The Ironhack Blog

When you think of cybersecurity, ideas such as hackers, cyberattacks, and protection may come to mind and although we don’t directly interact with most aspects of cybersecurity, it plays an integral role in all things internet. Without cybersecurity, we wouldn’t be able to safely browse the web. On the other hand, when you visit any website or app, you are directly interacting with the creation of a UX/UI designer, also known as the user experience, providing a different type of framework for browsing. UX/UI design is just as essential to the internet as cybersecurity, but what are they? What do they do? And how exactly do they intersect? Let’s dive in. What is Cybersecurity? As mentioned above, cybersecurity revolves around protecting users as they interact with websites and apps and share their sensitive information. Although most cyber protections might seem highly developed, we frequently interact with cybersecurity tools and safety measures on a daily basis, typically when we are authenticating our identities or ensuring that we aren’t bots or potentially threatening malware. In many other ways, users can’t see all the work that cybersecurity professionals put into their jobs; however, the following are responsibilities that fall into the laps of cybersecurity professionals: Threat prevention The first line of defense in the world of cybersecurity is a plan of prevention and protection . Have you ever seen the movie Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark ? In the first scene, Indy tries to get to the treasure at the heart of the temple. If the treasure is the database and sensitive information, the cybersecurity in question would be any booby traps that defend the treasure and terminate anyone attempting to reach the valuables. Some examples of threat prevention include: Firewalls Intrusion prevention systems Encryption techniques Next-Generation Antivirus (NGAV) Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Threat detection Prevention is a waiting game and as hackers get more and more cunning and innovative, they also become more successful at breaking through the cracks . What does that mean for cybersecurity professionals? If malware or a hacker does surpass all the threats, threat detection methods are in place to perceive their presence; with this information, they can eradicate whatever dangerous threats are lurking around. Threat detection software includes the following: User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) Insider Threat Management (ITM) Host-based Intrusion Detection System (HIDS) Network-based Intrusion Detection System (NIDS) Incident response plan When met with an unfortunate surprise, you may become nervous, freeze, or even want to run away and that’s why you have to depend on a prearranged plan to ensure you take the correct first steps; for cybersecurity professionals, an incident response plan is essential when there’s an information breach. Although no one likes to talk about the uncomfortable truth, information breaches do happen and cybersecurity professionals need to have a plan in place to minimize the potential damage . A successful incident response plan consists of: Preparation Identification Eradication Restoration Learning Testing Following this process will guarantee that the incident response plan is effective and efficient when it’s needed. Types of cybersecurity The internet is a limitless place and in the past twenty years, technology has expanded alongside it exponentially; as a result, the need for different types of cybersecurity to protect cyber attacks has also surged. Some of these include: Network security Cloud security Information security IoT security Application security What is UX/UI Design? It’s likely that you’ve heard of this type of design, but you may not know that they are two separate disciplines that take on very different, yet essential approaches to design . The two coordinate to create the best experience for users when viewing and interacting with the interface. But how do they differ and complement one another? User e X perience design When thinking of design, many think of typography, color palettes, spacing and layout; however for this discipline, these elements are of less importance. UX design focuses on collecting data from users and leveraging it to create and rework the structure and framework of the app so that users are satisfied; the spotlight is always on user experience . By analyzing the data gathered from users interacting with the product, UX designers can make tweaks that enhance it and, as a result, build an easy-to-use and intuitive interface that serves its function. You can almost think of them as the architects that draw up blueprints for buildings. User interface design UI design is what most consider design to be: Buttons Color schemes Fonts Layout Shapes Spacing Everything else that users see when they are interacting with the app or website UI designers work alongside UX designers since UX designers not only collect data on the product that indicate where they can modify and enhance design elements, but also build the framework within which they need to design. UI design is all about making website elements that catch the eye , attract the user, and keep their attention. The Difference Between Cybersecurity and UX/UI Design As mentioned above, cybersecurity professionals are tasked with protecting, detecting, and eradicating cyberthreats that put users at risk. And on the other hand, UX/UI designers coordinate to build and create the best possible experience and interface for users. Cybersecurity professionals work behind the scenes on their products while UX/UI designers create everything with which the user interacts. Nevertheless, both teams of people must work together to guarantee that user experiences are intuitive, efficient, and safe. How do Cybersecurity Professionals and UX/UI Designers Work Together? When designing a product, UX/UI designers know that protecting users from any type of cyberattack is of the utmost importance and consequently coordinate with cybersecurity professionals during the different stages of the project to ensure that the user is protected. Product safety requirements From the offset of a project, data protection is an important matter and by keeping this in the forefront, cybersecurity professionals and UX/UI designers ensure that their users can trust their products for the long term. Collaboration between the two disciplines includes communication on the following aspects: Potential security risks Cyber threats that may impede design elements Definition of security requirements Secure system design Have you ever had to choose which pictures contained a car on a website after inputting your username and password? The purpose is to confirm that you are a human that is inputting the details and it is one of many tools that is employed by cybersecurity and UX/UI design teams to authenticate user identities. Confirming and authenticating users protects their data at the front door of the website and UX designers must incorporate these into the design interface throughout the final product. Authentication tools include the following: Username and password Two-factor authentication Biometric authentication Email or SMS verification Security questions Captcha Social media login Device-based authentication Client certificates Everyone has encountered most of these authentication methods and cybersecurity professionals and UX/UI designers collaborate to decide which ones are the most appropriate for the product. Trade-offs between usability and security Usability is at the top of the list for UX/UI designers; however, how can we balance usability with security? Although maintaining balance between both of these can be difficult, it is essential for both of them to compromise when designing their product. This part of the creation process can be difficult, since coming to an agreement on where design needs to be prioritized over security or vice-versa requires a lot of communication and understanding. Despite its complexity, the final product will benefit greatly from striking that perfect balance of the two parts. Testing, monitoring, and updating Throughout the design process, consistent testing by both UX/UI design and cybersecurity teams and users is vital to create the final product to test for any security vulnerabilities that may pop up. When users give feedback on their experiences, there are even more ways to improve upon different aspects of the product. UX designers have the important job of pulling in massive amounts of user data and cybersecurity professionals can use their feedback for their own security purposes. Once the product is released, cybersecurity professionals have the important job of monitoring the status and handling any breach as soon as possible with their incident response plan. Even with the most airtight defenses, websites and apps can suffer from cyber attacks; the consistent monitoring of a product’s security and status is important and when new security vulnerabilities and risks are found, cybersecurity professionals have the responsibility of updating the system to keep users safe. Recap Cybersecurity and UX/UI design are two very different disciplines; however, they must collaborate to make the internet safe and user-friendly for everyone. Finding the balance between usability and security is crucial for not only the final product, but also the users. If either cybersecurity or UX/UI design have caught your eye, take a look at Ironhack’s bootcamps and learn remotely or in-person at one of our worldwide campuses.

