’s one of the easiest programming languages to learn. Even if you’re looking at code written by someone else, you should be able to understand it without too much difficulty. It boasts a huge community : one of the advantages that comes with having a huge user base like Python’s is community . There are thousands of free online resources to help you get started and you can join groups of professionals for advice. It’s great for AI development : there’s no denying that AI will transform the future. From product recommendations to AI-generated art, technology is already making an impact. Python is a great choice if you want to be at the forefront of this change and is considered the best language for AI development. Why not set yourself up an AI domain and use Python to create the next big thing? It’s extremely portable: one of the biggest issues with some programming languages is the lack of compatibility. You might have written your code to run on one platform. But will it work on another without requiring you to make any alterations? Python runs on most platforms, making your life easier. Kubernetes Monitoring enables proactive identification of compatibility issues, resource utilization, and efficient troubleshooting, ensuring smoother deployments and improved compatibility across diverse environments. It’s great for building APIs: let’s say that you’re developing something that requires multiple apps to exchange data. In this case, you’ll need an application programming interface (API); Python is one of the most efficient languages for building APIs (although you might need the help of an API guide to ensure that you interface properly). Cons of Python It’s not as effective for mobile users : there’ll be many times when you have to write code that will function on mobile devices. Sadly, this is where Python falls short: it’s not supported by either IOS or Android due to its low-rate processing. It uses lots of memory space : Python is capable of carrying out many complex tasks but doing so requires a great deal of memory space. For certain coding tasks (i.e., those that need memory optimization), this could be an issue. It’s difficult to test: it can take a lot of time to test software written in Python because before you can launch the output, every issue needs to be dealt with. Adding to this headache, the more systems you interact with, the longer the testing duration. Java Like Python, Java is a commonly known programming language and is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a career in data science . Java has also been around for a while, first appearing in 1995 and since then, the language has grown significantly, today powering many popular web applications. It’s both secure and versatile and the chosen language by many programmers. Pros of Java You can write once and run anywhere: Java’s Creator, James Gosling, had a clear vision for his language. He summed this up in a single sentence “Write once, run anywhere. ” With Java's capabilities and dedicated hosting solutions, your code can be sent to anyone, regardless of the platform they are using. If one team member is using Mac and another Linux, both would be able to run code without any issues thanks to Java. It is secure: with 66% of small to medium-sized businesses having experienced a cyber attack in the past 12 months, you want software that is highly secure. Java contains many different security options, including a security manager that allows programmers to define the rules of access for classes It has efficient memory storage: Java splits memory allocation into two areas. These are Stack Area and Heap Area, making memory storage more efficient and less demanding for your system. Cons of Java It has a slow speed and performance: if you’re looking for a quick programming language, Java probably isn’t the solution for you. Each code must be interpreted to the machine-level code, making Java much slower than some other popular programming languages. It doesn’t have a backup option: losing code is never fun, especially if you’ve spent long hours perfecting it. Sadly, Java provides little help in this regard as it applies a greater emphasis on storage, rather than on backing up data. It’s not hard to see why this is a big issue for some programmers. It’s difficult to read: compared to a programming language like Python, Java is much more difficult to read. The language has been described as ‘verbose’. Each piece of code is made up of long sentences and can take you a while to decipher. JavaScript Having deja vu? Java and JavaScript sound very similar; in fact, they are often assumed to mean the same thing. They are, however, two distinct programming languages. JavaScript is actually an extremely popular option. It’s the chosen language for 69.7% of developers and is used for a range of purposes serving pretty much all industries. Pros of JavaScript It’s an extremely versatile option : one of the reasons that JavaScript is so popular is that it can be used for pretty much, well, everything . JavaScript is used to power simple coding tasks such as animation, but is also used for web pages, video games, and apps. In a nutshell, there’s a good chance JavaScript will meet your needs, whatever they may be. It can create rich interfaces: it’s important that your software contains effective user interfaces . Luckily, JavaScript contains all the features you need to create a polished product and the language can enable you to build extremely detailed interfaces. And you can make your UIs highly interactive with features like MagicZoom and responsive menus to take your software to the next level. It’s a simple option : alongside Python, JavaScript is regarded as one of the simplest options for programming languages. It’s an ideal language for those writing code for websites in particular as JavaScript was designed to be highly accessible to web developers. Node.js, a JavaScript runtime, has gained significant popularity due to its ability to build scalable and efficient web applications. With the help of tools like node-fetch proxy , developers can easily handle HTTP requests, set up proxies, and ensure secure communication between the client and server. JavaScript's integration with Node.js and the availability of useful libraries and frameworks make it a versatile language for building web-based applications. Cons of JavaScript Browsers will interpret the language differently : let’s say that you’ve written a piece of code for a website. You test it in Google Chrome, and everything seems fine. But then, you try Microsoft Edge. Suddenly, nothing’s working as it should be. This is because each browser interprets JavaScript differently. The only way to avoid this issue is by testing each browser individually. It raises security issues: everyone can see JavaScript code. Sadly, this opens the door to misuse as it’s easy for wrongdoers to add code that causes security risks within your code. SQL Let’s think for a moment about databases. They’re used by businesses of all shapes and sizes. An organization can dip into a database and get the information that they need in seconds. But how were they able to do so? Well, it’s all thanks to SQL; with SQL, we can modify, withdraw, and interface with data--an essential programming language for any data scientist. Pros of SQL It’s quite responsive : queries are processed in seconds with SQL data modeling tools . When you need to find an important piece of data, you can do so quickly. With SQL, you can withdraw large amounts of data without any problem. It requires minimal knowledge: one of the great advantages of SQL is that you don’t need to be a master coder to jump in. You can manage a database using only small amounts of code and the language is completely made up of English statements (eg. INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE). It’s a standardized language: SQL is a standardized language that has been approved by ANSI and ISO. This means that it has detailed documentation and is recognized globally. Cons of SQL It lacks control: thanks to hidden corporate rules, SQL doesn’t afford a programmer full control over a database. This means you’ll be limited in what you can do with your data. It can be expensive: some versions of SQL can burn a hole in your wallet. If you’re using SQL Server Enterprise, for example, you’ll be paying a whopping $5,434 per year. Start Your Data Science Journey Today! If you’re after a career change , data science represents an exciting opportunity. But the concept of learning a coding language is a barrier to many. Hopefully, after reading this article, the idea seems a little less daunting. As you can probably tell, there is no shortage of programming languages. And many of them are accessible to beginners! But regardless of whether you are new to coding, or just fancy learning a new language, you’ll have access to a huge community online. Any of the languages listed here could open the door to data science. Why not choose one and jump in?

The tech industry promises the possibility for creative interventions and advancements in all facets of human life. It goes unquestioned that we live with technology and that algorithms, social media, and technological innovations structure our lives. Here exists a great possibility for powerful interventions that can lead to a more inclusive world for women and LQBTQ+ folks. That said, the tech industry needs to be gender inclusive, LGBTQ+ friendly, and support gender diversity if it wishes to re-engineer the world . On one hand, the tech sector is known for being one of the more queer-friendly sectors, with protocols supporting gender diversity in tech and with many efforts to close the gender gap in tech. On the other hand, the industry still has a lot of work to do in terms of gender inclusion, and must work to find solutions to eliminate gender discrimination in the industry. The Tech Industry and Gender Inclusion Despite the tech industry having a progressive face, gender discrimination still characterizes the field. In the United States, women make up 47% of the workforce , however, it was reported that only 22.7% of all information technology professionals are held by women , while 77.3% are held by men (there was no data collected on non-binary folks working in tech). Additionally, for women working in tech, the promotional opportunities are few and far between when compared to men. Closing the gender gap in tech has never felt more urgent . On the other hand, the percentage of adults who identify as LGBTQ+ in the United States is up to 7.1% , but they make up 11% of all technology professionals . This may be partially due to the tech industry being relatively young, with the average aged tech professional being 42.2 years old . We know that younger folks tend to identify as LGBTQ+ at higher rates, with over 21% of Generation Z Americans who’ve reached adulthood (born 1997-2003 roughly), identifying as LGBTQ+. Additionally, the tech industry’s hubs of Seattle, San Francisco and Atlanta all boast having LGBTQ+ populations of almost two or three times the national average. These external factors have a great impact in the demographics of these companies, but does that mean these companies have done enough work to disrupt gender discrimination in the tech industry? Understanding Gender Identity and Gender Discrimination in Tech What is gender identity and gender discrimination? In order to create more inclusive work spaces, we need to first be on the same page about what some of the problems women and LGBTQ+ individuals face at work. Before we really get into it, let’s define a couple terms: Gender identity: refers to one’s deeply felt sense of their own gender. It may or may not align with the sex they were assigned at birth. One’s gender identity encompasses their personal and psychological identification as a man, woman, both, neither, or another gender entirely. Gender identity is often an intrinsic part to a person’s self-identification and may not necessarily fit into societal expectations or stereotypes associated with the sex assigned to them at birth. Transgender: transgender is an umbrella term that encompasses folks whose gender identity differs from the sex assigned to them at birth. For example, someone assigned male at birth who identifies as a woman is a transgender woman, and someone assigned female at birth who identifies as a man is a transgender man. Gender non-binary: someone who’s gender non-binary, or simply “non-binary” or “genderqueer,” identifies with a gender identity that does not fall within the man/woman gender binary. Non-binary individuals may identify with a gender identity that is a combination of both genders, as neither male nor female, or as a different gender altogether. Non-binary people may use gender neutral pronouns like they/them or alternative pronouns. Cisgender : is a term used to describe people whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth . Queer : is an umbrella term to describe individuals who do not conform with societal expectations surrounding gender and sexuality. Queer identity can be claimed by those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, or any other non-heterosexual or non-cisgender identity. The term has been reclaimed by the LGBTQ+ community as a way to embrace the diverse identities and combat rigid categories and labels. Gender discrimination: refers to the unfair or unequal treatment of individuals based on their gender, such as treating somebody less favorably or denying them opportunities, rights or privileges due to their gender. Gender discrimination may be explicit or implicit, but in all cases has real impacts on one’s well being and access to resources or opportunities. Understanding gender discrimination in tech Undoubtedly, the tech industry has taken many steps to support women in the field and make the industry more queer-inclusive, that said, there remains much work to be done to reduce gender discrimination in the tech industry . Gender discrimination in the tech industry can manifest in a variety of ways. The pay gap The “pay gap” is a phrase used to highlight the difference in earnings of different groups of individuals who work in similar roles, have similar qualifications or experiences, but differ in demographic. The most commonly discussed pay gap is the gender pay gap , which describes the differences in pay that women receive relative to their male counterparts while working in the same roles or are equally qualified. In 2022 the US Census Bureau estimated that women make $0.82 to every dollar a man makes in the tech industry. Pay gaps reflect broader systemic inequalities, meaning it’s not a concept that’s exclusive to gender, rather something that impacts all workers differently depending on the worker's demographic and intersecting identities : For example, Vox reported in 2021 that Black women in tech make $0.90 to every dollar a white man makes . In 2021, the Human Rights