The Ironhack Blog

Chances are you’ve set some goals for yourself in the new year – good for you! At Ironhack, we are all thinking of how we are going to improve in 2023. Setting resolutions and goals is great, but actually implementing changes can be really hard. We’ve found that instead of focusing solely on your SMART goals, it can be helpful to take on some new habits that will put you in the right frame of mind to achieve them. Our lives are constantly evolving and the decisions we make each day have a direct impact on our overall well-being. Developing healthy habits is one of the most beneficial steps we can take to improve our lives in the long run: it helps us become more productive, efficient, and healthy. Start with Self-Care Taking care of yourself is key when it comes to achieving success. Start by setting aside time in your day for activities that are solely dedicated to looking after yourself. This could be anything from taking a morning walk or journaling to indulging in a relaxing bubble bath or reading your favorite book. The important thing is that you’re making time for yourself and prioritizing it. Part of self care is definitely getting enough sleep. With our constant connectivity, it can be easy for time to escape us; with all the screen time, falling asleep can be difficult. A good night’s sleep is essential for a productive and stress-free day. Aim to get 8 hours of restful sleep each night so you can wake up feeling energized and ready to tackle the day ahead. Exercise is also a part of this. Exercising as a habit can have extraordinary benefits for both your physical and mental health. Regular physical exercise helps control your weight, strengthens muscles, reduces fat, promotes healthy bones and joints, increases energy levels, reduces stress, and improves your mood. In addition to these benefits on the physical level, regular exercise can also help improve overall mental wellbeing by increasing self-confidence, reducing depression and anxiety, improving cognitive skills and promoting better sleep. So if you’re looking for a way to improve your overall health and wellbeing, why not make regular physical exercise part of your daily routine? You won’t regret it! Get Organized! Organizing your life may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. The key to getting organized is developing good habits and creating routines that help you stay on track. Here are some tips to help you get started: First, make a list of your goals. Take some time to sit down and think about what you would like to achieve in the coming months. Writing out your goals will help make them a reality. Another helpful tip for getting organized is to declutter and reorganize your space. Whether you work at home or in a shared office space, setting yourself up for success now will help you to maintain your organization as the new year unfolds. Go through your closet, kitchen cabinets, and desk drawers and sort out what you need and what can be donated or thrown away. Finally, make a calendar! Map out your year. Write down important dates like birthdays, anniversaries, vacations, and more so that you never miss anything important. Set up reminders on your phone or computer to check in with yourself on a regular basis and make sure everything is still running smoothly. Consider Meditation Meditation has been increasingly recognized as a helpful method for managing mental and physical health, as well as improving one's overall wellbeing. In the past few years, many people have turned to meditation to help them cope with challenging emotions and stressful situations. One of the most important goals for anyone practicing meditation is to become more mindful and present in each moment. In 2023, consider incorporating meditation into your daily routine . Dedicating at least 10 minutes each day to a guided meditation or visualization practice can help you to achieve inner peace and clarity. With regular practice, you can improve your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellbeing in the long term. A mindful approach to life will help you to reach your goals faster and more efficiently. Embrace Technology, but not TOO Much! In 2023, technology will be playing an increasingly central role in our lives. From smart phones that can answer questions and make decisions to intelligent transportation systems that can minimize traffic congestion, technology will be making life simpler and more efficient . This is great news, regardless of the industry you work in. Technology is going to be a part of your life and hopefully it will be for the better. That being said, we want to encourage you to find a healthy balance between screen time and real life. If you are working in technology, it can be easy to stay connected constantly, but you’ll want to make it a habit to break that time up. Be sure to get up and go for a walk periodically, or find a group with similar (non-tech) interests so you can nourish the social side of your life as well. Take some time away from screens and gadgets to give your mind a break and your tech-weary brain will thank you for it. Invest in Your Education Regularly Your education is one of the most important investments you can make in your life. It can help you to open up a world of opportunities, from increasing your earning potential to developing skills that will make you more competitive in the workforce. An investment in your education may be the best one you ever make! Not only could it lead to greater job opportunities and higher pay, but it could also give you the skills and knowledge to make a positive impact in the world. Plus, you’ll be setting yourself up for success for years to come! In 2023, we want to encourage you to invest in an education that will help you meet your goals and have fun while doing it. Education is really lifelong currency . If you dedicate around 18 minutes per day to a single skill or subject, you’ll become an expert over the course of a year. Think about what you enjoy doing and how it could fit into the mosaic of your life and career, then make a plan. If there’s a subject that interests you or piques your curiosity, learn more about it. You never know what doors that knowledge will open. The best part about investing in your education is that you quite literally get to choose your path. Sure, we have to go through traditional education systems to get to our first professional role but as adult, life-long learners, we have the autonomy to decide what we want to learn, when and why. Education has a huge impact on your career options. Of course, there are people who become successful without a formal education, but those are exceptions to the rule. The data is clear: the more education you have, the more likely you are to achieve professional success and satisfaction. An Ironhack bootcamp is a great option if you want to jumpstart your career with new tech skills. From web development to data analytics and UX/UI design, Ironhack has the right career path for you. With these simple tips, you can start the new year off right and set yourself up for success! What are your goals for 2023? Let us know in the comments below. Happy New Year!

No one wants to be stuck in the same position for the rest of their life, so it's important to find a company that has a lot of growth potential and will help you grow your skills and advance in your career. What Is Growth Potential? Growth opportunities are essential to employee engagement. They go far beyond a higher position or a better parking space, these opportunities enable individuals to grow as a person and become their best selves. When there is a lack of growth potential, employees tend to look for new opportunities. When joining a new professional opportunity, ask questions during the interview process about the company's plans for the future and your own potential for growth. Consider what you want from your career and find a company that can help you achieve those goals. Ask what the potential for promotion and raises looks like in the near future, and if there are any additional responsibilities or training opportunities available. It is also important to think about how long you would ideally want to stay with a company before transitioning into a new role. There many online courses and other professional development opportunities, like Ironhack’s bootcamps, that can help you expand your skills and knowledge. So don't be afraid to seize new opportunities and grow your career in the direction you want! Understanding Your Current Growth Potential Change starts from within, so we want to give you some tips on how to identify how you want to grow. Maybe you want to get into managing people, rise in your current role, or even shift into a completely new profession. There are so many options available with today’s evolving work environment. Your job is to decide what direction you want to grow in, and that will help you to better understand your potential for growth. Understanding your current growth potential means This means taking an honest look at yourself and assessing your strengths and weaknesses. Only by knowing where you stand can you begin to make the changes necessary to unleash your creative power. It's no secret that the world is constantly changing. The growth of technology has led to an ever-growing number of new opportunities for those who are willing to learn and grow with the times. For those looking to start or further their career, it's important to stay ahead of the curve and keep learning new skills. One way to do this is by taking advantage of professional growth opportunities. These can come in many forms, such as additional training, continuing education courses, or even simply reading about new developments in your field. Whatever route you choose, make sure that you're always challenging yourself and expanding your horizons. The more you learn, the more marketable you become, and the more growth potential you have for your career. So don't be afraid to invest time and energy into your professional growth; it will pay off in the long run! Asking About Growth in Interviews When you land an interview, it’s normal to get excited! But you’ll want to go into your interview armed with tough questions for the interviewer to make the best use of your time. You bring value to any organization that is interested in hiring you, and you can position yourself for growth within the company when you express interest from the beginning. Here are some examples of questions to ask in interviews that’ll help you understand the growth potential of that role. - How has the company grown in recent years? Ask about the company’s growth overall. While startups are great and getting in at the beginning can be a great opportunity for growth, joining a better established company with employees who have grown with the company is a very good sign as well. Try to get an idea of what turnover is like, and how the company has grown in the past. - What are the company's plans for growth in the future? On the flip side, ask about how the company plans to continue to grow. Are they seeking outside investment? Are they a smaller company that will stay small? Not all companies want to grow massively. Sometimes they find the sweet spot with their customers and work to improve efficiency but want to maintain the status quo. Try to understand what the company has in store as far as future growth. - What is your growth potential within the company? Ask how you can grow within the company. Is the role you’re interviewing for meant to be something that can grow vertically? Or is it a role that is more static and will probably be something that you are expected to stay in. Is the role seasonal? This is important to understand. There may be opportunities for learning even if there isn’t necessarily room for growth in the company itself. Try to gauge what you’ll learn and weigh it against your career goals overall. - What opportunities for growth exist within the company? Ask how the company handles employee growth and development. What kinds of training programs do they have? Are there employee engagement programs in place? How often do they hire for new roles internally? Are there plans for new roles in the future as the company grows? As a professional, growth within your company is essential to maintaining a career and taking it to the next level. When you are considering growth potential, there are several key factors to take into account. The first is the job market; what type of growth opportunities exist at your current company, and what other options might be out there. What to Do When You Can’t Grow: Pivoting to a New Career Pivoting to a new career can be a great option for those who find themselves unable to grow in their current job or industry. It presents an opportunity to explore different areas of interest and get out of a stagnant routine. Plus, by entering into a new field, you have the potential to gain new skills, increase your salary, and even find more growth potential. It’s like a breath of fresh air for your career! So don’t be afraid to take the leap — you never know what kind of growth opportunities might be waiting for you on the other side. The tech industry is an incredibly rewarding and growth-oriented professional pathway to explore. As technology continues to evolve, it creates new opportunities for growth and development. With the rapid growth of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, the number of career paths available to those interested in tech are steadily increasing. From software engineering to data science, growth potential in the tech industry is abundant and exciting. So if you’re looking for a career that offers growth opportunities, look no further than the ever-changing world of tech! And don’t worry—you don’t need to be an expert coder to succeed in this field. Your growth potential isn’t determined by your coding skills. It’s up to you to make the most of the growth opportunities available in this exciting industry. So go ahead and take a chance—start exploring the tech industry and see where it takes you!  You never know what kind of growth potential you could unlock.  Good luck! Check out how Ironhack graduate Jonathan Montalvo turned his experience into a position as a Senior UX/UI Designer at PWC in this video !

It’s that time of year again: everyone is gearing up for the holiday season and deciding what days to take off. But as things slow down at work, you might be doubting the importance of taking time off and what value it actually brings. You may think that it’s better to work through the holidays to get work done or show your boss that you’re dedicated, but in reality, it’s best to truly take advantage of those days off. And it’s not just about days off - consider those lunch or coffee breaks as valuable time, in addition to vacations or holidays. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: taking time off, in any form, actually improves your performance, in addition to providing personal benefits. Don’t believe us? Don’t worry, we can back it up. Benefits of Taking Time Off Workers who take time off perform better and here’s why: Mental reset : this is a no-brainer: you need to have time away from work to spark creativity and produce quality results. If your brain can’t rest and you’re continuously pushing yourself to the brink of exhaustion, your work will reflect that. Better productivity : staring at the same screen for hours or days will create a fog that you can’t look past. Did you know that working without breaks can suppress our passion for what we’re doing and negatively impact future progress? Better balance : You should work to live, not live to work. And achieving a positive work-life balance can seem impossible, but it’s totally achievable if you set clear boundaries with your job. Improved focus: Is it taking you longer than usual to complete a mundane task? You might be lacking focus, which is directly related to trouble completing tasks. Take a walk around the block, grab a coffee, or call your partner. Then see if your focus has improved. Better relationships : “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” - we’ve all heard this proverb and it’s quite true. Your work shouldn’t be the main focus in your life; your main focus should be your relationships, hobbies, and overall happiness. Reasons Why People Don’t Take Time Off But vacations sound amazing and everyone uses all their days off, right? Actually, no. In 2019, the U.S. Travel Association found that 55% of workers didn’t use all the paid time off they had available to them! And in 2017, 50% of Americans took less than five days off a year. Sounds crazy, we know. But here’s why: Many fear that their workload is too heavy and no one else at the company can do their job or that while gone, they’ll miss too many important meetings; this results with them not taking vacation days to avoid falling behind. Others can’t afford a vacation and think: well, then what’s the point? Those that can afford a vacation know they’ll be checking their email constantly on vacation, so it’s not even worth it. Some in leadership positions fear that the team will be lost without them if they go on vacation. Many think that management will see taking vacation, especially all of it, as a negative thing and it will reflect poorly on them. And while we can understand these concerns, here’s an interesting piece of information to consider: 82% of bosses surveyed in 2018 agreed that vacations improve employee focus and productivity. Types of Time Off As we mentioned before, time off doesn’t only include elaborate and fancy vacations. In fact, short breaks improve productivity and are also extremely beneficial. Here’s the three main types of time off and their individual importance: Extended vacation time This seems like an easy one, but due to the reasons listed above, extended time off is frequently ignored. Do you struggle to create strict boundaries between your work and personal life? If so, taking a longer vacation of one to two weeks could be the answer. And even if you can’t afford to jet off to the other side of the world, no worries. Any sort of prolonged break from work can improve productivity, reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and improve overall life satisfaction. And enjoy your vacation! Studies show that those that stay glued to their email during vacations experience worse health and wellness when they’re back in the office. Mid-week days off Do you have a hard time focusing on Monday mornings, or maybe Wednesdays when the week seems endless? We get it. Random days off in the middle of the week or on a Monday or Friday to extend your weekend can help you take a breath, step away, and return to the office recharged. Short breaks Are you low on vacation days but wishing to improve your productivity? Short breaks are incredibly effective for practically any day of the week and should be used; it’s not ideal, but it’s true: you can’t focus the entire day. If you see your productivity slipping, take a 10-minute coffee break or take your lunch break a little earlier than usual. A quick, 10-minute walk around the block can help you clear your mind and get back to work. How to Ask for Time Off Lots of people are reluctant to ask for time off because they believe it will have a negative effect on the way their boss sees them. That couldn’t be farther from the truth! Here’s what to do: Review your company’s policy : certain companies have specific rules on the number of days that you can take off at once or even the way to ask for the time off. Make sure you’re within the company’s rules before you ask. Choose your time carefully : try to take time off during a time when you know that you’ll have a lighter workload or other colleagues aren’t away as well. Of course, this won’t always be possible, but it can help your request be accepted. Request the time off in writing: follow your company’s policy and make sure your request is in writing so that there are no issues later on. Then, make sure you prepare everything you can to ensure that there are no problems while you’re gone - and that you can enjoy your time off! Prepare your time off In order to ensure you make the most of your time off, make sure you do the following: Set an out-of-the-office email with the following information: Length of your vacation When you’ll be back Who to contact in case of an emergency Communicate clearly with co-workers in advance: don’t leave your co-workers in the dark; plan your vacation days in advance so that there are no surprises and, more importantly, no need to contact you while away! Set boundaries : try turning email notifications off on your phone and if you work from home, put away your work computer and materials so you’re not tempted to sneak a peek at your email. Alright, did we convince you? Taking time off, in any of its forms, is absolutely crucial for your wellbeing and productivity. So start planning your next break today!

