Best European Cities to Begin a Job in Tech

Discover Europe's leading tech hubs and where to kickstart your tech career.

Juliette Erath - Tech Writer

All Courses

The tech scene is thriving all over the world; with a strong start-up scene along with some well-established tech companies in Europe, places such as Amsterdam, Berlin, London, Barcelona, and Paris boast an incredible tech industry. Looking for some of the best European cities for tech jobs? You’ve come to the right place.

Tech professionals, both those with experience and beginners, have the luxury of being able to work from anywhere. The abundance of jobs in the tech field means that skilled candidates are in high demand and companies are willing to be flexible; there are many jobs and opportunities available for those interested in all areas of the tech field, from cybersecurity to machine learning and data mining. Language skills coupled with a bootcamp qualification or a certificate in coding, data analytics, or machine learning will make you a very attractive candidate for jobs in tech.

After completing a bootcamp in cybersecurity, data analytics, UX/UI design, or web development, you will be well-equipped to apply for a vast range of jobs with European tech companies; a tech qualification can quite literally take you anywhere. Lots of countries are offering bustling tech sectors with lots of room for growth, but we’re going to focus on five in particular that are truly taking off.

The Tech Sector in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a thriving center of the tech scene, as well as a city with an incredibly high quality of life. The Dutch truly value innovation and this is reflected in the wide range of startups based there; it is home to many highly successful companies and has a vibrant ad tech scene. Additionally, initiatives such as Startup Amsterdam are available to support new companies, offering resources such as job search boards, industry insights, and European tech events listings.

Amsterdam is a great city to kickstart your career in tech with a plethora of companies and startups. Plus with excellent biking infrastructure, superb coffee shops, and some of the best international tech talent, it's hard to think of a better place to start a career in tech and put your new skills into practice.

The Tech Sector in Berlin

Steeped in history and full of cool art, fashion, and culture, Berlin has long been an up and coming hub in the startup space, becoming a dominating tech hub in Europe. From apps to fintech, e-commerce brands, and websites, tech companies of all sizes are based in Berlin. Skilled professionals are in demand across the city and most tech companies in Berlin are English-speaking, meaning you won’t need to learn a new language to succeed. Berlin is also still one of the more affordable cities in which to live in Europe.

The tech scene is now well-established in the German capital with lots of startups that boast a decade or more of experience, making it a great place for you to begin your tech career with established and experienced startups. Conferences like the International PHP Conference, DevOpsCon, and IFA take place there each year; these conferences are a great way to network with other professionals in the field while scoping out new companies for your future endeavors.

The Tech Sector in London

Although no longer part of the EU, London is still a major player in Europe's tech scene; many tech organizations have kept their offices there due to London’s influence in the sector, offering lots of great job opportunities in tech across the city. It is one of the best places in the world for startups, coming in close second after Silicon Valley, but that’s not all: lots of finance companies are based in London and the demand for cybersecurity professionals is also very high.

Although it is an expensive place to live, tech jobs in London are very lucrative and employees in this field can easily cover their living costs.

The Tech Sector in Barcelona

Have you dreamed of sunny Spanish afternoons surrounded by the beach and sangria? In Barcelona, you can benefit from both incredible weather and unlimited cultural options, in addition to working in Europe’s fifth most digitized area. The city invested lots of resources into smart city technologies, helping it advance together with northern European countries; it also boasts a fantastic start-up environment, offering a wide range of tech jobs in different industries.

Who wouldn’t want to benefit from a wonderful quality of life while working in tech fields, advancing alongside the best of Europe’s big tech companies? Barcelona offers the unique opportunity to work from the beach and not miss out on any networking opportunities. Spain’s low cost of living and laid back environment will mean talented individuals are continuously flocking to the region; you’ll always be surrounded by the best.

The Tech Sector in Paris

With over 8,000 startups, who wouldn’t want to head to Paris? This dreamy and romantic city boasts an incredible number of universities and research centers, contributing to its bustling tech industry. The French capital has great research and development opportunities, labs, theoretical science, and talent trained directly in the country.

Paris is coming close to catching up with London as Europe’s biggest tech hub; some predict that before long, it will wear that crown. But until then, consider joining an internationally-renowned tech sector and enjoying that Parisian lifestyle.

Jump into Tech

Taking a tech bootcamp is a great way to get started on a career in the field. With Ironhack, you can study topics such as UX/UI design, data analytics, web development, and cybersecurity; our intensive bootcamps are available in a range of cities and languages and are designed to equip you with all the essential skills and knowledge for starting a job in tech in one of the best cities in Europe for tech jobs. Browse our courses today and find the area that interests you in a location that you would love to explore.

8 minutes

Beyond Coding: Essential Skills for Tech Professionals

Ironhack - 2023-08-23

All Courses

You’ve learned your programming language of choice and you’re done, right?! You’ve learned everything you need to know to land your dream tech job, right ?! Unfortunately, it’s not that simple–there are lots of other skills tech professionals need to know, both hard and soft, to ensure they’re ready to take on the challenge. Before we dive right into the crucial skills that you should have as a tech professional beyond those that you already have, let’s explore why it’s so important to learn other skills to land your dream role in tech. Why is it Important to Learn Other Skills in Tech? Programmers should be aware of cybersecurity threats in addition to their coding knowledge and UX/UI designers should know how to analyze the data that they see from their users to optimize their designs. But beyond the skills listed on a job description lie others that are essential. Why? Here you go: Tech moves at an incredibly fast pace : tech moves fast; we’re sure you already know that. To keep up with new technologies or innovations, it’s crucial that you’re constantly researching what’s happening in the industry and staying up-to-date with new advancements. Additional skills make you a more valuable candidate : if you just have the basic skills required to be a cybersecurity professional, you’ll find that your application is sitting next to a large pile of candidates with the exact same skills. Branching out and widening your skill set separates your application and makes employers more likely to hire you. You’ll be better suited to move into a different role: as we mentioned, tech moves fast and let’s be realistic: it’s possible that your job becomes unnecessary or filled by someone else with knowledge of newer tools and technologies. But if you boast a wide range of skills, employers are more likely to move you into a new role or choose to upskill or reskill you. We’ll dive into a more detailed summary of skills to learn for specific roles later on, but first, let’s cover some of the main tech skills that all techies should have in their toolbox. Important tech skills for all techies No matter if you’re the world’s best UX/UI designer or Python programmer, all tech professionals should be able to put these skills on their resume: General computer skills : we’re sure you know how to type, but are you proficient at using both Macs and PCs? Or various processing systems? Today, everyone is expected to have some computer knowledge because our world is so digitally-focused, but showing how comfortable you are with various softwares and machines helps instill a sense of confidence in your manager. Artificial intelligence : AI is all the rage right now and it’s only going to continue growing in popularity, with more and more AI-skilled professionals needed. If you can work on your AI skills outside the office and add it to your resume, hiring managers will definitely take note. Marketing : knowing how to create your product is just one step; you have to know how to market it as well. Reviewing some key marketing knowledge such as search engine optimization and content marketing can help you take your skills to the next level. Coding : listen, we’re not saying you need to become a hackathon champion if your goal is to become a data analyst. But it could be helpful to have some coding knowledge so you can handle little problems on your own or even identify what an issue is. Data analytics : data is behind every single decision we make and knowing how to read, sort, and visualize data can help you make better decisions in every part of your life and especially at work. You don’t need to be the world’s fastest data analyzer, but learning how to understand important figures at a basic level could help your actions become more effective. Web design : you could write some fantastic code but choose a design that just doesn’t resonate with your user and suddenly no one is checking out your website. Knowing the basics of quality user design can help you incorporate that into your project from the back-end. Now that you know why it’s important to learn other skills outside your direct responsibilities, let’s cover some key skills for each of these four sectors: web development, UX/UI design, data analytics, and cybersecurity. Other Skills to Learn in Web Development Web developers boast knowledge in programming languages, frameworks, cording, and testing, but what else could be valuable? Let’s discuss: Familiarity with the user experience : at the end of the day, web developers are creating a product for a certain user and if the web design doesn’t meet user needs and expectations, it’s entirely useless. To ensure that designs are created for the user, web developers should understand the entire user experience, which will help them create a better product. Attention to detail: writing lines and lines of code can be tedious and seemingly endless, but a small mistake could make the entire site come crashing down. Web developers that can prove their attention to detail skills will reassure potential employers and be more attractive candidates. Teamwork : web developers tend to work on large teams with back-end developers, front-end developers, product managers, UX designers, team leads, and more and the last thing managers want is a developer who can’t play nice with others. Show off your teamwork skills and give examples of how you’ve worked on large and diverse teams before if you want to truly impress your prospective employer. Good communication : developers have a reputation for sitting at their computers all day and writing lines and lines of code and, well, there’s a reason for that. Similarly to the need for good teamwork skills, developers should expect to spend lots of time explaining what they’re doing to others and need to be able to communicate properly with the entire team. Other Skills to Learn in UX/UI Design To create the perfect design, UX/UI designers are proficient in interaction design, information architecture, prototyping, and design, in addition to these sometimes forgotten gems: Familiarity with the differences between mobile and desktops : the perfect design might exist solely on a mobile browser and when you bring it to a desktop it doesn’t work at all. Knowing the slight differences between mobile and desktop browsers such as loading time, page layout, and accessibility can help bring your design to an entirely new audience–and bring more business. Visualization skills : for some, it can be hard to picture what a final product will look like and we get it–how could anyone picture something that doesn’t exist yet?! But even though it’s challenging, successful UX/UI designers boast the ability to anticipate how a design will look, choosing the right elements right from the beginning and adjusting them as needed throughout the design process. Familiarity with testing procedures : the design process can be long and tedious and ultimately depends heavily on how testing goes and how users respond to the design. UX/UI designers who have experience with or knowledge about testing procedures can anticipate problems before they arise and quickly solve any found issues. Good listening skills : just like with developing a website, the success of a design ultimately lies with one thing: if the user reacts positively to it. Showing a potential employer that you’re ready to listen and incorporate all kinds of feedback into your design will be well-received. Other Skills to Learn in Data Analytics In addition to typical data analytic skills like machine learning, data visualization, data cleaning, and analysis, data analysts can spruce up their resumes with the following skills: Programming languages : you might equate programming languages with web development and coding, but programming languages like R and Python can analyze large quantities of data efficiently and quickly, allowing you to focus on other tasks that require human brainpower. Presentation skills : spoiler alert: your findings are practically useless if you can’t communicate them to your team, sharing what you’ve learned and your recommendations for the future. Knowing how to visualize your results can make all the difference between a good data analyst and an incredible data analyst. Writing skills : data analysts are frequently tasked with creating reports of their findings to share with colleagues or stakeholders; knowing how to not only put that information into charts but also write it well can be quite the challenge for those with weak writing skills. Problem solving skills : from incomplete datasets to tight deadlines, data analysts face lots of problems and need to be prepared to handle said issues professionally and properly, ensuring they’re completing their responsibilities to the best of their abilities. Other Skills to Learn in Cybersecurity Cybersecurity professionals might think all employers are looking for is Cloud knowledge and network security skills, but to become a truly competitive candidate, we recommend becoming familiar with: Attention to detail: scams or phishing attempts can seem really real sometimes and it’s easy to fall for one if you’re not paying full attention. Highlighting your ability to double and triple check every detail will reassure potential employers. Critical thinking : some threats require a lot of creativity and critical thinking to find the right solution; knowing how to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions is highly valuable. Coding : lots of protections put into place by cybersecurity professionals are embedded into a website’s code; if you have basic knowledge of some of the most common programming languages, you’ll be able to implement these protections yourself and check for updates or problems later on. Artificial intelligence : the rise of artificial intelligence has led to more realistic phishing and malware attacks. Cyber professionals who can identify computer-generated scams will become increasingly relevant in the coming years. It may seem like a lot of skills to learn, but that’s exactly why Ironhack was born: to take talented individuals and make them into the next generation of techies, ready to fill market gaps in different areas of the sector. Bootcamp graduates are incredibly valuable because of just that; they use their diverse backgrounds and their newly acquired technical knowledge to create a new kind of tech professional . If you’re thinking about changing careers, there’s never been a better time to dive right into tech and we’d love to guide you along your journey in tech. What are you waiting for? Check out our courses and apply today.

Read article

8 minutes

Metadata Forensics: When Files Can Speak and Reveal the Truth

Juliette Erath - 2023-10-16

Cybersecurity

All Courses

Metadata will be one of these words that is tiptoeing into our daily vocabulary. This is mainly because of the exponential amount of data being generated and stored at every minute of every day. Did you know that the amount of existing data stored on the Internet doubles every two years (yikes! That's a lot of data!). How are we going to sort through all that? And avoid losing time, getting a few headaches, and completely erasing important data? Here is where the usefulness of metadata comes in. What is Metadata Anyways? To clarify, metadata is not to be mixed up with actual content; metadata is not the content itself. Instead, it describes the content of an object or piece of information . To put it simply, it’s "data about data" or " a set of data used to describe and represent an information object" or even "documentation that describes the stored data.” For example, an email has written content or "information" within it, yet the metadata would be the time it was sent, the sender, and the subject. There are three different kinds of metadata that make the system complete and operable: descriptive, structural, and administrative. Descriptive metadata Descriptive metadata is basic information: who, what, when and where. Think of it as a description of a file or a piece of art with the plaque next to it; it’s there to help individuals know what they are looking at and the description changes depending on the contents of the object or information piece. Types of descriptive metadata include: Time and date of creation Program or processes used for the creation of the data Purpose of the data Creator or author of the data Location on a device where the data was created Technical standards used File size Data quality Source of the data Modifications or programs used to modify the file Structural metadata Structural metadata defines how the data should be categorized to fit into a more extensive system of other objects or information sets. Therefore, structural metadata represents what the fields mean , so there can be a relationship established between many files to organize them and use them accordingly. Administrative metadata This is information about the history of the data or object , such as owners, rights, licenses and permissions, which is particularly helpful for information management. Word files, songs, videos and images, for example, all follow an information method regarding origins, creation and uses. What’s the Deal with Metadata? One of the main problems with the exponential growth of data is how it is treated and stored. If the data isn't appropriately descriptive, it makes it significantly harder for users of that data to retrieve or recover it . Description elements need to be accurately representative so that current tools can efficiently and effectively find them for the user. Think about it: we have all been there and quickly saved a file without labeling it properly and then spent hours trying to find it–or maybe even never saw it again. It’s forever lost in the data abyss (oh the heartbreak!). Experts studying description, search, and retrieval information point out that the best solutions to avoid this problem may be creating well-planned and designed metadata information systems tools for users . This would allow optimal information processing stored in computers to be exchanged over the networks, particularly for data available on the internet. Such a resource would mean that electronically stored data can be accessed and retrieved, regardless of format, such as text, image, sound, video, a web page, and more. This would help individuals find the exact information they are searching for–and avoid heartache or heartbreak! Metadata's Role in Forensics Now that we have briefed you on what metadata is and its various forms, are you ready to get your detective hat and magnifying glass out? Because there's an even more specific field of use: forensic metadata. Think of electronic evidence or the bread crumbs that lead to the main culprit or suspect; forensic metadata has the key to cracking a case in various investigations because vital information can be hidden in a tiny file and reveals something major. Forensic metadata in use Metadata allows digital or computer forensic investigators to understand the steps and history of an electronic file; these digital traces are fragile and need to be properly preserved . Think of it like real physical evidence at a crime scene and the level of care required to avoid cross-contamination, missed clues, or tampering with evidence. Metadata must be treated in the same way. Here are examples of some metadata that may be of interest to a criminal investigation: Recovering file names, their extensions, their respective creation, modification and access dates History of executions, failures, number of writes and reads of records File creation, modification, and access information Accessing all information stored within a document Accessing hidden document information Providing collaboration evidence Metadata even serves to help authenticate electronic evidence or help identify when evidence has been falsified or doctored. When carrying out an investigation, a professional needs very versatile tools that are fast and safe to use ; these professionals include security nationals, computer experts, investigation companies and security departments in large companies or corporations. Such tools will assist in facilitating tests and reports with a complete guarantee so when requesting strict access to these files, they already know that it is relevant to their case. We like to take inspiration from Hany Farid , a forensic and computer scientist known as the “ Sherlock Holmes of the Instagram era .” Journalists, courts, intelligence agencies, and the FBI come to him to sort real images from fake ones, as it's becoming increasingly difficult to tell the difference. He states that "the ability to manipulate digital content has accelerated." and this acceleration could present a real public threat as public figures can even fall victim to "deep fake" videos or photos. He is striving to carry out his work in many ways, using various new tools, but one initial clue that indicates that an image may have been falsified is the number of times the image has been saved or compressed. Therefore, metadata helps unlock insights into whether the image has been manipulated or not–and this is just the beginning. As you can probably tell, cybersecurity is a huge topic with lots of ground to cover. If you wanna keep on learning more, check out our cybersecurity bootcamp , which you can take either in-person or online and choose from full-time or part-time options. The future of cybersecurity is incredibly bright, with new technologies introduced every day. Are you up for the challenge?

Read article

7 minutes

Machine Learning: What is it?

