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

Today's spotlight is on Daniel Child. He has a background in Economics and found his call in Web Development. After completing Ironhack's 9 week Web Development Bootcamp at Ironhack Barcelona, Daniel found a great job opportunity in his native country, USA. Check out his story here: Tell us a bit about yourself. I grew up in California, where I went to the University of California San Diego and received a degree in Economics. I moved to Spain in 2016 to design exchange programs for American international  students who wanted to study in Barcelona. What were you doing before you decided to join an Ironhack bootcamp? I lost my job when the pandemic hit in March 2020, and was immediately confined to my home for the next several months. My unemployment ran out after a few months and I needed to find a way to make money but could not leave the house to look for work. My wife had done a data science bootcamp the previous year and recommended that I try something similar for software engineering. That’s when I started looking at different bootcamp options in Barcelona. What convinced you that Ironhack was the right choice for you? Finding the right bootcamp took quite a bit of research. Coming from an entirely different background, I wanted to make sure that when recruiters were looking at my resume, they would recognize my bootcamp as reputable. I spoke to some friends that worked in tech in Barcelona, and asked if they had heard of Ironhack. I received consistent responses that Ironhack tended to produce quality candidates and provide a solid foundation for people new to computer science. Why did you decide to study in Barcelona instead of your hometown? When I started my program, I had already been living in Barcelona for 5 years. Unfortunately we had to leave Barcelona when I finished the bootcamp because I received a wonderful job offer in the United States. Ironhack's Web Development experience What was your experience like on the course? The bootcamp was intensive, and I would not recommend it to anyone who wants to have a social life or has other many other commitments at the time. With that said, it was an incredible experience to be a part of a group of people all experiencing the same thing: transitioning from one career into the intimidating world of tech. My colleagues were the best part of the experience. They make the all-nighters not only bearable, but fun and exciting. And we have all kept in touch since the bootcamp, helping each other throughout the job hunt and beyond. What interests you most about your bootcamp topic? I studied Web Development because I’m interested in building things from scratch and finding out how different pieces fit together. I was also aware that there were a lot of open job roles (and continue to be) in web development in Barcelona, and wanted a skill set that was likely to land me a good job. Working now as a software engineer, I really enjoy the collaborative component of working on a massive codebase. When you build a new feature, you become the expert on that topic, and people come to you for advice on how to work in that area! It’s a great way to feel ownership over your work. Studying during the summer And how was your experience studying during the summer? I chose the summer program because it was the first one available to me! Also, I had no obligations in my life at the time and wanted to quickly gain the skill set that would allow me to start applying to jobs. The 10-week program FLEW by, which was perfect for the goals I had in mind. Barcelona is also a wonderful place to spend the summer, with lots of life in the city and beaches to cool down from the heat. What would you say to those people who have doubts about studying at a bootcamp in the summer? You have nothing to fear! Summer is a great time to dedicate yourself to something, and a great time to meet new people! I’m also a huge advocate for bootcamps to career-changers. Tech bootcamps offer an opportunity to quickly pivot, learn something new, and springboard into a new field. Life After Ironhack What have you been up to since graduating? Shortly following my bootcamp, I was accepted into an apprenticeship at Microsoft. Upon concluding a 4 month program with them, I was interviewed for a full-time job in Washington and was extended an offer! This led to my family moving across the world and starting the next phase of our life. I have kept in touch with my classmates and see them whenever I am back in Barcelona. Lots of things happened in a very short time! What are you looking forward to in the future? I have a wonderful job at a fantastic company, with an amazing team. My career goal is to continue growing and learning every day, using the incredible resources available to me. My new job has allowed my wife and I to begin the next stage of life. We have moved closer to family, started saving for retirement, and are finally thinking about purchasing a home! I couldn't be happier with where my path has led me, and the doors that opened with my career change. You can connect with Daniel on LinkedIn or check out his GitHub to follow his journey and learn more about his current projects. Interested in switching careers to Web Development, like Daniel did? We look forward to seeing you in class!