New year, new you! Okay, so you're probably not going to have an overnight transformation but maybe this year you want a change, and you have decided that change should be to start a new career in tech . If you are looking for the perfect city to find a tech job and spend your 2023 in, Munich could be calling you. Munich is one of Europe's top-ranking tech hubs. It is t he fourth biggest tech hub on the continent for both unicorns and future unicorns, being beaten only by London, Paris, and Berlin. And while those cities are all great, they are big, capitals, and can be a little unfriendly to newcomers. In contrast, Munich is big, but feels small, has friendly vibes, a big international community, is the safest city in Germany, and hosts Oktoberfest! What's not to love? Munich is not only a great place to live, but it's a great place to find a tech job. The city foresaw the tech boom in the early stages and invested heavily in infrastructure to attract tech companies and talented IT staff to the city. It's now home to numerous tech enterprises and startups and the Munich tech ecosystem weathered the COVID-19 crisis well compared to other tech hubs, meaning jobs are still easy to come by. In this article, we take a deep dive into Munich's tech scene. We look at what major tech enterprises are located in the city as well as the startup ecosystem. We will also explore what Munich has to offer outside of work and by the time you have finished reading, you should know for sure whether or not Munich is the right city for you to launch your tech career. Tech jobs in Munich Deciding to relocate to a new city and start a career in tech is a bold choice. It's not one you want to undertake without a certain degree of caution. If you move to Munich for a tech job, you want to know if there are jobs available. So, what is the tech job market like in Munich? According to the European Commission , in 2022, Bavaria’s (the state in which Munich resides) economy was one of the strongest in Europe. The unemployment rate in Bavaria in March 2022 was 3.0%, 2 percentage points lower than the German average, and there are currently more job vacancies being reported than before the COVID-19 pandemic. A quick search on LinkedIn shows us that there are currently (Dec 2022) 3,653 vacant “developer” positions and 22,177 “IT” positions in Munich, Germany. IT jobs are there and waiting for you in Munich, and the strong economy in the area indicates that you would be able to find a secure job relatively fast. In Germany, there is also a nationwide IT skills shortage so businesses are fast to snap up and tech talent they can find. With it being a candidates market, you may also find you have a strong hand to play when negotiating for salary and benefits. Munich Tech Companies Munich has one of the strongest economies in the country, so it should come as no surprise that 10 out of the 30 corporations that feature in the DAX stock index, including Siemens, Adidas, and BMW, are based in the region (Munich and surrounding areas of Bavaria). Multinational enterprises and tech giants such as Microsoft, Intel, and Google have their German headquarters or laboratories here too. And it's not only giant enterprises that you could end up finding your career start at, there are many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) too. While these companies may not be household names, some of them are hidden champions and world leaders in their industries. Automotive and mechanical engineering are strong industries in Bavaria and with digitization becoming a priority in these sectors, new tech jobs are emerging every day. If cars and mechanics aren't your vibes, there is plenty more to look at. Other key industries in Munich include biotechnology, environmental and energy technology, and aerospace. The Growing Startup Scene in Munich It's not only huge corporations that are operating in Munich's tech ecosystem. The city is also a prime destination for startups. Munich has garnered a reputation as an ideal place to locate for Transportation, Software and Data, and Health startups. According to StartupBlink , there are 120 Transportation startups, 39 Software and Data startups, and 39 Health startups in Munich Some of the most successful startups to come out of Munich include. Riskmethods A cloud-based system that monitors risk in the business's supply chain sends an early warning to stakeholders ProGlove A startup that has taken advantage of the network that Munich offers and is supported by Intel, GETTYLAB, and Bayern Kapital. It builds smart gloves for use in industrial settings. They have a scanner that communicates with a software solution for easy tracking of goods and products in factories. Where is Munich and What's it Like? Munich is not only a great location because of its infrastructure, but also because of its surroundings. Located in the heart of Bavaria, just a short journey outside of the city will take you to the stunning German countryside. Not only that but Munich is also close to Italy, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. On those cold winter weekends, you can take a short train ride and be skiing in the alps or ice skating on Lake Constance. In addition, Munich has a well-connected airport that makes trips home to see family and friends easy and cheap and lets you explore Europe with ease when you take advantage of Germany's generous holiday allowance. In the city itself, the small cobblestone streets, numerous bakeries and locally-owned shops, and general coziness make you feel like you’re in a small city – not surrounded by 1.5 million people. You will find that the city is not only welcoming and friendly to you, but also to any pets you bring along for the ride. If you are bringing your dog, cat, ferret, or basically any animal with you, you will be more than happy to know that Munich is very pet-friendly. A large majority of the city’s restaurants and stores let you bring your pets in with you and will often offer them a bowl of water too. Public transport in Munich While it's great to know about the fun things Munich has to offer, you also want to be practical. One of the important things you want to consider is how easy it is to get to work. While remote working is taking off across the globe, many roles still require you to come into the office once or twice a week. In Munich, you will find reaching offices, no matter where they are in the city, simple. Public transport is well-connected, organized, and cheap. We highly recommend taking advantage of it because traveling by car can be slow due to congestion and frustrating when you can't find a parking space. How Much is the Rent in Hamburg? The next practical thing on your mind is probably how much it costs to live in Munich. Rents vary depending on what you're looking for and in what part of the city, however, to give you a rough idea here are the average rents in Munich. Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre: €1,353 Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre: €1,013 This is probably a bit higher than you have seen for other cities such as Hamburg, but luckily, with higher rents come higher salaries. If you are new to a career in tech, you will probably be looking for a junior position and could expect to earn around €54,726 per year. If we round that up to €55,000, that works out to around €2771 after taxes and deductions. Housing will be affordable for you if you work in tech. Luckily tech jobs are also quite secure as people from all over the world are moving to Munich and this is making the housing market a little challenging. Owners can be picky when choosing tenants so having a contract locked in before you start looking could be helpful in your house hunt. What is Munich like for International Arrivals? Moving to a new city can be scary. You leave everything and everyone you know behind and start over in a new place. You want that transition to go as smoothly as possible, so just how easy will it be? Munich has a population of 1.5 million and over 400,000 of those are not German. It has become one of the most international cities in the nation and that means that you will find everything you need to make your move easy and welcoming. You are sure to find others in Munich from your home city or country as well as thriving communities that share the same interests and are open to welcoming new people. Should you Start your Tech Career in Hamburg? Munich is often considered the top tech city in the country and for good reason. There is a thriving tech ecosystem that makes it the perfect location to start a new career in tech. In Munich, you will jump into a strong economy, be perfectly located to travel, and enjoy the support of a thriving tech community. Ready to kickstart your career in tech? Sign up for one of our bootcamps. Our tech school offers a range of immersive courses from UX/UI Design to Cybersecurity that are delivered in formats tailored to your needs: online or on campus, full-time or part-time. Sign up today .

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

Not even the star of the New York City ballet makes such a split. Tech startups are seen either as " sexy and well paid " or " a complete mess where you’ll be a slave." In this guide, you'll find an outline of what working at a startup is truly like. Let's jump in! What’s a Startup Anyway? First of all, let's agree on what a startup is. The common definition in the ecosystem is that it is a company that has not yet found its business model . It is neither a question of age (there are startups that are more than 10 years old — look at Uber! — and much younger companies that are not startups anymore) nor of size (a company with 3 employees as well as a mega-scale-up with 3,000 employees can be one). Since the company is looking for financial balance, it often seeks to raise money , which it uses in a " cash burn. " That's why it's common to have weekly, monthly or trimestrial meetings where the management shares the financial balance sheets and where they take stock of the money they have left when working in a startup. It’s quite common for those kinds of companies to hold check-ins with the C-team to compare goals with actual numbers, congratulate their teams if it is a good match, or improve if it is not. In these cases, employees do know how many months of funding the company has left if it does not become profitable. No surprises there! A Faster Ecosystem These notions of possible bankruptcy and test and learn on the product to find the best market-fit explain why in a startup, everything goes faster than elsewhere . It's far from being a smooth ride, but that's what's so exciting about it! It's an excellent ecosystem for those who want to test things quickly; we generally spend little time on an idea that is not very successful, whereas we spend money on those that are promising with potential customers. Since you have little time, you use methods specially developed in Silicon Valley to quickly test an idea, develop it, and put it on the market at low cost . Two examples would be the famous Sprint invented by Jake Knapp (testing an idea and making a prototype in 5 days) or the MVP (Minimum Viable Product), which aims at creating a saleable product or service in only a few weeks. There is a saying that tells that one year of work in a startup is worth four elsewhere. On this kind of professional rollercoaster where you have to learn on the job and test things, you also acquire experience quite fast. This all can be very frustrating for perfectionists who like to release polished features. But for builders who like to invent, create, and start over, it's an absolutely exhilarating playground. KPIs Are King In a startup, you can try a thousand things but you have to decide if they make sense quickly . For that, there's no secret: you have to set goals and thoroughly measure if they are reached, exceeded, or failed. Generally, the key performance indicators are set on several levels. - The company level (usually 3 to 5 super-objectives to which the whole team contributes) - The team level: objectives to be reached collectively - The employee level The least we can say is that for people who are averse to numbers, 6 months to 1 year in a startup will overcome their reluctance . They will become test and learn leaders and will be better able to justify their decisions through data analysis. This does not mean that intuition has no place in a startup; however, it depends on the training and the mindset of the founders and C-Team. But it surely has a lesser empire because every dollar must be used wisely and justifiably. Try Fast, Fail Fast In startups, HRs often hire creative and hybrid profiles, capable of thinking out of the box. These multi-skilled people will allow the company to be competitive and innovative . They are asked to prototype their ideas with three bits of string (the sprints we mentioned earlier) and to move on quickly if it doesn't work. Flexible Environments A high level of work in a startup is required: the ability to be productive, efficient, and to put in a lot of hard work during peak periods for the business. On the other hand, working environments are often pleasant and the conditions are quite flexible . Startups were the first to repaint their offices, install nap rooms, and ping pong tables. One could say that it is abnormal to have to sleep in the office, yet more and more people are happy to nap 20 minutes before a rush of meetings. Silicon Valley startups were also pioneers for remote work , long before the COVID wave. Some of them, such as Spotify, Atlassian, Reddit, and Lyft, are fully remote. In short, startup founders don't really care how you get the job done, as long as it is done and done well. This suits a lot of employees quite well. And it works, as long as you can discipline yourself to protect your work-life balance (because the company usually won't do it for you!). High Risk But High Gain Potential Finally, let's talk money ! It's no secret that Facebook's first employees are now so rich they don't know what to do with their money. Same thing with many "early stage" employees of startups that eventually became profitable, or even unicorns. But that's not so common. One of the hopes when working in a startup is to hit the jackpot. But this only happens if the company raises enough money and manages to perform well enough to be valued. However, it is necessary to have negotiated participation in the company in the form of BSPCE, shares, or even profit-sharing . And above all, that it's contractual; many young entrepreneurs have been tricked "on trust." The other side of the coin is that you can be very poorly paid because you have shares in the company (in return), but they will never be worth anything. This is a way for startup founders to get cheap labor: some people believe that they will succeed; they are not dishonest even if they fail. Others take advantage of workers' trust. In short, it's the responsibility of the employees to weigh the potential of a young company and negotiate their fixed, variable and possibly their package containing shares with full knowledge of the facts, so they won't be surprised if this is just a smokescreen. In any case, an experience in such a frenetic and demanding environment is well worth it. You will at least enjoy the ride!