Staying up-to-date on tech trends and innovations is often tedious given how quickly the industry develops and transforms . Whether you work in tech, are considering entering the field, or are simply curious about the industry, finding ways to stay informed is important. Being on top of trends and innovations will make you a more competitive job candidate, stronger employee, or simply a good conversationalist when it comes to tech news and debates. There are numerous ways to stay informed and we’d recommend diversifying your news sources and finding a strategy to stay informed that works for you. The following strategies may be helpful as you work to stay on top of what is a dynamic and ever-morphing industry. Staying up-to-date with tech trends Keeping up with the latest tech trends and innovations will make you a stronger tech professional, allow you to reap the benefits of new technologies, and give you the competitive advantage when it comes to strategic decision making . Tech professionals who keep up with tech trends are more likely to innovate, offer more to their customers, and are more adaptable in the face of a quickly developing industry. Here are a few other reasons why being up-to-date on tech trends is more important than ever for tech professionals: Professional growth: the tech industry is constantly transforming and technology evolves round the clock. Knowing this, being on top of the latest trends and innovations will make you a stronger tech professional and enhance your knowledge and skills. This will give you the competitive edge in the tech industry and also potentially make your work easier through taking advantage of new tech tools and innovations. Adaptability: developments in technology are often what drive changes in the industry and job roles. Through staying up-to-date on evolutions in tech trends, tech professionals are more capable of anticipating and adapting to these changes in effective and successful ways. You’ll be better equipped to identify emerging opportunities, have a better understanding of the impact of new technologies on your work, and be proactive in acquiring new skills and training in order to thrive in the constantly developing tech landscape. Creative problem solving: tech professionals who are more up-to-date on tech trends and emerging technologies are stronger problem solvers. Being on top of new trends allows you to leverage new tech tools, methodologies, and technologies to think outside the box and find creative and innovative solutions to the complex challenges you face. Strategic decision making: developments in technology significantly impact business strategies and decision making processes. Knowing this, tech professionals who are up-to-date on developing industry trends can anticipate business changes and contribute valuable insights to strategy discussions. At the same time, being informed allows you to identify new business opportunities and provide recommendations on adapting or leveraging emerging technologies. Collaboration and networking: being up-to-date on tech trends and innovations will facilitate better collaboration and networking opportunities. You’ll be able to participate in meaningful conversations, contribute important insights to discussions, and expand the thinking of peers, experts, and leaders in the field. Knowing what’s going on in tech can lead to new partnership opportunities, an expanded network, and potential career advancements. Improved customer experience: customers expect that tech professionals are up-to-date on the latest technologies and offerings in the industry. Everyone wants to hear that your product or service is current and leverages the industry’s innovative capacity. That said, tech professionals need to stay on top of the trends in order to better understand customer expectations, anticipate their needs, and deliver competitive and strong solutions. In short, being on top of the latest trends is beneficial both to you as a tech professional, your ability to adapt and take advantage of innovative technologies to help your career, expand your network, and offer the most to your company and your customers . Collaborating with industry peers, exceeding customer expectations, and adapting to and leveraging what technology can give you the competitive advantage in this constantly changing industry. How to stay up-to-date on tech trends Between work, social responsibilities and wanting to make time for a new series or call our parents, researching the latest tech trends may seem low on the list of our daily priorities. However, staying up-to-date on tech trends can significantly benefit your career as a tech professional and utilizing innovative tech tools may actually save you time on various tasks. Finding your strategy for how to stay on top of trends is key. Tech journals and blogs Keeping up with tech trends is as easy as finding a couple of reputable tech websites or blogs that keep readers updated on emerging technologies, product launches, and industry trends. The Ironhack blog is a great place to start! You can even subscribe and receive email updates with our free tech knowledge and career advice. We’d also recommend checking out TechCrunch , Engadget , CNET , Crunchbase , or The Verge . Podcasts Podcasts are a great way to stay up-to-date on new tech innovations, learn from other tech professionals in the field, and listen to folks speak to current debates or advancements in the industry . They’re also perfect for multitasking; put on one of the following podcasts while you’re cooking or driving and you’ll never miss a beat: The Ironhack Podcast : we are proud to offer our very own podcast that provides a unique perspective into the world of tech. You’ll hear interviews with tech professionals and Ironhack grads and get a taste of a number of different parts of the tech industry. It’s accessible to a broad audience and gives great insight into various fields within tech. The Vergecast Podcast: The Verge’s weekly podcast that helps listeners make sense of what’s currently happening in the field of tech. From updates on the latest technology to debates around AI or the future of certain companies or sectors within the industry, this podcast has it all. Ted Radio Hour : Ted Radio Hour is a podcast organized by the Ted organization and looks to explore developments in our digital era. The podcast relies upon individual interviews with tech professionals and other entrepreneurs, academics, and creatives. Clockwise : Clockwise is a podcast focused on providing listeners with rapid fire updates on current technology and updates in the tech industry. The 30-minute podcast is hosted by Dan Moren and Mikah Sargent and features two guests each week. These are just four of thousands of tech podcasts that you can listen to. It’s always helpful to hear how other people approach these conversations and the ways that industry professionals address current topics. Build a network Having a group that you regularly converse with is motivation for staying up-to-date on tech trends. It’s also a great way to hold yourself accountable to researching and contributing something to the conversation. This network could be a group of co-workers that meets once a week for lunch, a group chat that simply shares articles, podcasts and other resources, or even an online network on LinkedIn or Twitter where you follow industry leaders or hashtags in order to stay on top of current debates and industry developments. It never hurts to surround yourself by like minded individuals and this network could be the encouragement you need to motivate yourself to stay up-to-date. Attend conferences or events Conferences and tech exhibitions are organized for the very purpose of bringing folks from the industry together to develop one another’s ideas and debate current industry ongoings . If you’re someone who prefers face to face conversations and debates, attend conferences like Consumer Electronics Show (CES) , South by Southwest (SXSW) , or Google I/O . Most of these conferences also offer in person networking opportunities and are great if you like an immersive experience. Often your employer will cover the costs of the conference tickets; check out our article “ How to Ask Your Boss to Fund Your Education ” that covers a few tips and tricks in making a funding request from your employer. Find a way to engage that interests you Finally, we’d recommend finding areas of tech that interest you. For example, if you’re a sports fan, read blogs like “ SportTechie ” that look at how tech is transforming the games you love. Or if you’re interested in music, South by Southwest is a great resource for keeping up with the trends in the music industry. In all, keeping up-to-date on tech trends doesn’t mean exclusively knowing the newest tech gadgets; rather, it’s about finding the areas of the industry that are particularly interesting to you. You’ll be way more likely to keep up with these trends if learning about what’s going on doesn’t feel like additional work. The great thing about the tech industry is that it’s expanding into every facet of our lives, meaning that there are many ways to relate to its ongoing developments, and there's for sure industry related content that may interest you. We hope that these tips help you find a strategy that works for you and support you in becoming a well-informed tech professional. Don’t forget to consult the Ironhack Blog where we post daily about ongoing industry developments and ways to improve your tech career.

We get it; you’ve spent so much time and effort becoming an expert in a specific area. And it’s paid off: you’re a tech professional doing great things in your field. But as you surely know, tech is constantly evolving and specializing in just one thing limits what you can do. As much as you love what you do, you’ve been tempted by other interesting areas of tech and have thought about diving into them. Well, we have good news: that’s a great idea and something you should definitely do. Here’s why. The Problem of Specialization At one time or another, someone probably told you that you needed to pick one skill and make it your life. Maybe that was in university, when you were instructed to take all the classes that related to your field of study and limit outside courses. Or at home, when your parents told you it was time to choose between theater or sports. Sound familiar? Let’s dive into a popular example that highlights the problem of specialization in a real-world scenario. A Harvard Medical School study found a stunning result: those who suffered a heart attack and received medical treatment while cardiologists were away at a conference were more likely to survive. Yes, it’s true. Why? Because those doctors had been taught a certain way to handle that specific situation, they almost always acted in the same way, even if the patient needed another treatment. This is a very specific situation, but there are others that help make our point. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, business responses to almost every problem were large Enterprise Resource Planning implementations (ERP), which led to incredibly expensive mistakes, causing many companies to close. Have you ever worked somewhere where they present the same solution to any problem? That’s another example. Those who boast specializations in multiple areas have the following qualities: quick learning, adaptability, easy transition between different projects, contextual thinking, enthusiasm, novelty, leadership skills, and empathy and are incredibly valuable in the workplace. Learning about multiple areas is a key part of practically every industry. Don’t believe us? Check it out: Learning Multiple Specializations We’re sure that you’ve heard, at some point in your career, that you have to choose a specialization and center your efforts in one area instead of spreading yourself thin. And while we agree that yes, spreading yourself across a number of tasks and being “okay” in them and not an expert could affect your future career prospects, we do see the importance in being an expert in more than one area. Writers need to produce high-quality work, but they also need to know how to market their content so that it actually reaches the hands of their readers. Teachers have to be skilled instructors , but also need to have patience , classroom management, and leadership skills. Scientists need to know how to carry out effective experiments while simultaneously possessing the skills needed to interpret and analyze the data yielded from their trials. Do you need more examples? We’re not saying you need to get a PhD level degree in absolutely every subject, but taking additional courses and learning from your colleagues can help you improve in your own role. Benefits of specializing in multiple areas We think we’ve made our case, but just in case, let’s run down a few of the reasons why multi specialization is so key. Hiring managers look for versatility: most industries are advancing incredibly fast, thanks to the digital growth from the pandemic and recruiters and managers want employees that can adapt to change. Needs are changing quickly: specializing in one area is great, but what if that skill becomes nonexistent in a few years? Or your company decides it’s no longer needed? Having another skill can help save your job or find you another one easily. Work is completed more efficiently : if you have to constantly pass off work to teammates because you don’t know how to use a specific tool or need someone to review something you don’t know, you could be wasting a lot of time and resources. Learning skills that are adjacent to your work can help your overall efficiency. On a personal level, multi-specialization is also a great option. Employability Your employability skyrockets when you boast multiple specializations and aren’t limited to just one area; employers will see you as a versatile employee that can take on multiple tasks and you’ll be able to meet diverse company needs as they arise instead of being limited to just one skill. You’ll also be considered for managerial positions more frequently, given that you possess skills necessary to a wide range of jobs, not just one. Lastly, if your job becomes unnecessary, you can either reskill or upskill to meet company needs and not be without a job. Social skills On a personal level, you’ll benefit greatly from having a wide range of skills because you’ll be able to appreciate not only others’ points of view, but also their skills and what they bring to the table. This is especially powerful with soft skills, when their skills might not be evident until there’s a real need for compassion or empathy. It will also help you be more open to group discussions as you’ll see what diverse people can bring to the table, making it easier for you to moderate different opinions and agree on a solution. How to Specialize in Multiple Areas Now that we’ve convinced you of the importance of specializing in not just one field, let’s dive into how to actually make that happen. After all, it’s a serious undertaking and one that will require effort and dedication on your part. Look for help in your office : odds are you want to branch out because of a need you see right in your office. If you have a coworker or two that possess a skill you’d like to also have, talk to them directly and see if you can take a course that they’ve already aced or can explain their work process to you when you’re working together. And don’t be afraid to explain your desire to branch out to your boss and maybe ask for help from another department entirely. Apply to roles in large companies : if you’re working in a small company that deals with a very specific area, you might have trouble finding help or even the space to learn a different skill. When you’re applying for a new job, look and see if the company offers professional growth opportunities. Expose yourself to new experiences : change depends on you and if you want to become proficient in a new skill, it’s absolutely crucial that you truly focus on this new skill and use your free time to educate yourself, reach out to connections, and make it happen. Multi-specializing in tech roles Multi-specialization is so important that we have multiple series about it on our blog! Yes, web development and cybersecurity work together and UX/UI design does affect data analysis. The more skills you add to your collection, the more attractive you’ll be to prospective employers. Multi-specialization in web development Web development is an area that benefits greatly from multi-specialization; tech is advancing incredibly fast and professionals that know multiple languages or can work on both the back and front end are extremely valuable to managers. Web developers can also work on teamwork and critical thinking as soft skills to further develop so that they are better coworkers and teammates. Multi-specialization in UX/UI design UX/UI design is a pretty broad field and includes most of what the user sees and does, making up the entire user experience. Being skilled in multiple areas of UX and UI, such as information architecture and UX research, can help you not only read the data of what is working for clients, but also optimize your brand image from the back end to bring the project full-circle. Multi-specialization in data analysis Data is key to solid decision-making but if you’re unable to collect high-quality data or know how to interpret and communicate the results of the data to your team, it’s practically useless. Most data analytics courses cover lots of areas: statistics, computer science, information systems, management science, and more. Being able to not only properly collect and understand data but also put it into action will make you an incredibly valuable team member. Multi-specialization in cybersecurity Knowing how to halt a cyberattack in the first moment, but what if you could prevent it from happening altogether? Or were skilled in checking the overall abilities of the organization as a whole when it comes to data safety? Cybersecurity brings together tons of incredibly important skills and the more you know about the different sides of it, the better prepared you’ll be to do your job. The best thing about learning multiple specializations is that there’s never a single right time to do so. No matter how long you’ve been in your role or how much you love what you do, there’s always something else to learn and another skill to add to your toolbelt. Ironhack’s bootcamps help you get the crucial foundational knowledge needed to succeed in a number of roles and will help you become more well-rounded overall.