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

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

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

Today’s spotlight is on Romina Polo.  She’s the Chief Creative Officer at Code/Art, a Miami-Based organization on a mission to increase the number of girls in computer science by providing STEAM programming throughout the year. As a marketing professional in the tech sector, Romina wanted to enhance her knowledge of development to better serve her team and community. After completing Ironhack’s 24 week remote part-time Web Development Bootcamp at Ironhack Miami, she now knows what it takes to be a developer and has the practical skills to continue to inspire young girls to build careers in tech. Check out his story here. The Ironhack Experience Hey Romina! Tell us about yourself and what life was like before enrolling in Ironhack. My name’s Romina. I was born in Peru, raised in Miami and graduated with an Advertising/PR degree at UCF. Throughout my career, I’ve worked in different marketing and ad agency roles as well as working on my own for a couple of years, creating content and running social media accounts for small businesses. It wasn’t until I heard of the work Code/Art was doing that I decided to take on a full time position within this organization which is where I currently work as Chief Creative Officer. Code/Art is a non-profit on a mission to inspire girls in grades 3-12 to code by using art as a medium to do so. I’ve always been passionate about building new things using creativity, design and innovation. Having a more clear understanding of how tech skills can open up a world of possibilities for creating new things was a great motivator for me to enroll in the web development course at Ironhack. In 2022 you were one of our US scholarship recipients. How did the eMerge Diversity in Tech Scholarship help you and what was your experience with the enrollment process? Working with the Ironhack enrollment team was a pretty straightforward process for me. The team walked me through the steps, answered the questions I had, and also helped me decide which course I should go with as I was somewhat undecided at first. I’m grateful for the eMerge Diversity in Tech Scholarship because the truth is, I would have probably not enrolled in this course without the assistance. It’s great to see organizations (like eMerge and Ironhack) that are not just talking about wanting to see more diversity in tech but are actually creating direct pathways for someone like myself - a Latina mom (who may not be your idea of a programmer) to also participate. What was your experience with the part-time Web Development Bootcamp? It’s been almost 6 months since I completed the web dev course and I still feel like I was challenged in a way I don’t think I’ve felt before. It was of course hard at times but also really empowering when you finally know how to get your code to work. It really does make you feel like you can build anything. I’ve pushed myself to stop being afraid of messing things up. When it comes to learning how to code you really do learn by testing things out and rewriting lines of code in different ways until something finally clicks. I realized that once in a while you’re going to break your code and have a meltdown, but that’s alright because there’s always a solution out there or a second pair of eyes to help you see things differently. It’s great to see organizations (like eMerge and Ironhack) that are not just talking about wanting to see more diversity in tech but are actually creating direct pathways for someone like myself - a Latina mom (who may not be your idea of a programmer) to also participate . With the gender gap and diversity being an on-going topic in the tech industry, share why you believe more women should be involved in tech. It’s probably not a surprise to hear that women earn only 18% of CS degrees (a drop from 37% in the 80s) and hold just a quarter of tech jobs. Unfortunately, learning this stat alone can be part of the reason women don’t want to enter the space. Tech, however, is something that is woven into every industry - health, art, entertainment, government etc. and it’s not something that’s going to slow down. I’d narrow it down to 4 reasons why the lack of diversity in tech is harmful for us all: Bad for economy (we have thousands of unfilled computing jobs in the U.S. that could be filled by women) Stifles innovation (fewer ideas at the table) Lack of diversity leads to coded biases around gender and race Missed opportunities for women (aka high-paying and flexible jobs) A benefit of working in tech is that you can really be a part of something impactful and in order for us to come up with the best innovations, we need the best minds - from all genders, races and backgrounds. I was greatly relieved when I realized there was another woman in my Ironhack cohort. We became each other’s support systems and cheerleaders, even though we didn’t know each other before taking the bootcamp. My hope is that seeing another woman in a CS course or dev team shouldn’t be this rare thing that we have to hold our breath for. Creating more access for women, having more women in leadership roles, and being aware of biases and stereotypes are all ways that we can collectively help move the needle in the right direction. I’d simply say, if you’re a woman interested in working in tech but hesitant to take the first step (of joining Ironhack), just know that your contribution and presence in the space is needed way more than you may realize. —- A big thanks to Romina for sharing her thoughts about what it’s like to be a woman in tech! We loved hearing about how she used the development skills she learned at Ironhack to continue empowering young girls at Code/Art. You can connect with Romina on Linkedin here to follow her journey and learn more about Code/Art’s initiatives. If you’d like to up skill to enhance your current skills and empower others to be in tech like Romina, we encourage you to check out our Full-Stack Web Development Bootcamp in addition to our UI/UX Design and Data Analytics bootcamps . Also, don’t hesitate to apply for the 2023 eMerge Americas x Ironhack scholarship in partnership with the Miami Marlins. Submit your application by May 15th at 11:59PM EST for a chance to get a portion of your bootcamp tuition covered. We look forward to seeing you in class!