Cybersecurity is one of those buzzwords that we hear all the time, but if you were put on the spot, could you define it? We can: cybersecurity is protecting internet-connected systems from cyber attacks or threats. Both individuals and organizations employ cybersecurity professionals to guard their private or sensitive data. Companies that have cybersecurity policies can benefit from the following: Protection against cyberattacks and data breaches Network protection No unauthorized user access Protection for end users and endpoint devices Improved trust and confidence in the company Still not sure what cyber threats exist? Phishing, ransomware, and medical device attacks are three of the most common. Here’s what you need to know: Phishing : this is probably one of the most well-known cyber attacks and uses targeted digital messages to trick people into clicking on a link which will then expose their data or install malware on their device. Through phishing, cybercriminals can gain access to financial information, user logins , and more. Ransomware : ransomware attacks are typically launched at companies and use technologies to allow them to take control of a company’s entire database and systems, holding the information for ransom. Medical device attacks : today, the vast majority of patient records are held online and hackers can take advantage of this to hack hospital systems and release sensitive information. Why Cybersecurity? Cybersecurity is more important today than ever before, protecting the following information: sensitive data, personally identifiable information, protected health information, personal information, intellectual property, data, and governmental and industry information systems. Take a look at these four reasons why cybersecurity is on the rise: Increased cyber threats to companies: as more and more people have access to the Internet, cybercriminals are taking the opportunity to get the organization’s data and engage in theft, fraudulent emails, financial theft, hacking, viruses, and more. Increased cyber threats to individuals : regardless of who you are, individuals are also susceptible to cyber attacks which can result in identity theft, financial theft, and more. Cybercrime is expensive : did you know that data breaches can cost companies an average of $3.62 million ? And the recent expansion from office working to remote working at home has facilitated even more attacks and data breaches. Cybercriminals are also evolving : as cybersecurity gets more sophisticated, so do cyberattacks. Companies can’t just put one cybersecurity policy into place; having a developed and evolving cybersecurity team can help prevent future, new attacks. What Do Cybersecurity Professionals Do? To put it simply, cybersecurity professionals protect a company’s software, hardware, and company networks from cyber attacks and threats. And to do this, they study the IT infrastructure of the company to fully understand the network and anticipate any possible breaches. On a more detailed level, cybersecurity professionals control and limit user access controls and access management systems, monitor network and application performance, identify irregular activity, run regular audits on security practices, create a disaster/recovery plan in the case of a data breach, and work with the rest of the company to educate the team on the importance of cybersecurity. Skills of cybersecurity professionals Although cybersecurity skills mean that you can take on a wide range of roles, cybersecurity professionals should have the following hard and soft skills: Network and system administration Operating systems and virtual machines knowledge Network security control Coding Cloud security Internet of Things Blockchain AI Critical thinking Risk analysis Career Options in Cybersecurity As a relatively new field, the options in cybersecurity are endless . Here’s a helpful breakdown of possible roles and the path they could provide: Entry level positions in cybersecurity Cyprographers, security engineers, ethical hackers , security analysts, forensic experts, vulnerability assessors, security administrators. Mid-level positions in cybersecurity Security architect, incident response, security auditor, policy positions. Senior management positions in cybersecurity Security manager, security director, Chief Information Security Officer These diverse roles and clear ladder to climb can help you gain the necessary skills and experience to become a well-paid, skilled cybersecurity professional. Cybersecurity with Ironhack You now understand why cybersecurity is such a crucial part of all companies, no matter the size. At Ironhack, we’re dedicated to training the next generation of cybersecurity professionals with the exact skills you need to know - and nothing else. Here’s what to expect from Ironhack’s cybersecurity bootcamp: Online prework Cybersecurity prework: before the course This course has 20 hours of prework, where you’ll become familiar with computer systems, operating systems, and networks; this is the essential knowledge you need to start learning once the bootcamp starts. And don’t worry: despite the fact that it’s online, you’ll have online assistance from Ironhack’s staff and other students. Module 1 Introduction to cybersecurity Learn the theoretical concepts behind cybersecurity to fully understand the industry such as networking traffic, communication principles, network protocols, telecommunication concepts, and the OWASP principles. During this module, you’ll begin your first project and get your hands dirty creating and analyzing critical network servers, encrypting and decrypting data, and more. Module 2 Security and threats Put your skills to the test and start identifying and dealing with common threats; you’ll create a detection and prevention system in addition to just identifying problems. Module 2 will also host information on cyber-forensic methodologies and investigation, helping you build a secure environment. Module 3 Real projects for your new career During the last weeks of your bootcamp, it’s time to tackle real time cyberattacks and focus on market trends and the latest happenings in the sector. Your final project will show off everything you’ve learned, solidify those hard skills and prepare you for your professional journey. What to expect from Ironhack’s Cybersecurity bootcamp: Join the fastest growing area in tech… Cybersecurity has had 0% unemployment for almost ten years; this is the perfect industry to dive into. …take advantage of the workplace gap… Companies are in desperate need of skilled professionals that can handle the newest challenges in cybersecurity. …learn to handle digital breaches and business vulnerabilities… Learn the skills needed to protect e-commerce, mobile payments, cloud computing, Big Data and analytics, social media, IoT, AI, machine learning, and much more. …and understand the importance of cybersecurity post-pandemic. More people are working from home and cybercriminals are taking advantage of weaker systems; this is the time to jump into the industry. Why Choose Ironhack? Ironhack’s bootcamps are specifically designed to get you ready for a career in cybersecurity with intensive and practical training. And that’s not all: Ironhack also offers financing options , career services , and a robust alumni network . Are you ready to change your life and enroll in Ironhack’s Cybersecurity bootcamp today? Apply now .

There’s never been a better time to jump into tech and start doing something you truly love. There’s a wide range of roles and responsibilities within tech and you can pick the one that is best for you. But where should you start? At Ironhack, of course! We offer four bootcamps, either in-person or online, where you can learn the essentials of cybersecurity , UX/UI design , data analytics , or web development . Ready to get started? Cybersecurity in 2023 Cybersecurity is protecting internet-connected systems from cyber attacks or threats. Both individuals and organizations employ cybersecurity professionals to guard their private or sensitive data. Take a look at these four reasons why cybersecurity is on the rise: Increased cyber threats to companies: as more and more people have access to the Internet, cybercriminals are taking the opportunity to get the organization’s data and engage in theft, fraudulent emails, financial theft, hacking, viruses, and more. Increased cyber threats to individuals : regardless of who you are, individuals are also susceptible to cyber attacks which can result in identity theft, financial theft, and more. Cybercrime is expensive : did you know that data breaches can cost companies an average of $3.62 million ? And the recent expansion from office working to remote working at home has facilitated even more attacks and data breaches. Cybercriminals are also evolving : as cybersecurity gets more sophisticated, so do cyberattacks. Companies can’t just put one cybersecurity policy into place; having a developed and evolving cybersecurity team can help prevent future, new attacks. Career options in cybersecurity As such an in-demand and urgent role, cybersecurity professionals can take on a large number of positions: Entry level positions in cybersecurity Cyprographers, security engineers, ethical hackers , security analysts, forensic experts, vulnerability assessors, security administrators. Mid-level positions in cybersecurity Security architect, incident response, security auditor, policy positions. Senior management positions in cybersecurity Security manager, security director, Chief Information Security Officer Cybersecurity with Ironhack You now understand why cybersecurity is such a crucial part of all companies, no matter the size. At Ironhack, we’re dedicated to training the next generation of cybersecurity professionals with the exact skills you need to know - and nothing else. UX/UI Design in 2023 UX design handles the overall user experience with a brand, product, or service. On the other hand, UI design deals with interactions between users and computer systems, applications, and software. UX Designers Putting it simply, a UX Designer makes a product or service usable, enjoyable, and accessible and is responsible for the user’s satisfaction (or lack thereof) with a brand. They’re tasked with understanding both the user and the brand, conducting user research, analyzing what’s been learned, designing the site itself, and conducting user testing. Hard skills: research, information architecture, wireframing, prototyping Soft skills: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and empathy UI Designers UI Designers, to compare, create the more intuitive and user-friendly parts of a website or application, handling colors, typography, space, visual design, animation, responsive design, and more. But that’s not all: they also have to ensure that the different screens look good and work well together. Hard skills: visual communication, design, usability testing, animation Soft skills: active listening, diplomacy, advocacy, communication Career options in UX/UI design UX Designer: If you want to be responsible for creating the entire design process, you can begin as a Junior UX Designer and work your way up to managing a team of UX Designers. UX/UI Designer: interested in the creative side of things? Great, consider incorporating UI design into your career plans. In this kind of role, you’ll focus more on the creative and visual aspects of web design, using your experience in design to create incredible user experiences. Freelancer/Consultant : lots of companies are looking for advice on their current UX/UI design or can’t afford to bring on a full-time designer. Working as a freelancer or consultant can help you increase your flexibility while gaining experience in a wide range of fields. Product Designer: instead of just handling the product or service page on the front and back ends, product designers also contribute to the overall project vision and design, creating long term goals. If you’re interested in the entire scheme of things and working with other teams, like marketing, this is the role for you. UX Researcher : if you’re fascinated by the research behind UX/UI design and have a background in analytical fields, UX Researcher may be the perfect fit for you. In this role, you’ll be analyzing results and researching solutions, looking to solve any problems and dive even further into the field. UX/UI Design with Ironhack In just 9 or 24 weeks, Ironhack’s UX/UI design bootcamp is specifically designed to teach out all the basics of the field and prepare you for the workforce . The best part? No IT background is required - or even expected! Data Analytics in 2023 Defined as the process of cleaning, transforming, and modeling data to learn information for decision-making, data analysis is a lot more common than you might think. There are five main benefits of data analytics for businesses . Take a look: Customer experience personalization Better and informed decision making Organized operations Reduced risk and mistakes Improved security Career options in data analytics Most data analysts tend to follow one of these four career paths: Data scientist: working as a data scientist will help you gain highly valued experience with data, learning more programming skills, machine learning basics, and advanced math. Management: if you’re more interested in the data interpretation side of things, looking for a role in management could be perfect for you. In this role, you’ll be responsible for interpreting the data in useful ways for the company and presenting findings to different teams. Specialist: once you have data analyst experience under your belt, you’ll know exactly what you like and might choose to specialize in a specific area, such as business, operations, marketing, systems, or finance. Consultant: experience in the field will also allow you to work as a consultant for a wide range of clients, allowing you to diversify the areas in which you work and creating a more flexible work schedule. Data Analytics with Ironhack Data is taking center stage in a wide range of industries and the skills from this bootcamp will set you on the path to success. Beyond simply extracting data, you have to know how to use it. And at Ironhack, you’ll learn how to explain it to diverse audiences. Web Development in 2023 Web developers both create and maintain websites and focus on the backend of the website, such as its technical design, performance, capacity, speed, and capabilities. There are three main kinds of web developers: Backend developers: backend developers write the website’s code, create its structure, and ensure everything runs smoothly. Frontend developers: frontend developers work on the side of the website that visitors see and design the physical layout of each page, incorporate graphics and use HTML and JavaScript to improve the script. Fullstack developers: fullstack developers work on both the back and front ends, typically on teams that don’t have the budget or resources to employ both frontend and backend developers. Career options in web development Web developers can work in the following areas (and more!), thanks to their highly valuable skills - and that’s not all! This bootcamp is also useful for marketers looking to become more familiar with the work developers do: Graphic design Database administration Application development Marketing UX design Cybersecurity Web development with Ironhack At Ironhack, theory and practice come together to help you enter the workforce as successfully as possible, incorporating hard skills at a manageable pace. You’ll be able to learn HTML, CMS, and JavaScript, gain expertise in important frameworks, learn about version control with Git and GitHub, increase your knowledge of servers and hosting, and understand working with databases and the agile methodology. Whew, that’s a lot. And that’s the best part! Ironhack’s courses are designed to meet industry needs, curating your education to ensure you can be the next tech professional in your dream company. Interested in starting 2023 off on the right foot and kickstarting your tech career? Apply to Ironhack today.

“Tech is in my DNA. In the 80’s, before I could remember anything, my dad got me electric toys. I used to tear them apart in the garage to understand how they worked. I’ve been obsessed with Tech my entire life.” As far back as he can remember, Eric Weiss has always been fascinated by computers. As a teenager, he used to hack computers for his classmates. His first job as a student was as Tech Support at an Internet service provider. He was even a hacker for a while, even if he does not shout it from the rooftops. After a degree in computer engineering and a career as a Product professional, Eric became an executive coach for fast-growing tech companies. For the past 15 years, he has helped companies build products, engage with their customers, find the right product-market fit, raise capital and scale their businesses quickly. This experience has allowed him to analyze patterns present in most growing companies. The Common Challenge for Startup CTOs “Tech leaders can be a bottleneck to their company’s growth if they don’t let go of some activities.” For Eric, there comes a critical moment in the life of a start-up when the Chief Technology Officer must let go to evolve his role . In his opinion, this is one of the crucial management challenges that can cause a real bottleneck in tech teams and mechanically slow down the growth of a company , since it relies partly on the ability of the product and technical teams to deliver the products. Eric entitled a common pattern that he called the Hero Mindset . “ A lot of CTOs have very high standards, they’re almost perfectionists," he states. "They really struggle to delegate in terms of trust and even in terms of leadership and communication, so somebody else can take ownership of a whole domain." This means that they are quickly overwhelmed. Eric remembers a CTO who managed a team of 40 people and did an hour one-to-one meeting a week with each of them, in addition to his CTO duties and handling IT on top of that. As a consultant, Eric’s challenge is to calibrate the missions of a CTO so that he puts his time and energy where it is most useful and the company needs them to be. And the end goal: “You’ve graduated as an executive when you become this sort of zen human being that floats around the office and starts checking people and helping along the way. That’s the highest form of leadership." CTOs: Access the Highest Form of Leadership by (Re)Focusing Your Tasks To avoid any bottleneck and keep a technical team moving forward, Eric offers the CTOs he accompanies a schedule that helps them define their most useful duties. He suggests listing everything they do all week long and categorizing it as follows: Diagonal: good fit , where the company needs them to be One side: tasks where their focus is too low although there is a high need. Those are the areas of growth Other side: where their focus is high & the need is low: here, Eric helps them delegate . Even though delegating requires a real learning curve , it creates space. To do it well, Eric has established a multi-step method: Identify areas to delegate Get somebody else in Coach them along the way and give feedback Feel good enough with this person to let go. “It’s almost like an apprenticeship," Eric states. How to Grow Even More as a CTO To go even further, Eric advises to work on growth limiters . He notices that almost all CTOs are afraid of stopping the machine if they delegate too quickly. But they are the ones who seize up while refusing to let go. The challenge is to work on their mindset to make them understand that everything will not go wrong if they let go. “Maybe a little bit of messy growth versus trying to hold back the pressure and limiting the growth of the company while burning them out." Last but not least, Eric's advice is to never neglect the leadership development plan . Due to lack of time or time from their hierarchy, CTOs may give continuous improvement goals to their teams but not have any for themselves. However, they need to articulate goals, defined in time, specific and linked to their objectives to become a better version of their professional selves. It's a version in which their talent will no longer be measured by their purely technical skills, but rather by their aura as tech facilitators. “At this stage, a CTO’s value is no longer measured in his own productivity but in the productivity of others and how he can motivate, inspire, lead, manage, and coordinate his team. That’s the most scary thing for many people to let go of," Eric concludes.