Campaign published similar findings showing that queer workers make $0.90 relative to their non-queer counterparts . And of course, if you’re at the axis of multiple intersecting identities, your pay may also reflect that as shown by women of color suffering the biggest pay gap in tech . The pay gap must be addressed as we work to support gender diversity in tech and eliminate gender discrimination in the tech industry. Lack of representation in leadership positions If we look at gender diversity in tech statistics, a 2022 report from McKinsey clarifies any doubts we had about the gender gap in tech: The report explains how women remain significantly underrepresented in leadership roles , with women holding 48% of entry level positions, but only 26% of upper level leadership positions . Women in tech are promoted at a 52% rate in relation to male promotions. T hose numbers are lower for queer women, women of color, women with disabilities and the intersections of those identities. Micro and macro aggressions “Microaggressions” and “macroaggressions” are two terms used to describe different forms of discriminatory behaviors or actions . Microaggressions are said to be more subtle, these are everyday comments or actions that may not intend to be harmful, but have an impact on individuals or groups based on their gender, race, sexual orientation or other characteristic. “Diversity in Tech” reports that, 53% of LGBT workers have heard jokes about gay and lesbian people at least once whilst being at work, and 1 in 5 LGBT employees have reported that they have been told or it has been implied to dress more masculine or feminine. These sorts of comments are subtle daily ways that queer tech professionals are told that their queer identity is unacceptable and may feel like they have to hide that part of them in order to be successful tech professionals. Addressing microaggression is necessary in building a safer and more inclusive workspace. Macroaggressions , on the other hand, are outward or explicit acts of discrimination. Macroaggressions include hate speech, physical violence, or systematic discrimination. It’s possible to encounter both types of aggressions while at work, although microaggressions are most likely more common in workplaces. These actions must be addressed as one step towards eliminating gender discrimination in the tech industry. Creating a More Inclusive Workplace More and more companies are taking steps to ensure that their workplaces are inclusive and that gender discrimination doesn’t go unaddressed. We’d recommend the following actions at both the personal and organizational levels in order to eliminate gender discrimination in tech: Diversity and inclusion protocols: companies should develop and enforce diversity and inclusion policies that include specific protections for women and LGBTQ+ employees. These could be anti-discrimination policies, gender-inclusive restroom protocols, or support for gender transition in the workplace. Bias awareness and training : bias awareness training has shown to help increase awareness of unconscious biases and build a more inclusive mindset. Training on LGBTQ+ inclusion and gender diversity are important in giving employees the language and knowledge to foster a more inclusive workplace. Inclusive communication and language : familiarizing yourself with inclusive language is crucial for communicating with gender diverse employees and clients. Learning to use gender-neutral language, introducing yourself or signing off on emails with your pronouns, and respecting names and pronouns of others will help create a safer workplace. Addressing harassment and discrimination: companies need clear reporting mechanisms and protocols for addressing and reporting harassment. Ensuring that these channels are well established, easy to navigate, and lead to prompt responses to incidents reported will create an environment where tech professionals feel safe addressing harassment, discrimination, or microaggressions, and confident in the organization’s commitment to eliminating gender discrimination. Creating a more inclusive workplace is important to a company’s success. Companies are realizing the importance of supporting gender equality in tech and many have taken action. These are just a few potential ways a company can work to reduce gender discrimination in the tech industry. On technology and queer possibility On a different note, advancements in technology have done wonders in transforming our understandings of the self, gender identity, queer possibility and a future where outdated understandings of gender and sexuality can be made obsolete. The intersection of gender identity and technology is an exciting one because of the prospect of harnessing technology to create a more gender inclusive future. Gender inequality and gender discrimination is still deeply embedded in tech and needs to be addressed, but there is hope. The emancipatory potential of technology and the tech industry remain the ever enticing horizon before us. Learn more about the gender gap in tech , supporting women at the workplace, and other tips to embrace gender diversity in tech at the Ironhack Blog .

So you want to be a superhero and defend the world from supervillains? Then you made the right choice in becoming a cyber professional! Cybersecurity is a hot field with a lot of opportunities; according to Cybersecurity Ventures , there will be an estimated 3.5 million available cybersecurity jobs for skilled workers by 2025. First things first, though: you have to land that job. And how do you go about doing that? The first step to think about is creating a strong resume that truly represents your personality, skills, and experiences. Before diving into the nitty gritty of what a strong cybersecurity resume looks like, let’s take a look at what a resume is. What is a Resume? Shrouded in mystery, confusion, and even overwhelm, a resume’s goal is to show the company a brief yet detailed overview of who the applicant is, usually boasting five sections that provide you with the opportunity to show off several parts of both your personal details and professional life. So what are these five parts? Contact details: as you can imagine, this is how companies will contact you and includes your full name and contact details such as address, phone number(s), and email. Introduction: brevity and concision are key here. This space is dedicated to writing a short introduction in two to three sentences. Answer the following questions here: Who are you? What do you offer the company? Education: a strong educational background shows many companies that you have worked hard to arrive at where you are now. Here you want to include the university where you studied, your major(s)/ minor(s), and any awards. Be careful to only put pertinent educational information related to cybersecurity and to order it from most recent to oldest experiences. Work Experience: although education is important, demonstrating that you’ve used your knowledge in the workplace and applied it to new problems is even more crucial in some ways. The jobs you take on in your adult life continue your story beyond a university where employers can see how your goals, ambitions, and values align . In this section, you include the details of your work experience such as the role you had, name of the company, and the amount of time you worked there, in addition to the responsibilities you had that demonstrate that you are the right candidate. Skills: this section focuses on showcasing both your hard and soft skills that you have picked up along the way and where certifications can be named. What makes resumes so important? You may be thinking, ‘ wow, on top of everything else, I need to also create and update my resume ’; however, resumes are still an essential part of the hiring process. Although the application process may be one click away when you are applying on LinkedIn, Indeed, or on any other job hunting online services, having an updated resume is significant for the following reasons: Resumes show the meat and potatoes of who you are , leading recruiters to invite you into the interview process with the awareness of your values, identity, and brand. The sheer quantity of resumes that companies receive is staggering! How do they sift through the ones that they believe to be stand-outs? AI and machine learning help choose the most appropriate resumes based on parameters around keywords and phrases. Knowing the right words will make them choose yours next time. Resumes also highlight all the skills and benefits of bringing you onto the team and making an impact on their own company . Resumes for Cyber Professionals Adventuring out into the world with your head held high and excitement for that first job may be what they show in the movies, but it can be terrifying to expose yourself and take those first steps towards earning your first paycheck as a cyber professional. Everyone has been there before, but an essential part of filling your first position as a cyber professional is about the resume. Some of you may be thinking ‘ what do I need to learn about cyber resumes that I don’t already know? ’ Let’s answer your question: Types of resumes in cybersecurity The following are three types of resumes that you can find in cybersecurity: Chronological resume: you already know that chronological refers to time and this resume lists all of your information in order from most recent to oldest. If you have a lot of work experience, this may be the most appropriate type of resume since it focuses on showing your consistent and reliable work history. Nevertheless, there’s no need to put more than ten years worth of experience on your resume. Functional resume: unlike a chronological resume, this type is more beneficial for those who maybe just graduated from university or recently switched careers. So what defines this type? Well, it focuses on the skills you’ve picked up along the way , making them the star of the show and once you choose your most valuable skills, you can then go into further detail on how you went about developing that skill. Further down the resume, you can list any certifications and educational background and later your work experience information including the companies, time spans, and roles. Combination resume: Not sure which one to choose? You’re in luck since you can have the best of both worlds and combine these two types into a hybrid, beefing up your skills and including your list of work experiences. Sections of your resume You’ve seen the types of resumes, you’ve decided which one works best for your cyber professional resume, and you’re ready to write and share your story. Let’s move onto what the different sections of your resume should contain and detail to make your resume exceptional for those recruiters. Professional summary This is an optional section that some decide to include in their resumes to highlight certain skills or experiences. If you do want it to be present, you have to ensure that it stands out from the rest . Instead of writing about your current job experience, a fantastic way to leverage this space is to really contemplate the skills you have that set you apart from the rest. Most people will write about critical-thinking or problem solving skills, but what about your specific abilities? Maybe you won first place at a hackathon and in the process, helped design some sort of software; you can work that into a description such as ‘ designed and created software that won first place at a Hackathon .’ Winning a hackathon is no easy feat and shows that you can work on a team while under pressure in a short time frame. Job experience As you can already imagine, this is the section where you have the opportunity to show your professional experiences, naming some very important details such as the position, company, time span of employment, and responsibilities you carried out. This section has its difficulties when choosing the correct language for how you want to describe your responsibilities and duties. Once you’ve chosen the responsibilities from your that will most work for a cyber professional, consider the follow tips: Use dynamic verbs to captivate recruiters Include numbers and figures where possible Vary the language Limit to three or four points maximum These descriptions are where you want to shine a bright light onto your hard work and thus it requires powerful, specific words to accomplish that objective. Educational background Education can say a lot about where you come from and the methodologies that you now use in your present life. Here, you want to include any other experiences that show your vast knowledge on the topic, like if you wrote or collaborated on any published papers, supported a teacher as a TA, interned, or even participated in a pertinent student organization. You may also be unsure of if you would like to put your GPA, and we get it. It can be scary to put that number down, but the truth is that recruiters don’t normally pay too much attention to it . A general rule about GPAs on resumes is that if it is above a 3.5 , go ahead and include it. Skills The final section of your resume comes down to possibly the most important one where your abilities and expertise are put under the spotlight. When employers are searching for the right employees, they highly value the technical skills that potential candidates boast. To make it easier for them to see all your cybersecurity resume skills, you can efficiently and concisely list them out. The following skills are fantastic ones to include on your cybersecurity resume: Technical skills: network and system configuration, firewall installation, programming languages (Python, Javascript, PHP, SQ, HTML and C are the most valuable for cyber professionals), administration of various operating systems Soft skills: adaptability, inquisitiveness and curiosity, logical reasoning, creativity, communication skills, problem-solving skills, composure under pressure, ethics, teamwork Cybersecurity resume examples The final step of writing your cybersecurity analyst resume is to take a look at some cybersecurity resume examples. They are a fantastic way to not only feel inspired and take ideas, but also to see if you’re on the right track. You can find great examples here at Resumeworded and they even have cybersecurity resume templates; these tools can help bring your resume to the next level! Once you break it down into smaller, bite-size pieces, it can seem a lot less scary, right? Knowing what it takes to write up your resume is the first part, but the next part is sitting down and knocking it out. All it takes is a bit of confidence and the guts to start sending those first resumes and with the amount of unfilled jobs for cybersecurity, you’ll get your first cybersecurity analyst job in no time. If you want to dive head first into the field of cybersecurity, have no fear and take a look at our cybersecurity bootcamp!