Ironhack - 2023-06-25

All Courses

You’ve heard about it, but maybe you don’t know exactly what it is. Or you’re familiar with the concept, but want to know exactly what you can do with a career in machine learning. We’ll cover these doubts and much more in the article below. What is Machine Learning? Machine learning is a field of computer science devoted to training computers to learn and make predictions without being explicitly programmed to do so . Instead of relying on static instructions (think massive if-else trees), machine learning algorithms ingest, analyze, and interpret large amounts of training data to build models that can then be used to make predictions. Even if you’re just getting into machine learning, we’re sure that you’ve definitely heard about it before. Let’s demystify the world of machine learning by first answering some commonly asked questions. Is machine learning the same as artificial intelligence? The terms “machine learning” and “artificial intelligence” are sometimes used interchangeably, but they do not mean the same thing: AI is a field of computer science that encompasses the simulation of human intelligence in a large number of ways: natural language processing (ChatGPT), computer vision (Google Lens), and robotics (Boston Dynamics). Machine learning , on the other hand, is an approach to AI that focuses on algorithms that seek to enable computers both to learn from data and to improve their performance over time. Machine learning vs deep learning–are they the same? No, machine learning and deep learning are not the same thing! Deep learning is a subset of machine learning that focuses on creating models using multi-layered neural networks. Exactly what those are is not in the scope of this blog, but you can think of it as a really complex algorithm that requires a lot of data and computational resources to train. Do I need experience in web development to work in machine learning? No! Most people who work in machine learning have no experience in web development. Machine learning is all about developing and using algorithms to produce models that can make decisions and predict outcomes–apart from both web developers and machine learning engineers writing code, the two have very little in common. Should I study data science or machine learning? Well, it all depends on what you want to do! Data science is the application of statistical and scientific methods to gain insights from data---and you can definitely use machine learning algorithms to achieve such ends. Machine learning, on the other hand, is more about techniques that enable computers to make predictions. If you’re into practical applications, study data science; if you’re into theory, study machine learning. Now that we’ve defined machine learning and answered some of your burning questions, let’s dive a little deeper and explore how machine learning affects our daily lives. Real life applications of machine learning While machine learning is theoretical in nature, there are thousands of real, practical applications for machine learning models in use in industry today. We’ve already named some companies and products that use machine learning earlier in this post: OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google Lens, and Boston Dynamics. But these companies and products are not outliers; machine learning techniques can be applied in all kinds of contexts, such as: Healthcare : here’s a real, human impact. Machine learning has been used for diagnosing patients, discovering new drugs, predicting patient outcomes, and improving treatment plans---helping millions of people. Finance : this is the pinnacle of big data! We’ve seen machine learning used for algorithmic trading, fraud detection, risk assessment, and (controversially) credit scoring. Transportation : this is where graph theory is in action. Machine learning algorithms thrive at solving problems surrounding route optimization, demand forecasting, and (you guessed it) autonomous driving. Agriculture : it’s not just about growing crops! While machine learning can help with crop yield prediction, important advances have been made in optimizing resource allocation, detecting diseases in plants and livestock, and even genetically engineering newer, better crops. City planning : Cities use machine learning to understand how cities will grow and execute proper city planning. Sales : lots of companies use machine learning for sales purposes; for example, car companies use machine learning to understand how buyers will behave in the future. Streaming services : music companies and streaming platforms build sophisticated models to personalize the customer experience to match desires and needs. Working in Machine Learning Have we convinced you that machine learning is the best path into tech for you?! That’s fantastic! It might seem like a complex field and, well, you’re right, it is! But there are lots of roles where a machine learning background is useful. Roles in machine learning Many people have preconceptions about what you can do with a machine learning degree or bootcamp under your belt. While machine learning is generally theoretical, the truth is that you’re not confined to doing research for the rest of your life. There are plenty of well-paying, practical roles that you can take on with machine learning in your toolbelt. Let’s go over a few of them: Machine Learning Engineer : bet you didn’t see this one coming! The word engineer implies practical and machine learning engineers develop and deploy machine learning models to do any number of cool and interesting tasks. Data Scientist : data scientists often do exploratory data analysis or hypothesis testing. Pattern recognition and machine learning go hand-in-hand; to that end, data scientists can use machine learning tools to analyze complex data sets, identify patterns, and then predict outcomes much faster than they would otherwise be able to. AI Architect : while still technical, architects also take on a quasi-managerial role. They design and develop the overall strategies and infrastructure for implementing machine learning solutions for an organization. AI Ethicist : here’s where we can find the intersection of machine learning and philosophy. AI ethicists are responsible for addressing issues of fairness, bias, and transparency in AI systems. And those aren’t the only roles available! Machine learning consultants, data engineers, and research scientists all use machine learning skills on a regular basis. In the future, we’ll see almost every role either using machine learning tools (like software engineers using github copilot) or creating tools with machine learning no matter your industry and that’s why machine learning skills are so highly-demanded by hiring managers worldwide. How to get into machine learning There are so many ways to break into machine learning. Different people have different preferred ways of learning, so here’s four ways we think you can gain a foundational knowledge of machine learning, or learn machine learning, if you will: Books : for those of us who learn best by reading, there are plenty of resources available. The two books we recommend for those just learning about machine learning are Hands-On Machine Learning with Scikit-Learn, Keras, and TensorFlow by Aurelien Geron and Machine Learning for Absolute Beginners by Oliver Theobald. Online Communities : as always, there’s a Reddit community for exactly what we need! Try joining and participating in r/MachineLearning and r/LearnMachineLearning . A quick online search can also put you in touch with like minded individuals who are starting out on their machine learning journey. Bootcamps : There’s no better way to learn than in a safe, structured environment. Ironhack offers exciting bootcamps for roles all over the tech landscape. Supercharge your learning and jump start your career with an Ironhack bootcamp! YouTube : deep in your learning journey and stuck on a specific problem? YouTube and other online videos can help you visually solve a problem or boast your knowledge and share solutions with the community. Is machine learning for me? Alright, we’ve captured your interest! We’re not surprised; machine learning is an incredibly interesting field that has practically limitless potential. What more could you ask for?! If you can answer yes to the following questions, getting into machine learning may be your next career step: Do you like learning about statistics, coding, and new technologies? Are you curious, creative, and want to find new ways to solve problems? Do you grasp new concepts quickly and are passionate about the work you do? Do you like data and want to use it to get answers? You answered yes to all of these questions, right?! We thought so! And you’re in luck: at Ironhack, we've designed our bootcamps so that your dreams can become a reality and you can become the next great machine learning professional. Check out our course offerings today and don’t hesitate! This is your time to shine.

Read article

What is a Tech Bootcamp?

Ironhack - 2020-06-18

All Courses

Global

Is this a new trend or a chance to upshift your career? You've probably heard the term mentioned more than once and you'll know it's somehow related to technology, development, a career shift, innovation and even design. And you wouldn't be wrong, but what actually is a tech bootcamp? Maybe something to do with camping in the woods? Or perhaps outdoor military-style training? Doesn't it have something to do with learning to programme in your garage? Cold, cold... Why are bootcamps becoming such a popular way of learning? The tech market is undeniably lacking in qualified professionals. So, to tackle this shortage, the education sector has devised a methodology that seeks to teach the key skills needed to satisfy this demand. It's not a question of learning for learning's sake, rather the methodology hones in on what companies are actually looking for in potential candidates. Essentially, that's what defines a bootcamp, a training programme that's known for: Intensive learning (very intensive) Short-term teaching (1-3 months) A focus on acquiring specific practical skills Learning by doing Participants don't need any former qualifications Packing into a few months what would traditionally takes years to learn Culminating in an individual project that you plan and write from scratch The main aim of a bootcamp is to prepare students to tackle and satisfy the real needs of the job market, allowing them to secure the job of their dreams without having to study a university degree or vocational training course. Companies are increasingly recruiting their talent from bootcamps, and it's no happy coincidence... But, where do I start? How do I go about taking my first steps in the tech industry? Let's be honest: the tech world holds an ocean of knowledge and it's not possible (or advisable) to try and learn everything at once, especially if you're just starting out. The best thing to do would be to pick a specific area and delve in deep. At Ironhack , we advocate the fields of study with the highest chances of employability: web development, UX/UI design and data analytics. But how to decide which one is right for you? In order to make this decision, it’s a good idea to conduct an in-depth analysis. Don't limit your choice to your potential chances of finding employment. It's important to find out what really interests, motivates and inspires you. If you want to start out with something simple and do some of your own research on web development, we recommend you take a look at CodeAcademy or Freecodecamp . If you want to have a more practical approach, we can also go on workshops or webinars. At the end of the day, the objective is to discover which field that really inspires you before you start to get your career off the ground. powered by Crowdcast This webinar is an example, we are always launching new content - either from Web Development, UX/UI Design, or Data Analytics. You can take a look at the upcoming webinars here . Why are bootcamps so popular? Bootcamps are a source of hope and offer a new direction for anyone who wants to turn their personal and professional lives around by specialising further or starting a new adventure in the tech industry. If you are determined to accelerate your learning and acquire new digital skills, take a look at the courses we offer . You should know that entrepreneurs are also fascinated by this way of learning, as it allows them to learn everything they need to know quickly and at an intense but efficient pace. Do you want to develop an app but have no clue about coding? Want to design your own marketplace? Need to learn more about a certain subject in order to face the challenges in your professional life? These are just some of the reasons you might want to sign up to a bootcamp. Will I have the same professional opportunities if I choose to do a university degree? In fact, you'll have the same or more specialist skills than someone with a university degree or vocational training qualification, although you should know there is a certain amount of theoretical knowledge that isn't taught at the bootcamp. The technology sector is very receptive to this kind of problem-solving profile and these days employers tend to be less focused on uni qualifications, which makes it easier for you to access the same opportunities on the job market. Ironhack promotes a skills-based employment philosophy that places a premium on professionalism and candidates' skills, a notion that is also increasingly observed by the top companies that approach us in search of talent to grow their teams. Remember: You get back what you put in. Although teachers are there to teach, without putting in some of the work independently, it's impossible to assimilate all the knowledge you need in such a short space of time. If you're looking for talent, Ironhack has a whole network of budding experts. Get in touch! So, can I change my life in 9 weeks? Without a doubt. No one said it would be easy, but it is possible. If you decide to join a bootcamp of this length, bear in mind you'll need to dedicate yourself to full-time study . Each bootcamp includes a practical project that you'll need to submit at the end of the course. In short: You learn a lot, but you'll have to give up a lot of your free time over the subsequent 9 weeks . If you do a bit of digging, you'll find testimonies from former Ironhack students who have gone from being firefighters to developers, from psychologists to UX designers and from architects to data analysts working in companies such as Google, Cabify and Accenture. What about if I have a job I can't give up right now? You can always choose to join one of our part-time bootcamps, which are taught two afternoons a week and on Saturdays. They are designed to help you juggle your personal and professional life whilst still providing you with intensive training. How does that sound? If after everything you've heard you're still thinking about joining a bootcamp, there are three questions you need to ask yourself before you make any final decisions : 1) Are you motivated enough? Remember we're talking about an intense work pace. Motivation will help get you through the difficult moments, pushing you to research, learn, meet deadlines and keep grinding for as long as it takes. teste 2) Are you good at teaching yourself? You'll also need to be able to learn independently. Bootcamp classes are hugely valuable and very comprehensive, but in order to become an expert in such a short space of time, you'll also need to broaden your knowledge on your own, as well as completing all your assignments and a final project. 3) Do you know how to work as part of a team? Bootcamps are not an individual experience. You'll be spending a lot of time with your classmates and it's important to have a team-oriented spirit and be open to collaboration. A bootcamp is not a university degree, nor is it some kind of entertainment . It's much more than that. If after delving into our philosophy you still want to turn your career around, or improve the one you already have and specialise in web development, design or data analytics , get in touch and change your life. This is your chance!

Read article

10 minutes

10 Best Tech Companies to Work For in Spain and Why

Juliette Erath - 2023-07-27

All Courses

Madrid

Barcelona

The tech industry is following the shift that’s leading many companies to prioritize remote work and highly-qualified workers. And companies are willing to pay for that talent and make sure they keep them happy. So with just a little research, you can find the best role and company that matches what you want in a tech job. Spain is just one of many companies with such uplifting prospects: let’s check out why. Tech in Spain Information and communication technology (ICT) is considered one of the best sectors in Spain. The sector recovered quickly from the COVID pandemic and governments in certain autonomous regions have taken full advantage of European Union development and recovery funds to attract foreign investment in technology: Spain’s 5G National Plan is going to be a key driver for mobile network and fiber optic network upgrades. Private sector companies will want to get in on it from the beginning, meaning they will be investing heavily in growing their Spain-based workforces. Spanish telecoms companies have been consolidating to leverage their weight in the European market. With all the investments and changes, there is high demand for technology talent that can continuously adapt to the changing environment: Cybersecurity is a major issue, as is cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Spain is currently promoting public-private collaboration programs to integrate AI into multiple vertical sectors The Iberian nation is creating opportunities for investments from all over the world, and subsequently, for employment. The Best Tech Companies Hiring in Spain With offices in Madrid and Barcelona and all across the beautiful country, many tech companies have taken advantage of Spain’s push for technological advancements. Let’s explore the best tech companies that are currently hiring in Spain: RavenPack If you’re interested in a tech career in Spain, chances are you love the sun and the balmy, beachy environment of towns like Valencia or Malaga. Ravenpack, based in Marbella, which is located just outside of Malaga with easy access to the international airport, is hiring. The company started with just 70 employees in 2019 and now boasts over 180. Here’s what to expect: Ravenpack has a diverse international team and offers opportunities for continued professional development and growth. The company is research-driven, collecting data from various sources and using AI and machine learning to aggregate findings and provide its clients with valuable analytical insights. They are backed by a number of powerful investors including Dow Jones and Amazon Web Services, to name a few. If you are interested in research and data analytics, this is your company. Cabify Want to make cities better? So does Cabify. Founded in 2011, Cabify is considered the first Spanish tech unicorn with headquarters located in Madrid and offices across the country, including Barcelona and Málaga. Cabify is looking to fill roles like Head of Engineering and Principal Backend Software Engineer, so you can really get to use your technology development skills. Plus, they even have a role for a tech talent acquisition specialist, meaning tech workers are in high demand at Cabify! Besides being an awesome company, Cabify also offers some great employee benefits: The company is remote work friendly and all employees can telework at least two days per week–once you’ve spent enough time with the company, you can go 100% remote. Employees can also choose different compensation packages, which may include restaurant coupons, transportation cards, medical insurance, or childcare. Cabify is fully invested in its employees and wants them to continue learning and improving, offering internal training and tech events in the office. Wallapop Wallapop is the main Spanish online marketplace, much like Craigslist or Etsy. It allows people to sell goods or services online and the company seeks to offer the best street trade experience to all users around the world, actively contributing to sustainable trade through the sale of second-hand or used items. At the same time, they help connect people seeking goods or services with vendors to grow local economies. Based out of Barcelona, Wallapop operates in Spain and Italy. Powered by technical innovation and continuous improvement, they are backed by top investors and were recently voted one of the ‘Top 100 Future Unicorns.’ Wallapop is actively seeking Product Team developers, and DevOps Engineers in both Barcelona and Madrid. The Wallapop team has a great social media presence that can give you a better idea of what it’s like to work there. One of the things that sets Wallapop apart from other online selling platforms is that they treat all products and services equally. You can truly find or sell just about anything. Typeform Another Barcelona based technology startup, Typeform, revolutionized web forms and the company is growing at a tremendous pace. The company’s exponential growth means if you get a job with Typeform now, chances are you’ll be at a senior level within a few years: Typeform has a very generous benefits package, offering employees health insurance, financial and retirement planning services, 401K plans, paid vacation time off, social events, free lunches and snacks, and professional development. Typeform values empathy and is constantly thinking of how to improve user experiences. They are also a remote-first company and they like to outfit their employees with cool swag and budgets for home-office setup. Calling all early birds and night owls! Typeform lets you work when you’re at your best. Google The company has its main Spain offices in Madrid’s trendy Embajadores neighborhood, but also offers some remote opportunities. The Google campus in Madrid is also a startup incubator, so you’ll be surrounded by lots of digital creatives and get to network with the newest startup founders and employees. The campus cultivates a culture of fun combined with serious ideation for tech possibilities and growth: Google is proud of its employee longevity and growth, helping people grow within the company to retain top talent. They also employ a “no heroes” policy, meaning that there are sufficient processes in place so that no single person is working overtime to fix bugs or help clients. The company also provides immense levels of support to its employees. If you’re a high achiever who likes to play hard as well, Google Madrid is going to be a great fit for you. Spotahome Renting a house or an apartment can be a serious pain, especially if you aren’t physically located where you want to rent. Spotahome seeks to transform that experience by sending professional spotters to check out rentals before you get there. Following a holiday rental model, Spotahome can help you find a home for stays of a minimum of 30 days, perfect for digital nomads who are constantly on the go. Spotahome has four core values: they feel you, they’re sincere, they adapt to win, and they seek to create a better tomorrow. They boast a flexible, open culture, with full remote options and flexible work schedules. Spotahome offers employees optional health insurance and gym membership opportunities and even offers stock options. When you join Spotahome you’ll also get extensive training, so you never have to feel like you’re flying solo. They eliminate communication and language barriers between local landlords and foreign tenants. Based in Madrid, they have been highlighted in publications like El Confidencial, TicBeat, and Telva. Workato Workato is all about tech stack integrations, helping build complex workflows across organizations using their low-code platform. The whole idea is to take code and make it user friendly so that stack integrations don’t require a lot of coding knowledge. They focus on fast, simple integrations and were even mentioned as a part of the Cloud 100 sponsored by Bessamer, Forbes, and Salesforce. The company offers flexible working arrangements so employees don’t burn out, offering a hybrid remote model and providing every employee with the best available technology. They have an employee assistance program, offer health insurance, provide referral bonuses, and offer stock options. They are invested in their employees’ long-term professional development, and to that end prioritize training programs and set aside a budget for continued learning. Their Spain headquarters in Barcelona will have you chilling at the beach while you simplify tech stacks. Gympass Gympass is a corporate wellness platform that offers organizations access to the best fitness centers and applications with flexible plans for employees. If you want to combine your tech education with the world of fitness, Gympass may be the perfect place for you: Gympass offers its employees and their families access to the platform for free. Get personal training, access to in-person fitness programs, sleep and meditation guidance, mental health support, nutrition resources, and more. The company offers employees cash incentives based on company and individual success, and an equity program for top performers. They have a hybrid work structure, and provide workers with a home office stipend. They also give all employees 25 days of paid leave annually–and you get your birthday off! Founded in 2012 in New York City, the company has grown exponentially and now has offices in Madrid and other locations across the globe. BackMarket BackMarket is another tech-based marketplace focused on reselling technological gadgets that have been reset, using a proven system to ensure that the product speculations are communicating adequately with the buyer and guarantee 100% functionality. Before joining the community, each vendor goes through a rigorous selection process. Technical teams physically go to device reseller locations to ensure their products meet the marketplace’s high quality standards. BackMarket began with just three founders in 2014 and has since grown to over 600 employees. Their Spain offices are in Barcelona, so add them to the list of trendy tech startups on the Mediterranean hub. Working with BackMarket means you’ll be contributing to the elimination of thousands of tons of electronic waste. They offer attractive salaries, company equity, health insurance, meal tickets, relocation packages and support, and lots of internal tech skill development events. Help the earth when you join BackMarket. Domestika Domestika is an online course platform, but one that lets creators make their own courses. Domestika empowers creators, providing the support to produce and launch professionally-produced courses, while nurturing the community they started out as. Initially based in Spain, a lot of their employees are still in Madrid and Barcelona, though, like many other companies, they've opened the door to remote roles. Domestika is a great fit for people who are passionate about online education, particularly on the creative side. They often have open roles in many tech areas, from programming to UX/UI, in several countries or remotely. A big element of the workplace culture in Domestika is their community spirit: spread across several hubs and backed by an online community of millions, their creative perspective and originality feeds on collaboration and open communication. How to Land Your First Tech Job Landing a job at great companies like these in Spain is definitely achievable. All you need is a little knowledge and some practical experience; companies want to know that you are able to learn and adapt to a fast-paced environment. A degree from a legacy brick-and-mortar school isn’t going to cut it anymore. Ironhack teaches the skills that these companies are looking for and we know how to get you ready for the job so you can hit the ground running! So if you see yourself strolling through, for example, Madrid’s Google campus on your way to a user interview, or joining Glovo’s rockstar development team, check out Ironhack’s bootcamps . Nothing is more important for getting one of these gigs than practical experience and a vast network within the industry. You’ve got this!