Today we’re introducing another one of those popular careers in tech: data analytics . And although it may sound fancy and complicated, we all actually do data analytics every single day in our own lives. How? Defined as the process of cleaning, transforming, and modeling data to learn information for decision-making, data analysis is a lot more common than you might think. Here’s an example: you’re trying to decide where to go for dinner on Friday night. You have memories (data) of past times you went out to dinner, such as the time, restaurant, and food selection. As you make your decision, you’ll use your memories of previous experiences to make an informed choice. Why Data Analytics? No matter the goal, size, or sector, every company has a need for data analysts to extract those valuable insights. In order to improve your business processes, you have to have a clear picture of the past in order to avoid repeating the same mistakes and connect further with your target audience. Types of data analytics: Text : used to transform large amounts of data into valuable information, helping to extract important points. Statistical : takes a sample selection of data to draw conclusions. Diagnostic : answers the question, “Why did it happen?” through researching data patterns. Predictive : predicts what is likely to happen in the future using past data as reference. Prescriptive : using all the insights from these previous analyses, smart decisions are made. Benefits of data analytics There are five main benefits of data analytics for businesses . Take a look: Customer experience personalization Better and informed decision making Organized operations Reduced risk and mistakes Improved security With these five highlights, data analytics is a sector that’s on the rise and essential for all companies. And that’s why data analysts are in such high demand. What Do Data Analysts Do? As you might have guessed, data analysts take a company’s data and analyze it, looking to draw conclusions to help the business avoid past mistakes and improve. Some data analysts then report their findings to leadership or other teams; others simply clean up the data and make it understandable. A quick breakdown of data analysts’ responsibilities would be the following: identify the data you want to analyze, collect the data, clean the data, analyze the data, interpret the results. Sounds simple, right? It is a rather straightforward line of work and one that’s on the rise: the World Economic Forum ranked it as the #2 fastest growing jobs in the US , with 25% growth before 2030. Career Options in Data Analytics Data analysis is such a crucial part of practically any business that this field is wide open. However, most data analysts tend to follow one of these four career paths: Data scientist: working as a data scientist will help you gain highly valued experience with data, learning more programming skills, machine learning basics, and advanced math. Management: if you’re more interested in the data interpretation side of things, looking for a role in management could be perfect for you. In this role, you’ll be responsible for interpreting the data in useful ways for the company and presenting findings to different teams. Specialist: once you have data analyst experience under your belt, you’ll know exactly what you like and might choose to specialize in a specific area, such as business, operations, marketing, systems, or finance. Consultant: experience in the field will also allow you to work as a consultant for a wide range of clients, allowing you to diversify the areas in which you work and creating a more flexible work schedule. Data Analytics with Ironhack Choose from a full or part-time bootcamp with Ironhack to kickstart your career in data analytics. Learn from industry experts - with no previous knowledge required! Module 0 Data prework Before the bootcamp even begins, you’ll receive 60 hours of online work to study the basics of command line, Git, Python, MySQL, and statistical analysis. It might seem overwhelming, but you’ll have the rest of your class and Ironhack’s staff ready to help you when you need it. Module 1 Introduction to data analytics and Python Ready to jump into data analytics? During the first few weeks of the bootcamp, you’ll set up your development environment and review your online prework and start working with data cleaning, APIs, web scraping and learning the basic skills of Git, SQL, and Python. Module 2 Advanced data analytics The second module is more math-intensive with a focus on statistics, probability, and the mathematical concepts behind data analytics with the help of Python . And you’ll also learn presenting techniques before starting your very own data analysis project, where you will process, clean, and present your data. Module 3 Get a handle of the fundamentals of machine learning This module will mainly focus on the basics of machine learning, teaching you how to build a machine learning project from beginning to end, make predictions on actual data sets , and prepare you to work with real life data. Your final project will consist of building your own data set, defending it, and presenting it to the class. But that’s not all! This project will be the basis for you r professional portfolio , a necessary part of any application for data analysis roles. What to expect from Ironhack’s Data Analytics bootcamp: Access to the cutting-edge… Data is taking center stage in a wide range of industries and the skills from this bootcamp will set you on the path to success. …while gaining real data experience and hard skills… Becoming fluent in Python, SQL, and Tableau will set you apart from the competition. …and seeing how data drives decisions. Beyond simply extracting data, you have to know how to use it. And at Ironhack, you’ll learn how to explain it to diverse audiences. Why Choose Ironhack? Ironhack’s bootcamps are specifically designed to get you ready for a career in data analytics with intensive and practical training. And that’s not all: Ironhack also offers financing options , career services , and a robust alumni network . Are you ready to change your life and enroll in Ironhack’s data analytics bootcamp today? Apply now .

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage," said Anaïs Nin, a Franco-Cuban author. The day you decided to attend this coding bootcamp, you expanded your professional horizons. A bootcamp is an exciting learning experience; it's also about meeting teachers and learners who will form part of your network tomorrow, some of whom may have already become your friends. It's an overall very positive experience, but one that also requires dedication, motivation, and work ethic. If you are sometimes discouraged by the work still to be done, here are 5 tips that have helped graduates before you achieve their professional dream. Reach Out To Your Teachers Your first compass or lifeline is your teachers . On campus, you can talk to them in person and for remote courses, they are also available on Slack. It's important that you feel comfortable asking them whatever questions you may have. What can your teachers do for you? Unblock you on a specific code or methodology point Help you organize your work Offer you additional resources to better understand the course content Simply give you support! As Jason Mraz would say, we're only humans . If you simply lack motivation, a good dose of listening and empathy can get you back on track Give you a new objective. Sometimes making a commitment to another person is very motivating. Reach Out To Your Fellow IronHackers Have you made friends with your classmates? Community is what makes you strong. Don't be afraid to admit that you're struggling with a project or technology or that your motivation to finish the bootcamp has taken a hit. You won't be the first! Feedback from your fellow students will make you feel better. Your confidence will also create a virtuous circle of trust: your fellow Ironhackers will dare to come to you more if they feel overwhelmed or unmotivated. And we bet you'll be happy to help them overcome their own difficulties. We strongly encourage you to keep this spirit of promotion alive in the bootcamp. You'll see, it's magical. Get In Touch With Your Student Outcome Representative You’re struggling with an administrative issue? You feel like your training is not going so well? Something else on your mind? You can always reach out to your student outcome representative. It’s their job to make sure you’ve got everything you need to succeed in the bootcamp. (Re)Focus On Your Why Did your motivation decide to take a holiday? Between two coding projects, are you not too sure why you're here? It's time to zoom in hard on the reasons that pushed you to take on this bootcamp in the first place. Was it... Your unfulfilled passion for code that you finally decided to follow? Your desire to change your job for an activity that you enjoy and that feeds you intellectually? Your wish to receive a better salary at a tech job? Do you want to start your own business as a developer and organize your time as you wish? Do you need to protect yourself from unemployment by learning a trade that is in high demand? Your goal is to work in a start-up or a big company that hires developers? Or several of these points, or all of them at once? Remember : you have chosen this course carefully, read the syllabus, perhaps even taken advice from an alum. And then you decided it was the right course for you. Nothing worthwhile comes without effort: hang in there! Identify What’s Stressing You Specifically Last but not least, your discouragement may have a few sources. Perhaps you should look into how to unravel them... Here is a home-made method to analyze all this: 1. Identify the cause: What exactly is stressing you out? Is it the course itself or something outside the course? Is it something in your personal life? Is it the difficult balance between your job, course, and private life? Worries at work? 2. Think about the solutions: What can you do about the cause(s) of stress? Talk to your boss, teacher, spouse? Organize your work and training routine better? Delegate some things? Have a better lifestyle (going to bed 1 hour earlier is an effective way to regulate your fatigue!). 3. Implement the solutions: Give yourself one goal per week to improve things. It must be achievable, clear, and measurable. For example, go to bed at a fixed time. Dedicate 3 hours a week to working out. Stop working after 7pm. Dedicate 4 hours a week to briefing and training a co-worker to increase their skills. Do a workgroup with a fellow Ironhacker to be more efficient together. There is no shortage of solutions: once you have identified the problem, you can get creative. So, do these solutions inspire you and give you hope? As you may have noticed, most of them come from your interactions with other people: teachers, fellow Ironhackers, work colleagues, relatives... The idea is not to put everything on them or expect them to do the work for you, of course, nor to rely on them or expect them to do the work for you, but rather to remember that a bootcamp is a collective adventure where you can count on the alchemy of the group to move forward. You will create it by asking for support and by supporting others: it goes both ways! Remember: we all have our weaknesses and there is no shame in opening up to others and asking for help. Hold on, you're almost there!

Creating a work environment where everyone is welcome and heard is a goal of the vast majority of companies, but the harsh reality is that many employees are scared to speak up or don’t feel like they are a critical part of the team. This is where psychological safety at work comes into play; a psychologically safe workplace is where employees feel comfortable speaking up, sharing ideas, and feel safe taking interpersonal risks. Generally speaking, psychological safety is built on these four pillars : feeling included, safe to learn, safe to contribute, and safe to challenge the status quo. Why is Psychological Safety at Work Important? It may seem like a no-brainer, but employees are more likely to stay at companies where they feel valued and seen. And that’s not all: Psychological safety at work creates happier teams. Employees in safe workplaces produce better results and have higher engagement. Happier employees stay at companies for longer, lowering recruitment costs and minimizing the need for new training and onboarding. Benefits of psychological safety in the workplace Better ideas Brainstorming is a crucial part of any team’s work and sometimes lots and lots of ideas are needed to truly launch a new project. When team members feel safe and comfortable proposing ideas, you’re more likely to find the right one. On the other hand, however, if they are unsure about offering thoughts to the team due to fear of rejection, that perfect idea might slip through the cracks. 2. Less problems Have you ever caught a small problem in the working stages of a project or had a doubt about an idea that a colleague was presenting? It’s crucial that any doubts are raised ASAP, but employees who aren’t comfortable speaking up will let it pass; this could create a much larger problem in the future if the project is already in production or submitted to the client. 3. Reduced risks When employees feel comfortable at work, they’re more likely to report quality problems, HR concerns, or security issues. In addition to this leading to more success at a company level, it also reduces health & safety and/or non-compliance issues. 4. Better company reputation Employees want to be happy at their job; no one wants to be on the job hunt constantly. And companies also benefit from less turnover, with reduced HR and onboarding costs, not to mention the reputation companies can build of unhappy employees. Pleased employees will also help a company find new talent through talking positively about their experience. 5. Diversity & inclusion A room of like-minded people from the same background might work well together in principle, but bringing diversity and inclusion to the workplace opens the door to new opportunities, ideas, and growth. A crucial pillar of diversity and inclusion is that everyone at the table has the chance to speak and be heard; companies that curate an environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas are ones with positive psychological safety. Psychological Safety in Your Workplace How can I determine the psychological safety of my workplace? As an ever-changing metric with lots of moving parts, it can be hard to accurately measure a workplace’s level of psychological safety. But to get an idea, create a survey for employees, asking them to rank a few statements on a scale from 1-10 . You can tailor these statements to your specific line of work, but here’s some ideas: I am comfortable suggesting new ideas to the team. I feel that my ideas are valued. No one on the team feels like an outsider. Mistakes aren’t held against the person who makes them. I am comfortable asking for help. My skills are valued and put into use on my team. Once you have the results of this survey, compile the responses and try to answer these questions. This can help you see the level of current psychological safety at your workplace and areas for improvement: Are employees comfortable making mistakes? How helpful are employees? Can employees be themselves? Improving psychological safety in the workplace Have you surveyed employees and can see areas of improvement? Don’t worry, we’re here to help. Here are five steps to improving psychological safety in the workplace: Find out what’s wrong Where exactly are these problem areas? Are they specific to a particular team or is it a general feeling across the entire organization? Senior leadership can have a tough time connecting with employees; use a survey to collect information and go from there. 2. Practice feedback A crucial part of safe workplaces is being able to suggest ideas without judgment or make mistakes without feeling shamed or less-than. An absolutely necessary skill all employees need is how to give effective and constructive feedback ; practice giving positive feedback with the team and you’ll see a difference in no time. 3. Get to know the team and what their needs are We’ve all heard the Golden Rule: treat others as you would like to be treated. And as great as that sounds, we have a little secret: it’s not that simple. Everyone has different needs and ways of doing things - the team must learn how to communicate with each other in conducive ways that both solve problems and are specific to the needs of each employee. 4. Promote healthy conflict Trying to create a work environment that’s conflict-free and everyone is in agreement is a fever dream, sorry! Conflict will happen and that’s good; healthy conflict can help new ideas form and allow the team to challenge accepted ideas. However, lots of people shy away from conflict, especially in the workplace. Try framing any conflicts as a win-win situation, using points from both sides to meet in the middle with an even stronger idea. And, of course, make sure both parties feel that their ideas and contributions are valuable. 5. Make sure workplace culture is strong A strong workplace culture correlates strongly with psychological safety at work ; here are the pillars of culture at work: Leadership/management: do employees feel seen by upper management and are comfortable sharing ideas or suggestions? Workplace practices: is the free time of employees and their personal lives respected? Policies and philosophies: do employees have flexible benefit packages and remote working opportunities? People : is the company made up of diverse people from different backgrounds with a variety of skills to contribute? Mission, vision, and values: are employees aware of the company’s mission, vision, and values and feel comfortable speaking up when something goes against it? Work environment: are employees given the space to work as a team and solve conflicts, such as meeting rooms or private areas? The importance of psychological safety has skyrocketed over the past few years and it’s more important than ever before to retain talent and create a safe work environment for all team members. Are you ready to put what you’ve learned into practice?