The tech scene is thriving all over the world; with a strong start-up scene along with some well-established tech companies in Europe, places such as Amsterdam, Berlin, London, Barcelona, and Paris boast an incredible tech industry. Looking for some of the best European cities for tech jobs? You’ve come to the right place. Tech professionals, both those with experience and beginners, have the luxury of being able to work from anywhere. The abundance of jobs in the tech field means that skilled candidates are in high demand and companies are willing to be flexible; there are many jobs and opportunities available for those interested in all areas of the tech field, from cybersecurity to machine learning and data mining. Language skills coupled with a bootcamp qualification or a certificate in coding, data analytics, or machine learning will make you a very attractive candidate for jobs in tech. After completing a bootcamp in cybersecurity, data analytics, UX/UI design, or web development, you will be well-equipped to apply for a vast range of jobs with European tech companies ; a tech qualification can quite literally take you anywhere . Lots of countries are offering bustling tech sectors with lots of room for growth, but we’re going to focus on five in particular that are truly taking off. The Tech Sector in Amsterdam Amsterdam is a thriving center of the tech scene, as well as a city with an incredibly high quality of life. The Dutch truly value innovation and this is reflected in the wide range of startups based there; it is home to many highly successful companies and has a vibrant ad tech scene. Additionally, initiatives such as Startup Amsterdam are available to support new companies, offering resources such as job search boards, industry insights, and European tech events listings. Amsterdam is a great city to kickstart your career in tech with a plethora of companies and startups. Plus with excellent biking infrastructure, superb coffee shops, and some of the best international tech talent, it's hard to think of a better place to start a career in tech and put your new skills into practice. The Tech Sector in Berlin Steeped in history and full of cool art, fashion, and culture, Berlin has long been an up and coming hub in the startup space, becoming a dominating tech hub in Europe. From apps to fintech, e-commerce brands, and websites, tech companies of all sizes are based in Berlin. Skilled professionals are in demand across the city and most tech companies in Berlin are English-speaking, meaning you won’t need to learn a new language to succeed. Berlin is also still one of the more affordable cities in which to live in Europe. The tech scene is now well-established in the German capital with lots of startups that boast a decade or more of experience, making it a great place for you to begin your tech career with established and experienced startups. Conferences like the International PHP Conference, DevOpsCon, and IFA take place there each year; these conferences are a great way to network with other professionals in the field while scoping out new companies for your future endeavors. The Tech Sector in London Although no longer part of the EU, London is still a major player in Europe's tech scene; many tech organizations have kept their offices there due to London’s influence in the sector, offering lots of great job opportunities in tech across the city. It is one of the best places in the world for startups, coming in close second after Silicon Valley, but that’s not all: lots of finance companies are based in London and the demand for cybersecurity professionals is also very high. Although it is an expensive place to live, tech jobs in London are very lucrative and employees in this field can easily cover their living costs. The Tech Sector in Barcelona Have you dreamed of sunny Spanish afternoons surrounded by the beach and sangria? In Barcelona, you can benefit from both incredible weather and unlimited cultural options, in addition to working in Europe’s fifth most digitized area. The city invested lots of resources into smart city technologies, helping it advance together with northern European countries; it also boasts a fantastic start-up environment, offering a wide range of tech jobs in different industries. Who wouldn’t want to benefit from a wonderful quality of life while working in tech fields, advancing alongside the best of Europe’s big tech companies? Barcelona offers the unique opportunity to work from the beach and not miss out on any networking opportunities. Spain’s low cost of living and laid back environment will mean talented individuals are continuously flocking to the region; you’ll always be surrounded by the best. The Tech Sector in Paris With over 8,000 startups, who wouldn’t want to head to Paris? This dreamy and romantic city boasts an incredible number of universities and research centers, contributing to its bustling tech industry. The French capital has great research and development opportunities, labs, theoretical science, and talent trained directly in the country. Paris is coming close to catching up with London as Europe’s biggest tech hub; some predict that before long, it will wear that crown. But until then, consider joining an internationally-renowned tech sector and enjoying that Parisian lifestyle. Jump into Tech Taking a tech bootcamp is a great way to get started on a career in the field. With Ironhack, you can study topics such as UX/UI design , data analytics , web development, and cybersecurity ; our intensive bootcamps are available in a range of cities and languages and are designed to equip you with all the essential skills and knowledge for starting a job in tech in one of the best cities in Europe for tech jobs . Browse our courses today and find the area that interests you in a location that you would love to explore.

Necessity is the Mother of Invention The contraception pill never worked well for Ida Tin–a complaint common among many women. One day in 2009, she was taking her temperature and entering the data into her phone to find out when she was ovulating. “ I urgently wanted to merge those two devices ,” writes Tin , “to be able to look at my phone and know what was going on in my body, rather than enduring the tedious experience of manually transferring data from the temperature device into a spreadsheet, just so I could use it.” Tin saw how far technology had progressed with the phone in her hand, but made one key realization: technologies focused on women’s health were still lagging behind. This realization led her to create Clue, the fastest-growing women’s health app and an entirely new category of technology: femtech . Who is Ida Tin? Ida Tin is a Danish entrepreneur, author, and motorcycle enthusiast. In 2012, she founded Clue, a menstruation-tracking app that helps millions of users take control of their periods and their lives. Tin is also credited with coining the term femtech , “a category of software, diagnostics, services, and products targeting women’s health needs.” Before founding Clue, Tin worked with her father running motorcycle tours around the world in countries as far-flung as Mongolia, Cuba, and Chile. She documented her travels in the bestselling Danish book, Direktøs and currently lives in Berlin with her family, where Clue was founded and is still based. Clue d -In Tin’s desire to better understand and thus control her cycle drove her to found Clue with her partner in 2012. By inputting data about your menstrual cycle, the app helps users track their cycles and fertility , boasting over 11 million users in almost 200 countries . Clue helps users track their period by inputting data points in over 30 categories including bleeding, cravings, weight and temperature change, emotions, sex drive, exercise, and more. When the app was first founded, they didn’t charge anything and ran the company using funding from venture capital firms. Clue has raised over 30 million dollars to date and was listed as one of Time Magazine’s 50 genius companies in 2018. In 2021, the startup launched Clue Plus , a paid upgrade that unlocks other features like: Clue Conceive, helping users get pregnant Clue Pregnancy, tracking pregnancies Clue Birth Control, to prevent pregnancy This switch to the freemium model allowed Clue to become a sustainable business. With great data comes great responsibility Clue can best predict users' periods and fertility when they input menstruation data into the app. And with its 11 million users, Clue currently has the largest data set on menstruation in existence. But what happens to all this data? Tin very firmly states that Clue never sells nor shares personal user data with any third parties. She writes: “Too many companies in the digital economy have business models based on exploiting people’s data in ways that are only possible because the companies are not transparent… …. We wanted to build an app that’s supported by you and other users like you —not by selling your data, but by creating real value in your lives.” However, Clue does occasionally share valuable findings with academic institutions . In 2015, Tin reported that Clue was working with scientists at Stanford University, Columbia University, the University of Washington, and the University of Oxford to learn more about women’s health and reproductive health, which have been historically under-researched and under-funded. Clue provides these institutions with completely anonymized data and in turn uses their research to better their innovations. By sharing data with carefully-vetted researchers, Clue can learn more from their users, and provide more accurate predictions. Breaking taboos Despite Clue’s success, it wasn’t exactly an easy journey. Tin shared that getting funding for her period-tracking product was difficult due to the persistent–yet severely outdated–taboo around menstruation. In an interview with the New Yorker , she revealed that many male investors said they would only invest in a product they would use themselves . However, the sanitary product industry is clearly a profitable business with the market currently worth almost 30 billion dollars and predicted to reach more than 35 billion dollars by 2027. After years of leading motorcycle tours around the world, Tin settled in Berlin, one of Europe’s fastest-growing tech hubs. But she found that German investors were even more squeamish when it came to funding femtech and instead procured most of her capital from American firms. Many asked her to relocate to Silicon Valley, but Tin refused, insisting that she remain with her husband and two young children in the German capital. A Technological Revolution Seven years after Tin found herself tediously inputting data, she saw an explosion of products for women addressing the exact problem she set out to solve–innovations like temperature patches, wristbands, smart jewelry, apps like Clue–and even smart sex toys. In 2016 she coined a term describing this transformation: femtech. Data differentiates the term femcare , the industry around pads, tampons, and other menstruation products, from femtech. Femtech describes all the products and services improving women’s health with innovative technologies. Women in Tech: Crunching the Numbers Women are changing the face of tech , but there’s still a long way to go. In 2023, women are still severely underrepresented. While it may seem that the industry is becoming more diverse, women currently occupy only 26.7% of tech jobs , and that number has actually decreased in the last two years. The gender pay gap is a huge factor in this inequality. We’ve reported that there’s a global gender pay gap of 20% , but the discrepancies are even starker in tech fields where over 90% of companies pay male employees more , and women hold less than 20% of leadership roles. The gender pay gap is almost 5 percentage points higher in tech than on average. Where do we go from here? So how can we get more women in tech, fight the gender pay gap, and promote pro-woman businesses and work culture? It’s not an easy task, but here are a few tips: Hire and promote women into leadership positions Check the numbers - put together a report with salary and hiring stats Build women’s confidence with support networks, mentorship programs, and learning budgets Bring a diversity expert on board to lead trainings and workshops Use inclusive language and think before you speak Read Ironhack’s complete guide to supporting women in tech for more information on what you can do. To Infinity and Beyond… Period. Femtech is growing fast . The non-profit organization, FemTech focus, estimates the industry will be worth over a trillion dollars by 2027. But despite the rise of technologies improving women’s health and Clue’s success, Tin claims that investors continue to lowball these innovations. “We’re still getting peanuts to play with when you see the amount of money that has been invested into, you know, e-scooters, car sharing,” she says. Despite an uptick in funding for female-owned businesses, “In 2022, companies founded solely by women garnered just 2.1% of the total capital invested in venture-backed startups in the US,” according to PitchBook . There are plenty of obstacles in the way, but Tin views these hurdles as chances to change. She sees femtech as a category that will grow to “serve the vast opportunities that exist for female health.” Ida Tin leads the charge towards further investment, innovation, and attention in women-owned businesses and femtech startups. Want to learn more about women changing the face of tech and empowering their peers? Discover more Ironhack coverage here .