Read article

5 minutes

Remote or In-Person Bootcamps: Pros & Cons

Juliette Erath - 2022-10-31

Remote

All Courses

All education is good education and there are multiple ways to learn whatever you want through every possible medium, but when it comes to tech classes, there’s one burning question: are online or in-person bootcamps better? Let’s take a deep dive into the pros and cons of taking remote or in-person tech bootcamps so you can find an answer, make your choice, and get started on your tech journey. Remote Tech Bootcamps: Pros and Cons The advantages of remote bootcamps Pro: remote bootcamps boast flexibility and can be adjusted to your schedule. If convenience and flexibility are top priorities, then there’s no doubt that a remote bootcamp is perfect for you. Online bootcamps let you set your own pace so you can study the way that works best for you while getting the same quality education as an in-person course; on top of that, you can study and attend lectures from home, a cafe, a park, or wherever you want. And if you can’t make a class in real time, don’t stress out. Recordings are available online so you can watch lectures at a more convenient time. Pro: remote bootcamps get you ready for the increasingly remote corporate world Right now, working remotely is the way to go! Over the last few years, remote work has gained popularity around the world and workers are loving the change. Remote bootcamps give you a leg up by preparing you for the online business world, teaching you priceless skills like collaborating with team members in other parts of the globe, using Slack to communicate smoothly, and running efficient and productive online meetings. The disadvantages of remote bootcamps Con: remote bootcamps can trigger FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) Our campuses are always buzzing with awesome activities (ask the survivors of our Water Balloon Wars!) so it’s the perfect environment for social butterflies. Remote students are always welcome to join the main events, but you’ll find that outside of the main Ironhack events (Like our Friday Ironbeers), you won’t have much interaction with your classmates or teachers. Pro/con: remote bootcamps keep you in your comfort zone Whether this is a pro or con depends on you; if you’re someone who works best in your comfort zone, then maybe you should stay comfortable so you can learn more efficiently. On the other hand, maybe you need a little push to help you adapt to new surroundings and meet new people, helping you to grow and thrive. Either way, the decision is up to you. In-person Tech Bootcamps: Pros and Cons The advantages of in-person bootcamps Pro: In-person bootcamps offer an unparalleled community One of the pros of in-person bootcamps is connecting with your community. There’s always something happening on campus; at Ironhack, there’s rarely a dull moment. Attending classes in-person lets you spend time with your classmates (on and off campus), interact with teachers and staff, and participate in more on-campus activities. Pro: In-person bootcamps get you work ready Learning how to navigate the wild world of commuting and work in an office-like environment every day is guaranteed to prepare you for the in-person business world. If you decide that working in an office is perfect for you, then adapting to a new daily routine will be no sweat. The disadvantages of in-person bootcamps Con: In-person bootcamps require commutes That dreaded commute. Depending on where you live, it can be a blessing or a curse. As a commuting student, you’ll enter a magical world filled with traffic jams, packed trains, delayed trains, missed buses, no buses, and much more. The possibilities are endless! Now, there are ways to turn this con into a bit of a pro. You can always use that commute time to read, study, meditate, or listen to podcasts (ideal if you’re driving). If you can’t avoid the commute, embrace it! Pro/con: In-person bootcamps get you out of your comfort zone Yes, it bears repeating–whether this is a pro or con is entirely up to you. If you’re looking for a way to meet more people and expand your network, then getting out there and making some friends might be a great idea. But if you’re the indoor type, commuting and in-person classes may be more than you’re willing to take on. And don’t worry: you can meet people and make connections online as well. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and make the choice that’s right for you. Choosing Between Remote and In-person Bootcamps So which option is perfect for you? Before you throw your hat into either ring, here are a few more things to consider for both remote and in-person bootcamps: Remote bootcamps: Frequently remove the stress of feeling scrutinized. If a student has a question or needs clarification on an issue, they can message the instructor or a classmate to ask privately without the pressure of feeling singled out. May require more discipline than in-person classes. It’s easy to get distracted in front of a computer screen, especially with phone alerts, social media, and more, so you must have great time management skills and ensure you’re able to focus on your coursework. Tend to be far more accessible than in-person classes. If there’s internet, you can access your coursework and attend lectures using multiple apps like Google Meet and Zoom. They also offer more flexibility to those with other responsibilities, such as childcare or jobs. In-person bootcamps: Often have set times and schedules so they don’t offer students much flexibility. In-person classes and lectures are rarely recorded–if you miss a lecture and can’t reach a fellow classmate for notes, you may be out of luck. Require a commute . On top of class time, you’ll also need to factor in time (and money) spent on travel and preparation. This means that in some cases, online classes may be the more budget-friendly option. Offer more in-person interaction between students and teachers, but that doesn’t mean you won’t get to know your teachers with remote classes! On the contrary, online classes let you touch base with your teachers at any time, so you can always ask for help or feedback. Still not sure which option is best for you? No worries, that’s what we’re here for! The Ironhack Admissions team is more than happy to provide you with personal guidance to help you find the best option to fit you and your career goals.

Read article

Front-End vs. Back-End: What’s The Difference?

Ironhack - 2020-06-23

Web Development

All Courses

From those that adore graphic design and want to take their passion a step further, unleashing their visual creations to a webpage's interface, to those who love snooping around in the underbelly of databases, API's or exploring the inner workings of servers; in other words, everything that users don't see. There’s a huge variety of reasons why someone might want to become a Web Developer. As such, depending on what they prefer to work on, they might specialise either in the front-end or back-end. Although technology is continuously evolving and the relationship between the two terms is ever-changing and difficult to establish, there is still a significant, inherent difference that separates them. The skills needed for either side often overlap, with versatile, general-purpose programming languages becoming more popular across all areas, but front-end and back-end developers use contrasting sets of skills and apply them in diverse ways, pursuing radically different objectives and priorities. Perspective is everything! Front-end development: tech with its makeup on As its name suggests, front-end development encompasses the configuration and design of everything that web surfers see when they use a website or app. It's the visual aspect of the job that tends to attract those developers with a keen interest for graphic design. These developers' task is to create interfaces that users will find as attractive as they do intuitive, making the user experience a much more gratifying one. As such, developers use three main tools, which are HTML, CSS and JavaScript . The latter has been gaining more and more ground in both front-end and back-end development, displacing other technologies such as JQuery, which is becoming obsolete. Other frameworks have even been created within JavaScript , such as React and Angular , which facilitate the job of a developer and can create components that are later replicated in other areas of the platform they’re building. Front-end development is often considered exclusively technical, but some areas have a strong graphic design component. Like UX/UI specialists, some front-end developers are proficient in other tools not traditionally used by developers, such as image editing programmes (one example might be Photoshop), or platforms such as Figma or Sketch that allow developers to create prototypes, preview navigation through the platform and test different concepts before finalising the development. Although UX and UI Design are well-defined areas that should not be confused with front-end development, there’s a significant overlap between both. Software development encompasses endless fields and functions; rather than a hard choice between a handful of defined job titles, developers have an unparalleled freedom to construct their own skill profile and forge their own unique professional path. As a front-end developer, your job is to use all these technologies and languages to construct the visuals and design of the app or website in question, in order to therefore generate a certain feeling among its users so they find the experience enjoyable and seamless, and want to come back. It's no easy feat. Back-end development: building the architecture Developers that choose to specialise in back-end development are often those that prefer to configure databases and work out how to optimise website functions, such as server performance (so that these can adequately handle the workload), or use the external resources like third party APIs. Ultimately, these developers deal with everything that's hidden from view to the users that visit a website or app and provide their data to register or make a purchase from that platform. Back-end developers use many different programming languages in their day-to-day life, from PHP to Ruby, Python, Java or even JavaScript. Their job is to make sure websites run smoothly and improve their response time. The responsibilities and influence of back-end developers have increased with the WORD of Web3 and the transition from simpler, static webpages and apps to more complex and dynamic websites, which are dependent on more resources and require constant updates. On top of this, they are usually well-versed in both relational databases, such as MySQL or Oracle, and non-relational databases, such as MongoDB. Full stack development: the best of both worlds! Can’t choose between front-end and back-end development? You wouldn't be the first one. If you enjoy interface design as much as areas like data management, you could steer your career path towards a job in full stack development. Although there's still some scepticism surrounding these profiles, given that it's considered better to specialise and become an expert in one area or another, the truth is that companies are increasingly investing in full stack developers that have a solid understanding of multiple areas and able to bring value to both the interface to be displayed in the browser and the infrastructure hidden below the surface. If you possess the skills and abilities as well as the wild curiosity needed to acquire the professional expertise in both back-end and front-end development, you might choose to sign up for the Web Development bootcamp at Ironhack. You'll learn about state-of-the-art technologies used in both front-end development, such as HTML5, Canvas, JavaScript or React, and back-end development; become familiar with Node.js; learn how to configure servers with Express, or databases with MongoDB. All these skills are highly sought-after by tech companies, giving you an edge when you come to accessing the job market and the world of development. Which one gets your development juices flowing? Front-end or back-end? Or perhaps you want to have your cake and eat it too; could full stack development be your calling?

Read article

7 minutes

The 3 C's of Cloud Computing

Ironhack - 2023-06-15

All Courses

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!

Read article

Freelancing/Freiberufliche Tätigkeit: Wie man anfängt

8 minutes

Freelancing: How to Get Started

Ironhack - 2022-10-07

Careers

All Courses

In the tech world, freelancing is more normal than you might think. Some startups in the technology sector are financed by major banks or businesses, but a lot of them are a little more scrappy. When starting out with a new idea and new technology, getting backing from big finance isn’t always easy, but businesses still need top talent to achieve that financing and grow. That’s where freelancers come into play. Hiring a full-fledged employee is extremely expensive . Hiring a freelancer that you can have on-call when needed can be an excellent way to grow the business without making lasting investments. And honestly, it’s win-win. Freelancers can make their own schedules and decide their own rates, while businesses don’t have to get tied down with any one service provider. Plus, when it comes to tech, freelancers are location independent! Companies can cut costs by outsourcing work to freelancers working from their own home offices. And freelancers in most countries can discount their working expenses from their income taxes. Everyone wins! How to Start Freelancing Getting started with freelancing can seem scary, but it shouldn’t be. First, if you’re armed with a skillset that you know brings value, you should have no problems. When you decide to invest in your technological skills, you’re directly investing in your freedom. The word “freelancer” spells it out for you – you’ll be free . To set your hours. To set your price. To take on the projects that invigorate you, and say no to the ones that don’t. You will be your own boss both inside and outside of the office. That all being said, there are a few things you’ll want to check out before you head out as your own boss. First, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the legal scene both where you are physically located, and where you want to have clients. With telework becoming more popular, the lines are increasingly blurred, and you’ll want to be sure you are on the right side of the law, without being taken advantage of as well. Then, you’ll need to think about how you want to market yourself, and where. In the following sections, we’ll give you some practical tips to get started on your freelance career. Check the legal requirements Different countries have different rules and tax systems for freelancers. This gets even more complicated when it comes to issuing invoices across state lines. Start with your local self-employment guidelines. Will you need a tax consultant? Depending on where you are located, the requirements to meet your fiscal obligations may differ. Rules may even change across cities or states within the same country. We suggest you go to your local business regulatory agency to understand the steps you will need to take to get set up with your individual tax number and any regulatory norms you will need to follow. Even if you're not a digital nomad, find out what you need to be self-employed. Build your personal brand As a freelancer, you’re going to have to market yourself. While it may feel awkward at first, nobody is going to sell your services for you. Get used to making your personal brand the center of all your communications so you are constantly moving your business possibilities forward. As a technology sector freelancer, you’ll be up against a lot of competition. Creating a compelling online presence is going to be critical to your professional growth. We suggest you invest in a personal website, and social media, enhanced with an excellent content management system if you can. This is what will really set you apart. Learning about search engine optimization (SEO) won’t hurt either if you don’t want to outsource your content management. If your budget doesn’t allow for the full website monty, that’s okay though! LinkedIn is a great place to start maximizing your profile. LinkedIn’s Marketplace is an excellent tool for freelancers to sell their products or services, and even more so for freelancers working in the tech industry. The LinkedIn Marketplace is perfect for connecting freelancers with companies seeking talent on a project basis. Here are a few best practices to maximize your LinkedIn profile: Use your real name! You want to be searchable. Upload a professional profile image. Make sure your introduction section is detailed and well-written. Join groups. Publish consistently. Share your expertise. Get public recommendations. Use your LinkedIn profile to promote your freelance services without investing in advertising! Research your rates Setting your rate may be one of the toughest aspects of freelancing. It’s great to set your own price, but with great power comes great responsibility. You need to learn how to gauge how much work will be required for a project, how much time it will take, and how much you value your own time. At this stage be sure not to undervalue yourself . If you invest in your education and professional development, don’t be afraid to pass those expenses on. You’re bringing value to your clients, so be sure to reflect that when coming up with your quotes. Another consideration when it comes to deciding your rate is how you want to bill. As a tech industry freelancer, you are going to be given a variety of different jobs that you can parse out as you choose. In some cases, for example if the scope of work isn’t entirely clear, it may make sense to provide an hourly rate and use a timetracker like Toggl to track your hours. In other situations where the deliverables are more cut and dry, you may choose to give rates for an entire project, or break it down into milestones. The important thing is to be clear from the outset and maintain clear communication with your client throughout the process. They won’t want to get stuck with an unanticipated bill, and you won’t want to get paid less than what you deserve for your hard work. Pick a platform Once you’ve decided how you want to bill, and what your rates are, you’ll need to consider how you’re going to land your gigs. There are a variety of freelance platforms out there like Upwork and Fiverr which can help you to get started and build your reputation. For tech workers, sites like Toptal , Guru and Freelancer are especially useful. Another excellent resource is Gun.io — it is geared specifically for companies from startups to Fortune 500s to deliver them exceptional software engineers. It will be important to ensure that your personal brand is consistent across the various platforms that you present yourself on. There is nothing wrong with signing up for multiple platforms, as long as you maintain your core brand and values. Changing your profile across platforms could cause confusion for potential clients, so clarity is key as you build your profiles. Tips For Being a Successful Freelancer If you are thinking about going freelance, we fully support you. It can be a great move that helps you find freedom in your tech career. But freedom can be hard to manage. As a freelancer, you’ll be in full control of your time and income, so you may be tempted to burn the midnight oil constantly to see your revenue rise. Be careful! You don’t want to burn yourself out. With your professional freedom, you’ll need to be sure to set realistic boundaries. Give yourself a schedule and try to stick to it. You may have clients from all over the world, and you may find yourself working across different time zones, which is great. However, you will need to remember that you are your boss, and you don’t want to exploit yourself. Schedule meetings when it is realistically feasible for you, and be sure to schedule time for exercise and rest as well. The freelance rabbit hole can become very deep very quickly, so be careful to set boundaries. Also, consider looking into your local self-employed government perks! When it comes to work-life balance, freelancers tend to have lots of resources to pull from. Gyms, restaurants, and community centers generally want to support small, local businesses, so be sure to check with your chamber of commerce to see what kinds of benefits you can get in your neighborhood as a freelancer. Learn which clients to impress and which ones to drop When you’re starting out as a freelancer, you may have to take on some clients that would be considered low-hanging fruit. You may need to do a little pro bono work for references, and to build your portfolio. But don’t let this phase last too long. While it is great when you’re getting started, remember that you are running your own business. You need to stick to your rates and if they go up because your time is becoming scarce (which it surely will!), then you need to communicate that with your clients. It’s never an easy conversation when you have to let a client know that your rates are going up. But it is necessary and the best clients will understand and stick with you. It is a sign that your work is top-quality and you are in high demand. Sure you’ll want to keep legacy rates for your aunt’s best friend, but in general tough love is better for you and your clients. You’ll ensure that the quality of your work remains high, and ultimately, your clients and potential clients will recognize and respect the value you bring them. If you’re ready to get started with your freelance tech career, the BEST first step is to listen to our Podcast highlighting Clémence de Robert’s experience becoming a freelancer after completing her Ironhack bootcamp! This episode is everything you need to know in order to transition into a freelancing lifestyle. The team discusses how to find contracts, set rates, manage time, and much more. Bootcamps are a great way to get ahead with in-demand technology skills, which are changing constantly. They help you stay on top with the expertise that will keep your freelance career competitive. Once you have a few under your belt, you’ll get to start raising your price, and really have the freedom that comes with freelancing. Check out our upcoming bootcamps now!