For organizations seeking to harness the power of data to gain new insights, the demand for data analysts continues to grow across all industries. Even though your role as an analyst is in high-demand, the ticket to your dream job starts with a killer resume. It’s your opportunity to showcase your skills, experience, and analytical prowess to prospective employers. Before we dive into creating a stellar data analyst resume, let’s outline some basic resume components and their functions. Elements of an Effective Resume A resume (or CV) is a document that shows employers a brief summary of your history and the valuable attributes you possess. Often comprised of five sections, it’s meant to highlight your qualifications, alongside your unique skills and achievements. Let’s look more closely at the essential sections of a resume and the most important information to include: Contact information: provide your full name, professional title (e.g., Data Analyst), phone number, and email address. Tip: if you have a professional website or social media network, include it here so interested employers can further learn about you and your work. Summary statement: write a succinct summary that states your key qualifications, the type of role you’re seeking, and the value you provide. Tip: it’s key that this statement contains a seed of where you’d like to go career-wise, rather than where you are now. Focus on your purpose, aspirations, and the prominent skills you bring to the table. Education: outline your educational history; name of institution, field of study, and any academic achievements. Begin with your highest or most recent degree and omit any dated or irrelevant educational experience. Tip: if you have relevant certifications such as Ironhack bootcamps or have completed courses related to data analysis or machine learning, use this section to highlight them. Experience: include the company name, job title and description, and employment dates for each role. Tip: focus on describing your responsibilities and achievements in each role, and if possible, provide quantifiable data to back your impact. Skills: share your diverse range of hard and soft skills, and emphasize what skills make you a unique candidate. Tip: be creative with your language around soft skills; avoid stale wording like “team-player” or “problem-solver” and speak more to the distinct values you contribute. Why are resumes so important? More often than not, your resume is the first point of contact with a potential employer . While it might be faster to submit an outdated resume, consider that making a distinct and positive impression could be the difference between actually securing an interview and getting passed over. Let’s go through some of the benefits of developing a strong resume: Submitting a dynamic resume helps you stand out amongst dozens (even hundreds) of other applicants, and actually be chosen for an interview. Writing a resume that includes relevant keywords related to the industry and the position are less likely to be sorted out by AI or machine learning tools utilized by employers. Updating your resume improves your ability to self-reflect and speak to potential employers about your history and abilities. Resumes for Data Analysts Okay data analysts, finally ready to land your dream job? In a rapidly changing and often competitive tech world, a compelling resume can significantly increase your career prospects and set you apart from the competition. Let’s consider why a data analyst might want to revamp their resume: Skyrocket salary potential: a strong resume can elevate your earning potential, securing you impressive compensation packages that surpass the average. Attract flexible and remote opportunities: a standout resume increases your chances of landing remote or flexible data analysis roles, giving you the freedom to work on your own terms. Align with companies you like: a tailored resume can help you target companies that share your values, ensuring a more fulfilling work environment. Advance your career: a well-crafted resume demonstrates your commitment to professional development and continuous learning, making you an attractive candidate for diagonal moves and career advances. In short, don’t underestimate the power of a remarkable data analyst resume. It can propel your career to new heights and invite exciting prospects to do your most fulfilling work. Convinced? Let’s consider some of the types of resume templates for data analysts. Types of resumes in data analysis It’s important that you tailor the structure of your resume to best fit your background and career goals. Here are a few different kinds of data analyst resumes and situations when each template is appropriate: Reverse-chronological resume: the most commonly used structure and well-suited for data analysts that have a consistent work history and growth. Start with your current/most recent role and move backwards. This style emphasizes recent experience and the breadth of your work. However, it might not be the best style for those with a non-linear career history. Functional resume: this format places technical expertise and skills at the forefront, while focusing less on irrelevant or varied employment history. This allows you to highlight your core abilities and qualifications without a timeline, which may be appropriate if you recently transitioned into data analysis or have limited work experience. Combination resume: like the name suggests, this resume includes elements of both of the above styles. Show off your skills and qualifications while still presenting a timeline of your job history. Often, this type of resume allows you to tailor your skills and experience to a specific listing or position. Components of a data analyst’s resume So once you’ve decided which type of resume is right for you, it’s time to dive in. Let’s check out some of the key components that data analysts should focus on when crafting their resume. Summary statement If you choose to include a summary statement in your resume, make it count. It’s prime real estate at the top of your resume and it should be a concise, high-impact statement that grabs the attention of hiring managers. In a few sentences, emphasize your expertise in data analysis: data manipulation, programming languages, data modeling, etc. If possible, sprinkle in your track record of delivering actionable insights , solving complex problems, and driving company success. Tip: tailor your objective statement to the specific job or role that you’re applying for. Demonstrate that you can provide value to a company’s specific goals or target audience. Professional experience When it comes to presenting your professional experience, it’s essential to go beyond listing job titles and basic responsibilities. Instead, focus on showcasing your individual achievements and the impact you’ve made in your previous roles. Use action-oriented language to describe your data analysis projects, emphasizing the methodologies and tools you utilized. Whenever possible, quantify your achievements by incorporating measurable results. Tip: describe your process of analysis in accessible terms; this demonstrates your ability to speak to shareholders or colleagues outside of the tech field, and shares your personal voice. Educational experience As a data analyst, it’s important to list relevant educational qualifications and academic achievements that support your credibility . While a degree in statistics or computer science may be relevant, it’s okay to omit educational qualifications (high school or an unrelated degree) if they don't feel appropriate. Tip: include academic projects or publications related to data analysis that speak to your proficiency, and elaborate on insights you gained from them. Skills One of the most important sections for this role, use this space to present relevant technical and soft skills. Companies seek highly-skilled analysts, but it’s important to also distinguish yourself through the soft skills and values that make you stand out. By featuring your well-rounded set of skills tailored to the data analysis field, you’ll position yourself as a valuable asset to potential employers. Consider the following: Showcase analytical skills: include proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, SQL, or any other technical data analyst skills. Demonstrate experience with data visualization: boast the sophisticated ways you present data with tools like Tableau or Power BI. Share knowledge of methodologies: expand on experience with statistical analysis techniques, machine learning algorithms, and database management. Elaborate on your soft skills : round out your technical skills with the personal traits that you bring to the table; be sure to avoid cliches and stale adjectives. Tip: focus on the soft skills that speak to your ability to work in a team, to build rapport with stakeholders, and to listen and understand the needs of a company or client. So, what are you waiting for? Take action, fine-tune your resume, and let your data analysis career soar to new heights! As you embark on your journey towards success in the industry, continue to explore resources for growth. Consider reading more insightful posts on our blog, and don’t hesitate to sign up for one of our bootcamps.

We’ve all felt intimidated by the high numbers listed on LinkedIn of other people who’ve also applied for a job in which we’re interested. But don’t be afraid: landing the perfect job includes learning how to present yourself, using keywords that speak to job recruiters, and marketing your skills and experiences in a way that helps you stand out. The first step is deciding what your desired role is; from there, you can strategize and build a ux/ui designer resume that lines you up well for securing said position. But first, let’s clear up what resumes are and why they’re important. Resumes: What are they? Resumes or CVs are formal documents that outline one’s education, work experience, skills, achievements, and other relevant information. They are a professional form of communication between you and a potential employer and offer a summary of all you can offer their company. The format or content of your resume may differ depending on the job you’re applying for or the requirements of the job application, but typically include the following five sections: Contact information : include your full name, your email address, your phone number and optional inclusion of your LinkedIn profile or a link to your personal website. Tip: make sure your contact information is professional. We all have silly emails from middle school, but that should not be the image you want to give to a potential employer. Tip: many folks include their home address or current city on their resume, we’d recommend only including that information if you’re applying for a position locally. Introduction : crafting a compelling introduction is a great way to capture the eye of potential employers. Make sure that introduction is concise and showcases your greatest accomplishments. Tip: this introduction should be 2-3 sentences maximum. Tip: use concise and action oriented language to showcase your strengths and versatility. Education : include details of your educational background, degrees earned, majors/minors, GPA (optional), and dates of completion. Relevant coursework, honors and academic awards may also be included. Tip: if you’re new to the field or if you are writing a ux/ui designer resume with no experience, including relevant coursework here may be helpful. Otherwise it’s not necessary to include your coursework and high school information. Experience : list your work experience in reverse chronological order. Include the company name, the job title, the dates of employment, the location, and a bullet point summary of your responsibilities and achievements. Tip: when possible, provide numbers to showcase the measurable impact you had on the organization. Skills : highlight your relevant skills for the position. This list should include both hard (technical abilities) and soft skills (communication and interpersonal skills). Tip: the goal here is to show that you’re well-rounded, versatile, and can adapt to the various tasks of the job you’re applying for. Tip: do not go over the top with listing your skills. Instead, depending on the position you’re applying for, tailor your skills and resume to what they’re looking for. Why are resumes important? In the days of LinkedIn, online job applications, and AI-generated cover letters, dedicating time to creating a resume may seem daunting. However, it’s precisely because of these technological developments that creating an old school style resume is important. LinkedIn is oversaturated with profiles to the point that outlining your skills and customizing your resume for a specific application may give you the competitive advantage you need in order to score the job. Resumes remain important for the following reasons: Specific job applications : yes, it’s easy to click the “apply now” button on LinkedIn. However, it’s becoming more common that employers ask for your resume as part of the job application. They do so because they know that resumes allow you to tailor your skills, qualifications, and experiences directly to the job requirements. Concise overview : writing a resume forces you to format your skills and expertise in a concise and professional way. The standard structure allows for employers to quickly scan for your qualifications, work experiences and achievements. Offline networking : it’s not uncommon that someone you meet at a job fair or a networking event asks first for your resume as opposed to your LinkedIn profile. People have thousands of LinkedIn contacts, that said, being able to hand them a professional hard copy of your resume may lead to a lasting connection with which a LinkedIn “follow” simply cannot compete. Investing time in your resume, updating it regularly, customizing it for specific job applications, and being prepared to share it with new contacts may be what ultimately helps you stand out and land that dream job. Resumes for UX/UI Designers The standard resume template is a good base to work from, yet the task for tech professionals is to adapt that resume for the specific positions for which they are applying. In the case of UX/UI designers, whether you’re hoping to secure UX/UI designer freelance work, you’re new to the field, or you have decades of experience, crafting the perfect UX/UI designer resume remains important. Type of resumes in UX/UI Design The content of all resumes is relatively the same, but the way you choose