If you start to search “how to answer…” on Google, there’s a reason the first result is “...tell me about yourself.” This interview question is practically a given on any interview and you might have asked yourself how you can possibly have a good answer to it! Well, we’re here to help you master your response to help land you that next job or spot in a program. “Tell Me About Yourself” in Different Forms First, it’s important to recognize the different forms this question can take . The following questions are all asking the same thing: “Take me through your resume.” “Describe yourself.” “I’d love to learn more about you.” “Tell me about your background.” Although asked differently, all these questions are saying the same thing: it’s your time to impress the interviewer and tell them about yourself. However, this isn’t a question that interviewers ask to waste time or try to trick you up; it can actually reveal a lot about the candidate. Here’s why: It’s a great way to start the conversation The beginning of interviews can be awkward or uncomfortable, especially if the candidate is visibly nervous. And there’s nothing easier than talking about yourself, right? Well, we know that it can be difficult to create the perfect answer in the moment, but in addition to collecting information about you, interviewers want to get you talking, see what is important to you, and ease into the interview. The interviewer can get a feel for the candidate If you’ve made it to the interview stage, the recruiter has probably already reviewed your resume and experience and decided that you could be a solid fit on paper. But, ensuring your personality matches that of the company is crucial. It creates a lasting first impression This is your first chance to tell the interviewer about yourself and your skills and, more importantly, why you’re the right person for the role. Nailing this question will help you ace the interview. How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” Now that you know the reasoning behind this question, let’s tackle the actual question and how to formulate the perfect answer. Step 1: Present, past, future The interviewer has your resume in front of them; they’re not looking for a word-for-word summary of what they’ve already seen. To efficiently and effectively give them a breakdown, start talking about your present, then move to your past, and then what you hope to accomplish in the future. Answer these questions in each section: Present : Where are you currently located? What is your current role? What are your current responsibilities? What have you accomplished at your current job? Past: What previous roles have you had that help you with your current achievements? What courses or programs have you studied to further your career? Do you have any quantifiable results from past roles to share? Future : Where do you see your career in the future? Why are you looking for a change? What will you continue to do to keep improving? Step 2: Practice and be concise This question is so common that you can be sure you’ll hear some variation of it during an interview. And while it’s great to come prepared, make sure you don’t sound too rehearsed. Know the major points you want to mention and let yourself put them together naturally. Remember, the interviewer has your resume in front of them and they’re looking for you to highlight what’s most important to you. It might be tempting to tell the interviewer all your accomplishments, but it’s crucial to be concise. Show your professionalism and keep it to 1-2 minutes. The interviewer will follow-up with questions where you’ll be able to dive deeper into any details. Step 3: Know your audience It’s normal to have experience in a wide variety of sectors, but make sure you tailor your response to the role to which you’re applying and the person to whom you’re talking. In initial interviews, you’ll be chatting with HR managers and they probably won’t know the ins and outs of your data analyst responsibilities. However, they will be looking for specific hard skills; the same goes for later interviews when talking to the CTO. Now’s the time to bring in those numbers, more minute details, and truly important, role-specific points. Interview Question Examples Not sure how exactly to put these tips into practice? Don’t worry; here’s everything you need to ace that interview: Example for new professionals This question can be intimidating for those with limited experience, but don’t stress. There’s plenty of ways to incorporate your educational experience into the answer: “Yes, of course. I’m Sara and attended the University of X, graduating in 2018 with a 3.9 GPA with a B.A. in Communications. While in university, I had the chance to serve on student organization executive boards, intern with X company, and participate in student government. My classes focused on marketing, research, technical communication, advertising, and writing which helped me complete my thesis. I’m eager to put what I learned in university into practice in my next role.” Example for experienced professionals Here, it’s essential to highlight only the important and relevant experience: “Sure! I’ve been at my current role for six years now, where I’m in charge of the entire Marketing department, focusing on both paid and organic marketing. I manage a 10-person team and report to the CMO monthly with our quantitative and qualitative results. Prior to this position, I was the Head Copywriter at company X for three years, where I produced 20 blog posts a month, daily social media posts for LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and managed a freelance translation team of five. This role seems like a great fit for me given my past experience and I’m eager for a new challenge.” Example for program applicants Applying for a program to advance your technical skills? Try this: “Of course! After twelve years leading the HR department at various companies, I’m looking for a change and want to start studying UX/UI design . I’m a creative, hard-working individual that likes a challenge and using teamwork to meet a common goal. Over the last year, my team has been working on creating a new candidate application platform for our website to improve both the hiring and onboarding process at my company. I’m a quick learner and eager to use my unique background as a HR professional to enhance my future career as a UX/UI designer.” You got this! Stick to the present-past-future model, be concise, and show the interviewer that you’re the perfect candidate.

It’s time to break down another of those common areas of tech that you hear all the time. What exactly is UX/UI design ? What does a UX/UI Designer do? First, it’s important to remember that these are separate roles that have some overlap; UI is part of UX, but doesn’t cover all responsibilities. However, they’re complementary and are both necessary to achieve success. UX design handles the overall user experience with a brand, product, or service. On the other hand, UI design deals with interactions between users and computer systems, applications, and software. We know they seem similar, so stick with us and we’ll create a clear picture for you! Why UX/UI Design? Good UX/UI design is crucial to the success of a company ; if a website isn’t defined to meet the needs of specific buyer personas and create meaningful user experiences, the brand won’t be successful. Benefits of being a UX/UI designer You can be creative: You can take advantage of your diverse background: You’ll have a good salary: You’ll get to challenge yourself: Here are five of the most crucial points of UX/UI design: Increasing website conversion Saving money Supporting SEO Building your brand Increasing user engagement The importance of these roles in a company means that employers are looking for skilled UX/UI designers to help transform their digital strategies. These roles are highly-paid and have lots of potential for growth and learning. What Do UX/UI Designers Do? They’re separate roles, so let’s break it down one at a time: UX Designers Putting it simply, a UX Designer makes a product or service usable, enjoyable, and accessible and is responsible for the user’s satisfaction (or lack thereof) with a brand. They’re tasked with understanding both the user and the brand, conducting user research, analyzing what’s been learned, designing the site itself, and conducting user testing. Hard skills: research, information architecture, wireframing, prototyping Soft skills: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and empathy UI Designers UI Designers, to compare, create the more intuitive and user-friendly parts of a website or application, handling colors, typography, space, visual design, animation, responsive design, and more. But that’s not all: they also have to ensure that the different screens look good and work well together. Hard skills: visual communication, design, usability testing, animation Soft skills: active listening, diplomacy, advocacy, communication Career Options in UX/UI Design One of UX/UI design’s most attractive points is the wide range of job opportunities available - everyone needs a well-functioning website! Your options are diverse; here’s a sneak peak: UX Designer: okay, you probably guessed this one! If you want to be responsible for creating the entire design process, you can begin as a Junior UX Designer and work your way up to managing a team of UX Designers. UX/UI Designer: interested in the creative side of things? Great, consider incorporating UI design into your career plans. In this kind of role, you’ll focus more on the creative and visual aspects of web design, using your experience in design to create incredible user experiences. Freelancer/Consultant : lots of companies are looking for advice on their current UX/UI design or can’t afford to bring on a full-time designer. Working as a freelancer or consultant can help you increase your flexibility while gaining experience in a wide range of fields. Product Designer: instead of just handling the product or service page on the front and back ends, product designers also contribute to the overall project vision and design, creating long term goals. If you’re interested in the entire scheme of things and working with other teams, like marketing, this is the role for you. UX Researcher : if you’re fascinated by the research behind UX/UI design and have a background in analytical fields, UX Researcher may be the perfect fit for you. In this role, you’ll be analyzing results and researching solutions, looking to solve any problems and dive even further into the field. UX/UI Design with Ironhack In just 9 or 24 weeks, Ironhack’s UX/UI design bootcamp is specifically designed to teach out all the basics of the field and prepare you for the workforce. The best part? No IT background is required - or even expected! Online prework This 40-hour online course will teach the basics of design thinking, interaction design and design software, walking you through setting up introductory tools and helping you create your first usability evaluation and site redesign! And, of course, we’ll introduce you to HTML and CSS. Module 1 Understand user experience Let’s get started! The first module will focus mainly on UX design, teaching you UX research methods, interaction design principles, and information architectures. And you’ll have a chance to deepen your understanding of user-centered design and meeting business goals with the help of practical exercises and your first project: your very own app design! Module 2 Learn to design user interfaces It’s time to focus on UI, becoming an expert on designing systems and making the right design decisions. This module centers on branding and design in UI design with the goal of fully understanding the end-to-end production cycle for digital products. You’ll get to try user testing to see what works and create your project for this module: a website design that will leave stakeholders thrilled! Module 3 Design implementation Put what you’ve learned into practice, designing handoff, HTML, CSS, portfolios and geek culture and create your first responsive, one-page website. And it’s not just those hard skills that you’ll be learning; you’ll have the chance to work on your CV and portfolio during this module as well. You’ll be paired with a local company to develop a digital product that will solve a specific problem; final projects will then be presented alongside your fellow Ironhackers where a winner will be chosen. What to expect from Ironhack’s UX/UI Design bootcamp: Adopt the industry’s leading frameworks and mindset… Learn design thinking, agile organization, and lead management while developing innovative solutions for users and stakeholders. …while understanding new tools and technologies… Become familiar with state-of-the-art production tools and learn to use them to track business requirements, user input, and technical constraints. …and implementing the end-to-end production cycle for digital product development. Master fundamental technology to both meet user and project needs and share knowledge throughout the entire team. Why Choose Ironhack? Ironhack’s bootcamps are specifically designed to get you ready for a career in UX/UI design with intensive and practical training. And that’s not all: Ironhack also offers financing options , career services , and a robust alumni network . Are you ready to change your life and enroll in Ironhack’s UX/UI design bootcamp today? Apply now .

Hilary Clinton once said, "Don't confuse having a career with having a life." By this, the former US Secretary of State wanted to draw a clear line between personal and professional life. But if you add studies on top of it, it’s true it can get slightly messy. This being said, your private life, work and studies can be reconciled. Think of your days as something malleable, which you can organize as you see fit. The idea is to calibrate your schedule to avoid stress, achieve your career and educational goals and still have time for your personal life. Keep reading to learn some tried and tested tips. 1. Learn to (really) prioritize We have good and bad news for you. Which do you want first? The bad news? Good choice: you're not going to be able to fit everything into your day if you're simultaneously studying, working, and living your ideal personal life. And the good news? Same thing. How could this be good news?! Because you'll have to learn to manage your priorities and only give time and energy to the really useful and important things . And that's a great thing. How can you prioritize? Imagine that your day is a jar. First, you put in the list of things that are really important. These are big stones. For example, finishing a course or group work, handing in an important project at work, or having lunch with your grandmother on her birthday. Then you put in the smaller things; these are the less important but urgent and/or useful tasks. doing your shopping, seeing a film you've been waiting for in the cinema, or doing some technology monitoring on the Internet in relation to your studies. Finally, you fill in the gaps with sand. These are the mini-tasks that sometimes come first and take up a lot of time, for example, spending time watching TikTok videos. Another way to prioritize is by using the Eisenhauer matrix. Start with the urgent and important tasks and work your way down to the tasks that are neither useful nor time-sensitive. 2. Find a routine that suits you To optimize your time, you have to find the rhythm that suits you. Your mother may keep telling you that you should get up earlier. But if you work better in the afternoon or evening, why not stick with your current routine? In this routine, set aside: - The approximate times when you plan to work and take time for yourself - Sacred moments (e.g. your two workout sessions, your movie outing, dinner with friends...) - Times when you are teleworking, coworking, working for your company... All this will help you structure your weeks and stay motivated. And there's no need to feel guilty if you're not productive all the time. Nobody can be! Just learn to decide to dedicate time to each area of your life... and stick to it. 3. Learn to delegate We can't always take care of everything and at work, be open about the help that colleagues could give you. To do this, be confident, explain clearly how you would like to be helped, and give a clear brief; the more you micro-manage the people in your team, the less time you will have. If you are not yet a manager, the same applies. Non-value-added tasks should be done by more junior people or freelancers if possible , so that you can give your best. In your private life, it's the same thing. Maybe your roommates, spouse or friends can do those errands, organise that dinner or fun outing; next time, it'll be your turn to plan. 4. Compartmentalize and cut Your job or your course is exciting and you could spend 12 hours a day on it, right?! Not so fast. This is a false good idea. That's the best way to burn yourself out. An underestimated skill is clearly the ability to cut. The different spheres of your life deserve to be fully focused on; the human brain is not built for multitasking and you have to give yourself the gift of compartmentalization. When you leave work, turn off your phone and don't check your email at night. After you've finished your study schedule for the day, close the computer and go out for drinks or to spend the evening with friends. And most importantly, make your free time real free time . Staring at the ceiling in silence, going to the cinema, seeing your loved ones, walking around must be done consciously to be fully regenerative. Think about it! 5. Dare to say "no" Last but not least, if you like to please everyone, try to say no. You can do it in a polite, assertive and kind way. But do it. How to say no with panache? You have the right not to give an answer right away and to think about it and formulate your answer calmly. To say no, simply explain why it is not possible for you and offer an alternative if possible. The hardest part may be saying no to yourself, if the instant gratification monkey of procrastination shows up. And maybe it won't work right away or every time. But practice de-cluttering your schedule to really focus on what matters. You now have the 5 keys to improve your work/life/study balance. Did you know that bootcamps give you immense flexibility in your studies? If you want to learn computer development, choose a coding bootcamp with Ironhack!