Read article

7 minutes

Navigating a Global Classroom: Embracing Diversity in a Tech-Driven World

Ironhack - 2023-08-06

All Courses

The opportunity to go abroad to study is quite the tempting one. After all, who doesn’t want to make new friends, maybe learn a new language, and make some unforgettable memories? And while going abroad to study brings a lot of benefits, there are a good amount of unforeseen challenges that come from studying in a new place. What if the new place’s dress code is completely different? Or their way of greeting each other is extremely informal to you? These might seem minor, but when you add up a whole bunch of cultural differences, it can create quite the challenge. That’s why we’ve created this guide: we want to give you the necessary tips and tricks to embracing diversity in your global and international classroom, permitting you to take full advantage of said diversity–while being respectful. The Different Kinds of Diversity You May Encounter When you hear the word “diversity,” you may think uniquely of racial or ethnic diversity–and with good reason; it’s one of the most frequent reasons we use the word diversity. But the truth is that diversity can come in many different forms and all can have an effect on the way we act and, of course, our classroom. Let’s check out the seven main kinds of diversity: Cultural diversity : cultural diversity is quite common and refers to the ethnicity of people and the customs/norms they’ve learned from their specific culture, which affect how they act and can differ significantly from other cultures. Racial diversity : racial diversity is based on physical traits and is one of the most highlighted kinds of diversity because it’s something that can be noticed by sight. Religious diversity : religious diversity refers to both religious beliefs and the lack thereof. Age diversity : age diversity includes both people of different ages and generations. Gender diversity : gender diversity includes both differences between male and female employees, and also employees that are trans, non-binary, or have a changing gender identity. Sexual orientation diversity : frequently conflated with gender diversity, sexual orientation is completely different, and refers to the sexual orientation of people, not their gender identity. Disability diversity : disability diversity refers to people with all kinds of disability, such as physical, mental, visual, or hearing. The general understanding when it comes to diversity is that it is something that should be celebrated; however, that’s easier said than done. Finding a way to mesh all sorts of different students into one classroom where people of different cultural backgrounds, ages, or disabilities can learn in the same way is nearly impossible. But creating a welcoming and diverse classroom in tech, however, is doable. Why is diversity important? No matter where you grew up or your personal experiences, we’re sure you had a moment where you realized that someone else has had a completely different experience than you. And this is precisely why diversity is so important, especially in the classroom: Diversity contributes to better decision-making : if you’re just thinking about things from your perspective, you’re probably going to miss including the perspective of other groups that could be valuable customers for your company. Diversity improves individual and personal growth , pushing people to think about things in new ways and further develop their empathy. Diversity improves overall performance –yes, research shows that diverse teams outperform non-diverse groups, thanks to their ability to use more varied experiences and skills to reach their goals. Diversity helps companies create services that meet the needs of diverse communities , therefore better serving the public and expanding their customers. We could go on and on but here’s the key: diversity, especially in the classroom, is absolutely essential. Let’s dive right into creating space for and encouraging diversity in the classroom and how we can use diversity to enhance learning. Diversity in the Classroom As you know, working towards creating a diverse classroom can yield lots of benefits for all students--but how can you do it as both an educator or a student? Follow these steps: Take the time to get to know all students : as we mentioned above, some kinds of diversity are visible to the naked eye, but others aren’t. To ensure that all students are being heard and their needs are met, taking the time to talk to and understand where each student comes from can help you interact and bond with them later on. As students begin to feel that they’re in a safe and comfortable environment, they’ll be more likely to share their personal experiences, enriching the overall classroom. Maintain your connections throughout the entire course/semester : part of creating a welcoming and inviting space is ensuring that students feel that they are valued because of who they are, not because of what makes them different. If you only engage with diverse students when it’s needed for a lesson or to get something out of them, or worse, to tokenize them, it will have the opposite effect. Remember to respect people’s differences and appreciate them, without making this diversity the entire identity of this person. Set clear guidelines for the classroom : both instructors and students can take the initiative to set rules for the semester, establishing ground rules about what kind of language/treatment isn’t acceptable and having a zero tolerance policy for any sort of hostility. Ensure that people’s diversities are taken into account : if you have people with physical diversities, try to limit the amount of movement you require in classes; if you have people who are speaking their second language, make sure you talk clearly and offer any extra assistance if needed. Creating inclusive and safe environments means taking people’s diversities into account before class to ensure that there are no issues. If you follow these steps, creating an inclusive and safe classroom is totally possible. And thankfully, tech is becoming one of the most diverse sectors, meaning your students will benefit from diverse classrooms when they work in diverse tech companies. Diversity in Tech Tech companies need diverse teams and there’s simply no argument against it. In order to create products and services that truly serve the public, diverse voices have to have a seat at the table. An added focus on diversity in the technology sector will lead to: Better products and services : we’re not saying men can never create well-working products for women, but it’s true that products and services designed by the people who will be using them will reflect the true needs of that group. Expanded candidate pools : companies that require candidates to live in expensive cities or have certain degrees eliminate entire groups of people right off the back; by introducing inclusive practices into their hiring process, companies can open their doors up to so many candidates that had been previously ignored. Better problem-solving abilities : have you ever been completely stumped over a problem, only to ask a colleague and friend and be presented with a great solution? Well, this happens frequently and it’s actually pretty normal. In fact, teams with diverse members are more likely to overcome challenges and have better overall performances. Alright, we’ve convinced you: guaranteeing diversity in tech is definitely necessary . And there’s no better way to encourage diversity in tech than with bootcamps. Don’t believe us? Here’s what you need to know. Bootcamps & Diversity A huge barrier to reaching full inclusion and diversity in the tech sector is access. For a long time, tech roles were exclusively for those who had advanced degrees in tech fields, could complete internships, and lived in expensive cities. This severely limited the groups of people that could get into the field; today, however, the introduction of bootcamps has led to an entirely new group of people with access to the field. Here’s what bootcamps offer everyone: Financing options : bootcamps are much more affordable than long, four year degrees, not to mention some even allow you to study part-time and keep your current job. And for the cost that it does entail, lots offer financing options such as scholarships, government grants, income share agreements, and payment plans. Flexible schedules : lots of people, especially parents, have at-home responsibilities such as childcare or familial duties, which might limit their abilities to attend a long program during the day. However, lots of bootcamps are offered remotely and part-time, giving people the option to fit in classes around their preexisting responsibilities. Career services : bootcamps are designed with one cause in mind: landing you a job as soon as possible following graduation. The vast majority of bootcamps offer career services, which can help you finetune your interviewing skills, work on your applications, and edit your CV. Updated and accurate curriculum : bootcamps don’t exist to waste your time; they exist to teach you exactly what you need to know to succeed in your chosen field. That’s why they’re so intensive and short–your curriculum is constantly updated and refreshed to ensure you’re studying exactly what hiring managers are looking for. The tech industry has started to even out in recent years, thanks in part to the introduction of bootcamps and an enthused effort to prioritize diversity and inclusion efforts across the board. But there’s still a lot to be done and the change begins with each and every one of us. Are you up for the challenge? Then we’ll see you in class.

Read article

8 minutes

Coding Bootcamp Dos and Don'ts

Ironhack - 2023-07-31

Web Development

All Courses

Making the decision to attend a coding bootcamp is quite the commitment. And while that first big choice is out of the way, you’re not done yet: completing the bootcamp is not for the faint of heart but as you know, anything worth doing requires some effort. At Ironhack, we’ve designed our bootcamps with the specific goal of teaching you everything you need to know to land a job in tech after your bootcamp and enjoy yourself along the way. However, there are still a few things to keep in mind during your bootcamp to ensure it goes smoothly. What kind of preparation should you do? How do you start preparing yourself for the job search? We’ll cover the answers to these questions and much more in this article but before we dive right in, let’s go over the basics of bootcamps and why they’ve become such a popular choice for those looking to get into tech. What is a Bootcamp? No, it’s not military training where you’ll be expected to run miles and miles–tech bootcamps are intensive, short-term programs that have one goal in mind: teaching you a very specific skill so that you’re prepared to enter the workforce as soon as you graduate . You’ve probably seen quite a few ads for them over the years and they’ve definitely grown in popularity; these days, bootcamps cover a wide range of subjects. The need for tech professionals is growing rapidly and universities simply can’t keep with the speed of tech. Here’s what sets bootcamps apart from other kinds of courses: As we mentioned, bootcamps are quite short, held over a few weeks or months, allowing students to transform their careers in a very short period of time. Bootcamps usually champion flexibility and offer in-person or remote options, in addition to full and part time selections. Instead of providing students with tons of background information like long university courses do, bootcamps focus on the marketable skills that employers are currently looking for. They constantly update their curriculum, looking to stay up-to-date with the latest technologies to make their graduates attractive candidates for tech jobs. Is a bootcamp right for me? Deciding to study at a bootcamp is an incredibly personal decision. You need to evaluate not only what you want to achieve from your studies, but also what it will mean for your future and present while you’re studying. If you’re not sure, try to answer these questions: Why are you interested in taking a bootcamp? This one seems quite straightforward, but bootcamps are an investment of both your time and money and you should have a clear answer to this question in your head. Do you want to switch careers? Do you need to have a more lucrative role? Or maybe you already work in tech and want to reskill, jumping into a new field? Having a clear answer to this question can help inspire you when you’re in a tough moment. Are you prepared for a full career change? This question is especially pertinent for those making a complete career change. Bootcamps prepare you to enter the job market, but typically at an entry-level or junior role, meaning you could be giving up the years of seniority you’ve earned in your current role. Make sure you research the tech sector thoroughly, ensuring it will be a good fit. Are you ready to work hard? As we mentioned, bootcamps are incredibly intensive and fast-moving, meaning you’ll need to dedicate lots of time (even outside of class) to your studies. Due to their fast pace and complicated content, bootcamps demand your full attention and effort–is this something to which you can commit? With these questions answered, you’ll be able to decide if a bootcamp is the right fit for you. And if it is, you’re ready to move on to our next section: coding bootcamp dos and don’ts. Coding Bootcamps Dos and Don’ts What should you do on day one of your bootcamp? How about before? And during? Oh no, and after?! Don’t worry; here’s your guide: DO complete any assigned prework We get it--no one wants to do work before their course even starts! But many bootcamps assign prework for an important reason: ensuring that all students enter the course on the same foot. What does this mean? Well, bootcamp students come from a wide range of backgrounds and experience level and since the bootcamp moves at such a fast pace, guaranteeing that students have the foundational knowledge needed for success helps everyone start off on the same page and leave the good stuff for the actual course. Ironhack’s tip: take the prework seriously. Not all bootcamps offer prework so if you’re not ready to commit to extra work before the course starts, don’t choose a bootcamp that has it. And if you’re unsure of the value, trust us: it’s worth it. DON’T overextend yourself during the bootcamp Even if you’re the world’s best multitasker, try to take the bootcamp during a time when you have fewer personal or professional responsibilities. As we mentioned above, bootcamps are quite intensive and require work both inside and outside of class, even when you’re spending 8+ hours a day in class. Before the course even begins, take a good look at your schedule and responsibilities, understanding that your social life might need to take a bit of a break during the course. Ironhack’s tip: create a schedule of your weekends/nights during the bootcamp and make sure you have enough time to dedicate to the course. Knowing when you might have less time to study can help you get ahead in the weeks prior. DO start your job search early on We’ve said it so many times: bootcamps are short! And lots of tech companies have rather lengthy interview processes, wanting you to speak to various team members, complete tests, and review other candidates before making an offer. If you wait until the end of your course, you may end up being without work for a bit after graduation; it may seem premature to start looking for jobs before you’ve completed the bootcamp, but preparing your portfolio and CV and brushing up on your interview skills as you take the course can help you get one step ahead. Ironhack’s tip: take advantage of your bootcamp’s career services, working with career coaches to improve your CV or pitch. There’s no such thing as too much practice when it comes to interviewing–take advantage of every opportunity! DON’T underestimate your other responsibilities For both those who can focus solely on the bootcamp and take a full-time course and those that need to take it part-time to continue studying or working, review your other responsibilities, such as child care or familial duties, and see if they fit in your schedule. It’s easy to underestimate non-work or school responsibilities, but they do add up and can complicate your study schedule if you don’t properly plan. Ironhack’s tip: just like we mentioned above! Writing down your responsibilities and finding time to fit them into your schedule can help you visualize your life during the bootcamp and plan for everything you’ll have to do. DO plan financially ahead of time Does taking a full-time bootcamp mean you’re quitting your current job? Or need to find childcare during the day? It may not seem like a major concern at first, but financial stress can add lots of pressure to an already intense situation; seriously consider your finances and make sure you’re in a place where paying for a bootcamp and not working for a bit is financially feasible. And when you’re choosing which bootcamp you want to take, make sure you consider financing options, such as scholarships, government grants, income share agreements, and payment plans. Ironhack’s tip: just like you write out your responsibilities during the bootcamp, try to create a mock budget and see if a bootcamp is financially viable. If it isn't, see if you can make any adjustments to help get you there and consider third party scholarship options. DON’T pick an area that you’re not interested in Tech bootcamps cover practically every field, from UX/UI design to coding and everything in between. Taking a bootcamp is your attempt to enter that field professionally, so make sure it’s something in which you’re truly interested! Almost all tech fields are in desperate need of skilled employees, so don’t let other people tell you the best field; the best field is the one that truly interests you and about which you’re passionate. Remember, you’ll be working in this field for years to come and your passion will fuel your success. Ironhack’s tip: check out free online videos or courses about the topics you’re considering, seeing which one sparks an interest in your mind. When you’ve narrowed it down to a few, take a look at job opportunities in that specific field and make sure you find options that align with your goals. DO connect with others in class Your classmates and instructors are probably some of the first contacts you’ll make in the tech industry–use them! The vast majority of bootcamps boast skilled professionals as instructors and these individuals can help you make connections with potential jobs and can serve as great mentors during your bootcamp. And years later, if you’ve remained in contact on LinkedIn, they could even help you land a new job. When it comes to your classmates, they will also be invaluable resources to help you solve a tough problem, practice your interviewing skills, and keep up with the tech industry. Ironhack’s tip: connect with your classmates and instructor(s) from day one and become a point of reference for them as well, offering help when you can and being a good classmate. Attend any sort of networking or social events that your bootcamp offers, even virtual ones, and work to create solid connections. Whew! That’s a lot to keep in mind. Bootcamps are a big undertaking, but at the end of the day, your success will depend on your efforts and what you put into it. So if you’re feeling inspired and are ready to take that next leap, what are you waiting for?! Ironhack’s bootcamps offer everything you need to reach success–we can’t wait to see you in class.