Today’s spotlight is on Andrew Thomas-Worsley. Prior to enrolling in Ironhack, he worked at a public school as an Academic Interventionist while balancing a variety of gig jobs. Deep down he always had a passion for technology and yearned to be a developer. After completing Ironhack’s 9 week full-time Web Development Bootcamp at Ironhack Miami , he was able to build a fulfilling career as a Software Engineer. Andrew learned the top frameworks used by development teams, was disciplined while immersing himself in the coursework everyday, and became comfortable relying on the Ironhack community for support during challenging times. The knowledge he gained from Ironhack helped Andrew find a career he loves with the flexibility he always wanted. Check out his story here. Hey Andrew! Tell us about yourself and what life was like before enrolling in Ironhack. My name is Andrew Thomas-Worsley. I’m a Software Engineer at Media Query. I got my start in tech answering phones in Customer Support for a small start-up in NYC. I transitioned into QA a year later. Even after my promotion, I still wasn’t satisfied. Truthfully I was bored and envious of the developers. I felt like the biggest contributions came from them, considering they were building the product. After a while, I didn’t care to continue to review their work. I just wanted to be like them. Before enrolling in Ironhack in Oct 2022, I was bouncing around from role to role, never really able to find the fulfillment I wanted from an occupation. Between Sept. 2017 until the moment I was hired as a developer in Nov 2022, I worked at Trader Joe's & Miami-Dade Public Schools, as well as Uber Eats & Instacart. The Ironhack Experience In 2022 you were one of our US scholarship recipients. How did the eMerge Diversity in Tech Scholarship help you and what was your experience with the enrollment process? The enrollment process was very easy. Every question I had was answered. The communication with Gaby (my admissions associate) was friendly and inviting. The financing options were varied and offered a path for everyone. I never felt like I was being sold on the idea of “being hired as a software engineer in nine weeks”. It’s worth mentioning that my situation might be different, as I wasn’t looking to be “sold” or “convinced.” I had spent the previous eight months learning the basics (of web dev) on my own. It was merely a coincidence I came across the eMerge scholarship. I had been reading an article about eMerge Americas tech conference in Miami and it mentioned the new partnership with Ironhack. I applied, and to my surprise, was awarded. The scholarship covered a third of my tuition and ultimately made the choice very easy for me. The way I saw it, $7k was a bargain in comparison to the opportunities that would present themselves on the other side of the bootcamp. Apply for the 2023 eMerge Americas x Ironhack Scholarship in partnership with the Miami Marlins here . What was your experience with the full-time Web Development Bootcamp? “Drinking water from a fountain that eventually feels like a fire hose,” is the best way to describe the full-time Web Development Bootcamp . I’m aware that depiction may discourage and dissuade those who are on the fence, however, there are many ways to learn this craft. In fact, I think for most, a part-time course is probably best. For me, I wanted to be immersed every day, all day. I needed the reps and more importantly, I wanted interpersonal interaction and collaboration. I’m a big believer in the power of environment & ambiance. I knew that if I stayed home, it’d be too easy for me to get distracted or detached/withdrawn when things got challenging. Having a bit of foundational knowledge, I knew some of the hurdles I'd encounter. And when that time came, I wanted direct access to my instructors and my classmates. That’s what I was paying for! My cohort was the first Hyflex class that had a mixture of students in-person and online following the same curriculum, with the same instructor. I feel comfortable saying there was a direct correlation between how much time we spent in person and how soon we were hired. The best thing I learned from Ironhack has nothing to do with code. It has everything to do with how to ask for help. Personally, I believe it’s the most important skill to possess. If you’ve never heard it, please let me be the first to tell you: LEARNING TO WRITE SOFTWARE WILL HUMBLE YOU. It’s hard. And you will need help. You wouldn’t expect yourself to learn to sing just from listening to music all day. So, you shouldn’t expect to learn to code just by watching tutorials all day. Any and all progress you make will come from building projects. And at some point, in the construction of your project, you’ll need help. A lot of times, Google, ChatGPT, & Stack Overflow will suffice. When you’re working on a specific component of a larger product with a team of Developers, you might need specialized knowledge that isn’t documented or accessible via the former three. That’s where knowing how to ask for help matters. I’ve learned from past situations that: If I've exhausted all of my resources trying to fix my problem, there’s no reason to judge myself when asking for help. My request for help should be detailed and already include answers to follow-up questions that might be asked. Document everything. The best thing I learned from Ironhack has nothing to do with code. It has everything to do with how to ask for help. Personally, I believe it’s the most important skill to possess. What was your favorite part about attending Ironhack? My favorite part about attending would be the community I found and the friends I made. That kind of intense experience makes for the tightest of bonds. We were also the first cohort to share office space with Media Query. That kind of access gave