Are you about to interview for the job of your dreams?! We’re so excited for you. The interview process may seem daunting, but there are straightforward steps you can take to ace the interview and land that job. In this blog, we’ll first explore the generic interview process and questions and then dive into tech-specific recommendations. Ready? Let’s get started! The Interview Process The interview process varies from company to company and even from team to team, but there are certain key points that are constant across the board. Here’s what you need to know: Before the interview: congratulations! You’ve landed an interview at your dream job. Now what? Research the company and the job: make sure you’re familiar with the company, its mission and values, and the requirements and expectations of the job. Prepare questions: the interviewer will always give you the chance to ask questions and it’s best to have a few great ones prepared to show your dedication and interest in the company. Plan for the interview: is the interview in-person? Do you know how to get there? Prepare your commute and plan to arrive early. Is it remote? Ensure you have a quiet, organized place to conduct the interview. During the interview: the day is here! You’re probably nervous, but don’t forget to: Be early: traffic and public transport aren’t totally predictable and you might have to sign-in to the building or have to search a bit to find the right office. Give yourself ample time to arrive early. If it’s an online interview, enter the virtual meeting space a few minutes early; sometimes you might be prompted to download an app or you might have issues with your video/audio. These issues are normal, but give yourself time to fix them! Bring resources : it helps to have a physical copy of your resume, cover letter, portfolio, references, or any other documents at your interview to both reference and leave with the interviewer. Be confident: you got this interview because the interviewer thought you could be a good fit for the role. So act like it! Smile, be friendly, and show what you’re capable of. After the interview: Say thank you : kindness and attention to detail goes a long way; send a thank you email to the interviewer or the team to show you appreciate their time and effort in interviewing you. Complete any tasks: it’s common for interviewers to request tests or case studies to put your skills to the test. Meet any deadlines laid out for these kinds of requests and send any requested, additional information (portfolios, references, etc.). What to avoid in interviews These may seem like no-brainers, but they happen! Make sure you avoid this interview don’ts: Arriving late Using your phone/other tabs on your computer Unclear or rambling answers Dressing inappropriately Having no questions Speaking negatively about current or past employers Showing a lack of interest in the company/role Concerned about accidentally doing some of these? Here’s how to ace these issues: Arrive early: come up with a plan to arrive early, giving yourself ample time to get lost or deal with traffic/late-arriving public transportation. Be focused: leave your phone in your bag and silence it. If it’s a remote interview, close out all other windows and give the interview your full attention. Be concise: know what you want to convey and have answers planned. Try to answer the question without diving too far into unrelated details. Dress appropriately: companies are becoming increasingly more flexible with dress codes, but it’s best to dress professionally for interviews. Be prepared: have a list of questions or talking points you want to mention to show your preparation. These should be questions that indicate you’ve done research, not things you could find on the company’s website. Be professional : even if you’re coming from the worst employer or job, don’t talk negatively about the company as it can make future employers wary. Try to frame things positively and show why you’re ready for a new challenge. Show interest in the new opportunity: just like you want employers to want you, employers want you to want them! Show the interviewer that you are truly interested and dedicated to the company’s mission. Nailing Your Tech Interview Tech interviews are another breed indeed. Employers want to know that you are an expert in your field or are willing to learn what they need you to know. Are you up for the challenge? Tech interview overview Initial interview Typically held over the phone, this interview mainly seeks to gather basic information about you and your expectations, such as start date, salary expectations, skills and availability. Technical interview As the name suggests, this part of the interview wants to see your skills put to the test and is usually completely remotely. You’ve told the interviewer what you can do; now they want to see it. And don’t stress: the interviewer doesn’t want to see you fail! They want to see what you can do under pressure and possible areas for improvement. Above all, they want to see how you would do in the role. Onsite interview/challenge Congrats! You’ve passed the technical interview and you’ve been asked to come in person for an onsite interview, to meet the team, and to complete a challenge in person. Sounds stressful, but you’ve made it this far because you’re talented, the company really thinks you could fit in, and the company wants to watch you work through a problem in your own way . It may seem scary to solve a problem in front of the team, but take your time. You’ve got this! Tips for Nailing Your Practical or Technical Interview Employers want you to succeed; they want to find the next member of their team - we promise! Follow these five steps to nail your interview: Make sure you fully understand the prompt : before you even pick up a pen, ask clarifying questions. Not only will this help you better understand the prompt and solve it, but it will show the interviewer that you take your time and are a good problem-solver. Talk through the process: this will help both you understand the process you’re going to take and help the interviewer understand your thinking process. Laying everything out on the table helps you see the bigger picture; this is what potential employers are looking for. Stay calm and professional : your code or answer isn’t the only thing the employer is looking for; they want to see how you work through problems or with a team. Use the correct vocabulary, stay composed, and be professional throughout the entire interview - even if you make a mistake ! Try new ideas: we’ve all gotten stuck in the middle of a problem; you’re not alone! And interviews want to see how you get out of issues or how you manage when you’ve reached a dead end. Displaying critical thinking skills and the ability to think outside of the box is a definite plus in the employer’s book. Check your work: Whew! You’re done - but not so fast. Make sure you check for errors and walk through the entire process to both ensure that you’ve done everything correctly and to show the interviewer how you reached the final answer/product. Still looking for tips? We got you. Try to avoid these common mistakes : Lack of preparation: there is absolutely no such thing as too much preparation. Use the resources available to you: Try sample online tests Research the company’s interview process to see what kinds of questions they ask Review concepts Working too fast: that age-old adage of “quality over quantity” exists for a reason and employers don’t want to see you break time records when solving the problem; they want to see a high-quality final product. Being too set in your ways : we get it. You’ve spent your whole life working in one way or another and now the interviewer is suggesting another method. Showing that you’re open to change or trying new things is key during an interview. Being too robotic : tech companies or roles might have the reputation of being lone wolves, but companies are looking for candidates that are friendly and will contribute to the team outside of the specified roles. Be open, engage in conversation , and get to know the team outside of their professional roles. No matter how much experience you have or how many interviews you’ve had, the next one will always be stressful. Follow these tips and tricks and don’t panic: you got this.

Nope, the MVP is neither Ronaldo nor Serena Williams... In tech, it's simply the strategy used to build, test, and market that product. The point is to assess the viability of a new business model without spending too many resources. Confused? Don't worry; we'll explain it all in this article. Minimum Viable Product: Definition and Origin Using a minimum viable product (MVP) to test a business model is probably the most common startup launch scheme. Surely you've heard of Uber, Dropbox, Slack, Figma, or Netflix? These unicorns all started with an MVP... And you know the rest! The MVP concept was invented by Frank Robinson and popularized by Eric Ries, the founder of the Lean Startup methodology. If you haven't heard of it yet, you can read the book The Lean Startup , which popularised the concept. It's simply the version of a new product that allows the team to create a product with the minimum required functionality to run and gather as much customer insight as possible to make it evolve quickly. This is supposed to require few resources and allow for rapid positioning of the product or service. In short, it is meant to be a sure path to success for a tech product. The MVP is the personification of this idea: Fake It 'Til You Make It . What is the MVP's Purpose? What is the point, you may ask, of putting a still unfinished product on the market very quickly? Very good question, indeed. It's simple: you don't have to invest too much money in something that might not work . Test your idea to improve it. Allow a product to reach its public. The basic observation is clever: too many companies fail because they have not reached their audience. The MVP gives the founders and the first employees the means to avoid this pitfall. Once the product is in the market, you can improve and enrich the product through agile development methods. Buffer started as an agile MVP. In 2010, its creator, Joel Gascoigne, had a disruptive idea for an application that would allow him to schedule his social media posts. He started by creating a landing page to test his concept and after reaching a critical mass of pre-registrations, Gascoigne developed the first version of his application in seven weeks. The initial version of Buffer contained limited functionality and only allowed access to Twitter. Nine months after its launch, the application had over 100,000 users and gradually became the product we know today. How Can I Create a MVP? 1. Validate the idea First, define and validate your idea. It sounds simple, but you have to spend some time and be able to answer these questions with ease: What problem are you addressing? Who is your target audience? What will the solution consist of? To which market do you intend to sell? All these answers will help you to calibrate your MVP. This is also crucial for step 4 (don't worry, we will come back to this!) Don't go into too much detail about the features yet, that will come later. The aim of this stage is to define your concept — that's good enough for now. 2. List the competitors Of course, this second step is complementary to the first. Calculate the market potential (are you going to sell to 500, 1 million or 1 billion potential customers?) and see which competitors have already invested in it. With this data, you will know if you are facing a blue ocean, i.e. a commercial space full of potential. 3. Establish the user journey to the main goal of your agile MVP The next step is to define the main user objective that your product serves. Carve out a very simple, first user journey that will lead them to this goal; it will inevitably evolve, it is not set in stone. The deliverable is usually a clickable mock-up. The simpler and more aesthetically pleasing the design, the more attractive your product will be. 4. Prioritize core functionality It's time to think about the main features of your product. Don't go into too much detail! Did you know 50% of product features are never used ? It makes you think. You might as well focus on the 20% of features that will bring 80% of benefits to potential customers. 5. Develop and test your agile MVP This penultimate stage is the heart of the reactor. This is where we really get to the heart of the MVP, where you will start to develop your MVP. You will have previously defined several scenarios to be tested on the wireframes, for example: functionality, usability, user paths, and more. And you will list and prioritize the changes to be made to the most promising scenario. 6. Adjust the product to the needs of the customers identified during the testing phase The very last step is marketing. You are no longer in a small committee; your product is open to the world (and its opinions!). This is where you will get the most feedback and can speed up the update. And only at this point can you add the secondary features of your product roadmap. Fake it until you make it: this credo of tech stars has worked for hundreds of popular start-ups. Are you intrigued by this environment and want to develop tech products via MVPs or maybe even launch your own company? Enroll in an Ironhack Bootcamp to get started today!

Culture in the workplace is one of those buzzwords that appears frequently in job ads, LinkedIn posts and interviews . But, what exactly is culture at work? Does it mean the diversity of the staff? Or how the company’s leadership is structured? Neither of these fully sum up the true meaning of culture in the workplace and in this article, we’ll break it down for you. And more importantly, we’ll come at it from two key angles: how to create a work culture that attracts quality applicants and how to find the right company for you. Culture in the Workplace Your workplace’s culture is essential because it’s the character & personality of the organization, bringing together its values, traditions, beliefs, interactions, behaviors, and attitudes. And while this may seem like something that’s created naturally, it’s key to clearly define workplace culture at the beginning and not letting it form on its own. Here’s what makes up workplace culture: Leadership Is your company led by a few head honchos that don’t even know the rest of the staff? Are decisions made without seeking the experiences and feedback of other team members? Your team’s leadership can make all the difference; a company with trustworthy and communicative leaders creates a strong work culture. Management How is your workplace managed? Are employees micromanaged as if they were children? Or are they given the space to meet their goals and have a personal life? The very workings of your company are key to creating a healthy workplace culture. Workplace practices Workplace practices in a company with a strong workplace culture have a clearly defined interview, onboarding, and review process, taking into account the needs of employees and respecting their time and efforts at all times . This can also include vacation and sick policies, benefits, and rewards and recognition. Policies & philosophies Further than vacation and sick day policies, good workplace culture can include flexible dress codes, remote working options, internal growth opportunities , and inclusive codes of conduct. People This may be the most crucial part of the workplace culture. Do the people in your company represent the values your company wants to be promoting, such as diversity, collaboration, support, and growth? Workplace culture can be implemented in the beginning as an idea, but it’s only when people put it into practice that it truly shines. Mission, vision, and values Your workplace’s mission, vision, and values should be clearly defined and communicated to employees. And if there’s any doubt, take time to review them and ensure they’re being implemented across the organization. Having outlined goals and objectives helps you stay true to them and check back if there’s an issue. Work environment Is your office conducive to working? Are there areas for breaks and lunches, or even team meetings that won’t disturb the rest of the staff? Having free snacks and coffee and ping-pong tables seems like something that’s used to compensate for other problem areas, but if they’re used correctly, they can create a positive environment at work. Benefits of healthy workplace culture Talent : word of mouth is key in the professional world and companies with generous benefits and strong workplace cultures will attract the best talent. And attracting talent options means that HR will have the chance to pick the candidates that best fit with the organization. Retention : it’s obvious: companies that have happy employees will retain their talent for longer, creating team members that become both more skilled and more dedicated to their role and the organization as a whole. Performance: happy employees are ones that perform well and create the best results. How to Find the Right Applicants for Your Open Role Apart from a candidate’s hard skills, trying to decide if a candidate is a right fit for the company’s culture can be a challenge. Here are some tips: Be familiar with your company’s culture and look for signs during the interview : try to compare the candidate with current employees that best exemplify your company’s culture. Do you sense similarities? Does the candidate seem to agree with and fit within your company’s culture? Don’t be afraid to ask questions about what the candidate is looking for as well to get a better picture. Involve the whole team: you know that two minds are better than one, right? Well, schedule an interview with different team members to see how the candidate would fit in with the team. Determine the candidate’s aspirations: lots of times, a candidate’s goals can determine what they’re looking to get out of a job and that ties in closely with company culture. Try to get a full understanding of the candidate; that will help you make your decision. Trust your gut: is the candidate not convincing you 100%? Is there something that makes you unsure? Trust your gut and remember that fitting with the company culture is key: the costs of onboarding, correcting work, and another interview process are not worth having to quickly dismiss an employee if they’re not the right fit. Unsure where to start looking? At Ironhack, we’re producing the next generation of tech leaders and we know they’d be the right fit for your company. That’s why we offer a few programs where Ironhack finds the top candidates for your needs - and trains them in exactly what you need! Not sure what you need? Here’s a few programs that Ironhack offers to employers to help accelerate onboarding, create social impact programs, and launch digital transformation plans. Ironhack’s Emerging Talent Pool This end-to-end talent management will provide you with the top candidates for a role , a private class for up to 25 people, access to alumni networks and partnerships with top universities and organizations, 2-year planned salaries with semi-annual reviews, mentoring, training, and monitoring, low turnover and a replacement warranty, and a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion which means you’ll meet any necessary goals. Ironhack’s Access our Graduates In just 48 hours, receive qualified resumes; we match our graduates with your company based on their profiles and experience , in addition to co-hosting recruiting events to meet our alumni personally. You can also host speed interviewing events and publish job openings on our exclusive alumni network. Ironhack’s Train my Employees Looking to avoid firing expenses and reduce turnover while creating more valuable employees? This specific program trains a select group as your Innovation Committee, making them more tech savvy and data-oriented. This helps you both stay competitive with emerging market needs and increase employee retention and satisfaction. Interested? Here’s everything you need to know. How to Find the Right Job for You Ready to transform your career and jump into tech but worried about the career options available to you afterwards? That’s why we created Careerhack , a three-stage course we’ve created over 5 years to help you navigate the tech job market. Stage 0: Discover It’s hard to meet your goals if you don’t know what they are! This stage helps you define your motivation and skills and work on your personal branding before your bootcamp even begins to help you create a clear picture of what you want to achieve. Stage 1: Digital Foundations During the bootcamp, you’ll meet with our career coaches to create your profile and discuss your goals. Now’s the chance to try and define exactly what you want to do and take advantage of networking opportunities to start advancing your career. Stage 2.1: Job Hunting This warm-up stage prepares you for the job hunting process, interviews , and more. Throughout a week, you’ll be able to attend workshops and webinars and take part in challenges that will leave you ready to jump head first into the job hunting process. Stage 2.2: Job Hunting It’s your time to shine! We’ll match you with prospective employers that are looking for new talent by outlining your language skills, location, culture expectations, and hard and soft skills and connect you with opportunities that are right for you. Once a week, you’ll also have one-to-one guidance meetings with our career coaches; you’ll be fully supported throughout the entire process. At Ironhack, we’re committed to providing our students with the tools they need to be successful throughout the entire process. Want to see how Ironhack can help you grow your tech talent at scale? Check out our Enterprise services today.