Read article

8 minutes

Building a DevOps Culture: Collaboration and Communication for Success

Ironhack - 2023-07-28

All Courses

Today, DevOps has been widely embraced as a way to optimize software development. The DevOps commitment to promoting collaboration, optimizing workflow, enhancing product quality , and improving services or user experiences is what’s led it to transform the culture surrounding software development. But integrating a DevOps culture into your workplace is no simple task; it requires a high level of trust among employees, encourages experimentation, and is reliant upon constant improvement. Globally, businesses are investing in their DevOps capacity in order to secure a competitive edge in their respective fields, but successfully implementing a DevOps culture in your organization may cause a significant shift in relation to current workplace dynamics . Understanding the various DevOps cultures will help your business train those skills in order to successfully transform your workplace and reap the benefits of an organizational model that’s proving to revolutionize the tech industry. What is DevOps? DevOps is an approach to software development reliant upon collaboration between developers (Dev) and operations teams (Ops) . The goal is to increase efficiency in the software delivery process through effective communication, integration of processes, and the use of automation. Patrick Debois first coined the term in 2009 and the method has since been widely embraced and developed by tech professionals. In order to successfully integrate DevOps into a workplace, a cultural shift is often necessary, given how it differs from many other approaches to software development . Instead of isolating the work of developers, operations personnel, and other stakeholders, those parties must be in regular collaboration and communication in order to streamline and improve the software development process. What is DevOps Culture? DevOps culture requires close collaboration and shared responsibility among developers, operations personnel, and others involved in the software development process. Key aspects of DevOps culture include: Collaboration: this is the key characteristic of a DevOps culture. The goal of DevOps is to break down any barriers between teams and encourage cross-functional collaboration. Participants include developers and operations personnel, but also quality assurance teams, cybersecurity professionals, and additional stakeholders. Communication : the DevOps method promotes and requires effective communication. Participants work together as a unified team, share information, ideas, and offer feedback in non-punitive ways. The goal is to align organizational operations, effectively navigate conflict, and make informed decisions. Trust and growth: DevOps requires trust and a commitment to growth from participants in order to be effective. It values individual experience, encourages experimentation and risk taking, promotes open dialogue, and requires a culture of accountability where mistakes are viewed as opportunities for collective growth. Ongoing improvement : DevOps fosters a culture of continuous learning and advancement in which employees are encouraged to seek feedback, review their performance metrics, and identify areas for improvement. This method promotes the development of a culture where individuals play an active role in advancing their own skill sets and where teams work together, make each other stronger, and pursue excellence collectively. Utilizing tools and automation : the method does not shy away from automation and other tools and techniques that make processes more efficient and reliable. DevOps encourages automating repetitive tasks and utilizes tools like configuration management, continuous integration, and deployment pipelines are utilized to strengthen the software delivery process. Shared responsibility: ultimately the DevOps culture is reliant upon developing a sense of shared ownership and responsibility over the software development lifecycle. Developers must understand the operational implications of their code, and operations personnel must collaborate with developers in order to give feedback throughout the process. In the end, integrating DevOps into an organization is less about training workers on new tools and more about cultivating a DevOps culture and mindset . These are just a few of the DevOps culture principles that support organizations in creating a collaborative working environment. The culture should encourage teams to work towards common goals, support customers quickly and efficiently, and demand continuous improvement in the software delivery process. Benefits of DevOps Culture: The DevOps methodology has been widely accepted because of how it’s proven to streamline high-quality software releases, improve organizational performance, and increase employee satisfaction . The DevOps culture of collaboration, shared responsibility, continual improvement, and trust, is said to improve business outcomes while enhancing employee experience . Here are a few other key ways that building a DevOps culture has shown to increase company performance and improve employee experience: Faster time to market: through emphasizing automation and encouraging collaboration, DevOps streamlines processes and accelerates the software development process. This results in faster time to market for products, updates, and new features. Continuous delivery and deployment: the DevOps method allows organizations to adopt continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) practices. Through reducing the time between development and deployment, software updates can be delivered to customers quickly and more frequently. Similarly, the culture allows for greater agility in the face of market demands and customer feedback, giving DevOps-based organizations a competitive advantage in adapting to consumer needs. Improved efficiency and productivity: through the use of automation, companies are less vulnerable to human errors, increase the overall efficiency within DevOps processes, and free up valuable time for their employees to work on less repetitive and more beneficial activities. Increased reliability: DevOps culture promotes practices such as infrastructure as code, automated testing, and continued monitoring. Through integrating these practices, organizations ensure early detection of issues and proactive problem resolution. This leads to improved stability and reliability of software systems, higher customer satisfaction, and improved system resilience. Shared understanding : the DevOps culture aligns development and operations teams with business goals through establishing a shared understanding of and commitment to business objectives among employees. All in all, it's been shown that the establishment of a DevOps culture can give organizations a competitive advantage in their field precisely because their organizational culture has a shared understanding of the business objectives and a shared responsibility towards product development and customer satisfaction . DevOps Culture Challenges: In understanding the benefits of the DevOps method, integrating a DevOps culture into one’s organization seems like a no brainer. That said, companies will certainly face challenges along the way. Gartner predicts that 75% of companies that attempt to make the transition to a DevOp culture “fail to meet expectations due to issues around organizational learning and change. ” Those failures can be attributed to a number of factors, most of which are related to interpersonal factors as opposed to technology. Knowing that, developing a DevOps culture must be an intentional project and organizations must be prepared for the potential challenges that may arise. A few known challenges that your organization should keep in mind include: Opposition to change Changing an organization’s culture is bound to be met with resistance . Whether there be complaints from individuals and teams who are accustomed to traditional roles and processes, or frustrations with the transition phase where operations may feel less efficient than ever, there’s no doubt that individuals will momentarily be hesitant. Overcoming this resistance may be slow, but ultimately the DevOps method has shown to increase employee satisfaction and optimize operations. History of conflict Companies that have a history of conflict between individuals or teams may find it harder to implement a methodology built upon collaboration, trust, and respect. The key here is to be patient with teams and slowly work on addressing that conflict and repairing the relationships such that there is unilateral buy-in. Gap in skills or knowledge Developing a DevOps culture requires specific soft skills and interpersonal skills in order to create a culture based on trust, accountability, and respect . Few people enter the workforce armed with those skills and even fewer will have worked at workplaces that promote collaboration, continuous improvement, and shared responsibility. That said, it will take time to truly get employees in line with DevOps principles. Measuring success Given that DevOps blurs the roles of teams in exchange for collaboration, organizations may have to go beyond traditional performance indicators and find alternative ways to measure their successes . This can sometimes be a challenge for businesses, but also an opportunity to reimagine organizational objectives. Cultural divide between devops and security teams Many organizations encounter the divide between the teams when it comes to the tension between speed and security. This may be attributed to differences in priorities, methodologies, or historical practices by each team . Of course this does not have to result in negative outcomes , it’s simply finding the best way to transform the organization’s culture such that security teams feel respected and form part of the collaborative processes that DevOps encourages. Bridging the cultural divides between DevOps and security teams is necessary in creating a more secure and efficient software delivery process. In all, implementing and fostering a DevOps culture will not happen overnight . Challenges are to be expected and should not discourage a company’s push to transform its culture. Addressing these challenges may require cultural transformation initiatives, training and upskilling programs, and leadership support. The greatest challenge will be being patient and understanding with employees as the organization makes the shift. How to Build a Strong DevOps Culture Developing a comprehensive DevOps Culture requires an intentional and systematic approach to shifting your current organizational culture and ensuring a commitment and understanding to the method by employees. It’s crucial to develop a deep understanding of why and how the methodology is useful such that there is buy-in by the part of employees to help construct it. Key steps to implementing a strong DevOps culture include: Defining DevOps for your organization : identifying the specific outcomes you aim to achieve is helpful in creating a shared vision and common understanding of the purpose behind the cultural shift. Identifying your transition team: getting people on board with the method is the first step in a successful DevOps initiative. Identify individuals who model the behavior desired in establishing a DevOps culture, communicate the vision to them, and have them help lead the cultural shift. Establishing open channels of communication: companies may need to create ways to facilitate ongoing and open communication across teams. This could look like hosting regular meetings, organizing joining planning sessions, or utilizing applications that facilitate collaboration. Identifying performance metrics and objectives: knowing that individual involvement in DevOps is one of the most important aspects to building a strong collaborative culture, establishing objectives that motivate employees, encourage teamwork, and work towards shared goals is crucial. Make sure performance metrics do not reinforce a siloed structure nor pit individuals against their teams. Being patient and starting small: too many companies make the mistake of trying to implement massive changes overnight, but a cultural shift takes time. It may make sense to only implement the DevOps method in a few teams who are already modeling DevOps values, and use those as examples to lead other teams. Introducing a new culture to your company may be met with challenges that you may not have predicted, that said, being patient, persistent, and respectful to employees can make all the difference in transforming your organization. The DevOps method has been widely embraced precisely because it’s proven to positively transform organizations and increase employee satisfaction . It may take time to properly implement, but will ideally lead to the creation of a work environment where employees can thrive, collaborate, and deliver more than ever to the organization. If you’re interested in learning more about DevOps, consult the Ironhack blog !