Considering making a jump into tech? After facing the choice of what sector to get into, there’s a whole separate decision to make: working in a company or freelancing . Both options are valid, but will depend on a couple of factors: your personal situation, your goals, your sector, and the kind of job you want. Making this decision may seem like a huge one, but here’s a little secret: it’s not a binding decision! Following COVID-19, lots of people embraced the flexibility of remote working and realized that they could be their own boss. When they were required to return to the office, many decided that they didn’t want to be subject to corporate restraints such as in-office working, meetings, dress codes, and strict vacation or sick policies. Freelancing proved to be a solid alternative for many. On the other hand, however, another large group of people didn’t enjoy the freedom provided by forced remote working and missed the order and camaraderie of working in an office everyday, having co-workers next to them, and separating their home life from their work life. Do either of these sound familiar? Or not sure which one is best for you? No worries, that’s why we’re here; in this article, we’ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both traditional and freelancing roles and jobs you can find in each of our four specialities (web development, data analytics, UX/UI design, and cybersecurity). Let’s dive in. Advantages and Disadvantages of Traditional Employment Are you interested in structure and a strict separation of work and home? Traditional, in-office jobs may be the right choice for you. Choosing to be hired in a traditional role gives you the following advantages: Stability : instead of having to look for clients every month and request new assignments, you will perform specialized tasks for just one company, having that envied job security that freelancers can’t boast. Set schedule/pay : you’ll be salaried, meaning you can rest easy knowing you’ll get the same paycheck every month and won’t be working weekends or nights. Benefits : as an in-house employee, you’ll have paid vacation days, sick time, maternity/paternity leave, and any other benefits that the company offers to its employees, such as health insurance. However, it isn’t all sunshine and roses. Carefully read through these disadvantages: Reporting to someone else : you will have to report to someone else or multiple people, which can be quite the adjustment if you’ve been working on your own before. Your tasks might vary : even if you were hired to do one specific role, such as backend development, you might be asked to take on additional responsibilities that go beyond your job description and skill set. Lack of flexibility : gone are the days of beach working and fitting in lunch with your parents during the week (probably, unless you’re lucky!). In-house employment means you’ll be expected to keep a consistent schedule and be available, even if you’re working remotely. Important : when compared to freelancing, lots of people automatically think that holding a traditional job means that you’ll be stuck in the office every day; however, lots of companies offer remote or hybrid policies, meaning you can have the benefits of a traditional job from the comfort of your own home. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Freelancing Freelancers work for themselves: cool, right? Definitely, but make sure you consider both sides before making that jump. As their own bosses, freelancers can benefit from the following advantages: Freedom and flexibility : your schedule is up to you because you’re in charge! If you prefer to not work Thursdays and Mondays and instead work weekends, that’s totally fine. Get your best work done in the early morning? Go ahead. Control over earnings : you can set your own rates and payment schedule, meaning you’re requesting rates that you decide. Specialized skill sets : most freelancers are highly specialized in one area and that’s why companies hire them; they lack the in-house expertise. Freelancers can become experts in the area of their choosing. If working on a team is what you prefer, freelancing might not be for you: Stress : you’re suddenly responsible for your own brand marketing, finances, and projects with little to no guidance from other colleagues or your boss (that’s you!). This, coupled with the pressure to always maintain a full client roster, can lead to a lot of stress. Instability : most freelancers don’t sign contracts with their clients and this could mean you have twenty projects in September, fifteen in October, and just six in November. Your workload will vary significantly month-to-month. Lack of benefits : if you don’t work, you don’t get paid. In the world of freelancing, you’re not salaried so there’s no such thing as paid time off or sick days. And you won’t have employed-sponsored health insurance, if that’s something you value. Important : reporting to no one sounds really fun and cool until it’s time to pay the bills. If you aren’t someone that can keep themselves on track and focused, freelancing may not be the choice. Make sure you’re realistic with yourself before you make this jump. Traditional and Freelancing Jobs in Tech No matter your selected field, tech boasts incredible flexibility and options so that you can find the one that works best for you. Check out some possibilities here and help us help you make the best choice. Jobs in web development Web development is probably one of tech’s most well-known fields and jobs are plentiful; tech is advancing rapidly and skilled professionals are in-demand. Traditional web development jobs If you choose to work at a company in web development, you’ll most likely be able to specialize and focus on becoming a back end or front end developer, forming part of a larger team with specific people to take on each role. If you work for a big company, you’ll also be able to move to different departments with your team, working on different projects constantly. Freelance web development jobs Freelancing as a web developer will mean your responsibilities are a bit wider, requiring you to be quick on your feet and meet the needs of the specific project on which you’re working at the moment. These roles are perfect for those who don’t want to limit themselves to a specific branch of web development and instead would like to be well-rounded within the field. Jobs in data analytics Everyone has data and everyone needs someone who’s ready to interpret that data; this is why data analytics’ demand is skyrocketing. Traditional data analytics jobs Corporate data analytics roles will probably have you analyzing data at a high level, reviewing overall company performance and statistics. Although you might be asked to work on smaller-level projects, you’ll most likely be reviewing past and current business data to draw conclusions about the company and improve decision-making. Freelance data analytics jobs Lots of companies don’t have the bandwidth to support full-time data analysts, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need the valuable insights provided by data analysts. In this case, companies will outsource their data analysis work to freelancers, who will deal on very specific projects that can vary significantly from company to company. If you work best with lower-level, problem-specific cases, working as a freelance data analyst could be the perfect choice. Jobs in UX/UI design UX/UI designers are probably one of the most common types of freelancers, given that lots of companies prefer to hire designers for specific projects instead of keeping them in the company full-time. However, traditional roles do exist and are a great choice for those wanting a bit more stability. Traditional UX/UI design jobs Are you committed to working with one company, designing their brand from step one to the finished product? UX/UI designers who work full-time in house will have full control over the brand image, allowing you full creativity power. As an integral member of the team, you’ll also be able to work with other team members to fully analyze A/B tests or user experience reviews to continuously improve your product over time. Freelance UX/UI design jobs Do you prefer to harness your creativity over a wide range of projects, working on different things constantly? If so, freelancing as an UX/UI designer is probably the best choice for you. You’ll be able to seek out the projects that truly interest you and work short-term on specific assignments, always ready to take on the next, new challenge. Jobs in cybersecurity Technology is advancing fast, but so are cyber attacks and all companies, no matter the size, need both crisis prevention and recovery. Traditional cybersecurity jobs All companies need cybersecurity professionals to protect the company and user data from breaches and hacks and large companies in particular need to hire full-time, in-house professionals to ensure that their information and data are secure. These roles tend to be more preventative and instructive, helping to avoid future possibilities and assisting the entire company with their cyber safety. Freelance cybersecurity jobs If you’re interested in high-pressure, urgent issues, freelancing your skills as a cybersecurity professional could be the best choice. Most freelance cybersecurity professionals are hired to deal with a very specific task, such as in the case of a data breach or hack. If you work well on the fly, learning a company’s systems and solving problems quickly, this is a great choice for you. No matter what you choose, you’ll find the right choice for you--and that’s the beauty of tech! You are free to pick the right role for you that works well with your personal life and your professional goals, without sacrificing either. Interested? Kickstart your new future in tech today.