to organize said content will emphasize different parts of your professional background and what you bring to the table. It’s up to you to decide how to organize your UX/UI designer resume, but there are three main resume types : a reverse-chronological order resume, a functional resume, and a hybrid resume. Let’s explore the differences: Reverse-chronological order resumes: are most likely the resume format with which you’re most familiar. It lists your work experience starting with the most recent and going backwards. In this way, it shows your career progression and your most relevant experiences first. However, if your most recent experience isn’t what you want to showcase or if you’ve had many gaps in your resume, there might be a more strategic resume format to use. Functional resumes : focus on highlighting your skills instead of timelining your work experience. You’ll categorize your abilities and achievements under distinct sections and call attention to specific expertise that may not be immediately apparent though listing your work experience. This format is useful if you haven't had a consistent clear pathway because it allows you to showcase your transferable skills and emphasize the parts of your career pathway that feel most relevant to the current jobs for which you’re applying. Hybrid resumes: are exactly what they sound like, a mixture of reverse-chronological order resumes and functional resumes. The hybrid resume allows you to offer a balanced approach by showcasing both your most relevant skills and work experiences. It’s a great option if you want to emphasize both your expertise and career progression. Your UX/UI designer resume should be adapted to your specific circumstances, your current career position, and how you want to represent yourself to potential employers. These are the three standard approaches and are all considered professional forms to present yourself. That said, the choice is up to you to find the approach that represents you the strongest to potential employers. Different sections of your UX/UI designer resume Professional summary The professional summary is essentially a resume headline for a UX/UI designer. It’s the first thing a potential employer will ready and will help you stand out, zero in on your career goals, emphasize your specific achievements, and showcase your versatility . Remember to steer away from using empty buzzwords like “passionate,” or “leader,” and instead emphasize your initiative and your specific measurable achievements using action verbs and numerical data. The summary should be a maximum of three sentences. Tip: it’s tempting to mention your current role and other work experience in your professional summary, however, that’s already listed in your resume. Focus specifically on your achievements and impact in the summary. Professional experience Outline your previous work experience on your UX/UI designer resume. Include the company names, the location and the time you worked there. Emphasize UX and UI-specific abilities that you utilized in the description of the roles and responsibilities. And finally, note specific projects, accomplishments, and outcomes that demonstrate your skills and impact . Tip: if you don’t have much experience as a ux/ui designer, writing a UX/UI designer resume may feel stressful, but do not let your lack of specific UX/UI job titles exclude you from applying for your dream job. It’s on you to write a junior UX/UI designer resume, draw out your transferable skills, experiences, and involvement in other relevant professional settings, and demonstrate that you will make a strong ux/ui designer. Portfolio For UX/UI designers, including a portfolio of previous work is crucial in securing design jobs. Potential employers want to see your range of skills , the variety of projects you’ve worked on, and examples of work that demonstrate your design process, your problem solving skills, and the impact of your work . Each item in your portfolio should be briefly described, and your specific role and key contributions explained. Sharing a strong portfolio with a potential employer will give you the creative edge in the job selection process, and can be additionally important if you do not have too much work experience as a UX/UI designer. Include it as part of a UX/UI designer beginner resume or a freelance UX/UI designer resume. Devote time to your portfolio and provide it to potential employers as either a link to an online portfolio or as a PDF. Skills Listing your skills on your UX/UI designer and developer resume is extremely important to showcasing your range of abilities, your versatility, and your technical and soft skills . These skills may include: Technical skills : software proficiency, wireframing, prototyping, interaction design, graphic design, and any relevant programming languages. Soft skills: communication skills, teamwork, collaboration, time management, adaptability, presentation skills, and problem solving skills. Tip: even if you do not have professional work experience as a UX/UI designer, outlining these skills will help communicate your competencies and ability to take on the responsibilities as a UX/UI designer. It’s important to include these skills in your UX/UI designer beginner resume and get applying to entry-level positions as well as other jobs you feel qualified for. If you’ve followed these tips, your UX/UI designer resume will be well on its way! Remember, your resume is one of the ways you’ll present yourself professionally and should be curated to each job application and company. Keep it concise, highlight only your most relevant skills and experiences, make it visually appealing, and get ready to stand out among other candidates. We wish you the best of luck! If you want more experience in UX/UI design before taking the leap and writing a resume, or if you simply want to brush up on those skills, check out our UX/UI Designer Bootcamp!

Working as a web developer is your dream, we know! But getting to the point where you’re able to land that dream job depends a lot on your resume and how you present yourself and your skills to possible employers. And that perfect resume will depend heavily on your desired role, experiences, and skills . So, how can you create it? Before we get into the specifics of resumes for web developers, let’s talk about resumes in general, their importance, and their purpose. Resumes: What Are They? Resumes (or CVs) are formal documents that consist of five major sections: contact details, introduction, education, experience, and skills. In simple terms, it’s a summary (hence the French word resume !) of everything you bring to the table. These five sections cover the following information: Contact details : your full name, phone number, and email address; if you want, you can link to your LinkedIn profile. Tip: you might be tempted to list your city or current address, but if you’re applying to jobs in a different city, it’s best to leave that information off your resume. Introduction : a concise and brief summary of who you are and what you offer; it shouldn’t be more than 2-3 sentences. Tip: use action verbs and highlight your biggest accomplishments Education : your educational background, GPA (optional), majors/minors, and awards; list your most recent degree first and include those that are relevant. Tip: if you are new to the field or the workforce, feel free to include relevant coursework in this section. If you have lots of experience to share, there’s no need to share course/high school information. Experience : your work experience including the name of the company, summary of tasks, the location, and length of time you worked there. Tip: use action verbs and numbers in your job description to prove your positive impact. Skills : a list of both hard and soft skills that you bring to the table, always relevant to your prospective job. Tip: mix both your certifications with personal skills to show that you’re a well-rounded candidate. Why are resumes important? In the days of LinkedIn profiles, portfolios, and cover letters, you may be wondering why resumes are so important and listen, we get it! Between updating your resume and your LinkedIn profile, along with your portfolio, you may feel like you’re constantly working on your job application packet. But resumes are quite crucial to the job search process and here’s why: Resumes outline your skills and what you can offer to the company. Lots of companies that receive tons of resumes use AI or machine learning to select candidates to follow up with; using the right keywords and phrases can help set you apart from the competition. They provide an easy-to-read and digestible summary of you and your experience, leading recruiters to contact you for an interview. Resumes for Web Developers We know why you’re here and it’s to find out how to create that perfect resume for your dream web development role. If you’re thinking ‘ hey, web development jobs are in high demand! I don’t need to spend that much time on my resume!’ we’re here to tell you that while yes, web development is a field in rapid growth and there are lots of available roles, landing that dream job will depend largely on your resume. After all, maybe you’re the world’s best web developer, but if recruiters don’t know that, how can they decide to hire you? Creating that perfect web development resume could be the difference between: An average web development salary and one that blows your mind A completely remote or flexible job and an in-person role A company you’re passionate about and one that you aren’t obsessed with We could keep going, but we’re pretty sure we’ve summarized it nicely. Working on your ideal resume can help you land the job that fits your needs and wants; if you just take any old role, you may not be happy in a few months. Types of resumes in web development Ultimately, the style and design of your resume is up to you. However, there are three common types of resumes in web development; check them out here: Reverse-chronological resumes : it’s just like it sounds; this very common type of resume lists your achievements, starting with the most recent. This is a great way to easily communicate your current role to prospective employers; however, if you’ve frequently changed jobs or have lots of gaps in your resume, it will be quite noticeable. Functional resumes : this type of resume focuses on what you bring to the table and not your experiences; you’ll start by defining your past roles without specifying the company name, dates of employment, or location; you’ll provide that information farther down the page later. If you’ve moved around a lot or have a wide range of experience, this might be the best option for you. Hybrid resumes : do both of these seem like something you’d be interested in? Well, great news: a hybrid resume lists your previous experience reverse-chronologically while outlining your skills in greater detail. Different sections of your web developer resume Now that you’ve decided which type of resume best suits you, it’s time to get down to the nitty gritty and discuss the meat of the resume– you! Now, we’ll summarize these four sections: professional summary, professional experience, educational background, and your skills. Professional summary Not all resumes will boast a professional summary and whether you choose to or not is completely up to you, but if you do decide to include one, make sure you set yourself apart from the competition. How? Well, everyone and their mother lists themselves as having “excellent communication skills” and “works well on a team,” but can everyone boast “identifying high-priority company needs” or provide actual data backing up their claims? Use your specific experiences to create a two or three sentence summary of what you bring to the table. Tip: you may be tempted to include a quick summary of your current role, but there’s no need! Recruiters have your resume in front of them; don’t waste valuable space repeating information that’s just a few inches down the page. Professional experience In this section, it’s time to show your work experience and provide the name of the company, your role, your duties, location, and dates of employment. It seems straightforward, no? Well, the tough part comes when listing your responsibilities and achievements. You know what you’ve accomplished, but it can be hard to put that into words. Use descriptive and captivating language to showcase your talents; use numbers and figures to provide even more detail. Tip: Create a master resume where you outline absolutely every aspect of your experience; when you’re applying for a specific role, you can copy and paste your relevant experience into a resume that’s cultivated specifically for that position and doesn’t waste time on things in which the recruiter isn’t interested. Educational experience You may doubt the importance of including this section in your resume; after all, everyone will have a similar section, right? While this is true, this is your time to provide additional information that helps support your claim to expertise. Include papers you wrote or assisted on, any internship or TA experience you’ve had, and any relevant student organizations of which you were part. Tip: the general rule of including your GPA on the resume is that you should only if it’s over a 3.8; you’re free to do as you please, of course, but most recruiters don’t look too closely at this number, especially if you’re a skilled professional with lots of experience. Skills Below these three sections falls a very important one: your skills. Employers frequently search for candidates based on technical skills, so listing your skills can help show off your abilities in a concise and clear manner. Technical skills to include: Java, JavaScript, C, Python, Ruby, Frameworks, React, HTML, knowledge about a specific Cloud provider such as AWS or Microsoft Azure Soft skills to include : leadership skills, teamwork, communication skills, problem solving, time management, project management Tip: you never know what may catch the eye of a recruiter! Even if you have skills that fall outside the scope of the position, include them! There may be another job that fits your skill set or the recruiter will simply be impressed with your range of skills. Alright, we think we’ve covered it all! Creating the perfect web development resume can seem like a daunting task at first, but take it section by section and you’ll soon be hearing from recruiters. And if you’re interested in getting into web development so that you can soon create your own web development resume, check out our bootcamp!