me a chance to build rapport with people who would eventually become my co-workers. As I said, showing up mattered... I was also appreciative of how diverse my cohort was. Most spoke more than one language and just about half weren’t born in the US. The majority of us in that room weren’t the stereotypical “techies”. We were all just people trying to level up. With diversity being an on-going topic in the tech industry, share why you believe more of the BIPOC community should be involved in tech. In a room of 100 developers, 5 of them will look like me. I’m very proud to be a software engineer who happens to be a Black American. I do my best to bring awareness within my community about the lack of representation in tech, but also enjoy sharing programs that help rectify the issue. When I was working at Booker T. Washington High School  last year, I made a conscious effort to introduce web development to the kids. I believe the more exposure and opportunity we (as a community) have within tech, the sooner we’ll see more black & brown individuals take control of their fate. Ironhack gave me skills that fundamentally shifted the trajectory of my future. I have a craft  I take great pride in where my growth is limitless. I’m certain there will always be something new to learn in this profession. Not to mention, there are so many specific disciplines within tech to explore. My favorite part about attending would be the community I found and the friends I made. That kind of intense experience makes for the tightest of bonds. What’s it like working in tech as a software engineer? I love what I do! There’s no other job that gives me this kind of gratification. Everyday I’m learning. Everyday I’m growing. Everyday I’m asking questions. I was one of the fortunate ones to start working very quickly after my cohort, so I’m grateful in the sense that I didn’t have to worry about a “lapse” in my skills. I was able to immediately apply what I learned. I feel very fortunate that most of my co-workers are Ironhack graduates as well, so there was an understanding and patience I was afforded. I very much believe that your first gig as a Dev is very important. It sets the tone for your career. Regardless of where you land, the learning curve is going to be a bit steep. There’s a gap between bootcamp graduation and your first job. On one hand, you’ve acquired the skills of a software engineer but on the other hand, learning how to apply them in a team with an existing code base is a separate education in and of itself. This is something that you can only get from experience. That’s why it's so tough to get the first job. What I love most about being a software engineer is the freedom it allows me to have. All I need to “work” is a laptop and wifi. If I want to work from Lagos or Singapore, I should have that option. I’ve always hated feeling like my means to earn a living is tied to a physical location. Now I don’t have to worry about it. In addition, there’s so much opportunity to start my own business or even be a consultant. —- A big thanks to Andrew for sharing his story! It’s amazing to see how he built a career in tech that he truly loves. We’re so proud of him and wish him the best in everything he does! You can connect with Andrew on Linkedin here to follow his journey. If you’d like to follow a similar path as Andrew and are looking to change careers, we encourage you to check out our Full-Stack Web Development Bootcamp in addition to our UI/UX Design and Data Analytics bootcamps . Also, don’t hesitate to apply for the 2023 eMerge Americas x Ironhack scholarship in partnership with the Miami Marlins . Submit your application by May 15th at 11:59PM EST for a chance to get a portion of your bootcamp tuition covered. We look forward to seeing you in class!

Ligia Fascioni is (now) a UX/UI Designer, originally from Brazil, who moved to Berlin with her husband in 2011. Over a decade has passed and a lot has changed in that time. But one of the biggest changes – a change in her career – has happened rather recently. In this article, we share Ligia’s story of becoming a UX/UI Designer at 56. We talk with her about the struggles and fears she went through, how to make a career change after 50, her motivation for a change, and if she is happy with the decision she made. From Electrical Engineer to UX/UI Designer Turn the clock back 12 years and Ligia was arriving in Berlin with her husband. Back then she was an Electrical Engineer and worked in that role for decades. Before coming to Germany, Ligia completed her Master’s Degree in Automation and Control which led her to a career in Electrical Engineering but she felt that her technical skills were not enough. So, in 1999 she enrolled for an MBA in Marketing and a new world opened up for her. She has taken numerous other courses throughout her career and finally got a PhD in Design Management as part of a Production Engineering course. After some years in Berlin, infected by the startup atmosphere of the city, she and her husband (also an Electrical Engineer) started their own technology company. Her work varied a lot and included everything from Python and Javascript programming to helping with the production of GPS-Based reference devices. If you can’t tell by now, Ligia is a motivated woman who loves to learn. Throughout her career, she has continued to look for ways to learn new skills and improve the work she is doing. In 2022 a new phase of her career started. Her startup was sold and she decided to make a career change: UX/UI design was calling to her. Ligia took several courses about design thinking, service design, innovation, future thinking, future of work, UX Design, and related themes over the course of her career and knew that UX/UI design was a new path she wanted to explore. “I’m 56 years old and very excited about