Today, it’s impossible to navigate the job market without a LinkedIn profile. That said, making a LinkedIn account that stands out is increasingly important if you’d like to be a competitive candidate for tech positions . However, the majority of tech professionals do not take advantage of all that the platform has to offer. There are a number of ways that you can improve your profile and activity on LinkedIn to expand your network, find new contacts, and make a perfect LinkedIn Profile for a cybersecurity professional. LinkedIn: Why Does it Matter? LinkedIn is a professional networking application that is utilized by tech professionals across the globe. Learning how to best utilize the application will be beneficial to your professional development and career growth . Having a profile will help build your professional network, discover job opportunities, and stay up to date with the current trends of the job market and in your industry. LinkedIn is more important than ever and here are a few reasons why: Networking : we know that the majority of job hires do result from networking. A study by LinkedIn revealed that up to 85% of jobs are filled through networking . That said, by creating a profile, you’ll be able to build your network through connecting to peers, colleagues, other folks who work in your industry and potential employers. Job opportunities: many businesses and recruiters use LinkedIn to find candidates for potential job openings. By creating and remaining active on your profile, you have a greater possibility of being contacted for potential job opportunities. Highlight your skills and achievements: your LinkedIn profile is essentially an online resume where you can showcase your achievements. Additionally, former colleagues or employers can endorse your skills and confirm your employment history, allowing you to find job listings that match your skills and experiences. Stay up to date: LinkedIn has over 900 million members and is utilized in over 200 countries and territories worldwide. That said, there’s no shortage of information and insights into the tech industry on the platform. Folks use LinkedIn to communicate new advances in all sectors, trends, and insights. By connecting or following relevant professionals in your industry, colleagues, and employers, you’ll be more informed about industry ongoings and developments in your field. Tips and Tricks for All LinkedIn Profiles As we know, LinkedIn has over 900 million members. Building a profile that helps you stand out among the masses becomes a necessary task for tech professionals. For cybersecurity professionals, the application is crucial in showcasing your skills and experience in order to build your professional network and uncover enticing career opportunities. Here are a couple tips for all LinkedIn users: Choose a professional profile photo: selecting a high-quality headshot is step one of making a great LinkedIn profile. As we know, LinkedIn is a career networking website and your photo should represent you as a professional. It should go without saying, but your headshot should be recent, clearly show your face, and capture you as a cleancut and qualified professional. Don’t forget, your profile also allows you to include a banner photo. We’d recommend using an image that relates to your work and is consistent with the personal brand that you’re working to cultivate. Craft a compelling headline: your LinkedIn headline is your moment to truly capture the attention of potential employers and other LinkedIn users. It should offer a broad summary of your professional experience and allude to your strengths and versatility as an employee. Write an engaging summary: the summary is your space to further elaborate on your strengths and unique qualities alluded to in your headline. Steer clear of fluffy words like “leader” or “passionate,” and zero in on keywords that are relevant to your industry. This is your chance to differentiate yourself from other candidates, make sure your summary is easy to read and markets your specific expertise. Showcase all work experiences: the beauty of LinkedIn is there is space to include an extensive amount of work experiences. And being multi talented or armed with diverse experiences is not something one should shy away from, if anything, versatility is something employers are increasingly interested in. Be active on LinkedIn : having a LinkedIn profile only means so much if one is not regularly using the network. If you want to take advantage of all the application offers, you have to be an active participant in it. Post about relevant ongoings in your field or congratulate your colleagues on their latest successes. Engaging on the application is crucial in truly building your network and in making folks aware of your own professional accomplishments. Keep your profile up-to-date: your profile should be regularly updated to ensure that it reflects your latest career decisions, skills, and accomplishments. These tips and tricks are important for anyone looking to get the most out of the application. Following these tips will help you create a strong LinkedIn profile that presents your expertise and competencies in order to market you as the qualified professional you are. Investing time into developing your LinkedIn profile is investment in yourself and your professional career. LinkedIn Profiles for Cybersecurity Professionals LinkedIn is an important platform for cybersecurity professionals to connect with others, stay on top of industry trends, and grow in their careers. From building your network to highlighting your specific hard skills, experiences and achievements, the platform is crucial to collaborating with others in the field and building your career as a tech professional. When marketing your skills as a cybersecurity professional, we’d recommend including relevant skills, certifications, recommendations and endorsements in your profile. Certifications Certifications are a professional way to certify that you have certain skills and knowledge that will help you be successful in a specific job position. These certifications are often what differentiates you from other candidates and confirm that you have the necessary expertise and capabilities to make you a strong cybersecurity professional. In the area of cybersecurity, these certifications may include the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) , the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) , the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) or the CompTIA Security+ Certification . Projects Potential employers want to see more than just your employment history. If you’ve worked on projects or led research initiatives, display that! Your profile will be much stronger if you highlight your successes and showcase your measurable results . In the world of cybersecurity this may include achievements like: Implemented a comprehensive security awareness training program that reduced employee susceptibility to phishing attacks by 50% within six months. Led a team in conducting a successful penetration test on a client’s network, identifying critical vulnerabilities and providing actionable recommendations resulting in a 30% improvement in overall security posture. The key here is to use verbs like “led,” “implemented,” or “orchestrated” to show your initiative and go-getter attitude. Equally, providing numbers and demonstrating the measurable impact you created through the development of these projects will provide a much stronger picture of your work for a potential employer. Summary The summary section on LinkedIn is your opportunity to go into depth about your specific abilities, competencies, and achievements. This is also your space to exhibit your personal brand or identity through this summary. Here is an example: [NAME] is a cybersecurity professional with five years of experience in the field. Thanks to their strong foundation of cybersecurity, as demonstrated through their obtainment of the following certifications...., [NAME] has benefited [COMPANY] in significant ways. [NAME] continues to develop and implement a variety of complex security management tools at [COMPANY] and has enhanced the company’s vulnerability management program resulting in a [70% reduction] in critical vulnerabilities across the organization over the last year alone. Through their strong knowledge of industry specific regulations (such as GDPR or HIPAA), and their attention to detail as it relates to risk management and cybersecurity, [NAME] has elevated [COMPANY’S] security practices in unprecedented ways. The summary should be written in third-person, include measurable results, and feature the specific ways in which you’ve transformed the company’s security practices. Professional Recommendations and Endorsements Including your skills relevant to your field of work is immensely important. That said, your profile will be significantly stronger if colleagues endorse your skills and competencies . Luckily, LinkedIn makes endorsing your abilities easy and allows for previous and current colleagues to partake in the process of confirming your specific abilities and noteworthy expertise. Reach out to current and previous employers or colleagues to request that they write a few sentences about your work ethic, specific expertise, or positive experiences working with you. Remember, steer clear from overly common buzzwords and instead zero in on your unique skills that differentiate you and showcase your competence and versatility . In the world of cybersecurity these skills may include: “penetration testing,” “incident response,” “threat intelligence,” or “risk assessment and management.” Again, make sure your professional contacts endorse your skills. Building a strong LinkedIn profile is a simple way that you can invest in yourself and your professional career. The platform is easy to use, but requires attention in order to create a profile that fully encapsulates your unique skills and competencies . We hope that these tips and tricks help you catch the eye of potential employers and help you expand your network as a cybersecurity professional.