The tech world is a place where entrepreneurs are constantly starting businesses and creating new and innovative products; creative, up-and-coming LGBTQ+ entrepreneurship is on the rise as more queer people feel safe and welcome in the tech community; the path to success, however, hasn’t been easy. How has the LGBTQ+ community created a community that is intertwined with the tech sector? And how has this led them to further triumph? History of LGBTQ+ and Tech The LGBTQ+ community has had a special relationship with the internet since its creation; its principal use was to safely connect people on online forums, groups, and communities. Anonymity was important for people during a time when most people didn’t feel safe sharing their sexual orientation and/or gender. Through meeting online and creating groups and communities over the internet, the LGBTQ+ community persevered by relying on one another and also set a precedent for future generations of LGBTQ+. Founding these groups was also majorly important for the dissemination of information and online support during the devastating AIDS epidemic during the ‘90s. Not only did medical organizations provide crucial health information, but also individuals could join the fight through fundraising efforts to further support the community. Continuing into the 90s and 00s, websites and social media elevated LGBTQ+ publications and voices, providing them the opportunity to occupy more space and share their identity more freely and proudly. Similarly to online communities and social media, the creation of dating websites such as Gaydar, Adam4Adam, and even Craigslist and later on the invention of apps such as Grindr and Scruff allowed people to connect quickly and directly. As progress and acceptance increased, people felt more comfortable with both  finding their matches, but also being more visible on dates, showing the validity of their love. Moving into the 2010s and beyond, many tech companies embraced the LGBTQ+ collective both internally and externally; they knew that they would bring innovative ideas and mindsets to their companies as employees and at the same time, support them in a variety of ways, such as: Inclusive policies Sponsorship for Pride events Support networks Employee resource groups Diversity and inclusion initiatives Training and sensitivity programs Supporting the LGBTQ+ community and providing these initiatives, training, and policies,  companies both big and small do their part and give back to the community. Some of these LGBTQ-friendly tech companies include: Pinterest Salesforce Apple Google Microsoft Paypal LinkedIn Uber Although these tech companies are some of the biggest ones out there, there are a lot of smaller tech businesses that LGBTQ+ people founded and run which deserve to be highlighted as well. Some of these smaller companies in the LGBTQ tech industry include: Hornet Networks GPSGAY Folx Health Lifehacker Prezi myGwork Euphoria.LGBT All companies have their beginnings as startups and entrepreneurship entails helping them grow from a financial deficit into a profit. But what are the risks that LGBTQ+ people face beyond the typical challenges they’re met with? And what are some of their successes and achievements? Let’s dive in: LGBTQ+ Challenges in Tech Bias and discrimination Although many strides have been made in terms of LGBTQ+ rights and visibility, there are still people that have their biases and discriminate against the community. Discrimination can rear its ugly head when entrepreneurs are trying to secure funding and partnerships or even when looking for mentors that could reach out a helping hand. How can LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs battle discrimination and bias? The answer lies in the abilities that make a true entrepreneur fantastic: patience, determination, and networking . With both patience and determination, LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs will keep moving forward and use their networking skills to reach not only allies, but also their LGBTQ+ teammates that will help them achieve the funding and partnership opportunities. Access to capital What does every entrepreneur need to make a company grow and become profitable? Capital–and lots of it. When LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs are building their company, they may face difficulties in securing capital, especially when dealing with investors that may not understand their project or even judge it. LGBTQ+ entrepreneurships may be presenting a business or product that is geared towards a specific aspect of LGBTQ+ life, such as an app that supports users in transitioning or a dating app that requires more of an understanding of what it means to be a part of the community. LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs may not be able to convince their investors to back them, which can be a limiting factor to locking down the first investors that will give a kickstart to the entrepreneur’s product or business. Where would it be best to look for capital? There are many potential investors who will see the great value in their business proposals, but it just means that the entrepreneur needs to focus on those who would understand the product or business: other members of the LGBTQ+ community. Lack of representation The world of LGBTQ+ tech is steadily growing but since this is a relatively new part of the tech world, LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs are still finding their places. As they continue to pop up and grow their companies and startups, it may be difficult to find mentors that take you under their wings. Luckily though, there are many opportunities to network with other queer tech professionals at LGBTQ tech conferences. Bolstering more than 20 years of events is the Out and Equal Summit , where both LGBTQ+ professionals and allies can attend workshops and learn how to make their businesses more inclusive. You may not find the perfect mentor, but at the very least you can connect with other professionals who will be great sources of support. In addition to LGBTQ+ tech conferences, LGBTQ tech organizations provide professionals with a formidable networking opportunity. Some of these organizations are: Trans*H4ck Out In Tech Pride in Tech Lesbians Who Tech Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM) LGBTQ+ Successes in Tech Building inclusive platforms Have you ever felt like social networks don’t protect you from haters, trolls, and bigots? For queer folks, building safe spaces for people to express themselves and connect with others is essential; this need for a safe, inclusive space can be seen on not only dating apps, but also social networks. For example, since most social media platforms have failed at properly creating a safe space for LGBTQ+ people, Hornet, the world’s largest queer tech platform, developed its own social media platform called Spaces. Just like other social media platforms, it provides users with the opportunity to socialize and form bonds in a safe, protected space. LGBTQ+ innovation Have you ever had a teacher say to you try thinking outside of the box or turn that idea on its head ? Just like teachers with their students, companies want to inspire their employees to innovate and create new projects and build a stronger and more valuable business. This type of creativity is born in new perspectives and the LGBTQ+ community has a more unique way of seeing and experiencing the world. How does this look? LGBTQ+ folks have lived in a heteronormative society their entire lives and by leading a lifestyle that does not follow that mold, they have more freedom to make different choices outside of societal pressures. As a result, LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs can also take these other choices, build upon them, and create new businesses and products that cater to them. The possibilities are endless for innovative and unique ideas. Advocacy and community building We are stronger together than apart; this is an important reality for the LGBTQ+ community and in this case, it has been crucial for the advancement of LGBTQ+ rights in the tech world. LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs have advocated for achieving not only visibility for the community, but also diversity, inclusion, and equality . Organizing events, engaging in community building, and encouraging initiatives that provide support for LGBTQ+ professionals and startups are just some ways to support the queer community. Others include: Seeking out LGBTQ+ tech jobs Planning networking opportunities Coordinating alongside LGBTQ+ organizations Awareness and visibility campaigns Creating resource sharing platforms Establishing mentorship programs The challenges that LGBTQ+ entrepreneurships have confronted have made them stronger and more resilient and their successes prove that they are making their mark on the tech world; LGBTQ+ tech is here to stay as more companies and startups move forward, embrace the community, and create more opportunities for LGBTQ+ professionals. If you are an LGBTQ+ professional interested in working in the tech world and making your mark on LGBTQ+ tech, check out Ironhack’s courses and sign up. LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs want people like you to form part of their.

Data is becoming more relevant in virtually every field as a way to better understand consumers and make choices that will enable innovation, enhance efficiency, and improve stakeholder satisfaction. Data-driven decisions provide organizations with a solid foundation for decision making, allowing them to make more accurate, informed, and strategic choices that align with organizational goals and objectives. That said, this data is only useful if you have strong data analysis and can communicate those findings to your relevant stakeholders. Learning how to present data effectively is a significant part of a data analyst's role. A data analyst’s job is two-fold; the way you read and understand data is often more complex and technical than how you’ll want to explain to non-data analysts. In this sense, your role is not only data analysis, but synthesizing the data in a way in which the average non-data analyst can understand and make use of it. Learning soft skills to help you better communicate findings with clients or co-workers is a crucial part of the job. We’re here to offer a few presentation tips for data professionals that will help you be more successful and make greater use of your findings. Why good presentation matters There are a lot of great ideas out there, that said, backing them up with data is what transforms a feeling into a strong proposal. However, data is only important if it can be communicated and utilized by folks who may not have technical data analysis skills. The presentation is crucial whether you’re pitching new business clients, explaining findings to current customers, or making a case for a new business strategy or product. Backing up that pitch with credible data in a way that non-data analysts can understand is one of the most important skills for tech professionals today. A well-tailored presentation of your data is necessary in communicating your findings to clients, co-workers or potential investors. No matter how great your technical skills are, if you can’t present those conclusions to the necessary audience, then your hard work may go to waste. The presentation is important in showcasing that you’re confident in your findings and feel proud of the work you’ve done. Luckily we have a number of tips for you as you prepare for the presentation. Tip 1: Know your audience Instead of focusing on presenting your findings, data analysts need to focus on presenting to their audience . In preparing the presentation, it’s easy to fall into preparing a PowerPoint that includes every last detail and aspect that you found important during the analysis process. However, your audience needs to be the central part of your presentation preparation. Thinking through who they are and what they need to know from your findings will help you frame your presentation. This doesn’t mean your data shouldn’t be included, but it needs to be included in a way that’s digestible and gives credibility to an argument or conversation that your audience is more familiar with. If not, even the best of presentations may fall flat if the audience can’t follow the analyst’s form of communicating their findings. Before making your presentation, ask yourself: Who will attend this presentation? What is their level of technical expertise in data analysis? How familiar are they with the subject matter? What are their specific needs, interests, and expectations? What is the mental state of the audience? Will they be exhausted after a whole day of meetings or a long conference? Is the setting formal or casual? From there, you’ll have a clearer idea of what needs to be communicated and how your data can be utilized to enhance your presentation . Keeping in mind folks’ expertise, what you want their take-aways from the presentation to be, and what the setting will be like will guide you in creating a stronger presentation. Tip 2: Use visuals We’ve heard it a thousand times, but a picture is worth a thousand words . Everyone has sat through a lecture where the presentation is text heavy, confusing, and fails to communicate something that a graph or pie chart could have clarified in a second. Once you know your audience, figuring out how to present to them becomes the challenge. Visuals are often extremely helpful in communicating findings and making a compelling case to back up your argument. Keeping in mind your audience, make sure that those visuals are clear and that they are data representation tools that your audience is familiar with. Use bar graphs to represent trends and compare them in different years, or pie graphs to break down demographic differences, or flow charts to visually connect various parts of a process. Your presentation will be more visually pleasing and communicate effectively to your audience if the information is presented using easy-to-understand images. In looking over your presentation, ask yourself: Is the data properly labeled and annotated in the visuals? Are there clear titles, axis labels, legends, and units of measurement? Are colors utilized in a way that makes clearer my findings (as opposed to potentially overwhelming my audience)? Are the slides uncluttered and the data presented in a clean way? Are all the visuals presented with a goal of communicating a specific finding to my audience? Asking yourself these questions will help ensure that your data is presented in a clear, concise way that your audience can easily digest. It will make your presentation stronger and help your audience walk away with a clear understanding of your data driven proposal. Tip 3: Keep it simple We know that we can easily get excited in preparing a presentation. And we should. If we’re proud of our work and feel like a lot of the content is important, of course we want the world to see it. That said, if we overwhelm our audience , all our work may go to waste. Keeping our presentation simple is key in effectively communicating our findings. Here are a few reminders for creating a clear and concise presentation; when it comes to visuals: Avoid cluttering your visuals or using too many images Avoid excessive information Use colors strategically to highlight different information Stick to a consistent color scheme and text styles for the presentation When it comes to written content: Keep written text brief Use language that’s inclusive, easy-to-understand, and relevant to your audience Bold or highlight specific key words or findings to emphasize their importance Keeping your presentation clear and simple will ensure that your audience can follow your argument and walk away having understood your key points . There’s no need to make it complicated. Tip 4: Drive it home by relating it to the bigger picture A crucial part of your presentation is convincing your audience why they should care . Using real world examples will help your audience relate to the material and connect to why your presentation is paramount. Use real world case studies or examples that your audience can relate to, sympathize with, and understand the importance of your work. It’ll make your presentation more engaging and connect them to the data on a practical level . Here are a few things to keep in mind: If you’re presenting to a company, look into their company goals, values and mission. How will what you’re presenting help benefit their specific organization? If you’re presenting to your co-workers, how does your work connect to their work? It might even be worth chatting with them before so that you know how to best connect those dots. If you’re presenting to a large group, keep up-to-date with industry ongoings , current events, and greater topics of conversation that your work can relate to. Weave those examples into your presentation so that there’s no doubt that your work is relevant. You’re helping the audience connect the dots between your work and their work or their lives. Many people need to find a way to connect to someone’s presentation before they’re fully engaged. Relating your work to contexts that they understand may be the best way to bring folks in and convince them of your proposal. With strong data analysis, organizations can gain a competitive edge, drive innovation, and achieve better outcomes . Yet, that may only be achieved if that data is presented in a way that’s understandable and relevant to those who will utilize it in making data-driven decisions . That said, the role of a data analyst is also presenting their findings effectively and making data-backed proposals to folks who may not have a technical data analyst background. Preparing a strong presentation is crucial in making greater use of your findings. Interested in learning more? Practice these skills at Ironhack’s Data Analytics Bootcamp .