Read article

Recommended for you

5 minutes
11 Great Jobs in Tech for Creative People
Juliette Erath - 2023-07-08
For those who enjoy innovation, a career in technology might be exactly what you’re looking for. Whether you want to develop products for companies or design new-age video consoles, there are many roles for creative people in technology–even ones that don’t involve math or extreme computer knowledge! In this article, we’ll highlight some of the best creative jobs for those who want to pursue a career in tech, but aren’t totally sold on the technical side. Creative Jobs in Tech Creative jobs are specific tech roles that require specialized skills and creativity, combined with technical know-how. Creative roles in areas such as graphic design and digital marketing support companies in creating essential solutions that allow their projects or business to succeed in the competitive marketplace, ensuring their products reach the eyes and ears of diverse audiences. Here are some of the creative jobs that you can find in the dynamic tech industry: Work as a graphic designer As a UX/UI designer, you can create computer programs that help develop and design the art and images many businesses use to promote their products and ideas. Graphic designers can partner with different organizations and companies, provided they have the right skill set that gives them an edge. Alternatively, they can offer their freelance services to clients. Work as a videogame designer Videogame designers utilize their skills to assist at different stages in video console and game development. This includes areas such as animation, graphic design, story creation, computer coding, and much more. They frequently work with other talented designers to create virtual games that cater to their target audience. Work as a social media manager By working as a social media manager, your primary role would be to promote the company's products and services via multiple social media platforms. Social media managers create targeted social media posts, update the company's pages, and create effective marketing campaigns intended to increase the company's revenue and interest. Work as a digital marketer As a professional digital marketer, your primary role is to develop effective marketing campaigns. These promotional efforts have the goal of enhancing consumer interest and brand awareness. Digital marketers make the most of the company's social media pages, creating promotions, blog posts, and digital content to market the brand more effectively. Work as a web developer Web developers use their programming skills and computer coding expertise to create websites for individuals and businesses. As you know, companies use websites to showcase their services and goods using online stores, blogs, and more. For this purpose, web developers create websites with an interactive user interface to allow easy navigation as potential customers browse their pages. Like graphic designers, this job requires some level of creativity to stand apart from the competition and to find innovative solutions to problems. Work as an animation expert Animation experts are creative professionals who use art to create vivid images. Based on their talent in art and design, digital animators will maximize the use of multiple computer softwares to design animations for businesses, including television, film, and even video consoles. They can also partner with private companies or offer freelance services to video producers. Animators require creativity and artistic vision to excel in their jobs. Work as a copywriter If you want to pursue a career in copywriting, it's essential to hone your writing and communication skills. Expert copywriters use their writing skills to create targeted promotional content for a variety of companies. Their primary responsibilities include creating blog posts, commercial dialogue, social media posts, newsletters, marketing emails and more. Likewise, copywriters can work for companies that offer marketing services, where they can offer their services freelance to individuals. Work as a digital producer A career as a digital producer is quite rewarding; it includes the creation of digital material for organizations and companies, including videos and advertisements. Digital producers come up with concepts, cost estimates, and campaign ideas—leading other creatives to deliver targeted content. Assuming you plan to pursue a career in digital production, you need to enhance your communications skills and know-how of related computer software. Work as a brand manager Another job you can consider in the tech field is working as a brand manager. Their primary role is to maintain the public image of different businesses and companies as they seek to promote their products and services. On a typical workday, brand managers monitor the market trends and analyze competitors' positions to create impactful campaigns. Work as a market analyst Marketing analysts support businesses to determine marketing decisions, including what to sell, which customers to target, and the different prices of products or services. In addition, they create multiple customer surveys and questionnaires; these initiatives help analyze the current market trends, which is essential when creating marketing campaigns or strategies. Work as a UX designer As a UX designer (user experience), you can use your UX/UI design skills to create user-friendly products for your target audience. For instance, if an organization wants to create a mobile app, a UX designer can help analyze the benefits of the specific product and how customers can access the solution with ease. Due to the dynamic setting in tech jobs, you can have a platform to express your skills in a competitive market, no matter what your skills are! For an individual who has a knack for innovative ideas, a career in any of the mentioned fields can broaden your technical know-how in the long run. Don't limit yourself! Attention to detail and a willingness to learn are coveted skills in the tech world. Don’t be afraid and start researching which role seems like the best fit for you and apply! And if you are looking to take on a more traditional role in tech, our bootcamps are the right place for you. Check them out below–we can’t wait to see your application!
5 minutes
What Is a Tech Lead?
Juliette Erath - 2023-06-17
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!
8 minutes
How to Actually Use ChatGPT
Ironhack - 2023-04-17
You’ve probably heard a lot about ChatGPT recently. Maybe you’ve read one of our blog posts, come across an article in a major newspaper, or even seen a post on one of our social media pages. Lately, it seems like ChatGPT is all everyone is talking about. And with all the hype around ChatGPT, there’s never been a better time to learn how to use it effectively. But before we can do that, let’s talk about ChatGPT: what it is and (most importantly!) what it isn’t. What is ChatGPT? In ChatGPT’s own words, “ChatGPT is a large language model based on the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) architecture. As a language model, ChatGPT is designed to generate human-like responses to natural language input, allowing it to converse with users in a way that resembles a human conversation.” Let’s break that down a little. What we’ve just read is that ChatGPT is a large language model that accepts inputs in plain English (or any number of languages, for that matter) and generates responses similarly to how a human would. But–what exactly is a “large language model?” In brief, it’s a type of artificial intelligence that is trained on human-generated text data in order to be able to understand natural language patterns. In simpler terms, it’s a machine learning model that is fed massive amounts of text so that it’s able to (1) understand text inputs and (2) generate outputs that it calculates are likely to make sense given a specific input. Here, “generate” is a very carefully chosen word. ChatGPT is generative , which means that it can create outputs that it’s never seen before. ChatGPT does not just repeat text that was in its training data; it is able to extrapolate from its training data to create brand new words, sentences, and ideas. So, great! Now we know exactly what ChatGPT is. However, we also need to know what it isn’t before we are able to effectively use it. What are ChatGPT’s limitations? It might seem like an all-powerful beast, capable of absolutely everything and on the verge of taking over the world. But don’t get too ahead of yourself: ChatGPT is not able to do everything. Yes, it’s a powerful tool when used effectively, but it can’t quite replace a human being. Like many other great tools, it can be used to tremendously enhance productivity by helping its user brainstorm ideas or automate tasks, but it’s bounded by these four factors: A dependence on data quality A lack of common sense An inability to handle complex tasks Limited domain expertise What Can I Do With ChatGPT? Now that we have a better understanding of what exactly ChatGPT is, it’s time to learn about what we can actually do with it. In short, you can ask ChatGPT to do anything that can be answered as text and we can list them under three broad categories: explanatory, conversational, and generative. Explanatory : you can ask ChatGPT to explain a word, a concept, or an idea. You can also ask ChatGPT to summarize, re-word, translate, or otherwise clarify a body of text. Example: What does the word “engage” mean? Why is the sky blue? Why do dogs sleep on their backs? Conversational : ChatGPT can engage in a conversation with you, answering questions, providing suggestions, and helping with decision-making. Example: Can you give me some ideas for a child’s birthday party? What should I get my partner for our 10 year anniversary? What is the best way to arrive at my destination? Generative : ChatGPT can generate content such as articles, stories, or code. This can be useful for brainstorming or content creation, but remember to always review and edit content before using it, as the quality of the generated content may vary. Example: Create a blog post about automated processes. Write code that fits into this project. Can you give me content ideas for my startup? How Can I Effectively Use ChatGPT? Whew! By now, you’ve already learned a lot about ChatGPT and are probably itching to start using it. In this next section, we’re going to quickly go over how to use ChatGPT effectively so that you can get the most out of this powerful tool. We think that it only takes 6 steps to use ChatGPT to its full potential; you should clearly define your task, use appropriate prompts, verify the response from ChatGPT, check the response for biases, edit the content in the response as needed, and then start to experiment! Clearly define your task Before ChatGPT can help you, you need to know exactly what you’re looking for . In other words, you have to know what you don’t know. Once you have a clear understanding of what you need, you’ll be able to generate a prompt that accurately conveys what your task is to ChatGPT. Remember, ChatGPT can’t read your mind! You need to tell it, in writing, exactly what you want. Use appropriate prompts Once you’ve defined your task, you are then able to write a prompt that can enable ChatGPT to generate a relevant response. In your prompt, you should use keywords that help ChatGPT understand what kind of response you’re looking for. Some examples of keywords are: Topic : this one’s pretty obvious, if you’re looking for information on a certain topic, be sure to include keywords related to the topic in your prompt. For example, if you’re looking for information on renewable energy, you should use the keyword “renewable energy” but also related keywords such as “zero-emissions” and “solar power.” Question : if you’re looking to answer a specific question, it’s good to give ChatGPT more context on the nature of your question: are you asking about a who, what, why, when or how? Action : ChatGPT can perform several different kinds of actions, but you need to tell it what to do. Some keywords that may be useful are “summarize,” “define,” “explain,” “analyze,” or “generate.” Comparison : if you want to know more about how two things compare, you should include keywords such as “advantages,” “disadvantages,” “benefits,” or “contrast” so ChatGPT knows how best to frame the comparison. Location : if the information you’re looking for is specific to a region or a timeframe, be sure to include that in the prompt. For example, if you want to learn more about the history of renewable energy in the US, you can ask something like, “In the last 50 years in the United States, …” For best results, it’s important that your prompt be as specific as possible . When you leave room for interpretation, you also leave room for the generated response to be less accurate or relevant to your needs. Verify the response Your job isn’t done as soon as ChatGPT generates a response, however. Once you have the response, you should go through the steps necessary to validate its veracity . It’s not always easy to check if information is true, but it’s incredibly important that you do so before using it or else you risk damaging your own credibility. We recommend you take the following steps: Fact-check the information to quickly determine if it’s inaccurate. Websites like FactCheck.org , Snopes , or the Washington Post Fact Checker are all credible. Cross-reference the information you received from ChatGPT with information you’ve found in multiple other sources. Two sources is the minimum for verifying information is true and you should use more if possible. After you’ve found multiple sources confirming the information is true, you still have to confirm that those sources are credible . Plus, you should also make sure that your sources don’t cite each other. If they do, then they only count as one source. If you’re still unsure about the information, consult an expert in the field ---they’ll be able to provide additional insight and give credible sources to back up their claims. Check for biases This next step may be harder to do without context or expertise, but is nonetheless important. Once you’ve determined a response is factually correct, you should take the time to examine if it contains any potential bias. Using information with external motives or incentives without disclosing them may be just as damaging to your reputation as using false information. Edit the content We’re almost done! At this point, we’ve already determined what we’re looking for, crafted an appropriate prompt, received a response, and checked that response for biases and errors. Now, it’s time to (1) correct those details and (2) edit the content to fit your particular needs. Depending on what kind of content you asked for, you may want to copy the response to a text editor such as Google Docs or a code editor such as Visual Studio Code. Next, you may want to use a tool such as autocorrect for written content or a linter for code to help you identify obvious grammatically and structural errors. At this point, you should choose whether you want to do a full re-write or whether you’ll just be fixing the errors in the generated response. Finally, once you’re done, make sure to do one last read-through before publishing the content. Experiment As with most things, you’ll get better at using ChatGPT with time and practice. The more things you attempt and experiment, the more you’ll learn and improve! You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can improve your prompt engineering skills by just trying different prompts and tasks. Over time, you’ll develop a better understanding of how to use ChatGPT effectively for your specific needs. Where do we go from here? If you’re looking to not just become a more proficient ChatGPT user but also actually break into the world of tech, check out our bootcamps. There are bootcamps available for just about anybody, and we think that you’ll surely find something that’ll help you grow in your career. Poke around our website and see which bootcamp is the best fit for you. We can’t wait to see you in class!
7 minutes
Google Bard: What it Means for You
Ironhack - 2023-06-02
Everyone’s heard of ChatGPT, but that’s certainly not the only option when it comes to free, publicly-available, generative large language models . If you work in tech, we think you should heavily consider using Google Bard, especially now that they’ve updated the platform to be able to generate code. But, that’s not the only thing it can do—the Google Bard AI directly integrates with many other Google services, allowing you to directly export code to Colab, export a summary to Docs, or even send a request to gmail. How to Get Access to Google Bard First things first! Before you can use Google Bard, you need to meet just three basic requirements: Have a personal Google account Be 18 years or older Use Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, or Edgium If you meet all three requirements, then just navigate to https:/bard.google.com and click “Sign in” in the top right corner. Earlier this year, there used to be a waitlist in order to use Bard, but we haven’t encountered any waitlist in recent tries. With that said, if you do end up on the waitlist, don’t worry; in our experience you’ll be granted access in the next 2-3 days. If you don’t meet all the requirements, there’s still a chance you can use Google Bard. Let’s go over solutions in order: If you don’t already have a personal Google account ( where have you been?! ), you can make one right now by clicking this link . If you’re not 18 years or older, then unfortunately you’re out of luck. You can’t use Google Bard with a Google account managed by Family Link or with a Google Workspace for Education account designated as under the age of 18. This is a strict requirement, and they don’t make any exceptions. If you don’t normally use a Chromium-powered browser (or Safari), Google will deny you access to Bard. Like Microsoft with their AI-powered Bing, these companies want you to use their own software to gain access to “experimental” features. Fortunately, browsers are super easy to download and, when in doubt, download Firefox. What is Google Bard? Now that you know how to access Bard, we’re sure the next big question on your mind is: “What does Bard stand for, Google ?” Well, we’re here to answer all questions, no matter how big or small. Google doesn’t usually publicize why it names products the why it does, and this time is no different--but we’ll take a crack at it anyways. A bard is an old English word for a poet or storyteller---someone who creates art with language. Since Google Bard is a generative large language model , the name “Bard” is a play on the fact that this is software that creates responses using natural language. Google Bard vs ChatGPT There’s two big players in the generative language model space: ChatGPT by OpenAI and Bard by Google. But hold up, we know what you’re thinking—what about AI-powered Microsoft Bing? Isn’t that another chatbot that’s super similar to Google Bard? Yes, you’re right, they are similar, but, AI-powered Microsoft Bing actually uses ChatGPT 4.0. Google Bard and ChatGPT have a lot in common: they’re both generative large language models and can be used to do similar things from simple chatbot-like tasks to more complex tasks like generating code. Here’s how the two products match up head-to-head: Bard: Was created by Google Uses the Language Model for Dialogue Applications (LaMBDA) Sources dataset from Common Crawl, articles, books, Wikipedia, and real-time searches Is free ChatGPT: Was created bv OpenAI Uses the Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (GPT) Model Sources dataset from Common Crawl, articles, books, Wikipedia, and real-time searches (only available on GPT-4, which is paid). GPT-3.5 is free, but users must pay a subscription to use GPT-4 While Bard was released after ChatGPT, Google has a lot of experience with natural language processing from work associated with improving Google Search and Google Assistant. In fact, Google Research invented and open-sourced the neural network architecture that’s used by many language models, including GPT 3.5 and GPT 4. How to Use Google Bard AI Now that we know all about what Google Bard is and where we can access it, we should probably tackle the question, “ Well , how do I use Google Bard ?!” You’re in luck! There’s no right or wrong way to use products like Bard. It’s a language model that’s built to have human-like conversations; if you can give it a task in words, it can probably do it (or at least help you accomplish it yourself). But, we know that’s really broad—it’s probably easier to understand if we split the things that Bard can do into three categories: explanatory, conversational, and creative. We’ll give a brief explanation of each category as well as an example question or task along with a snippet of Bard’s answer. Explanatory : Bard can explain all kinds of things from giving the definition of a word to answering challenging and open-ended questions about life or the universe. Q: “Who painted the Mona Lisa?” A: “The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci, an Italian polymath of the High Renaissance who was active as a painter, draftsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor and architect.” Conversational : Bard can engage in a conversation with you on practically any subject. It’ll remember your responses and be able to impress you with how it can handle complex topics thoughtfully. Q: “You are a web developer who was teleported to the 18th century. What's the first thing you would do?” A: “[The] first thing I would do is try to find a way to communicate with people from my own time…” Creative : Bard can create poems, narratives, musical pieces, emails, and even code. Q: “Write a haiku about desert sunsets.” A: “Sunset blazes red, Ashes of day fade to night, Desert sky aglow.” As you can see, Bard can do basically anything you ask of it—but it does have several limitations. Let’s discuss: For starters, Bard does not fact-check itself when giving answers. We cannot overstate this enough: generative AI should never be used as a source of truth . For example, in the “creative” section above, we showed Bard’s answer to the prompt, “Write a haiku about desert sunsets.” In the answer (and feel free to check for yourself), Bard gives us a poem with three lines of 5, then 7, then 5 syllables. This is great! It’s indeed a haiku; however, that was not Bard’s initial answer. This is what we originally received: Sunlight fades to red, The desert sky ablaze with color, A perfect end to day. If you count the syllables in this poem, we have 5, then 9, then 6 syllables in the lines, which is not what we asked for! Ouch, a Google Bard error. Only after we informed Bard that the second and third lines had too many syllables did it come back with a poem in the correct format. Recent Updates As we’ve already mentioned, Bard can do basically anything you ask. Obviously, it’ll do some things better than others—but it’ll always try its best. And, Google is continuously updating Bard so that it’s able to do more things. Here are a few notable changes: Bard can now generate code in languages such as C++, Go, Java, and Python When generating Python code, you’re able to export the code directly to Google Colab Bard can export content directly to Google Docs and Gmail Bard can cite sources directly in the response Bard can display images What’s Next? Bard is Google’s most recent product release and we think it’s also one of the coolest project’s in the company’s history. Google has been working on generative large language models for decades now, and it’s great to finally see and interact with a product that’s the culmination of so much time, effort, and care. If you’re interested in working in the tech industry and creating awesome products that help make the world a better place, then we think you would be a perfect fit for one of 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. Want to learn how to make the most of ChatGPT, Google Bard, or other generative language models? We can’t wait to see you in class!
10 Best Tech Companies To Work For And Why
Ironhack - 2022-02-04