Imposter syndrome: you’ve heard about it and probably even experienced it one point or another. Or maybe you don’t know what it is so we’ll quickly define it here: imposter syndrome is a psychological condition that is characterized by persistent doubt concerning one's abilities or accomplishments accompanied by the fear of being exposed as a fraud despite evidence of one's ongoing success. Simply put, it’s the feeling of not belonging because you perceive your abilities to be less than others around you. It frequently rears its head at the beginning of a new experience, such as the start of university or the first day at a new job, especially if you’re making a jump, like moving from high school to university or an internship to a full-time position. Sound familiar? It’s probably happened to you once or twice before and we’re not surprised. In fact, we’d be shocked if you said it’s never happened. Before we dive into how to overcome imposter syndrome in the tech sector , we’re going to discuss where it comes from, the five main types of imposter syndrome, and how it manifests itself. Where Does Imposter Syndrome Come From? Anyone can suffer from imposter syndrome, but there are a few groups that are more likely to experience it once or multiple times throughout their lives: Those who grew up in a family where they were constantly pressured to succeed Those whose family alternated between overpraise and criticism Those who frequently compare themselves to others Those who feel societal pressure to meet certain achievements This relatively new term can be used for more groups than others; at first, imposter syndrome was frequently identified in high-achieving women in the workforce, but is seen all over, especially with those that are different from their peers, such as women in male-dominated sectors or first-generation college students. It may seem like just a passing thought that will improve over time, but the effects of imposter syndrome can actually be quite intense in your professional, personal, and academic lives: Imposter syndrome at work: those suffering from imposter syndrome at work are less likely to ask for a raise or promotion and more likely to experience burnout or high stress levels. Imposter syndrome in your personal life : if you feel unworthy of your partner or friends, imposter syndrome is a common side effect, in addition to parents feeling they’re unprepared for that role. Imposter syndrome at school: if students don’t feel like they belong in a class or university, they are less likely to speak up and ask questions. Now that we know where imposter syndrome comes from and who it can affect, let’s dive into the five types of imposter syndrome. The five types of imposter syndrome The vast majority of those experiencing imposter syndrome can be grouped into five titles: the perfectionist, the natural genius, the rugged individualist, the expert, and the superhero. The perfectionist One of the key indicators of imposter syndrome is perfectionism and that’s why it’s our first group; perfectionists set very high expectations for themselves and are very hard on themselves if even one small part of those expectations aren’t reached, leading them to experience imposter syndrome and think they don’t belong or aren’t good enough. The natural genius This is more common than you’d think: many are the top of their class in high school and have spent their whole life as one of the best. Then they head to university and realize that they’re surrounded by people who are equally intelligent or even smarter for the first time and they struggle with no longer being the best. The rugged individualist Those who have spent their whole lives solving issues on their own can feel a sense of imposter syndrome if they don’t achieve things by themselves; asking for help is a key part of life, but those who struggle with it or see it as weak frequently experience imposter syndrome. The expert Some people only like entering situations where they’re an expert, having done all the possible research or preparation beforehand to ensure they reach the highest level of success. When they’re faced, on the other hand, with unfamiliar situations, they experience strong imposter syndrome. The Superhero People who fall under this category try to work harder than everyone around them to prove that they belong and aren’t imposters; however, when there is a part of their life that is even a little bit weaker than others, they experience strong feelings of imposter syndrome. How Does Imposter Syndrome Manifest Itself? You probably have a pretty solid idea of what imposter syndrome is, but let’s discuss some of the tell tale signs that imposter syndrome is creeping up on you: Do you think that others believe that you’re smarter/more accomplished/skilled than you really are? Do you think your success is due to luck or other people’s decisions? Do you frequently feel unprepared for the same task? Do you hold yourself back from setting high goals due to fear of failure? Do you feel unworthy of praise? If you answered yes to any of these, you’ve probably experienced imposter syndrome in one of its many forms. And while there’s no simple cure to imposter syndrome, there are some steps you can take to both identify and prevent it from becoming an issue in the future. Imposter syndrome in tech The tech sector just might be the industry with the highest level of imposter syndrome, due to the rapid speed of innovation and change that makes it feel impossible to keep up, the incredibly fast-paced and competitive nature of the industry, and both the current workers and the stereotypes associated with tech employees. Traditionally, tech jobs and career paths were held by overachievers and those at the top of their classes; this led to many of the imposter syndrome groups we listed above. But we have a little spoiler for you: you do belong and your past doesn’t define your future success in the industry. In fact, employers are actually starting to favor those with diverse backgrounds and experiences because tech skills are needed across absolutely every industry. At the beginning of your career, you may begin to feel stronger feelings of imposter syndrome as you grapple with educated and intelligent co-workers and new technologies. But once you’ve recognized that you suffer from imposter syndrome, you’ll be able to take the necessary steps to prepare yourself to overcome it and make sure it doesn’t affect your personal and professional growth. Overcoming imposter syndrome Avoid comparing yourself to others Comparing yourself to others is a fail-proof way to ensure you end up feeling bad about yourself or experiencing imposter syndrome; no matter if you’re in the same role as someone else or taking the same course: everyone has different circumstances and backgrounds which contribute to where they are today. Your achievements are your own and can’t be compared to anyone else, regardless of how similar you seem. Avoid perfectionism Failure is an unavoidable part of human life and even if you relentlessly try to avoid it, it will happen. As disappointing as that might be to accept, it will help you see that mistakes and failure happen constantly and are totally normal! Your mistakes do not define you and can actually help you grow and improve. Write down your accomplishments We’ve all had those moments where we feel like a failure and out of place, but the truth is simple: we’ve gotten to where we are because we’ve earned it. If you have trouble realizing that in a tough moment, try writing down your accomplishments so that when you’re having a tough time and experiencing imposter syndrome, you can go back and see what you’ve achieved. Talk to someone If your feelings of imposter syndrome are affecting the way you work or function on a daily basis, it’s probably time to talk to a therapist. They can help you work on your feelings of self-doubt and feel better overall. Another idea is to talk to your peers; odds are they are feeling similar feelings of imposter syndrome and hearing that people feel inferior to you and are in awe of your achievements, or simply hearing validation from those in similar positions, can help your overall self-worth. No matter your background or skill set, Ironhack’s bootcamps are designed for everyone to reach success, preparing all students to enter on an even playing field and find their calling in tech. Sound like something you’d be interested in? We can’t wait to see your application.

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

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

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

If a smartphone is a basic necessity at this point, what other devices do you have at home? Do you ask Alexa for the weather in the morning or create meal plans on your Samsung refrigerator? Or maybe your thermostat learns your temperature preferences, adjusts the settings, and ensures that the energy bill stays low. As connected as the world is now, it’s hard to fathom just how truly connected we are ; most of us are surrounded by smart devices from the moment we wake up to when we lay our heads on our pillows. So what are these devices, how do they work, and what does this dependence on them mean for us? Let’s dive in. What are IoT Devices? As mentioned above, smart devices are used for an endless amount of tasks that make our lives a little bit easier and referring to these devices as smart is another way of saying IoT devices. IoT, or the Internet of Things , are machines that are connected to the internet so they both receive and send information and create an interconnected network amongst them. Devices such as smart locks, doorbell cams, plugs, and even smart bidets are just some of the infinite amount of machines that are now connected to the internet. Outside of everyday household products, there are many IoT devices that are industrial and are important in enhancing our society too, such as factory monitoring and automation. How do IoT Devices Work? You may be lost in the clouds a bit about how IoT devices work but don’t worry, IoT is much more at home in the Cloud. IoT devices work cyclically in how they gather, analyze, and later present data to the user. It can be broken down into four steps: Sensors/devices For devices to be of use, they must collect data based on what they perceive in the environment. Some devices have sensors that gather the information from their surroundings and others are devices that take in data from various sources like a smartphone. For example, thermostats use their sensors to gather information on the temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors. 2. Internet connection Now that the IoT has collected all the data, what next? The device shares the information that they have with the Cloud using their connection to the internet. The IoT can connect to the Cloud in a variety of ways such as cell data, WiFi, bluetooth, and satellite. 3. Data analysis Now that the Cloud has the data, it needs to be processed. At this stage, software takes it and analyzes and organizes it so that it can be sent right back to the device. 4. User interaction The data is ready for user access and goes to the device to display all the processed information. IoT devices try to maintain internet connectivity and this process constantly repeats so that they can continue to provide the user with the desired information. Current situation In 2021, there were more than 10 billion active IoT devices and it is projected that by 2030, the number of IoT active devices will reach almost 30 billion . These devices are an integral part of our society and now that we use them so frequently, we have come to depend on them as well . Unfortunately, IoT devices are sensitive machines and can be breached by hackers looking to take advantage of their connectivity and access a massive amount of data. The data that they are collecting is dangerous in the wrong hands. Some devices are even constant video feeds of your house. But to which kinds of dangers are IoT devices susceptible? Poor testing and updating One of the biggest reasons that IoT devices are susceptible to security breaches is because most companies don’t watch over their devices’ networks and only act when a problem has already occurred. As hackers become more creative and bold, they’re finding different ways to sneak their way beyond the current security parameters and since companies don’t continuously test for and make updates to their devices’ defenses, the information may get breached later on. Botnet threats A botnet attack is a sophisticated manipulation of a huge number of malware-corrupted bots that are sent to attack a certain target all at once. IoT devices are highly vulnerable to malware attacks; as a result, cybersecurity has to be ready for them and unfortunately, IoT devices don’t normally receive updates to their systems as computers do. Botnet attacks can easily take down and threaten big and small devices alike. Expanded attack surface As seen above, IoT devices have reached an astronomically high number of active use and there is no stopping them. Because of this and the fact that they are all interconnected, hackers have an easier time of attacking finding one small entryway that is less protected and taking advantage of it to reach other sensitive information. Especially vulnerable devices There are some IoT devices that can be used to gain access to more than just your sensitive information and can be even dangerously hijacked to cause physical harm in the real world. Break-ins Home invasion has always been a threat; however, houses are replete with IoT devices with some homes taking on the role of a modern day Smart House . Thanks to poor defense mechanisms and unsafe devices, hackers can easily gain access to the IP address of a user’s home and also learn the address of their home. 2. Smart vehicle access Similar to break-ins, smart vehicles are also vulnerable to hacking, but this can be even more dangerous in that other features of a smart car can be used for safety while moving. A smart car can be hacked not only to remove crucial safety procedures, but also to block turning over the engine, restrict access to the car, and even access your location. Solutions Although IoT devices are vulnerable to cyberattacks, there are many cybersecurity professionals that are working diligently to prevent them from breaking through the devices’ defenses. The following are just a few ways that cybersecurity professionals can protect your data: Network fortification Back end systems, IoT devices, and the network that links the two need to be fortified with security features for when cyberattacks happen and include the following: Firewalls Antivirus Anti-malware IDS and IPS (intrusion detection/prevention software) SIEM (Security information and event management) Network segmentation into VLANS Secure gateways IoT security analytics and updates IoT devices generate a lot of data, which can be very beneficial for cybersecurity professionals in mitigating security risks. The information that they collect can show potential vulnerabilities and threats to the network and consequently, giving them the opportunity to course correct, think of a solution, and enact updates to the system. IoT devices authentication Cybersecurity solutions are becoming more and more thorough and personal and use identity authentication to prove that the correct person is accessing the information. If you have ever had to ask a security question or click a box that ensures that you’re not a robot, then you have gone through this step. In addition to multi-factor authentication, biometric systems are put in place to ensure that no hacker can get to the information. Public key infrastructure strategy Sometimes cybersecurity requires high complexity when it comes to protecting data and in the case of public key infrastructure strategy, key pairs are used to ensure that encryption has extra security. The process uses public and private cryptographic pairs to secure the information. PKI uses two sets of encryption, asymmetric and symmetric , that depend on the two keys. Asymmetric encryption requires a public and a private key. If information is encrypted with the public key, then decryption must be carried out with the private one. Symmetric encryption does not require both keys, but rather one same key. Both asymmetric and symmetric encryption secure your data, but are used for different purposes. The future of IoT devices and cybersecurity As IoT devices become more and more ubiquitous and the surface area for attack extends further and further, the need for more creative solutions to defend them from cyberattacks grows alongside them and who will create them? Cybersecurity professionals. As threats increase and escalate, companies will need more and more cybersecurity professionals to create new ways to protect their networks, devices, and data. It is estimated that by 2025, there will be approximately 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity positions globally. If you’re looking to become one of these cybersecurity professionals, look no further than Ironhack’s cybersecurity bootcamp and soon enough, you’ll be helping fortify IoT devices’ cybersecurity yourself.