Companies have never had so much power in their hands: for the first time ever, they have incomparable amounts of data to use as they see fit to make informed decisions. But the amount of data they have is only increasing; companies will have to continue harnessing that data to ensure that they are making the best possible decisions for their team. And how can they do that? What’s the best way to use data to make good decisions? How can data be processed safely? We’ll cover these questions and much more in this post. Data Analytics: What is it? Simply put, data analytics collects raw data and turns it into valuable information . This means that those who have the data make sense of it and analyze it to make the best possible decisions for the business. There are four types of data analytics : predictive data analytics, prescriptive data analytics, diagnostic data analytics, and descriptive data analytics. Let’s see how they differ: Predictive data analytics : this is the most common type of data analytics, used to identify trends, correlations, and causation and is made up of two specific sections: predictive modeling and statistical modeling. Predictive modeling : a campaign could look at average demographics to anticipate campaign results. Statistical modeling : statistical modeling would then be used to make sense of the data and draw conclusions. Prescriptive data analytics : here, big data and artificial intelligence come together to predict outcomes and identify future actions, using both optimization and random testing. Optimization : using optimization, data analysts can find specific areas that need improvement and work on that, keeping quality actions in place and just correcting areas that can be improved upon. Random testing : this can be used to create new, previously untried combinations to see if something unexpected happens. Diagnostic data analytics : the third type of data analytics is definitely the least exciting, but is extremely important for improving; diagnostic data analytics looks at past results to make decisions using discover and alerts and query and drill downs. Discover and alerts : these preset alerts help you anticipate problems before they occur, using past data to flag potentially disruptive situations. Query and drill downs : these further break down data, explaining why something occurred using data. Descriptive data analytics : the other forms of data analytics would be useless without descriptive data analytics; having important data is great, but only if it can be properly presented using ad hoc reporting or canned reports. Ad hoc reporting: these reports are created on the fly to address a specific issue and help provide in-depth data to fix a problem. Canned reports: this pre-designed report is regularly issued, such as a monthly or weekly report, to give an overview of a specific topic. Benefits of data analytics Despite the most commonly understood benefit of data analytics being using high-quality data to make the best decision, data analytics actually offers many advantages that are of great value to your company. Let’s discuss. Personalize the customer experience By collecting data from lots of different channels, you’ll be able to gather more and more information on your clients, helping personalize the customer experience even further. More information and data on customer behavior can make all the difference when it comes to making profits. Assist in large-scale business decision-making If the company has been witnessing financial losses or decreased productivity, data analytics can be used to analyze both past and future data to draw conclusions. Are certain employees performing better than others? Is the company’s remote work policy hurting overall productivity? Looking at company-wide data can help influence business decisions. Streamline operations Data can show where you need to improve or where efficiency and productivity are limited; seeing the data of how each part of the business is working can help you identify problem areas and use data to make high-quality decisions, especially in sectors where lots of change is experienced, such as retail (demand varies significantly season to season). Prevent risks and tackle issues Preventative data analytics comes into play here and is a great option for companies that are looking to avoid the potential risks of customer or employee theft, uncollected receivables, employee safety, and legal liability. Using predictive models, companies can predict future issues and address them before they happen. And when problems do arise, analysis of past decisions can suggest the correct way to handle them. Improve security As more and more companies use data to make decisions, the risks of cybersecurity are growing and becoming increasingly present. Using data of previous breaches or cyberattacks, corporate cybersecurity teams can see what went wrong, stop the attack, and take action to avoid a similar problem in the future. Data in business: how does it help? To make smart decisions, you must use data. And as the market moves at an incredibly fast pace, data can help you: Determine who your customers are Decide how to reach your customers Determine your specific market Define competitors Let you know what’s currently happening in the market Suggest future predictions Sounds like a lot, right? Well, it is. Data analytics can be the difference between making a smart business decision and a damaging one. After all, with proof of why something is working, you’re better equipped to make future decisions as well. Now that we’ve covered what data analytics is and its different kinds, let’s discuss how to run a quality data analysis in just five steps. How to Use Data to Make Decisions When a big decision is coming up, you might be torn on how to make it. Do you look at past data? Or future predictions? What about your gut feeling? It can be tough at the moment, but if you use data to make decisions, you’ll be better off and in just five steps, you can do just that. Step 1: Know what you want Okay, this seems like an obvious step, but it’s quite important: you can’t reach your ideal solution if you don't know what you want! Before you take any further action, make sure you create a clear vision of what you want to achieve with this decision together with your company’s future vision. If you’re unsure, take a look at your company’s yearly goals and key results to help guide you. Step 2: Find data sources Now that you have your vision clearly defined, it’s time to find places from which to extract data. After all, with just a vision and no data, you won’t be able to make a smart decision. To collect data, you have to decide the metrics you want to explore, such as the gross profit margin, return on investment, productivity, total number of customers, and recurring revenue. To then collect your data, reporting tools such as Microsoft’s Power BI let you collect data from multiple sources to have a global picture of your company’s status. Step 3: Organize the data Collecting data is great, but only if you know how to use it. In fact, the data you collect is actually useless unless you know how to put it into use. Once you’ve collected your data, make sure it’s clearly displayed and visualized so that data analysts can draw smart conclusions from the data. Executive dashboards present in the data in such a way that it’s clear and easy to read. Step 4: Analyze the data You’ve gathered your data and displayed it in a way that makes it clear to everyone: now what? Well, it’s time to actually analyze your data and draw conclusions that will guide your decision making process. Use both research that you’ve gathered yourself and from external sources to make the best possible decision. Step 5: Draw conclusions As you analyze your data, you’ll start to draw conclusions, but it’s important to make this an entirely separate step so that your conclusions stand on their own. While drawing conclusions, ask yourself the following questions: What conclusion am I drawing that I already had? What conclusions are new? How can I use this new information to meet business goals? The answers to these questions will help you successfully make your decisions and then bam! You’ve completed your data analysis. Your Future in Data Analytics Have we convinced you that data analytics is the career choice for you?! After all, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the demand for data analytics roles will grow by 23% from 2021 to 2031 , much, much faster than the 5% increase in other industries. We thought so–at Ironhack, we offer a Data Analytics Bootcamp to prepare you to jump into the field, teaching you everything you need to know to be a competitive candidate for entry-level data analytics jobs in practically any sector . And once you’ve got a bit of experience under your belt, the world is your oyster: you can choose to specialize in a specific field or advance in your preferred role. With highly-competitive salaries and lots of room for growth, there’s no better choice. Check out our Data Analytics Bootcamp today and dive into tech–you’ll thank us later!