this new phase of my (learning) life.” How to make a career change that builds on your strengths Ligia notes that she chose to pivot to a career that not only interested her but that also built on her strengths. Her previous experiences in different industries have shown her that knowledge and Information is the best way to gain trust. “If people know what you're doing, they'll trust your competence.” She became an Electrical Engineer at the age of 23. As a young woman in a more chauvinist time, and in a male-dominated industry there were a lot of challenges for her to overcome. “I worked installing robots in industries and the environment was very hostile -- for example, there were no women's restrooms in most places I worked at that time.” These experiences were tough, but she also learned that the only way to gain respect and trust was to explain her work in detail to people who didn't understand why she was there. This mentality stayed with her over time and led her to become an expert in explaining complex systems in a way that anyone could understand – which is what UX/UI design is all about. “I think UX/UI design is about that: making information accessible to everyone.” Get ready to learn: Using a bootcamp to gain new skills Her decision was made and she knew it was the right choice. But naturally, any change can bring with it doubts and confusion. To help her quell the doubts, she knew she wanted to acquire the right skills that would help her thrive in the new career she desired. So she went to Ironhack and enrolled in the Berlin UX/UI bootcamp . When we asked her about her experience at the bootcamp she told us: “I highly recommend it as it was an unforgettable experience. For me, it was very enriching but of course, the experience depends a lot on the person who is on the journey. Success also depends on how much you are willing to dedicate yourself. I loved the teachers, classmates, and the whole team. It really is a transforming experience.” We pried further and asked Ligia about the challenges of the course and if she struggled with anything while learning. “Technically, I didn't struggle with challenges; the hardest experience was working with people from very different personalities. For example, we needed to create a Hi-Fi e-commerce prototype for a real business. In the beginning, there were four people, but two days after the start of the challenge, two of them contracted COVID-19.” Ironhack bootcamps give you the chance to study in a way that suits you – online, in person, full time or part time – but a part of the bootcamp requires group projects. This can be a challenge when you are collaborating with people and learning how to communicate and work together with new people. But these kinds of soft skills are incredibly useful in any UX/UI Designer role so it's beneficial for students to face them before they enter a job. Ligia continues, “So there were only two people left, with very different backgrounds and different ways of seeing the world. My profile is more analytical and pragmatic; my colleague was more spontaneous and intuitive. In the beginning, it was a big challenge, as we had limited time to discuss all the issues (even the philosophical ones, which my colleague loved to discuss). In the end, I learned a lot! My colleague was a very intelligent person and we both learned that with respect we could work and learn together. It was a very meaningful experience.” Why make a career change past 50? With challenges faced along the way, and an already successful career in hand, we were curious about what motivated Ligia to make a change. Many people get comfortable in the jobs they have, and they often even go on to make up a part of a person's identity – especially when they have been doing that same role for years, and have seen success in it. Not to mention the fact that a career change past 50 can bring about its own fears. There is always the doubt that it’s too late, or that no one will hire you. But Ligia proves those fears are unwarranted if you are ready to dedicate yourself to the change. Part of Ligia's motivation was wanting to make people's lives easier. She decided she wanted to move to a career that would allow her to have a greater impact and this helped her stay focused as she had a goal to work towards and meaning behind her decision. “I intend to learn more and more about how to make people's lives easier. I really think that's what UX/UI Design is about.” Ligia’s advice for anyone looking to make a career change Ligia has taken a step that many of you might be hoping to make too. Through her career pivot, she has learned a few things and she has some advice to share with any of you that will be walking on the same path soon. It’s never too late. Life expectancy is increasing with each generation and at 56 I believe I am in the middle of my productive life. Since you're always learning, there's no reason to stop. I think life is too short to have only one profession. IT is dominated by men these days, but I see the scenery changing. I hope that more and more women can occupy spaces that are our right. My advice is: be together with other women. Together, we are invincible. For many years I believed in the chauvinist idea that women were competitive and couldn't be trusted. But this idea is useful for patriarchy to weaken us. The truth is that women are the best friends ever to fight against injustices. The future is female! Get ready to start your tech career in Berlin Are you ready to kickstart your career in tech? Sign up for one of our bootcamps and learn the skills that German tech companies are searching for. Our tech school offers a range of immersive bootcamps from UX/UI Design to Cybersecurity which are delivered in formats tailored to your needs: online or on campus, full-time or part-time. Apply today .