Networking is essential . According to a 2016 survey , 85% of job positions are filled through the power of networking. We live in a world where we can create a relationship with someone both virtually and in person and there are so many chances to make those relationships blossom. But how does one go about meeting new contacts and creating that long-lasting connection in the tech world? Let’s discuss. How to Meet People in Tech Tech events There are lots of different events in the tech world that professionals can both attend and take part in, giving them the opportunity to meet new people. Peers, along with leaders in the field, attend these tech events to share their knowledge and create connections, making tech events like Hackathons and tech conferences incredible networking opportunities. Hackathon At a Hackathon, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside a group of peers and against other teams with one goal: finding a solution to the problem presented. Throughout the competition, there are plenty of moments to share not only with the peers on your own team, but also with other participants. The solutions presented are quite creative and discussing them can be a great way to break the ice. 2. Tech conferences Tech conference attendees are not only from around the world, but also boast varying positions at a long list of companies. You might be nervous about meeting so many new people, but people attend these events with the same goal in mind : talk to new people and make new connections. Online resources The internet is a place where so many people connect and for people in tech, it’s an important space to meet new people, share ideas, and connect. Social networks and online communities Do you have LinkedIn? A Reddit account? Or how about Facebook? There are so many different social networks that assist in connecting people that share common interests and careers. As a result, these social networks connect professionals from all over, meaning that your network will have no restraints. In addition to uniting tech professionals, it also helps create a personal brand.  Since your profile is the first thing that people will encounter, it will have a huge influence on whether or not people decide to reach out. 2. Meetups Using Meetup, you can set up meetings in person. Although online groups are great for making virtual first contact as well as building strong bonds, these in-person events facilitate stronger connections. Education Just like in college, tech courses throw a group of people together into a classroom to not only learn, but also socialize. By meeting people in classes, you can connect over the class itself, your interests, and your shared futures. Workshops Workshops may be short term, but don’t count them out as a great way to meet new people! Sometimes they can be as short as one online class; nevertheless, the purpose behind all of these methods is to put tech professionals in contact with one another. Get the contact information of the instructor or another student during the workshop and work on maintaining that connection. 2. Bootcamps Do you still keep in contact with your friends from high school? What about college? When you attend a bootcamp, you’re together with a group of people in the same class all with the same goal and, just like with college and high school, that really unites people. Bootcamps can be done either remote or in person and if you do it abroad, you can even make contacts in other countries. People that don’t live in your immediate area have the potential to make a significant impact on your career. 3. Alumni network Alumni understand your situation and often want to take people under their wing. Ironhack has a network of alumni working at companies around the world and could be of help to you. Professional associations and organizations When you were in college or high school did you belong to a club or fraternity that accepted you as an integral part of their organization? These groups may not be as common later on in life; however, they still exist for tech professionals. A lot of people look for camaraderie and support in their careers and organizations and associations such as the User Experience Professionals Association (UXPA) or ASIS International were created to unite and assist members from all over the world. There are organizations that exist on several levels so if an international group doesn’t tickle your fancy, you can always find national and local level organizations that may suit you better. Workplace There’s nothing like finding great coworkers and even though it’s obvious, they can serve as incredible contacts later on. But how can you leverage workplace contacts even further? Your coworkers’ contacts Coworkers are sometimes the people you most interact with and oftentimes are part of the same circles as you. But they can introduce you to other people they know and since you see them regularly, there’s nothing easier than telling your coworkers to invite one new person to happy hour to meet a whole new group of professionals. 2. Job interviews It may seem odd, but job interviews offer opportunities to make new contacts even if  the job isn’t a right fit for you in the end. When you have interviews and send emails with the same recruiter, you never know how they might pop up again later. They may believe that you are more suitable for a position that you hadn’t applied for or may even know other recruiters that could point you in a different direction. These different situations and groups are how you gain access to people, but how do you  approach them to have first contact and shine? Here are a few tips to leave a great first impression: Tips for Making Conversation with a New Contact Be brave and accept the nerves Nerves and jitters are totally normal when meeting people for the first time. It may seem counterintuitive for most, but embracing those nerves can be helpful. When you're nervous, it’s best to accept that you’re feeling it and leverage that bubbling, invigorating energy to try to start that conversation. It may be hard to do so at the beginning, but after doing it enough times, those nerves will start to go away and you may even feel comfortable approaching a stranger. Keep it professional When you’re speaking to a potential business contact, the first conversation is the time to make a good first impression about your professional life and show them who you are; however, make sure that you keep it professional . It’s important to show who you are and what you represent as a tech professional, but there’s no need to bring up anything about a date you had last week that went really well or how your boss treats you poorly. Those may be topics on your mind at the time, but an interview isn’t the right time. Know your body language There are a lot of ways our bodies react naturally to having a conversation, conveying our feelings non-verbally. Although this won’t deter someone from speaking to you, it’s important to be aware of what you’re doing when having that conversation with a speaker. For example, if you cross your arms you may be trying to protect yourself and can come off as distant or cold to the other person. Be yourself When you’re talking to new people, it’s normal to want to be liked, especially when you’re trying to make new contacts, but it’s okay if there isn’t a connection off the bat. Trying to please them isn’t worth it because you are you ; telling them opinions and lies about yourself will only get you so far before the truth emerges. Show them who you are, revel in it, and you’ll make the contacts that are right for you . Building a strong professional network focuses on connecting with new people in various situations; new, everyday, online, or in person, the world is full of unlimited networking possibilities for any tech professional. If you want to have access to Ironhack’s international alumni and hiring network that will support you in getting your first job right after graduation, check out Ironhack’s career services page for more information.

We all felt this way before; what’s the point of learning something that’s completely outside your scope of work or studies? If you had to take language or science classes as a history major in college, you probably feel strongly about this. And on the surface, it makes sense. Why does someone specializing in Shakespeare need to learn about physics? Or why does someone studying biology need to learn Spanish? While we’ll hear your arguments on those two questions, tech is a completely different story altogether. After the pandemic and due to fast-moving innovation, technologies have been evolving incredibly fast and almost every sector and industry is relying on tech to continue advancing and keep up with the competition. What does this mean? Well, we’re not saying that you need to learn every programming language known to man for your marketing job, but learning about UX/UI design and data analysis would certainly give you a leg up. And that’s not even mentioning the virtues of being aware of cyber threats. Tech in 2023 You might think of tech professionals as nerds who sit behind their computer screens all day, typing away at confusing looking codes or reading endless pages of data. And we’re not going to lie–there’s certainly a few like that. But the advance of tech means that tech is infiltrating almost every single sector; whether you work in sales, real estate, marketing, education, or healthcare, tech is probably becoming an increasingly present part of your day to day. Machine learning, artificial intelligence, and automation are the main trends we’re seeing, but it’s not going to stop there. So even if you’re completely against the idea of learning any kind of tech, we promise it can be quite helpful. We know deciding what to learn can be a challenge in and of itself, so keep reading and discover the best tech skills for non-tech professionals and why taking on these skills is so crucial. Why are tech skills important for me ? No matter your industry or career focus, tech skills are absolutely crucial for success. Don’t believe us? Take a look: More job opportunities : we mentioned it above and we’ll say it once again: tech is growing and advancing and more and more companies are seeking out skilled professionals who know how to use new technologies. Adding these key skills to your resume can help you stand out from the crowd. Increased productivity and problem-solving skills : technology is here to help us and by taking advantage of all the tools at our disposal, not just the ones with which we’re familiar, we can reach never before seen levels of productivity and problem-solving. Better time management and efficiency : you can forget about spending hours inputting data into a spreadsheet; learning how to use time saving tools can help you get more work done in less time. Improved cybersecurity : as tech advances, so do cybersecurity threats and between phishing, malware, data breaches, and identity theft, threats are all around us. As you become more comfortable with technology, you’ll be better equipped to handle any possible threat before it becomes an issue. Tech Skills (for non-techies) We’ve chosen five skills that, even if you’re technologically challenged, can be mastered with a bit of study and focus. These skills, once understood, will help you in your role (no matter where you work!) Programming A lot of project lifecycles live and breathe coding and if you’re woefully lost about the basics of programming, it can be easy to lose track of progress or catch problems before they cause issues. Learning some programming can help you not only better understand your own websites and apps, but also develop your abstract and concept-level thinking skills. Low-code platforms Complicated programming systems aren’t the only option; in fact, Gartner predicts that 65% of all software development activity will be low code by 2024. These platforms serve as an alternative to modern software development tools and require only a basic knowledge of programming and tech; this skill will allow you to take on lots more tasks without dedicating too much time to studying the new skill. UX/UI design This frequently underestimated branch of tech is actually quite crucial and manifests in a number of ways; understanding what users want and what works for them is the basis of selling basically any product or service. After all, marketing and social media strategies are fully based in understanding the user and creating content specifically for a particular group. Data analysis Collecting data, such as what users want more of or what they don’t like, is essential only if that data can then be used and understood. Data analysis includes data collection and organization, using different storage and analysis methods to read and determine what message the data sends. This skill is again incredibly important for a wide range of jobs and sectors. Data visualization Analyzing and collecting data is great–if you know how to communicate that data to the rest of your team. If you work on a generally not-number focused team, showing them lots of numbers with no further information could result in a complete waste of time; data visualization is the practice of displaying data and results in a way that allows everyone, not just data scientists, to understand what it shows. The benefits of learning new tech skills are simply unmatched, no matter your current role or career goals. In fact, new tech skills may let you reach heights you never even thought were possible. If you’re ready to take on the challenge and dedicate time to learning new skills, Ironhack’s bootcamps are the best place to start. We can’t wait to see you soon!