Are you a UX/UI designer looking to stand out on LinkedIn? On a platform seemingly oversaturated by users, it’s important to differentiate yourself and utilize the site to showcase your distinct skills and professional successes. Whether you’re interested in attracting new clients, connecting with peers in the industry, or showing off your work, we have a few ideas on how you can craft the perfect profile. Why Use LinkedIn? Let’s take a look at some of the key benefits of LinkedIn and why you might want to wield the platform to your advantage: Networking: LinkedIn, like other social networks, boasts millions of users. It provides an organized way to find and connect with others in the industry, including recruiters, hiring managers, and other UX/UI designers. In addition, LinkedIn could potentially connect you to new mentors, grow your awareness of industry trends, or highlight events that could help advance your career. Visibility: LinkedIn profiles function as digital resumes, making it easy for interested recruiters or potential employers to evaluate your qualifications and notice your distinct skills. In creating a unique and comprehensive profile, you allow your individual value to be easily seen by others in the industry. Job Listings: LinkedIn provides users with a robust job search component that can connect you with job openings that match your skills and experience. The site allows you to set up job alerts to help you stay informed on new opportunities in real time. Insights: LinkedIn collects information about companies themselves, giving you insight into their industry, size, and location. This information can be very helpful for users looking to tailor their job search to align with their expertise and career goals. Helpful Hints for All LinkedIn Profiles Now that you’ve seen some of LinkedIn’s potential benefits, let’s begin crafting a profile that will help you stand out (in a good way!). For anyone on LinkedIn, having a strong profile picture and headline is a priority for making a positive first impression. Profile picture More often than not, your profile picture is the first thing viewers will notice on your LinkedIn, and it’s important to choose a photo that reflects your professional image . This could be a headshot, a photo of you at work, or a photo of you doing something related to the field. In addition, LinkedIn also allows users to upload a header picture; choose a photo that reflects your unique eye and gives a sense of your professional brand. In general, follow these tips for a strong profile photos: Choose a high-quality photo where your face is clearly visible. Avoid using filters or distracting backgrounds. Make sure the photo reflects your individuality as a designer; if possible, include the UX/UI design setting. Avoid photos that take place in non-work spaces or that would be inappropriate to show to a potential employer. Headline The headline is a short, 220 character tagline that follows your name, and is an essential piece of your profile. It shows up in several places on the site, including in search results and when you leave comments on other posts. The headline should include key words about your title, what you do, and what kind of employers or clients would want to come to you. Create a concise and effective headline using these guidelines: State your current title or position (this can be broad and speak to your versatility) Follow your title with a description of the value you provide and the range of the work that you can do Capture reader attention with compelling language that accurately describes your skills Avoid overly-technical jargon Avoid common adjectives or descriptions that feel stale The Perfect Profile for a UX/UI Designer Conscious use of LinkedIn’s features can help you be noticed by UX/UI product design recruiters, companies, and clients to further expand your career. Let’s review some of LinkedIn’s features to set you up for success on the site. The “About” section: define your story, skills, and niche as a UX/UI designer With 2600 characters to use as you see fit, LinkedIn’s “About” section gives you the space to clearly narrate your journey working in the field, define the services and value you provide, and identify the type of clients that need your expertise. This section should be concise and straightforward, but also highlight your distinctive story and excitement about what you do. Touch upon these points when writing your “About” section: How did you come to be a UX/UI designer, and what are you currently seeking in your career? Guide us through the story of your career and explain the type of opportunities that you’re looking for . Did you make a career transition into tech? Did you have an experience that inspired you to enroll in a UI/UX Design Bootcamp? Use language to explain in a way that your resume cannot; this section helps readers form a personal connection to your journey and see how your ambitions might match up. What value or service do you provide as a UX/UI designer and to whom do you provide it for? In order to attract the right kind of opportunities, it’s very important to clearly define the type of work that you do and the clients that you serve best. Are you well-versed in improving functionality in payment systems? Or designing blog features for healthcare organizations? Explaining your individual specialties can help potential clients see how you can provide solutions to them or their company. A successful “About” section might include responses to the following points: Briefly recount your entry into the UX/UI industry (inspiration to join the field, a transition in your career, and/or your journey to this point) Share more about the significance of your education/certifications and/or your quantifiable experience Elaborate on the type of UX/UI design that you focus on Describe the kind of clients or companies to whom you best provide solutions Tell about a specific achievement or award that you have received Explain an ambition or goal that you have around the field of UX/UI Design Showcasing your skills and work LinkedIn provides users with several ways to list skills and provide examples of your work. Here are a few facets of the profile to focus on as a UX/UI designer: Experience: the experience section should be used to display actual work that you were hired to do for individual clients or companies, such as long-term employment or individual contracted projects. Tip: for every job, LinkedIn allows 2000 characters for you to further elaborate. Use this space to explain the kind of work you did, and if possible, include quantifiable data that backs up your impact. Education: share your educational achievements, such as diplomas. Tip: choose one of the accredited schools that exist within the LinkedIn system. Licenses and certificates: list any active licenses you possess or certificates that you have received from courses. Tip: if you’ve recently completed a certification or license, consider posting about it! LinkedIn no longer notifies your connections about updates to this section automatically. Courses: include design bootcamp certifications such as Ironhack , or other tech-related education you have completed. Tip: expand on training hours, the hard skills you obtained, and your big takeaways that inform your design practice today. Skills: show off any technical skills related to specific software or design skills pertaining to the field of UX/UI design. Tip: these skills will show up on your profile, and you can invite your LinkedIIn connections to “endorse” these skills by clicking on them, which is a great way to verify your credibility. Projects: show off the work you have created independently, collaborative projects, or even incomplete ideas. Use this section to speak to your individuality as a designer, and showcase any passion-projects related to UX/UI design. Tip: LinkedIn allows you to add connections as collaborators to these projects; show potential employers that you work well with others and are connected within your network. Looking for other ways to utilize LinkedIn as a UX/UI designer? Let’s check it out: Join groups: become more closely connected with other designers and to stay up to date on specific areas of UX/UI design by joining groups associated with your industry. Tip: join groups specific to your expertise , like mobile app design or user research, and remain informed on new tools and technology in real time. Featuring posts: showcase specific work achievements, projects, or collaborations by pinning highlights to the top of your profile. Simply select “Feature on top of profile” from the three dot drop-down menu on any post. Tip: curating your featured content allows clients and connections to see achievements you value with a simple glance at your profile. Stay active on LinkedIn: it’s a given, but staying active on the site can help build your personal brand and establish yourself as a knowledgeable and skilled designer. Tip: post comments on others’ posts and participate (professionally!) in discussions within the industry. This increases your visibility and potential for new connections. Now that you’ve polished your LinkedIn profile, it’s time to nail that job interview! Read our post on straightforward steps to ace your interview and check-out the Ironhack Blog for more tech-industry insights.

With such a large number of programming languages available, it can be difficult to pick just one to learn. JavaScript and Ruby are two of the most well-known languages–and with good reason. In order to allow you to make an educated decision on which language would be the most beneficial for you, we’ve created this guide. But just remember: when it comes to programming, there is no wrong answer —only different ways of accomplishing the same goal. What is JavaScript? JavaScript is an interpreted, high-level, multi-paradigm, dynamically-typed language that conforms to the ECMAScript standard. Now, if those words are nothing but gibberish to you, don’t worry. Let’s define each term: JavaScript: Interpreted This word means the opposite of “compiled.” And what does compiled mean? A compiled language is one whose source code needs to be passed to a compiler , which is a program that can transform a language into bytecode (1s and 0s) that your computer can understand and then execute. An interpreted language is one that doesn’t have to be pre-compiled; instead, an interpreter reads the code line-by-line and runs each line as it reads it, without a need for a pre-compiled codebase. JavaScript: High-Level High-level is a relative term, but the general consensus is that JavaScript is a high-level language. A high-level language is one that abstracts away the details of the machine on which it is run; it’s a language that provides developers with tools (language elements) that make it easier for them to think about and solve problems, without having to worry about the details of how a computer works. After all, you don’t need an electrical engineering degree to change a lightbulb and you shouldn’t need a computer engineering degree to be able to write good code. JavaScript: Multi-Paradigm This is a buzzword that you’ll be hearing more and more often as you begin your tech journey. As programming languages evolve, their maintainers continuously add features seen in other languages that developers may want; this means that as languages grow, they become more and more similar to one another . Now, what does this have to do with “multi-paradigm?” JavaScript is multi-paradigm in the sense that its features are associated with languages that would be considered functional or object-oriented , which are two completely separate paradigms. Here’s a breakdown: JavaScript is functional in the sense that functions are “first-class citizens” and can be passed-to, returned-from, and consumed-by other functions. You’re able to write fully-functioning JavaScript code using nothing by function composition. JavaScript is also object-oriented: it allows you to create objects that inherit from other objects and complex data structures that a “purely functional” language would never allow. JavaScript: Dynamically-Typed Like many other interpreted languages, JavaScript is dynamically-typed , meaning that the types assigned to variables, parameters, and functions are not checked for consistency before the code is run. This feature has a number of benefits, but also several drawbacks. It enables developers to write short scripts really quickly, but it can also be the root of hours and hours of frustration when a type-mismatch causes a bug that would never have been possible in a statically-typed language. With that in mind, if you want a language that conforms to the ECMAScript standard but is strongly and statically-typed, look no further than TypeScript . You certainly don’t need to know or fully understand the four terms defined above to be able to write good JavaScript code but as a developer, you should know the ins-and-outs of the tools you use. In the case of JavaScript, it’s quite simple: JavaScript is the de-facto front-end web development programming language and the overwhelming majority of websites use JavaScript for client-side scripting; any serious web-browser will have a dedicated JavaScript language for executing code efficiently on user devices. Is JavaScript Right for Me? Well, that depends on your career goals: Do you want to be a front-end web developer ? Then yes, JavaScript is exactly the language that you should learn. Do you want to be a back-end web developer ? JavaScript is a great choice, but there are many, many languages and frameworks from which to choose. Do you want to be a full-stack web developer ? Then yes, yes, one thousand times yes! JavaScript will enable you to write every part of your application with ease. Best Ways to Learn JavaScript Have you ever heard of the 10,000 hours rule? It’s a concept introduced by Malcolm Gladwell that basically means the more you do something, the better you get at it. Gladwell claims that only after practicing a skill for 10,000 hours can someone be considered an expert. And while we can’t confirm or deny that’s what you’ll need to become a coding expert, we can give you one tip: start writing it! Okay, that one was pretty obvious! But here are some other ways to learn: Take a bootcamp ! They offer expert guidance, clear learning targets, and real-time feedback on how you’re progressing on your learning journey Follow the guides on the official JavaScript website Pick up a book ! Try Eloquent JavaScript by Marjin Haverbeke or JavaScript: The Definitive Guide by David Flanagan I Already Know JavaScript: What Language Should I Learn? If you already know JavaScript, then you’re most likely a front-end web developer. JavaScript is the natural choice for what you do and there aren’t any serious alternatives in the market. But if you’re asking what language you should learn next , you’re probably trying to expand your skill set to be able to take on different tasks. If that’s the case, consider learning Python, Java, C, or (you guessed it!) Ruby. Python Python is very similar to JavaScript in the sense that it’s also an interpreted, high-level, multi-paradigm, dynamically-typed language. If that wasn’t enough, it’s also consistently ranked as one of the most popular languages in the world , meaning there’s a massive community of users that are able to answer any questions you may have and thousands upon thousands of user-tested libraries available for you to use that will help you do whatever it is you want to do, but faster. Java Another great option is Java. Unlike JavaScript, Java is compiled, high-level, object-oriented, and statically-typed. You’ll find yourself having to do things and think about problems in different ways, due to the nature of the differences between the two languages. And you’ll have no problem learning Java as there are a number of great books dedicated specifically to that purpose. C C is nothing like any of the previously mentioned options; it’s a compiled, low-level, statically-typed language. Learning C will force you to become comfortable with pointers and pointer-arithmetic and you’ll quickly learn to be grateful for features that you took for granted in other higher-level languages, such as garbage collection. C is incredibly fast and every piece of hardware you’ll ever use has a c-compiler built in . If you know how to program in C, you can write a computer program anywhere. Ruby If you already know JavaScript, consider learning Ruby. Like JavaScript, Ruby is an interpreted, high-level, multi-paradigm, dynamically-typed language. It was influenced by many of the same languages that influenced the creation of JavaScript, but has one major difference: the primary purpose of the Ruby language is programmer productivity . What is Ruby? We’ll remind you: Ruby is an interpreted, high-level, multi-paradigm, dynamically-typed language, initially created as an object-oriented scripting language (none existed at the time), but has since added on a large number of features to make it as valuable as Python and Java. But here’s the catch: Ruby is not a “language feature,” but instead a design philosophy; Ruby’s primary purpose is to make its programmers happy and productive. Is Ruby Right for Me? Well, that depends on your goals: If you want to write software and would like to use a language that puts programmer happiness first, Ruby’s the right language for you. If you’re looking for a language that’s popular, powerful, and easy to learn, then look no further than Ruby! Because it was designed as a scripting language but has evolved into a general-purpose powerhouse , it’s super easy to get started writing code and exploring all the features that Ruby has to offer. Best Ways to Learn Ruby There are tons of great ways to learn Ruby—it all just depends on your preferred way to learn: Have some reference books on hand, such as Programming Ruby 3.2 by Noel Rappin or Eloquent Ruby by Russ Olsen Follow along with a project in one of the previously mentioned books Learn the Ruby Koans Choose your own project and just get coding! Whichever way you choose, just remember that it takes time to become an expert—it won’t happen overnight! The trick to becoming good at something is to stick with it: decide on how you want to learn, keep at it, and in no time you’ll be programming in Ruby. I Already Know Ruby: What Language Should I Learn? If you already know Ruby, then you already know the most developer-friendly language ever made —every language you learn from now on will have you asking, “ why did they design this feature that way?” However, depending on what you want to do, there are some great options: If you want to be a front-end web developer , then we highly recommend you learn JavaScript. If you want to be a back-end web developer, then you have a lot more choices, but Java or Python are two natural choices that are widely used in the industry. If you’re just trying to learn something new and interesting, consider learning a pure functional language such as Haskell. There are no wrong choices when it comes to learning and no matter what language you choose to learn next, we’re sure that you’ll make the right choice for you and your career. And if you want to get started on that next language right away, check out Ironhack’s Web Development Bootcamp, where you’ll learn exactly what the job market needs. What could be better?