2023 is around the corner and you might be thinking it’s the right time for a career change. Does web development seem like an interesting move? We agree: here’s everything you need to know about becoming a Web Developer in 2023. Why Web Development? To put it simply: web developers both create and maintain websites and focus on the backend of the website, such as its technical design, performance, capacity, speed, and capabilities. Depending on the role itself, web developers could also help create content for the site, thanks to their expertise in the area. The reasons to become a web developer are numerous, but here’s a quick outline of the five main ones: Web development is an up-and-coming career: web developers are in high demand thanks to their essential role in basically any company. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , web development is supposed to increase by 23% by 2031 - well above the average! Web developers are well-paid: as such an in-demand role, web developers are well compensated for their work. And some roles don’t even require advanced degrees; bootcamps or specialized courses can set you on the right track. Web developers have a wide range of career options : did you know that web developers can work in a variety of roles in a diverse range of industries? We did. That’s another reason why web developers are in such high demand. Web developers can use their creativity: lots of people associate technology jobs with staring at numbers and computer screens; that couldn’t be further from the truth. The wide range of roles that developers hold means that there’s lots of room for creativity and fun. Web developers have flexibility : whether you want to work as a freelance web developer or join a company, you have lots of options. Choose what best works for you, especially as you begin your career in web development. What Do Web Developers Do? As we mentioned above, web developers can take on a number of responsibilities and roles. However, most fall under these categories: backend developers, frontend developers, and fullstack developers . Here’s a quick breakdown: Backend developers This is the more technical part of web development: backend developers write the website’s code, create its structure, and ensure everything runs smoothly . When there’s an issue, other team members come to backend developers for support. Frontend developers As the name suggests, frontend developers work on the side of the website that visitors see and design the physical layout of each page, incorporate graphics and use HTML and JavaScript to improve the script. Fullstack developers You might have guessed it: fullstack developers work on both the back and front ends, typically on teams that don’t have the budget or resources to employ both frontend and backend developers. However, these developers must have the knowledge necessary to complete both roles. Career Options in Web Development Web developers are in high demand because basically every company needs a website and skilled developers to help them make the most of their site. Web developers boast the following hard skills: Technical communication Computer programming Website design and development Cybersecurity Project management That’s why web developers have a wide range of career options available to them: Graphic design Database administration Application development UX design Cybersecurity Web Development with Ironhack Ironhack’s Web Development bootcamp is specifically designed to kickstart your career in the web development industry. Ready to take on a new challenge? Here’s a breakdown of our web development bootcamp: Online prework Decided to take Ironhack’s web development bootcamp? Amazing! Once you’re accepted into the course, you’ll be given 50 hours of prework to learn the fundamentals of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Once completed, you’ll have the skills to succeed in the bootcamp, know the Ironhack team both globally and at your campus, and be ready to take on the course’s challenges. Module 1 Responsive design with HTML, CSS, & JavaScript During the first two weeks of the course, you’ll get the necessary foundations of web development , focusing on JavaScript. You’ll also learn about HTML and CSS basics, responsive web design with Flexbox and Bootstrap, JS basics, and the core concepts of objective-oriented programming, DOM manipulation and version control. Whew! That’s a lot. And during your third week of the course, it’s your time to shine. You’ll get to code a game of your choice. Module 2 Backend You’ll learn how to create a service and the details of data modeling, including NodeJS, ExpressJS, Handlebars, MongoDB, Mongoose and much more. And in week 6, you’ll start your backend development project, creating a full stack web application with a partner. Does this seem like a lot? Well, Ironhack’s bootcamps are intensive but we’re with you every step of the way. Our TAs and expert teaching staff are right by your side to help resolve any kind of doubts. Module 3 Frontend We couldn’t create the world’s next web developers without including frontend development! During the last weeks of your bootcamp, dive into ReactJS, Single Page Apps, component-based frameworks, and creating your very own full stack application. Today’s companies are looking for well-rounded web developers with skills in a wide range of areas. What to expect from Ironhack’s Web Development bootcamp: An understanding of the most in-demand tech skills… Learn HTML, CMS, and JavaScript, gain expertise in important frameworks, learn about version control with Git and GitHub, increase your knowledge of servers and hosting, and understand working with databases and the agile methodology. …with a balanced methodology… At Ironhack, theory and practice come together to help you enter the workforce as successfully as possible, incorporating hard skills at a manageable pace. …while developing soft-skills… Improve your problem solving and analysis skills, attention to detail, creativity and continuous learning journey. …both in a team and cross-functionally. Learn with real-world situations while collaborating with other Ironhackers and bootcamps. Why Choose Ironhack? Ironhack’s bootcamps are specifically designed to get you ready for a career in web development with intensive and practical training. And that’s not all: Ironhack also offers financing options , career services , and a robust alumni network . Are you ready to change your life and enroll in Ironhack’s Web Development bootcamp today? Apply now .

Sometimes choosing a Bootcamp doesn’t need to be with the aim to have a 180° change in your life. Bootcamps are also very resourceful for people who want to upskill themselves. This exactly is what Cindy Oran did. She works right now as the Head of Product Marketer and used the Bootcamp to learn UX/UI to better collaborate with the designers in her team. Tell us a bit about yourself. I’m Cindy Oran, born and raised in Toronto, lived a couple of years in Paris, and then moved to Berlin because the European lifestyle appeals more to me. I like to call myself a curious chameleon as I’m adaptable but also tend to question everything. I love to travel, try new cuisine, hang out with friends, and meet new people. What were you doing before you decided to join an Ironhack bootcamp? I was working as a Product Marketing Manager for various companies. As a Product Marketer, you are focused on evangelizing, branding, and positioning the products. This means there are different projects I would be working on every day cross-functionally. It can be market research, designing product pages with designers, creating collateral for clients, training the sales team on the products or new features, writing out white papers and case studies, influencing the product teams on roadmaps, and so on. Why did you decide to make a career change? I didn’t go into this with the intention of changing careers but more so leveling up my skill set. I was open to roles as a Product Designer by the end of the course but had more so the intention of combining my skills. Essentially I wanted to learn a solid foundation in UX/UI design to better collaborate with the designers I was working with on a regular basis (Graphic, UX, brand, etc.). I noticed there was an overlap when it came to product marketing and design such as user flows, where a feature should be added on a platform, or how we conducted research for users and products. By taking this bootcamp, it was my way of helping to make the collaboration more seamless and efficient. What convinced you that Ironhack was the right choice for you? I did a lot of research and asked friends who had done different UX/UI bootcamps. There were many options out and I was also looking for something that was covered by the Agentur für Arbeit since I was unemployed at the time. It came down to two options which were CareerFoundry and Ironhack. I read a bunch of blogs comparing the two. Most people I knew actually did CF. In the end, what made me decide on Ironhack were a few things: The LIVE classes with an instructor and classmates were a huge selling point. We were already a year into Covid (this was March 2021) and I missed having human interactions, to be honest, and this felt like the perfect opportunity to stay motivated, engaged and meet new people while learning a topic I enjoyed. The course being covered by the German government was definitely a huge plus It covered topics I genuinely was interested in such as design thinking, interaction design, and so on. I had done other courses in design thinking with IDEO and IDF (interaction design foundation) It was full-time, and you were expected to be done in 2.5 months The career service was outstanding. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to switch careers at the end but they were very supportive in helping me keep both options open. Helping me prepare a CV with my current Product Marketing skills and adding UX, then also having a separate Product Designer CV. What was your experience like on the course? Absolutely brilliant. Honestly one of the best decisions I’ve made in my career is to take this course. I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by the curriculum to the teachers and classmates. I could not have been more pleased and grateful to have Milan as my instructor. He is incredibly knowledgeable in the field. He used real-life examples every time to help us better understand the concepts and led by example when it came to giving feedback. He also has a dark sense of humor, making it even more fun. As for my classmates - they were super fun! We had Ironhackers from all over the world in the Berlin remote cohort. We are still friends to this day and hang out on occasion. I think it's beneficial that Ironhack limits the class size to ~18 people so you can really get to know your peers. You're spending so much time together and it was one of the motivations to wake up and dive into the class. Everyone was so lovely, including our two Teaching Assistants Rafa and Maria. Maybe I’m just biased… but I think we had the best cohort! :) What interests you most about your bootcamp topic? (UX/UI, WebDev, Cyber, Data) Everything in the UX/UI course. Ironhack has given me more confidence when collaborating with designers, proposing new ideas, reviewing products, and conducting research. There’s so much overlap so it feels great to know that I can bring something to the table outside my product marketing scope. I was also curious about the Ironhack competition, where we came in 2nd place! (designed a whole website for a startup). Did you take advantage of Ironhack’s career services? How did your bootcamp prepare you for the job market? Helped me create a CV that combined product marketing and UX/UI design, and another as a Product Designer. Very impressed by how much effort is put into helping the students land a job. We had alumni speak about their experience and what they were doing now (some freelanced, others found work in the field) What have you been up to since graduating? After graduating I got a job as a Product Marketing Manager at Klarna where I was able to combine my UX/UI skills (as intended)! We were short on design staff so I was able to jump in and apply my new skills - and it was very beneficial as expected. Since then, I’ve moved on to a new role as Head of Product Marketing at Moss where I hope to continue applying my design knowledge. I still keep in touch with my classmates! What are you looking forward to in the future? I’m looking forward to seeing where this new role will take me. This is the largest design team I’ve had to work with so far, so I am curious how we will collaborate on all the projects. I truly believe there is an intersection between Product Marketing, and UX/UI Design and am excited to see how it will unfold. Interested in boosting your career with UX/UI Design, like Cindy did? Take a look at our bootcamp !

In tech, there's always something exciting going on. What were the highlights of 2022? Here's a look back at the 2022's most surprising, crazy and what the heck moments. Figma Swallowed up by Giant Adobe The news was a bombshell in the design world, to say the least. 20 million dollars . That's how much Adobe had to pay to stifle its talented competitor. Figma made a high-profile appearance in 2015 after a few years of underground development, with its vector-based, collaborative interface prototyping editor and brainstorming whiteboard FigJam. It was a stunning entry at a time when Adobe was presenting its own prototyping tool. It's not as intuitive, but Figma had set the bar very high. Co-founder Dylan Field will remain at the helm and gradually integrate Adobe's expertise in image processing, illustration, video, 3D, and typography. It remains to be seen whether the soul of this software, which is the darling of UX designers, product managers and entrepreneurs, will be preserved. Google Retired Google Analytics Universal Another big earthquake in the tech microcosm was Google's announcement in March 2022 that it would sunset Google Analytics Universal on 1 July 2023 . It's true that regulatory advances in user data protection, especially in Europe, had rendered this product obsolete. After 10 years of data collection on this emblematic tool (if you are a data analyst, you must have shed a tear!), Google will offer GA4, the alternative. Unlike its predecessor, this tool will be based on events and their parameters. So you officially have 7 months left to migrate your data collection system or adopt the new GA. Friendly advice: if this is your plan, start collecting data on it now! Twitter Acquired by Elon Musk SpaceX's boss announced his interest in Twitter in July; three months later, he had acquired it for $44 billion. Easy . The rest of the story, as you probably know, is rather gloomy. But it's hard to miss, so let's have a look at the highlights! As soon as the acquisition is complete, Musk tweeted: "The bird is free." Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for Digital Affairs, replied straight away: "In Europe, it will fly according to our rules." The tone was set. But this is the least of the billionaire's worries. As soon as he took over, Musk cut the workforce with a knife. On 21 November, there were only 1000 employees and 1100 contract workers left, an 86% staff reduction. The hashtag #quittwitter arises after Musk explained to the remaining staff that they will have to work long hours or leave. And on and on it goes. DALL-E: the Artificial Intelligence Artist Unveils its V2 Let us return to a happier subject. Funny and even poetic at times: DALL-E. The concept? This IA creates images from your own key words. This gives creative and sometimes crazy ideas to the 1.5 million people who use it every day to create 2 million images. V1 of the tool was so popular that you had to be on the waiting list to use it but fortunately, V2 is now open to all, within the limit of 50 creations. Intrigued and want to see what it looks like? Check out our article on what's new for creativity in Web3 , where we generated images with a competing service. Architecture: Cultural Buildings Digitalized in Besieged Ukraine It's been a trend since the Islamic State destroyed the sublime remains of Palmyra in Syria. Engineers, historians and entrepreneurs are using 3D to digitise historical monuments to keep track of them and facilitate their reconstruction. This technology was used in 2022 by a Frenchman in Ukraine, Emmanuel Durand, who works for Amann Engineering in Geneva. He uses a laser that scans 500,000 points per second to create an exact digital replica of the building. The issue here is as much artistic and cultural as it is political (in order to reconstruct, but also to use this data to prove war crimes). According to journalist Stéphan Siohan, the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture counted 367 "cultural war crimes" with the destruction of 29 museums, 133 churches, 66 theatres and bookshops, and even a Jewish cemetery after three months. For the Ukrainian government and historians, Russia is engaged in a strategy of "cultural genocide." So what do you think? What's the craziest news you'll hear in 2023 in tech? If you want to be involved in what the tech industry will bring next year, Ironhack can help you get through the doors! Find out more about our 100% hands-on bootcamps to learn about tech jobs in the blink of an eye.