[This article was updated for 2022.] It's a dream for many people to work in a renowned tech company. Thousands of tech enthusiasts seek to get their foot in these companies as they are known to offer excellent perks and professional growth opportunities. Equally, their reach attracts talent from different parts of the world. You don’t need a full Computer Science degree to get hired by these companies, though. Bootcamp alumni have a unique combination of skills and assets and the value they bring into the workplace increases exponentially for years– which is why companies are now turning their attention towards bootcamps. While tech companies have very different products and look for a variety of profiles, some paths in technology and computer science are growing in demand . Let’s look at some of the top tech companies that invest in talent in the competitive tech world. 1. HubSpot Renowned among digital marketing companies, HubSpot offers a wholesome platform of sales, marketing, customer service, and CRM software to cater to small and large businesses alike. HubSpot values its employees' input the same way they value their customers. Many employees express the company's willingness to assist and work with skilled people while also providing opportunities for career growth. If you can comfortably work under strict deadlines and high expectations, HubSpot is an excellent organization to help you achieve your career goals. Great for: startup-lovers with an interest or experience in digital marketing. 2. NVIDIA All employees who show dedication and hard work to advance their careers in tech will receive abundant rewards securing employment at NVIDIA. Influencing changes in the tech world and working on trailblazing technology are some of the reasons most people desire to work at NVIDIA. Plus, most employees enjoy the work environment and the organization’s strong emphasis on performing tasks as a team. At NVIDIA, you may need to put in some extra hours, especially when you join the company and seek to advance. There’s high competition, and it therefore helps when you show initiative and commitment in the respective roles. Great for: lovers of all things visual, especially in the gaming and CGI spaces . 3. Salesforce Companies like Salesforce provide businesses with marketing tools and customer management strategies. Employees appreciate its culture of excellent benefits, programs, and events that make their contributions valued. The only downside is that programs and events don't always make employees feel valued. Some employees complain of long work hours regardless of position within the company. Great for: data-nerds, who believe in empowering teams through data and smoother workflows . 4. DocuSign While there are emerging competitors in the market, DocuSign is a trusted company that allows you to sign documents electronically. DocuSign have a notable competitive edge since they manage to offer benefits to employees. More employees appreciate the positive morale and work/balance that’s the foundation of the company's culture. With a high Glassdoor rating, the company invests in all its employees to succeed long term. However, some employees state that DocuSign has a confusing onboarding process where management makes hasty changes. Great for: people who highly value a company that invests and believes in its employees. 5. Shopify Shopify is a dedicated company that helps businesses sell multiple products online. It has a good Glassdoor rating compared to other tech companies as a loyal employer. Overall, the company has a commendable employee culture, and they provide good benefits and promote employee events. Even so, some employees feel the company needs to value their input and involve them more in decision-making. Great for: those looking to break into the exciting world of eCommerce, it doesn’t get better than Shopify! 6. Google Google is the most sought-after firm by jobseekers. The search company continues to excel in providing better employee benefits. Working in a tech giant like Google gives you a chance to interact with the brightest talent pool in the world. And to stand apart from the competitors, Google offers attractive benefits to employees that most companies won't match owing to their vast budget. The only challenge of working at Google is having incredibly high expectations concerning loyalty and performance. Other challenges include the unfair competitive hierarchy that limits advancement potential. Great for: impact-chasers who want the work they do to improve the lives of millions (literally!) . 7. Facebook/Meta As the leading social media company, Facebook/Meta aims to create a healthy work environment by treating its employees as assets. Aside from having a superior facility design, the organization has attractive perks for its employees—from 401 contributions to pizza parties. That said, you might have to sacrifice your time as most company positions entail long working hours and a competitive atmosphere. Great for: problem-solvers and future-thinkers, who aren’t afraid to tackle world-changing topics like data use and the future of the Metaverse . 8. LinkedIn LinkedIn has become a valuable tool to connect colleagues professionally, providing businesses with a unique social media podium. The company is making great strides in keeping employees valued and appreciated with a commendable rating. LinkedIn is the best company in the tech world due to its leadership role. Plus, employees state that the company promotes a healthy work culture. Additionally, employees receive many attractive benefits and team-building events that foster teamwork. Great for: anyone passionate about building the future of work, in all of its new forms! 9. Adobe Adobe is famous for its collaborative design interface that allows for superb graphics. The company treats its staff well. The organization offers competitive benefits and focuses on cultivating a healthy work culture based on rewarding commitment and loyalty. However, some employees feel that the company has a lot of bureaucracy that hinders meaningful progress. Advancement openings seem to target the selected few, and employees can sometimes feel like they’re stuck in one position for an extended period. Great for: creatives and visionaries who get excited about what people can make when you hand them the right tools . 10. Microsoft Working for Microsoft is a great achievement as the tech firm is renowned worldwide. It creates most of the computer operating systems that exist today. Microsoft stays dedicated to manufacturing innovative products to solve the industry’s pain points. Employee retention is essential to maintain that edge, where the comprehensive benefits package fosters innovation. Employees also enjoy working in a competitive environment with the most skilled personnel globally. Great for: anyone with a deep love of tech, and the impact this tech giant has had on the industry– and anyone who is even more excited about the future it could build… How To Land Your First Tech Job Working for a prominent company is an achievable, yet challenging goal, if you’re trying to break into the tech industry. But you can land a job in tech even if you’re new to the field. Multiply your odds by getting an education that will help shape your profile into one that tech recruiters are looking for. Bootcamps are about so much more than just learning the core technical skills you need; they show that you’re a dedicated, self-motivated learner with a diverse professional background, which is precisely what tech industry hiring managers are looking for. Piqued your interest? Take a look at our Bootcamps and kickstart your career in tech!
4 minutes
Campus Spotlight: Miami
Juliette Erath - 2023-03-09
Miami is known for its sunny days, multicultural community, and sandy beaches. Located in southern Florida, Miami brings together a wide range of cultures and countries with its extremely diverse population. Thanks to this diversity, Miami is one of the most popular destinations in the US and the entire world . With a wide range of shopping opportunities, incredible nightlife, outdoor activities abound, and lots of sunshine, there’s no doubting why so many people choose Miami to live, work, and study. Why Miami? Miami plays a unique role: it connects Latin America to the US, ensuring that the city is extremely diverse and full of different cultures. Take for example the Wynwood Arts District , a hipster neighborhood filled with galleries, shopping, tech companies, great restaurants, and nightlife. Or the Brickell neighborhood , a metropolitan area filled with high rises, large businesses, tech companies, and restaurants. Both of these offer tech happy hours consistently that help newcomers connect and network with the bustling Miami tech community. Following the pandemic, lots of workers saw the possibility of remote work and moved towards Miami’s sunny beaches, making it a new powerhouse in tech. Miami’s tech scene raised close to $1 billion in venture funding in 2022 and is ranked as the #1 city in startup activity . Is that not enough?! Check out these highlights: Year round tech and Web3 conferences : eMerge Americas is one of the largest tech conferences in the country. A wide variety of industries : Miami is known for tourism/hospitality, maritime, and real estate (all industries that need tech workers). Up and coming tech hub : since the pandemic, many tech companies based in California and New York have opened offices in Miami. Rise in Web3 activities : there has been a rise in Web3 activities as Miami’s mayor has bet on the future of the blockchain. This has helped many tech groups, conferences, and startups build a future in Miami, providing our students with great networking opportunities. Ironhack in Miami Ironhack Miami looks to harness the region’s potential and offer in-person and remote courses for those looking to dive into tech in the US. Boasting lots of events to connect students with local tech leaders, you will be well-suited for success. Here’s why: We’re certified by the Florida Department of Education We have a Women in Tech Collective , where we host events with community thought leaders and discuss ways to close the gender gap Our financing partner is Climb Credit We serve the Tri-County Area (Miami-Dade, Broward, and West Palm Beach) as well as the whole country Many students from neighboring counties take the new Brightline train for our in-person offerings or do the remote program Ironhack courses in Miami Web Development : learn front and back end technologies and everything else you need to know to become a full stack web developer. Data Analytics: become a data analyst through learning tools such as Python, SQL, and Tableau and learn to interpret data to make the right decisions. UX/UI Design Uuser-centric design is key here; learn design thinking to build digital experiences created specifically for users. No matter if you choose remote, full-time, or part-time courses in Barcelona, Ironhack’s campus offers you something beyond your course; we offer events, chances to network and connect with your fellow Ironhackers, an awesome space to get your best work done, and much more. Unsure if you should take the full-time bootcamp? What about part-time? Or remote? Let’s discuss: Our full-time bootcamps are ideal for those looking to get a new job soon and can exclusively dedicate nine weeks to learning. If you want fast results, this is for you. Our part-time bootcamps are for those who can’t dedicate nine weeks to just the bootcamp; if you want to keep your job elsewhere or continue your studies in another institution, our part-time bootcamps are perfect for you. The results are the same as our full-time course, just spread out over more weeks to allow you time to handle your other commitments. Our remote bootcamps are an option for everyone, even if you’re already located near our campus. These courses offer more flexibility and start dates, in addition to language variations, to help you choose the perfect course for you. And don’t worry about missing out on our events or course help; remote students are welcome at campus any day of the week and can benefit from everything offered to in-person students. Financing options in Miami As part of our dedication to making our courses accessible to all, we’ve partnered with ClimbCredit to offer funding opportunities to students. Full-Time programs Upfront payment : pay the entire course upfront by debit card, credit card, or bank transfer. Interest-free recurring payments : Make four recurring payments of $3,000 by debit card, credit card, or bank transfer over the course of four months. Climb loan : this monthly loan payment plan allows you to pay $67 to $115 for the first three months and then pay it off over 36 monthly payments. There are available co-borrower options and the final terms are subject to approval. Applying does not affect your credit score. Deferred climb load : pay $0 for the first 6 months and then pay it off over 36 monthly payments. Interest accrued over the first six months will then be added to the payment over the next 36 months. Applying does not affect your credit score. Part-Time programs Upfront payment : pay the entire course upfront by debit card, credit card, or bank transfer. Interest-free recurring payments : make seven recurring payments of around $1,786 by debit card, credit card, or bank transfer. Climb loan: take advantage of reduced payments of $7 to $131 for the first 3 months and they pay it off over 36 months. There are available co-borrower options and the final terms are subject to approval. Applying does not affect your credit score. Does Miami seem like the right fit for you? If you are eager to take advantage of all it has to offer and jump into your new tech career, we’re ready to hear from you. What are you waiting for?!
5 minutes
How to Begin a Career in Cybersecurity Without Previous Knowledge
Ironhack - 2021-05-04
We’ve all felt the effects of when companies don’t make cybersecurity a priority. You might even have had to bear the brunt when companies don’t invest in their cybersecurity yourself: personal data gets leaked, sensitive information is spread across the web, and life savings can be lost if you give the wrong company your bank details. You’re probably sick of this happening and we get it. That’s why it’s time to become a cyber warrior and kickstart your career in cybersecurity – even if you don’t have any previous knowledge. Cybersecurity may seem complicated to those on the outside, mostly because it comes with a dictionary’s worth of jargon. But anyone with a little technical knowledge and the desire to learn can launch themselves into this exciting career path. But that begs the question…how do you go about getting a cybersecurity job when you’ve got no experience? Before we answer that burning question, let’s first break down exactly what cybersecurity is. What is Cybersecurity? First things first: let’s truly understand what cybersecurity is, as it’s never been more important than it is today. With many companies shifting to a remote/hybrid working model and the vast expansion of the online space, there is an increasing need for businesses to invest in IT security and protect themselves from threats such as hacking, data compromise, and identity theft. Technology is getting smarter, but that means that hackers and cybercriminals are too. The range of cybercrimes is widening rapidly, but some of the most common are: Cyber-extortion : demanding money in exchange for not hacking, damaging, or deleting information Ransomware attacks : locking or limiting access to data in exchange for money Identity fraud : pretending to be you to gain access to your personal information IOT hacking : accessing or manipulating IoT devices and servers Malware : software designed to steal or copy a person’s information Phishing scams : sending fraudulent emails, pretending to be someone else to gain bank or personal information What Does a Career Path in Cybersecurity Look Like? With a growing demand for trained professionals, the cybersecurity industry has a lot to offer prospective employees. Salaries in this field tend to be lucrative and there is ample opportunity for career growth and development. The demand for roles in this area is also set to increase rapidly over the coming years and decades . As such, there has never been a better time to explore cybersecurity and explore the various career options out there for cybersecurity newcomers. There are many areas for specialization and advancement which you’ll be able to branch into, depending on your skills, experience, and career goals. And as the digital world is always changing, new areas that we can’t even imagine today will inevitably reveal themselves! Take a look at some positions, depending on your experience level: Entry-level positions include roles such as Cybersecurity Specialist or Technician, IT auditor, and Incident Responder (anyone interested in cybersecurity for beginners should research these roles as a starting point!) Mid-level positions include Cybersecurity Consultant and Penetration tester Advanced level positions include Cybersecurity Engineer and Managerial positions There are various roles available at each level when it comes to IT security, with plenty of scope for development further down the road; the demand for training in cybersecurity is rapidly on the rise, meaning you may like to branch into this area in a company for which you already work, or that you are looking to pivot completely into a new career. What Does it Take to Break into Cybersecurity? The first thing you need to tackle when it comes to cybersecurity is the basics of IT systems and networks ; for example, the different types of available networks and their protocols. Once you are familiar with the fundamentals, you can dive into the basics of networking traffic, security, and communication principles. Learning how to create and analyze network servers is also important when it comes to cybersecurity for beginners, while data decryption and encryption are also useful, along with topics such as backup processes and data recovery. Discovering how to prevent hacks is also a crucial subject when it comes to cybersecurity for beginners. As technology advances and the online space grows, there are greater opportunities for cyber attacks and hacks to occur, especially when it comes to mobile payments, e-commerce, and cloud computing. Machine learning, social media, and the vast array of apps that many of us use on a daily basis make it easier for criminals to find ways to hack systems to steal data and financial information. The risk for businesses is especially high and this is where cybersecurity professionals come into play : building and maintaining secure systems is essential for most organizations and businesses in the modern world, and expertise in this area is heavily in demand. Breaking into cybersecurity through a bootcamp Courses or bootcamps in cybersecurity for beginners will prepare you for roles such as incident responder, forensics analyst, and cybersecurity analyst, among others. Over time and depending on the size of the company you work for, you may have the chance to branch into a management role, taking control over a cybersecurity team. Similarly, you may choose to specialize in a single area of cybersecurity in networking, software development, systems engineering, or risk analysis. Breaking into cybersecurity with no previous experience Cybersecurity is an exciting and ever-changing career path, with high stakes and high rewards. The demand for professionals in this field is extremely high; there are many opportunities available for anyone interested in developing a career in IT security. But, as with any job, getting started can feel like a huge wall to climb if you don’t have any previous experience. But don’t worry: regardless of your background and previous experience, transitioning to a job in cybersecurity is very achievable with some foundational training, thanks to the recent rise of cybersecurity. The best place to start is with a cybersecurity bootcamp for beginners that covers the basics and the main areas of IT security and data protection. With Ironhack's Cybersecurity Bootcamp, you don’t only get the foundational knowledge and hands-on experience that you need to succeed in your first cybersecurity role; but we’ll actually support you in finding that role. Our Careers Services and Outcomes Team are rockstars at getting you job-ready, helping you figure out the messy middle of job hunting. Why not check it out for yourself?!
6 minutes
The Perfect LinkedIn Profile for a Data Analyst
Juliette Erath - 2023-05-02
Your LinkedIn profile may seem like a minor part of landing that dream job or even your first role in the industry, but it’s actually an incredibly essential part of your job search. In fact, most recruiters or potential managers first look up candidates on LinkedIn to get a quick summary of their experience, essence, and skills. But before we tackle the specifics of creating that perfect data analyst profile, let’s dive into LinkedIn profile basics that all professionals, no matter their speciality, should master. LinkedIn: Why Does it Matter? You’ve already sent your CV, cover letter, and maybe even a portfolio and references to your potential employer, so why does it matter if you have a LinkedIn profile? Let’s take a look: LinkedIn has more than 600 professional profiles ; it’s an incomparable source for networking, finding connections, and much more. In addition to its personal profiles, it has a job board where tons of companies post all kinds of roles daily. It offers you the possibility of creating your own personal brand with the option to post and promote your own content or website. Thanks to its well-known abilities, it ranks incredibly high on Google , meaning that when your name is searched online, your LinkedIn profile will be the first thing to appear. It boasts a wealth of information : are you interested in checking out a company? Or a potential manager? What about where offices are located? In just one place, you can find out all of this–and more. Tips and Tricks for All LinkedIn Profiles Now that you’re convinced of all the glory of a high-quality LinkedIn profile, let’s tackle exactly how to create that. Uploading your Facebook profile picture to your LinkedIn profile and filling in your employment history is a great start, but there’s a lot more you could do to make your profile stand out and catch the eye of recruiters: Choose the right pictures: we get it; it’s easier to take the picture from your brother’s wedding and use that as your LinkedIn profile picture, but remember: LinkedIn is a professional social networking site and your profile picture should reflect that; choose a headshot that clearly shows your face, is recent, professional, and close-up. But that’s not all: LinkedIn now allows you to include a background photo–choose a photo that describes you and what you offer and contributes to the creation of your personal brand. Make the most of your headline : defining yourself as your job title is easy, but can limit your future opportunities. Instead of just writing your current job title, try to make your headline all-encompassing and able to meet a wide range of roles. Create a captivating summary : LinkedIn offers the possibility of creating a summary where you can write whatever you want; take this chance to stay away from conventional buzzwords like “leader,” “focused,” “experienced,” and “passionate;” these words don’t differentiate you from other candidates. Use these few lines to show recruiters and potential employers who you really are and how you stand out. Include all your experience: as interdisciplinary experience becomes increasingly sought after, employers want to see that you’ve worked in different areas and can handle different tasks or even topics; include all your abilities and accomplishments, no matter how unrelated they may seem. Now that you have the basics down, it’s time to jump into why we’re here: creating the perfect LinkedIn profile for data analyst roles. LinkedIn Profiles for Data Analysts As tech gains importance in every single industry, highlighting your hard skills and versatility is becoming increasingly crucial for potential data analysts. Detailing all your experience and certifications, in addition to specific, actionable results , will help show prospective employers that you’re uniquely qualified for their role. Certifications The vast majority of employers look for candidates with certifications that back up their knowledge; displaying these prominently on your LinkedIn profile helps employers see that you have proof of your skills. Some of the most common certifications for data analysts include the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, the IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate, the Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate, and the AWS Certified Data Analytics. Projects In addition to your education and certifications, employers want to see specific projects and experiences; add projects (and tag team members) with statistics to show that not only you’ve been successful, but have the data to back it up: Use action verbs : “developed,” “led,” and “initiated” are all verbs that transmit more confidence and expertise than “did” or “completed.” Include data : read these two sentences and let us know which is better (hint: it’s the second!) ; it’s crucial to convey confidence and use data to back up your claim: Led data reduction project. Initiated and directed a project that resulted in a 86% reduction in data. Summary As we mentioned above, your summary is a unique opportunity to provide a recruiter or potential employer with a glimpse into you and what you can bring to the table. Edit your summary to make it fit your personality, but here’s an idea: [NAME] is a data professional with four years of demonstrated experience in the field, using their various certifications and experience at [COMPANY NAME] to deliver a 40% increase in revenue, a 89% decrease in data usage, and never before seen levels of user privacy. [NAME] is skilled in programming, SQL, data management, statistics, and machine learning, using their years of experience to provide an unparalleled data experience to all. Recommendations and endorsements You can list all your achievements, but what truly sets a high-quality profile apart from others is recommendations and endorsements; these are provided by past or current colleagues and are either personalized comments left on someone’s profile or endorsements about specific skills . For example, your previous boss could endorse your language skills, proficiency in Excel, or your teamwork skills; a recommendation would be a few sentences written specifically for you. Both provide an additional layer of confidence to potential employers and can help convey even more trust. It may seem daunting at first, but LinkedIn is your friend and there to help you reach new heights, harnessing both its networking capabilities and capacity for you to show yourself off to help you make new connections and land that perfect role. And no matter if you’re just starting off or have years of experience in the field, LinkedIn is an incredibly useful tool for data analysts.
Data Analytics Is Changing The World - Here’s Why You Should Care
Marta Aguilar - 2023-07-05