Let’s be real: there are tons of programming languages out there and choosing just one to learn (at first, at least!) can be quite the challenge. And while there aren’t any wrong choices when it comes to learning, we think that you can get a whole lot more bang for your buck if you choose one of these ten programming languages . But before we dive into each of them and what they offer, let’s first go over the basics of programming languages. What is a Programming Language? Simply put, a programming language is a vocabulary and set of grammatical rules that instruct a computer to perform specific tasks. Commonly used languages are Python, JavaScript, Java, C, C++, C#, Go, and Scala, but there are tons out there and finding the right one for your career goals might require a bit of research. Within the myriad of options, you’ll find five main categories of programming languages: procedural, functional, object-oriented, scripting, and logic: Procedural programming languages: these follow a series of commands or statements to reach a desired output and include C and C++, Java, Pascal, and BASIC. Functional programming languages : instead of working with a series of statements, functional programming languages use mathematical functions to achieve the desired result and include Scala, F#, and Haskell. Object-oriented programming languages : these programming languages work with attributes and methods to create groups of objects that can be reused, making it valuable for complex programs and include Java, Python, Ruby, and PHP. Scripting programming languages : used to automate repetitive tasks, scripting programming languages include PHP, Ruby, Node.js, and Python. Logic programming languages : these languages create a series of facts and rules that teach the computer how to make decisions and includes Prolog and Alma-0. Front-end vs. Back-end Programming Languages You might have already picked out your dream programming language to learn, but not so fast: do you know what your dream role is? Do you prefer to work on the front or back end? Or combine both and become a full-stack developer? Before you decide which programming language you want to learn, make sure it lines up with your focus: Front-end programming languages : these tend to focus on the user aspect of the software, meaning everything with which the user interacts: colors, images, text, and more. HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React Back-end programming languages : back-end developers will work with the behind-the-scenes aspects of software, such as the data architecture, scripting, and database communication. JavaScript, PHP, Java, Python, Ruby, C# If both sound like great options, your future may lie with full-stack web development. But there are a lot of other things to keep in mind, such as the differences between high-level and low-level programming languages and interpreted and compiled programming languages. We could go on and on about these, but let’s get back to the topic at hand: the ten best programming languages to learn. The 10 Best Programming Languages to Learn Now that you have a better idea of your focus, let’s dive into why we’re here: figuring out the programming language that will fit in perfectly with your career goals . And while we could write a separate blog post on each and every one of these ten programming languages (and more!), we’re going to cover the following points: what it is, their characteristics, and what role uses it the most. JavaScript You’ve definitely heard of JavaScript and that’s because it’s one of the world’s most popular programming languages. Here’s what you need to know: What is JavaScript? Used for creating interactive web pages, JavaScript can be used on both the front and back ends and is designed to create network-centric applications. In addition to being one of the world’s most widely-adopted browser languages, JavaScript is fully integrated with HTML/CSS and can run on all major browsers. What are the characteristics of JavaScript? JavaScript is an interpreted, high-level programming language that boasts less server interaction, immediate visitor feedback, increased interactivity, and richer interfaces. On the other hand, JavaScript is limited because client-side JavaScript doesn’t permit reading or writing files, cannot be used for networking applications, and doesn’t have multithreading or multiprocessing capabilities. Who is JavaScript for? As the programming language of choice by 97% of websites , JavaScript is used by both front and back-end developers alike. Java Don’t be confused by the name: Java is a completely separate programming language from JavaScript. What is Java? Java is one of the most common programming languages for coding web applications; it’s multi-platform, object-oriented, and network-centric and is used for coding all sorts of projects, from apps and websites to big data applications and server-side technologies. What are the characteristics of Java? Known for being simple, platform independent, secure, and well-performing, Java is easy-to-use and benefits from creating flexible and reusable code. However, it runs slower than similar programming languages like C or C++ and isn’t UI-optimized; it also lacks a backup facility and requires lots of memory space. Who is Java for? Java is used by back-end developers, dealing with the functional and logical aspects of web development. Python Let’s take a look at another very common programming language: Python . What is Python? Used in web development, data science, data visualization, and automation environments, Python is a generally-used, object-oriented programming language. It’s incredibly versatile and can be used for many purposes and here’s the key: it’s not just proficient in each area, it provides expert-level performance for a wide range of tasks. What are the characteristics of Python? As an interpreted language, Python doesn’t need compilation and is object-oriented, easy to learn, high-level, open source, and portable. Its gentle learning curve makes it easy for those coming from other programming languages to learn and boasts lots of available third-party libraries and an extensive user community. However, Python isn’t as fast as other programming languages, is memory intensive, isn’t optimized for database access, and is prone to overuse or misuse. Who is Python for? Although both front and back end web developers can use Python, it’s more frequently used by back-end web developers. Ruby Maybe you’ve checked out our blog post on Ruby ; maybe not. But just in case, here’s what you need to know. What is Ruby? This open-source programming language increases productivity while boasting simplicity. Mainly used for web development, Ruby is also useful for automation, static site generation, DevOps, web scraping, and command-line tools. What are the characteristics of Ruby? Ruby is an open-source, freely available license, used for general purposes. This interpreted programming language is object-oriented and is a server-side scripting language. It offers plenty of unique features for web developers, giving them creative freedom. Its lack of flexibility, on the other hand, means it's primarily limited to web development and is difficult to debug. Who is Ruby for? Ruby is mainly used by back-end developers. Go The Google-born programming language, Go , offers users an efficient programming experience. What is Go? Although it may not be as common as the aforementioned programming languages, Go is gaining popularity quickly, known for its simplicity, concurrency, and high performance. It was created to fill in the gaps that software engineers were experiencing and improve productivity. Although it’s similar to C, it’s quite fast and is widely used at Google and in other companies. What are the characteristics of Go? This open-source, static typed programming language offers a powerful standard library and tool set, testing capabilities, garbage collection, and much more; it’s also easy to use, boasts cross-platform development opportunities, faster compilation and execution, and time-saving techniques. However, as it’s relatively new, it’s still being developed and is quite simple, unable to handle complex requests. Who is Go for? Back-end developers at Google are the main users of Go. Rust Popular with data scientists that need to run heavy data analysis, Rust is highly proficient at processing large amounts of data. What is Rust? Rust is ideal for machine learning, data analysis, and computational biology, among others, because it’s able to process large amounts of data incredibly fast. It runs on embedded devices, integrates easily with other languages, and can power performance-critical services. What are the characteristics of Rust? As an integrated package manager with great documentation and useful error messages coupled with top-notch tooling, Rust offers multi-editor support, is very fast, and memory-efficient. It’s also incredibly safe and used to guarantee high performance, safety, and memory management. On the contrary, its compile time is quite slow and only offers a single implementation and has a high learning curve. Who is Rust for? Back-end engineers and software developers will use Rust. C C is our first low-level language on our list and despite the fact that it can’t be used for internet programming, it’s used to create hardware devices, OS, drivers, kernels, and more. What is C? Although it was created in 1972, C is still widely used, largely because it works closely with the processor and most performance-critical applications are written in C; this means that newer programming languages follow C-style syntax and constructs. When performance and efficiency are critical, C is a great choice. What are the characteristics of C? Known for being simple and efficient, C is fast, extensible, offers function-rich libraries and dynamic memory management, and is a mid-level programming language. It’s compiler based and is low-cost and easy to bug. Keep in mind, however, it lacks a constructor and destructor and is frequently named the hardest programming language to learn. Who is C for? C is primarily for back-end engineers; it’s used for general programming needs and is never used for front-end reasons. Scala Used to build modular, scalable, and fast software, Scala is a popular choice with data engineers who need to easily and cleanly process large amounts of data. What is Scala? This object-oriented and functional language is a popular choice for web developers, used by professionals who need to quickly process large amounts of data or build mobile or web applications and big data systems. Websites that receive lots of traffic typically use Scala because it’s capable of managing all that information. What are the characteristics of Scala? Scala is a statically typed language, meaning it’s easy to find and rectify errors during compilation, saving time later on and increasing efficiency. It has built-in support for pattern matching, allowing developers to write elegant code. It does have some drawbacks though: it is quite hard to learn and offers limited tools and is not always compatible with other systems and libraries. Who is Scala for? Scala can be used for front-end, back-end, and full stack projects, but is generally adopted by back-end teams. Haskell The purely functional programming language Haskell is used specifically for back-end job scheduling and brand matching. What is Haskell? Haskell works quite simply: it gives the computer a series of tasks to execute. Marketed as being purely functional, Haskell is primarily used by back-end engineers looking to find solutions for what to solve instead of how to solve. What are the characteristics of Haskell? Haskell boasts functions with no general side effects and lazy evaluation, lambda expressions, pattern matching, list comprehension, and type polymorphism. It’s referred to as the most state of the art programming language and supports programming with abstract mathematical concepts. However, as it differs so greatly from other programming languages, it can be tough to learn. It can also run slow on applications that require more power. Who is Haskell for? Haskell is ideal for back-end developers seeking clean and reliable code. Lua Built on top of C and the programming language chosen to design the Venmo app, Lua is an open source programming language used for larger server systems to applications. What is Lua? Used for procedural programming, functional programming, and object oriented programming, Lua is frequently used for game programming or building apps. It’s similar to Python and is concise and easy to read and write, making it a popular choice for programmers. What are the characteristics of Lua? Lua’s unique because it’s designed to work as an extension language, embedded in other platforms or systems, and can work with practically any system to make easy changes. It’s small, flexible, and portable and a great choice for coding beginners. It only has a small user community, however, and all Lua codes aren’t readily available. Who is Lua for? Lua can be used for both the front and back-end, but is more frequently associated with the latter. Whew! That was quite the list–we hope we gave you a great summary of the most popular programming languages and helped you decide which one you’ll learn next. And if you’re looking for some added assistance, check out our Web Development Bootcamp. We’re sure you’ll find what you’re looking for!