What Are Retrospectives? Typically employed within the realm of product development, a retrospective is a meeting held post-product launch to discuss the development and release process to identify and address any possible problems. We’ve all heard that those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it and retrospectives seek to avoid just that; they provide valuable feedback to improve future launches. During retrospective meetings, all problems are outlined in front of the entire team with the goal of both solving them and improving processes in general. Many product development processes involve many teams that work separately: retrospectives are unique opportunities to bring the entire team together. Benefits of retrospectives: Transparency for all: retrospectives provide the unique opportunity for the entire team to get together and review the product launch from start to finish. What went well? What needs to be improved? Take advantage of the entire team’s presence to make key decisions. Better teamwork : every team member from different departments will be in attendance and this is a great time to not only hear from each member, but also stress the importance of everyone’s role. Problem solving : improving is close to impossible if the same problems keep happening. Identify issues and try to find the reason behind it; hear the entire team out and make the necessary changes. Improved processes : here’s another time to flag possible issues: is there a team that’s continuously missing deadlines or running into issues? Work with them to create a process that helps them better submit work. Reduced conflict: large projects with various teams can mean that there’s a lot of conflicting opinions or perspectives: it’s crucial to have clear expectations about the project’s direction and hear out all team members. How do retrospectives work? Here are five quick steps to planning an effective retrospective meeting: Prepare Schedule a meeting with the entire team, choosing a date/time that works for everyone. Retrospective meetings can take a bit, so make sure you schedule at least an hour (we recommend more, however!). It also helps to have everyone in the same room together so encourage your team to come into the office that day if possible. To help planning, you can also ask team members to submit their feedback/results beforehand. 2. Collect data Now that the meeting is scheduled and you have the results of the product launch, start creating the meeting’s agenda to streamline and organize the meeting . Write down the main points and any questions you may have. Check out the team’s feedback as well and incorporate that feedback into your meeting plan. 3. Create insights After hearing the team’s feedback and opinions, create main bullet points about each of the issues addressed. Lay them out clearly so that everyone understands the crucial areas of improvement and ask for any last opinions before starting the problem resolution process. 4. Problem resolution With the problems clearly defined, it’s time to propose solutions. If there are lots of areas for improvement, choose a few key areas to focus on in the next sprint. And make sure action items are clearly defined and understood by the entire team. 5. Wrap it up Both problems and solutions are clear; it’s time to get to work. Answer any last questions and make sure the plan going forward is understood. What Is a Personal Retrospective? Retrospectives don’t have to apply just to product development. If you follow a similar layout for your personal goals , you can find obvious benefits. And as we’re heading into the new year, decide what you want your 2023 to look like and plan a personal retrospective. Here’s how to do it: Step 1: Create a space & plan It can be hard but find an hour or two where your personal retrospective will be your only priority. Try to disconnect and leave devices in another room; true concentration will help you find your areas of improvement. Now create your list of essential points for both the past and upcoming year. Here’s a few suggestions: Career goals Family/relationships Social life Key values Overall goals Step 2: Review & Prioritize For each area listed above, try to summarize both major events over the last year and your goals in each category for 2023 . Is there anything you specifically want to accomplish? Or is there an area you know needs improvement? Make a list of both accomplishments during 2022 and goals for 2023; include specific action items. Pro tip: use the SMART goal format to help you. For example, if you want to make a career change and learn a new skill, like UX/UI design , set up a realistic plan. Here’s how to plan that out: Specific : clearly define your goal: beginning a UX/UI course. Measurable : find a way to track when you are researching programs, studying, and working towards your goal. Achievable : with your current situation, is taking a 9-week break from work realistic? Should you be considering part-time programs ? Relevant : revisit why this goal is important to you to help you place the proper importance on it. Timebound : schedule check-ins or reminders for yourself to see if you’re meeting your goal. If now isn’t the best time for a career change, set a check-in date within a few weeks or months to revisit it in the future. Step 3: Come back to your plan It’s great to plan and set goals but a crucial part of that is checking in with yourself to see if you’re meeting them. Monthly or bi-monthly check-ins can help you track your progress, set new goals, and prioritize what’s truly important to you. And don’t get carried away! Setting realistic goals may not be as exciting in the beginning, but it will help you make progress and work your way up to some truly thrilling goals. As the new year approaches, take advantage of the holidays to reflect and start looking ahead . You can do anything you want, so start planning both your professional and personal retrospectives to make 2023 the best year yet.

What Is Personal Branding for Job Hunting? Unlike the Backstreet Boys, tech recruiters DO care who you are (your values), where you’re from (your achievements), and what you do (your aspirations). Develop your personal brand to show them that you’re both meant to be. What’s a personal brand, you ask? Essentially, it’s the traits and narratives that define someone in the public eye . Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a recent grad, you can use a personal brand professionally to give recruiters an idea of who you are in an accessible manner. It allows you to showcase your value and expertise, establish your industry authority, and convey your genuine interests. Your personal brand highlights the skills you bring to the table, the professional goals you’ve accomplished, the schooling you’ve undergone, and even the personal traits you bring to the team. Since a personal brand allows you to authentically tell your story, it is key to accessing opportunities you want and building a career you love. So, what should you focus on when building a personal brand? Keeping your core values at the heart of your brand Considering your digital footprint (professional and personal) Utilizing traditional branding tactics and modern day tools With these in mind, you can make personal branding do the heavy lifting in your job hunt — rather than needing to seek out positions, recruiters will start to come to you. Basically, a well-curated and well-developed digital footprint makes you a desirable candidate to recruiters and managers. How to Start Building Your Brand Like any relationship, to start off, you have to build a foundation first. Set your direction by reflecting on your motivations, goals, strengths, and achievements in your professional life. You can consider some guiding questions to start you off: What are your professional goals and values? Who do you want to achieve? What strengths do you bring to the table? Now that you’ve thought about who you are, you’re ready to think about how you want to show it. Your objectives are the crux of your personal brand — everything else is just the presentation. You can use social media and e-portfolio websites to convey your personal brand to HR specialists and other tech professionals. When you make the effort to establish your professional digital profile, you not only distinguish yourself in the positions you apply for, but also attract new opportunities that you didn’t even seek out. Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile If you’re looking to make a good first impression online, ensure your LinkedIn profile showcases your strengths. LinkedIn is not only a social media site, it’s a search engine as well . If you search engine optimize your LinkedIn profile using keywords from your desired roles, you can make it easier for recruiters to find you. Start by completing all sections of your profile, including your location. Make sure to include keywords in your headline, job title, summary, and job descriptions. If you have industry specific expertise or tools that are mentioned in the LinkedIn postings of your desired role, include them! And if you want to leave a lasting impression , make sure your profile picture, heading, and summary depict your personal brand. Use a clear headshot – and use the same profile pictures on every professional site. Update your heading to reflect your targeted positions using keywords. Use your LinkedIn Summary to tell your story and inject your personality into your profile. You can talk about your motivations, experiences, and passions, showing off your worth with data to back it up. Include relevant keywords in your summary as well and last but not least, end with a call to action to encourage readers to connect with you. If you’d like to build your network, promote your work online and make connections. Link your website or portfolio and make posts about personal projects, request online endorsements from coworkers and customers to validate the skills you’ve highlighted, and engage with new professionals. Throughout your profile, make sure you’re showcasing your personal brand. Think about those guiding questions and incorporate your answers into your profile. Engage with others online If you’re looking to network with professionals in your field, connect with them using social media . By staying active on LinkedIn and other professional social media platforms, you make it easier for other like-minded individuals to find you. Create Your Online Portfolio If you’re looking for a place to display your projects, build an online portfolio. By anchoring all your online professional activity to your portfolio or website, you can make sure recruiters have a easy way to find all your work. This is especially true if you use a recognizable domain name and the same profile picture across the web. You can also take this time to audit your online image to make sure everything found on the web depicts accurate, comprehensive, and consistent info. How to Improve Your Personal Profile Now that you’ve gotten your foot in the door, you can use your industry experience to get noticed. You have the skills, but now you’ve got to show it . When you join professional groups, you can make connections based on your interests and build relationships with other professionals in your field. By producing online content, you can show managers that you have both the knowledge and expertise to improve their team. Join Professional Groups If you’re looking to create professional relationships based on your interests and passions, join a career network or alumni association. You can grab even more opportunities by reaching out to former coworkers or volunteering in your industry. Not sure where to start? Ironhack is on Meetup! Check us out! You can use Meetup , TechMeetups , or Gary'sGuide to find events in your area. Or you can search for company posts on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. Write Blogs If you’re looking to showcase your industry knowledge, write your own articles with LinkedIn Publishing, Medium, or other tech websites. Not sure where to look? Ironhack is searching for tech experts to write guest blogs. Join Podcasts If you’re looking to prove your expertise, be a guest on a podcast or make your own. Not sure where to look? PitchPodcasts has a list of technology podcasts looking for guests. Browse the site to find one in your niche or just search Google using the keywords {guest, podcast, tech}. There are so many options out there ! Even if appearing on a podcast isn’t your thing, you can still use them as a resource to learn more about your industry. Take Your Career to the Next Level So, you’ve shown the online world what you can do, but what’s next? Become even better, of course! You can use learning experiences and career services to boost your career in tech. Looking to learn new skills? Attend a workshop for leadership training, read a book, listen to a podcast about a new technical concept, or maybe enroll in a tech bootcamp. Check out all our opportunities at Ironhack ! Want to build your career? Ask for feedback from other tech professionals… or enroll in a bootcamp that offers employment assistance like Ironhack’s career services . Remember you are more than your digital identity. What you do offline is just as important as what you display online; develop your online branding to kickstart your career. If you’re looking to make your offline persona as good as your online one, learn with Ironhack. Plus, all our bootcamps come with career services to help you land that new job. What are you waiting for?!

If you're at a library to find some information, a librarian is often your go-to source. Sure, you could aimlessly browse the bookshelves or blindly peruse the magazine rack, but we all know that isn't really effective. If you want to find what you need to know when you need to know it, the best course of action is to head straight to the librarian's desk as soon as possible. A librarian's recommendations can make or break a book, just like a search engine's results can make or break a website. To get more eyes on your page (in both the physical and digital sense), you want to be guided by whoever - or whatever - is doing the suggesting. That's where search engine optimization (or SEO for short) comes into play. What Is SEO? Search Engine Optimization is the process of improving your website to increase search engine visibility. Since users primarily navigate the web with the help of search engines, a company's site must be higher up on the search engine's results page (SERP) in order for a business to be viable. A higher ranking leads to increased website traffic which leads to more customers. Search engines employ algorithms to access site quality using core metrics, such as site content, page structure, and outside links. Much like librarians, algorithms take into account usability and relevance before making recommendations. So, along with other copywriters, marketers, or developers, you must make sure you’re using best practices to get eyes on your site. Since Google towers over other search engines with over a whopping 90% of the market share, you have to cater to Google’s algorithm first and foremost . If there were only one library branch in town, as a writer or publisher, you’d have to cater to their display rules, too. Search Engine Optimization can be broken down into three parts: On-page SEO focuses on site content — mirrors the information, images, layout, keywords, references of a library book Off-page SEO focus on backlinks from other sources — mirrors the marketing tactics and outside references of a library book Technical SEO focuses on website infrastructure — mirrors the title, format, table of contents, duplications, readability of a library book When making a recommendation or display, a librarian considers all of these aspects of a book. Writers and publishers have to take these into account when releasing their book into the market, just like developers, copywriters, and marketers. On-Page SEO Any content that helps search engines understand and rank your website is considered to be On-Page SEO. Copywriters and marketers utilize meta-descriptions, keywords, alt-text, H1 tags, and URL linking to display relevant information and build accessible experiences. Off-Page SEO Any action that helps search engines see your site’s authority and relevance using outside references is considered to be Off-Page SEO. Marketers incorporate link building, content marketing, guest blogging, and social media promotion to drive awareness and build referrals from external platforms. Technical SEO Any site infrastructure that helps search engines find, crawl, understand, and index your webpage is considered to be Technical SEO. Developers optimize HTTP status codes, XML sitemaps, canonical tags, breadcrumbs menu, and page speed as well as remove duplicate content, orphan pages, and broken links to make the site easier to navigate and improve its overall performance. Crawlability Strategies Create a sitemap Add a roadmap using structured data Update robot.txt files Check for low-quality or duplicate content Remove broken links Improve site loading speed Create mobile-friendly web pages Indexation Strategies Submit sitemap to Google Search Console Submit pages for indexing to GSC Update content regularly The Google Crawler Much like how “Googling it” is used as a general expression for searching for something on the web, “Google Crawler” is used as a generic phrase for any program that search engines use to find, review, and track websites. Sometimes referred to as a robot or spider, the software follows linked paths to store, catalog, and record websites. As a developer, you must optimize your site’s crawlability and indexation to make sure your target audience can find you using a search engine. Algorithm Updates Changes to the way a search engine ranks or displays website results affects the way writers and developers get eyes on their sites. Usually, these algorithm updates don’t cause major issues, but since the algorithm is subject to a lot of change, catering your site to the rules of rank can involve some guesswork. In a core update, the search engine implements a broad, significant change to improve how systems assess content. These updates are not frequent, since search engines usually only release a few per year. In a focused update, on the other hand, the search engine applies specific changes based on ranking factors such as content, reviews, links, or page experience. These types of updates are much more common, sometimes with thousands made per year. Google makes around two to three major updates per year but makes hundreds to thousands minor updates during that time. Google makes sure to let website builders know about any major updates to allow them to get ahead of the change and ensure their content continues to reach their target audience. By breaking down the effects, developers can understand just a little bit better how to cater their site to their desired search engine. Why is SEO Important? Search engine optimization doesn’t just make it easier for bugs to access your content; it makes it more accessible for people, too! Since the algorithms are created with people in mind, building for the algorithm means building for individuals. What can SEO do for you? Enhance user experience Increase site security Improve customer engagement Build brand credibility Whether you’re specifically working on on-page, off-page or technical SEO , you can ensure that your site consistently ranks high on the search results and reaches your target audience by utilizing best practices. If you’re interested in learning more about the technical side of search engine optimization, check out our web development bootcamp !