People who love data really love data. But if you’re someone who always hated math class as a kid, it can be really hard to understand where they’re coming from. How does a bunch of numbers get anyone’s blood pumping? Spoiler alert: data is the undercurrent of pretty much everything we do online. Every time you check the weather, see a movie or show recommendations, track a run on your smartwatch, or book a hotel for your next vacation, data is behind it all. If you’re here, you’re probably curious about data and its various uses. In this article, we’re going to be looking at the biggest impacts that data has on our world and the #1 reason why you should fall completely in love with it. Data Creates the Perfect User Experience This is one data innovation that you’re probably aware of already, as it’s one that fits seamlessly into our day to day lives. But because it’s so seamless, you may be taking it for granted (that’s actually a sign of truly great innovation–you don’t even notice that it’s happening!). So let’s take a second to really appreciate the magnitude of the impact that data has on our cultural tastes. If you’ve used Spotify/Apple Music to find your new favorite to sing on long road trips, the album that’ll get you through your next heartbreak, and the band that you’ll someday travel halfway across the country to see live in concert, you’ve got data to thank for it. Spotify has invested heavily in training machine learning algorithms to personalize the experience for its 406 million global users. That’s a huge impact. But this isn’t just limited to music. Streaming services use huge amounts of customer data to test, personalize experiences, and make big business decisions. Netflix is particularly famous for this, running constant A/B tests to provide users with the best possible experience–and to keep us all binging and chilling. Let’s say you love Ryan Reynolds and you’ve watched a lot of his movies. Netflix knows that little nugget of data about you and will make sure that any movie with Ryan Reynolds features him prominently in the preview, thus encouraging you to watch. Companies like Netflix, Amazon, Disney+, and HBO don’t just use data to build their platform’s user experience. They take the usage data from their streaming services to make important production decisions, looking at things like content abandonment rates, keyword searches, and even which scenes were rewound and rewatched. This information is then used to influence which shows get made or canceled. With the shows created by these streaming/production companies sitting at the forefront of the cultural zeitgeist, big data truly is a global tastemaker! Data is Saving the Planet Data doesn’t just tell Netflix whether to bring Squid Games back for Season 2. It’s also being used in new ways in sustainability and wildlife conservation: GPS tagging and camera traps are able to collect real-time information on the movements of some of the world’s most critically endangered animals, empowering conservation groups with the information needed to potentially save the species. Data scientists are able to track migration, population growth/decline, and identify risks that may threaten an endangered species. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior uncovered a problem in the early 2000s whilst attempting to track animal movements in Panama. The thick canopy of the trees could not be penetrated by GPS signal, so they set up a series of radio towers that would allow them to collect the data they needed, but soon found that the sheer amount of information received would overwhelm their current systems. They created Movebank , a software that could safely store and manage real-time global animal movement data. Today, researchers around the world rely on Movebank to provide answers to big-picture questions in conservation science, with over 3.2 billion animal locations leading to almost 7,000 research studies. From monitoring the speed at which polar ice caps melt to the areas most at-risk from illegal poachers, data helps us to understand the state of our world and may provide the insights that help us to save it. Data Helps Save Lives Ever since the world went digital, big data has been used by the medical industry to improve research and patient outcomes. But it has historically been expensive, slow, and inaccessible for non-data experts. Data impacts the medical field in three different ways: Medical research: data is used to help researchers in labs, leading to breakthroughs in how we understand and treat diseases. Hospital operations : hospitals use data much like any other businesses do to monitor staffing, supplies, waiting room time, and insurance claim data. Patient outcomes : data can be used to improve the treatment of individual patients, as well as answering big-picture questions. One of the biggest game changers in recent years for data in medicine was the boom of wearable tech. Patients are able to have their heart rate constantly monitored in a way that doesn't feel annoying or intrusive and medical providers are able to collect a huge amount of data on their day-to-day heart health. By collecting huge amounts of data and gaining a holistic view of a patient’s (or group of patient’s) health, medical professionals are able to give recommendations for preventive care and stop diseases. For example, a doctor who notices that many patients who have sedentary jobs and concerning VO2 max levels can recommend introducing more cardio into their exercise routines. However, this kind of information is highly sensitive and healthcare institutions are rapidly understanding the need for heightened data security. In-house data solutions must be bolstered by top-notch security protocols, including two-factor authentication and routine audits. The ethics of how this data is stored and shared is also a hot topic that the industry constantly grapples with, leaving a need for data experts to guide this ongoing conversation. Data Runs the Business World The old saying goes money makes the world go round . While there’s certainly still plenty of truth to that, what really makes the world go round (namely the business world!) is data . There simply aren’t enough hours in the day to list all of the ways that companies in every corner of the world rely on data and each company has their own unique data sets. But we can of course make a few sweeping generalizations: Customer demographics inform marketing and advertising decisions Product usage data informs UI decisions and helps teams build better digital experiences Big data helps Big Tech launch new features, improve existing products, and launch entirely new innovations Data helps entrepreneurs identify problems to solve and needs to fill Because the business world loves cliches, we’ve got another for you. “Without data, you’re just another person with an opinion,” said W. Edwards Deming in 1982, and it’s still true today. As a professional in any industry, you need data to make the right decisions and get people to back your ideas. It’s the closest thing to the objective truth as we can get and you’ll need it on your side, no matter which capacity you’re working in. Let’s say you’re a UI designer and you’re fighting with an important stakeholder over how big the logo needs to be on the first fold of your homepage. If that stakeholder is the CEO, their authority trumps yours. So you bring out the big guns…results of an A/B test which shows that your version of the homepage design works better within the overall user journey. Alternatively, let’s say you’re in advertising. You and your team have been asked to run a summer campaign for an important client and no one can quite agree on which direction to go in. You need a quick win to turn around a slow quarter, so you go back and look at which previous campaigns knocked it out of the park. You use the data to design a fantastic campaign and convince the rest of the team that it’s the right way to go. While data has often been attributed to the tech industry and giant corporations, there’s actually no limits to who data can help. Data Analytics is an Exciting and Stable Career Path Exciting and stable aren’t usually two words that go together but they’re absolutely the right ones to describe a career in data. A career in data is exciting because data is being used in new ways every da y; the smallest pockets of information are capable of unleashing insights that can change the world. Companies can use data to impact the lives of millions, from saving rare species from extinction to creating breakthroughs in medical science. A career in data is also stable, because data isn’t going anywhere anytime soon . Every single company, even those outside of the tech industry, rely on data every day and there’s no shortage of need for professionals who know how to manage and analyze it. Data is also global, not restricted to any one corner of the world. No matter where you are, there will be a need, a use, and a demand for data. Even if you’re not looking to work specifically as a Data Scientist or Data Analyst, chances are data can be helpful in your day to day work. And maybe the data sets you use won’t change the world on their own, but you’ll be future-proofing your skill set and opening up brand new career doors. You might not change the world, but you can change your world. If you’re interested in diving into the data world, we’d be happy to have you at Ironhack! Our Data Analytics Bootcamp is designed to teach you what you need to know to enter the workforce as a data professional. Check out the course information today and let us know if you have any questions–we can’t wait to see your application!
6 minutes
What's Going on with FAANG Right Now?
Ironhack - 2023-01-17
With a career in the tech world, you have to stay up to date with everything that’s going on around you in the world of computers, social media, and IT. This includes knowing about the current status of the economy and the stocks that could affect the tech companies that you are working for. It’s an important part of the job because it can potentially affect your salary , the atmosphere of the workplace, and the safety of you and your coworkers’ positions. Right now, the tech sector is where big money and lots of jobs are, but their growth has stagnant in the last year. The group of tech companies that make up the name "FAANG" have been the leaders in this growth, but is that trend still going strong or has the climb become an uphill battle that has met its match ? How is FAANG dealing with a market that is expected to end up in a recession before 2023 meets its end? We'll get to all that, but first things first: what is FAANG? What is FAANG? If I were to ask you to think of the biggest companies out there, which ones would you mention? Probably companies like Google, Amazon or Facebook would be the first few you mention, and without a doubt at least one of the members of FAANG would come to mind. FAANG, so aptly named by Bob Lang back in 2013 and later popularized by Jim Cramer, is a group of the biggest tech companies and refers more specifically to their stocks and status as influential powers in the market. These letters stand for Facebook (currently Meta), Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google (currently Meta); unsurprisingly, these companies are some of the most powerful giants in the tech world with major influence on what happens in almost everything related to the economy. Let’s take a look at what is going on with them now. FAANG’s Influence Did you say growth?! Unless you have been pulling a Thoreau for the past decade, you have most certainly heard of these five companies without flipping to Bloomberg - and with good reason. For the past ten or so years, they have become staple services that almost everyone uses , and as a result, they have seen consistent substantial increases to their stock prices and unending growth . So much so, they also constitute a portion of the S&P 500 Index, which is used as an indicator of the health of the stock market. This means that since FAANG accounts for a sizable portion of the index, their weight in the system shows that these companies are connected to the overall economy’s health . But sometimes having all this influence can be detrimental . Bubbles have to burst Their impact on the stock market is significant, and some experts fear that this could become a problem in the future due to their potential as a bubble . A bubble in the stock market means that the value of the good has risen above the actual product’s real value and when the bubble bursts , there is a sudden decrease in value . Some examples of a bubble come would be the infamous tulip frenzy of the 1600s , where the prices of tulip bulbs soared until one day a buyer didn’t show up to receive a shipment in a trade-based economy, which caused a major drop in value and a huge panic across Europe. Or another great example would be the US housing crisis of the 2000s . In both cases, when the bubbles of highly influential and overpriced products burst, the prices of those products plummeted as a result. The rest of the market was impacted as well and as a whole, struggled to recover from the shock. Why is this important? Bubbles pop and if you consider FAANG to be one, then it’s possible that they are nearing the point of bursting soon . Unfortunately, this is evident when looking at the 2022 fiscal year. The tech industry has taken a big hit during 2022 ; in particular, Netflix and Meta have dropped by 52% and 65%, respectively. Although other FAANG members like Amazon and Apple have had their fair share of problems with declining prices as well. A bit of a rough patch There are a few contributing factors to why they have hit a rough patch. During the COVID-19 pandemic, tech companies had the advantage given people were at home on their devices, scrolling around and sharing anything they could get their hands on since there was nothing else they could do. This gave FAANG the opportunity to go on a hiring frenzy, but soon enough, confinement ended and people went out into the world leaving their devices unattended at home and corporations had to continue paying for these new employees. To remedy this mistake, layoffs were on the menu . Not only have they been reducing the number of their staff, but also the number of new, open positions has diminished. In addition, since the 2008 housing crisis, interest rates have remained dramatically low , which in turn has made debt quite cheap, and exponential growth became the name of the game for the past few years for the big tech giants. But now that interest rates are increasing thanks to the Fed, the game is changing , and growth and expansion isn’t the best strategy under these circumstances. The smarter move in this situation is expense management and profitability , which means a strategic shift from their years of making growth their principal aim. All in all, the confidence of investors seems to have tapered off too and with a supposed recession on its way, the future does seem a bit bleak for FAANG. What next? Although these big corporations may have to pull back on the reins a bit in terms of their growth, they will still continue to have a big influence on the world’s economy. The decline in hiring opportunities and the potential bubble burst coming does mean trouble for sure. It may seem like FAANG having issues could end their running streak as tech companies, but if they shift their approach of constant growth, they have the potential to thrive again in the future. For now what does that mean for the tech sector? These companies’ growth has started to slow down and taper off, but there will always be a need for more IT professionals ! As the world comes to depend more and more on technology as a basic life necessity, you can be sure that there will still be plenty of jobs available for anyone looking to work as a computer programmer, website designer, or software developer. If that means working with smaller companies or as a freelancer, the number of opportunities is limitless.
5 minutes
What Does a Career in Web3 Look Like?
Ironhack - 2022-11-11
The internet is evolving, and fast. On the web as we currently know it, information is stored on servers, which we can read on our computers. Today, we're moving towards a new type of internet called Web3; where data is decentralized and stored in many different places. From small startups to tech giants, a growing number of companies are investing in Web3, blockchain, and cryptocurrency — and are looking to hire skilled professionals to drive these exciting new technologies forward. But what does a career in Web3 actually entail? And how do you get started? In this blog post, we’ll explore what a career in Web3 really looks like: From what kind of jobs are available, to the skills you need to break into this emerging and innovative field. Let’s dive in! H2: What Kind of Jobs Are There in Web3? Web3 is an emerging space, with the scope for some really exciting and specialized roles in the future. But there are also multiple well-established entry-level Web3 roles; which include tech disciplines like software engineering, web development, community management, data analytics, and design. To give you a sense of what’s out there, we’ve pulled some examples of existing roles from a Web3 job board . Backend engineer @ Kodex UX/UI product designer @ Obol Data Analyst @ P2P.org What Kind of Companies Are Investing in Web3? The next generation of internet technology is happening right now. New, innovative companies are populating the space to create pioneering products and services that will change how we interact with the web. According to 101 Blockchain , the The web3 market could reach a total value of almost $81.5 billion by 2030 — making it a lucrative investment for companies across multiple industries, including finance , healthcare , and government services . Web3 companies are mostly startups, but there are also blockchain projects within larger companies (such as IBM and Twitter ). Most of these companies are working on infrastructure or tools for decentralized systems like Ethereum. Some examples of web3-specific companies include: ConsenSys ; a company offering consulting services, as well as development teams, focused on building applications on Ethereum's platform; and Melonport ; a Swiss startup who aim to create an autonomous community where individuals can manage their digital assets without intermediaries. Among the growing number of companies foraying into Web3 are tech giants like Twitter and Instagram , as well as FinTech companies in the crypto currency space (like PayPal and Alchamy ). Is Web3 Hard to Get Into? As a newcomer to Web3, you’ll be joining thousands of talented professionals seeking to help shape this new technological landscape. But before you do, you might be wondering how hard it is to break into the space. So, is Web3 hard to get into? Well, yes and no. As a new space, there are far fewer ‘guarantees’ than you’ll find in other digital discplines. It’s still unclear what long-term career progression looks like in Web3, as the workforce is technically still being formed. As so many Web3 and blockchain products are still being built, the baseline requirements for entry-level Web3 professionals can vary massively depending on the industry. On the plus side, joining Web3 as one of the early professional cohorts makes the Web3 job market a lot less competitive than other tech disciplines. You’ll be up against fewer candidates for Web3 roles, which means a higher chance of finding a job quickly and more leverage to negotiate a higher salary. Learning Web3 skills also demonstrates a commitment to staking your claim in this rapidly-growing space — which is bound to give you the edge you need when it comes to landing your first role. What Skills Will Web3 Professionals Need? Web3 is a complex and multidiscplinary field which requires a lot of problem-solving and analytics. Entry-level Web3 professionals are expected to be proficient in a wide range of technical skills, including: Front-end development. This includes frontend programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript — as well as object-oriented programming, DOM manipulation, version control, and ReactJS. Back-end technologies. You’ll need to know how to create a MERN stack application, set up a NoSQL server, and use ExpressJS, NodeJS to create and deploy robust applications. Blockchain and cryptography. Web3 professionals need to be well-versed in the blockchain trilemma and how hash functions, digital signatures and proof of work and proof of stake consensus mechanisms function in practice. Etherium, smart contracts, and token standards. You’ll a working knowledge of smart contract development, Solidity and the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) through writing and testing smart contracts. Decentralized applications (dApp) development and tooling . Understanding how to develop and deploy dApps using front-end libraries such as ethers.js and web3.js. For complete beginners, this list might seem overwhelming — and even intimidating. Worry not! Beginner-friendly courses like IronHack’s soon to be launched Web3 bootcamp will see you learn all the skills needed to forge a career in Web3 — as well as benefitting from tailored career support to help you land your first role. Sign up now to be the first to hear when spaces are available! What Makes a Good Career? Web3 isn’t just a hyped-up buzzword: It’s already a well-established space with limitless potential to transform the way we use the web, forever. With a growing number of big tech companies recognizing the value of Web3, it’s safe to say the field is here to stay — and the demand for forward-thinking Web3 professionals is only set to climb. Web3 might be fertile ground for a new career opportunities, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right career path for you. High salaries, remote work, interesting projects, a future-proofed career, and other compelling factors might all sound good on paper — but in order to do the job day in day out, you need to feel passionate about the work. In the absence of a crystal ball, you might be wondering how to figure out what career path is right for you. We’ve come up with a resource to help you along your way, with our Career Vision Planner . Check it out!
Learn the basics of data analytics: Intro to SQL
Ironhack - 2021-07-26
Data is all around us, and it's kind of crazy to imagine what it must have been like to store it all manually in filing cabinets before the digital age came in to make it all easier for us. Luckily, now we have databases (YAY!), but wait, how do we pull the information we need or want from these databases with as little fuss as possible? Drumroll, please… Enter, SQL! But before we dive into SQL and why it's handy... What is Data Analytics? Data analytics is growing more and more in popularity as more businesses move to gathering and storing all their data online, so it's a pretty big deal, especially in the world of business, or governance etc. As you are most probably aware, data is being collected all the time, yet in its raw form, this data will leave you scratching your head because it won't make sense. This is where data analytics comes in: it allows companies to pull out, edit and add specific data they are searching for . This helps such companies or organisations to draw insights and make the most informed decisions for their next strategic move. Data analysts are much sought after because they are able to organise and categorise this data to make it interpretable and therefore usable, and they speak SQL. Btw in case you were wondering, data analysis and data science are two different fields . Data science is more multidisciplinary as it combines statistics, scientific methods, artificial intelligence (AI) and more to extract value from data. Plus they use a range of tools like smartphones, sensors, websites and more to interpret data. How is data analysis used in the real world? Generally speaking, data analysis can be used infinitely depending on what information is being looked for, yet more specifically, it's used to make better, faster and business decisions to reduce overall business costs and develop new and innovative products and services. For example, it could predict future sales or purchasing behaviours, security purposes as it helps to protect against fraud, analyse the effectiveness of marketing campaigns or increase supply chain efficiency. First steps into SQL: What is it and what is it for? SQL stands for Structured Query Language and is pronounced as Sequel. This is the language used in data analysis to communicate with data ! Three key things to know about SQL Suppose you're in sales, marketing, business etc. SQL is probably the one coding language you should learn as most companies have an online presence and are collecting data. So the more you know how to communicate this data, the better you can pull and analyse and the better you are at your job! If this is you, you can pop into our webinar to learn the basics of Data Analytics ! SQL languages have syntax variations . Different companies follow different databases sets, they are only slight variations, but it is essential to be aware of them. SQL only communicates with relational databases . So any database with a tabular organisation (with rows and columns). This leads us to our next point. SQL and RDBMS RDBMS stands for Relational Database Management System. This drastically helps to organise data so that it can easily be extracted and analysed. Let us break it down even further so you really know what it means. It's a system that manages data organised in tables and the relations between them. Let's break it down again. When we talk about systems we mean RDBMS can store many different kinds of data for many different kinds of applications in one place . For example, if we are talking about a sale, there is a table or dataset for the sale information, one for customer information and the other for the sales item or inventory; therefore, there is a relation between these data sets. Key benefits of RDBMS: System : can store many styles of data for multiple applications Manager : stores, indexes, keep safes, backups Data : all data can be stored but mostly numbers and strings Tables : organised in columns and rows Relationation : patterns between different values in columns and tables are linked together. So, why RDBMS? Because it’s an effective and reliable way to store information as the basis for online transaction processing systems, and these are systems that keep businesses running. RDBMS are applied in corporate administration and accounting, banking and insurance systems, government data, point of service (POS) and E-commerce systems, and the list goes on. And of course, all the data gathered in these systems are used in the analytics environment to generate insights, but you first need to access such data. And how do we do that?...Through SQL, which speaks to RDBMS! Some key terms in SQL A SQL query allows you to query (investigate) a specific piece of information. Tables Tables are the database objects that hold the data in the relational databases . SQL can be applied to programs like Python or even a simple excel spreadsheet. In SQL lingo, a Column is a field, and a Row is a record, and finally, there is an entity that is the smallest unit that contains a meaningful set of data. An entity is also known as the dataset object . With SQL, the best way to learn is by giving it a go! Yet, here are some quick terms to get you familiar with the lingo. Select, from and where If you are looking to query something, the term "select" always comes first and is eventually followed by "from" . The "where" term allows you to filter out rows that you do now want to have in your search results. Here is a quick example of what it could look like if we were to be using a student database: Select: “*’” or the specific field eg. (student_name_dateofbirth) From: (table name) e.g Student Where: date of birth = (select max ( date of birth) from student) By the way, aside from the equal "=" sign you can use does not equal to "<>" or is greater than "<" ; the list goes on, and you change this based on what you are looking for. When you want to merge two or more tables or datasets, you can use the "join" statement that puts two different tables together side by side based on a shared value; the term joins usually appears after from but before the where statement. For example; From table_1 join table_2 Union Finally, we will mention one more! The “union” term matches columns from top to bottom . This union statement usually sits between two select statements . The union can only occur on columns with the exact same column names and columns that have the same data type. To continue learning more about the basics of Data Analytics and SQL , watch our webinar below: powered by Crowdcast All in all, getting into data analytics can be super interesting and satisfying once you get the hang of it, it's like going on treasure hunts! And if you’re really interested in becoming a serious data analyst pro, want to build your career or seriously widen your job prospects look no further than our insightful Data Analytics Bootcamp!

Best European Cities to Begin a Job in Tech

The Tech Sector in Amsterdam

The Tech Sector in Berlin

The Tech Sector in London

The Tech Sector in Barcelona

The Tech Sector in Paris

Jump into Tech

Related Articles

Recommended for you

11 Great Jobs in Tech for Creative People

What Is a Tech Lead?

How to Actually Use ChatGPT

Google Bard: What it Means for You

10 Best Tech Companies To Work For And Why

Campus Spotlight: Miami

How to Begin a Career in Cybersecurity Without Previous Knowledge

The Perfect LinkedIn Profile for a Data Analyst

Data Analytics Is Changing The World - Here’s Why You Should Care

What's Going on with FAANG Right Now?

What Does a Career in Web3 Look Like?

Learn the basics of data analytics: Intro to SQL

Ready to join?