You may be shocked at how much overlap there is between data analysis and UX/UI design. But the truth is that engagement drives profit and companies have nothing but incentive to use every tool at their disposal to reach, maintain, and grow their customer base . Modern web design features a much tighter overlap between web developers, data analysts, and UX/UI designers in an effort to create a unique and frictionless experience for consumers. What is UX/UI Design? Form or function: what’s more important? A UI designer might say form, but a UX designer wouldn’t dare pick sides. UX, or user experience, is all about creating products that are natural and effortless to use. UI, otherwise known as user interface, deals instead with the overall look of a product. Both are extremely important and tightly coupled (you can’t have a great experience without a great interface!), so modern day web designers are tasked with doing both things, hence the term UX/UI design. In today’s day and age, virtually every product used by everyday consumers has a GUI, or a graphical user interface. The user interface (i.e. the way the user interacts with an app or a website) is an integral part of the user experience, so it makes sense that one person can serve both as the UX and the UI designer. Both tasks are so important that it’s not logical to divide the job amongst different people and risk the UX and UI design becoming out-of-sync. But, what might be surprising to learn is that a UX/UI Designer not only performs two functions, but is also usually working with multiple different software development teams at once. It takes time to create a good design and the software team usually can’t get started on their work until the design is finalized, so the designers and the developers are rarely working on the same features at the same time. After, once the features are built out, the data analysts can come in and inform the business on which features make sense to the users and which ones do not. From there, the data analysts and UX/UI designers can work together to address the concerns and create an improved user experience. But, let’s not get carried away: for now, let’s learn about what it means to be a UX/UI designer in the context of modern web development. UI Design We keep talking about UX/UI design (not UI/UX design), but we think the concept is easier to understand if we start out by first describing UI design. As we briefly stated earlier, UI Design deals exclusively with the overall look of a product . UI designers are tasked with creating something beautiful. As a UI designer, you would focus on how a specific web page or even individual elements of a web page look and function. By the time you’re ready to pass on the product to the web development team, it should be something that’s attractive, exhaustive, and intuitive. UX Design UX Design is all about the user. It’s about creating a product that, yes, looks good, but, above all, feels good to the user. A UX designer is tasked with making an entire product, from start to finish, one seamless experience for the user. Because of this, a UX designer has to care about individual UI elements as a button or even a tooltip that doesn’t make sense can throw off the user and create an experience that’s less than the sum of its parts. Creating a product that’s intuitive is the hardest part of the web development lifecycle, but also the most important. What is Data Analysis? Data analysis is something everyone does every single day. Simply put, it’s the processing of data with the intention of identifying patterns and insights. Of course, everyday data analysis and what data analysts do on-the-job are two very different things: companies hire data analysts to explore massive amounts of data in a rigorous and repeatable way in order to extract and present subtle, buried takeaways they wouldn’t otherwise recognize. There are four key aspects to the role of a data analyst: collection, interpretation, reporting, and governance–you may have noticed that one of those is not like the others! Let’s go over each key aspect and why it’s important: Collection : data analysts are skilled at gathering information from as many sources as possible, working to ensure that the data they collect is of high-enough quality that useful analysis can be performed on it. Interpretation : using a number of techniques, data analysts identify patterns, trends, and correlations within the data they collected. These insights can be used to describe what , why , when , and how users do what they do as well as drive models that can be used to predict future user actions. Reporting : information is only useful to you if you have it! Data analysts play a crucial role in ensuring that stakeholders are made aware of their findings. By presenting data in a digestible format, data analysts can enable decision-makers to best understand their users and make correct choices for future iterations of a product. Governance : This role is what’s least talked about when it comes to data analysis. Data analysts are responsible not just for collecting data, but for establishing data standards, ensuring data integrity, and implementing data management practices. How and when companies can collect data is becoming increasingly more regulated and data analysts have to make sure businesses are always in compliance with the law. Now we know exactly what UX/UI design and data analysis both are. You’ve probably already made some educated guesses and have an idea of how the two roles can work together during a product life cycle. Let’s see if you got it right. How do Data Analysts and UX/UI Designers Work Together? Today’s world is more data-driven than ever. And, the success of any product (digital or otherwise) depends on its ability to meet the needs and preferences of its users. Naturally, businesses employ data analysts to better understand user behavior in order to create more intuitive and impactful user-centric digital experiences. Before we get started on discussing how data analysts and UX/UI designers work together, let’s debunk one common misconception: data analysts can play a role at the beginning of a product life cycle . You’re probably wondering how a data analyst could possibly be useful before there exists a product for which to gather data but, as previously mentioned, data analysts are also tasked with ensuring that businesses are in compliance with the law with regards to data gathering. Data analysts can be helpful in the process of crafting a user experience that is legal and data-rich. They can also be helpful by presenting insights gathered from similar products or experiences. Bottom line is that every role in a web development team can be useful during any and every part of the product life cycle. Back to the subject at hand: how do data analysts and UX/UI designers work together? In short, they use their combined knowledge to understand the user journey and to create a product that meets all the needs of their users. They do this in three steps: user research, product design, and usability testing. Let’s go over each one. User research In order to create a product that users will enjoy, designers must first understand exactly what users want from their product. Data analysts are able to bridge the gap between users and designers by conducting research on what features users value and why . Whether it be through surveys or interviews, data analysts can gather feedback that provides valuable insights into user preferences and pain points. It’s important the designers know what users like, don’t like, and wish they had. Product design Armed with information on what’s important to the users, designers are able to create, iterate, and improve on features while prioritizing the existing issues that are most important. A great product isn’t created in one go; it takes time systematically analyzing user data to be able to refine a product vision to be in line with user expectations. A data-driven approach helps designers create user-centric designs that are optimized for usability, engagement, and overall satisfaction. Usability Testing This step is similar to user research, but happens after a product or feature is released. Usability testing is all about collecting data on user interactions and behaviors in order to be able to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of a design. Usability testing can be used to validate design choices or influence new design decisions. Like with the scientific method, designers use usability testing as one of many tools to be able redesign products to meet the specific needs of its users. What’s next? The great thing about being a data analyst or a UX/UI designer is that you’ll always be well-compensated and have the opportunity to work on exciting products. What’s more, Ironhack provides a number of exciting bootcamps designed to transform your skills and abilities in as little as nine weeks. You’ll find that Ironhack offers bootcamps for just about anybody, whether you want to become a UX/UI designer, a data analyst, a web developer, or even a cybersecurity expert. We’re sure that, with our help, you’ll be able to reach your career goals in no time. Come poke around our website to see which bootcamp is the best fit for you. We can’t wait to see you in class!

You’ve heard about tech bootcamps and you’re probably asking yourself, okay, they sound great but what can they actually accomplish?! Well, we’re here to let you in on a little secret: a lot. That’s right; bootcamps have been rapidly gaining popularity over the last few years thanks to one huge thing: bootcamps are able to teach the latest technologies and prepare candidates to enter the workforce immediately after graduation. It might seem impossible; after all, if bootcamps are so effective, why does anyone go through the traditional methods of a university education? Or why don’t more people choose them? We’ll discuss these questions and cover any of your other doubts in this article. Tech Bootcamps: What Even Are They?! As we mentioned above, tech bootcamps are relatively innovative and new methods of learning that have grown in popularity over the past few years thanks to the digital boom caused in part by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Technology is advancing so fast (we’re almost 5 years ahead of where we thought we’d be!) and as more and more companies are relying on technological solutions, not just those already in the tech world, the number of tech employees needed has skyrocketed. And that’s exactly where tech bootcamps come into play: these courses, usually taught over a few months, look at the current market needs and teach those skills to their students. They are becoming essential , not just common, because of the speed at which tech moves. As new technologies come into play, employers can’t keep hiring new workers for the newest skill to then need new needs met within a few months as innovation strikes again. Many companies choose to put their employees through bootcamps, covering all costs so that they’re able to meet market needs. In other cases, individuals themselves decide to take a bootcamp to make a career change and dive into tech. And why are tech bootcamps specifically such a popular choice? Let’s dive right in. Bootcamps vs. university education Tech is advancing fast. So fast, in fact, that most traditional learning methods, like universities, are having trouble keeping up. Let’s break it down: university curricula are usually set and defined by the department head at the beginning of the year and typically don’t allow for much wiggle room. And the classes that students take are clearly defined, meaning that opportunities to learn topics outside of their chosen course of study can be limited or even impossible; the goal of university classes is for you to graduate. On the other hand, bootcamps have one main goal: get you ready to join the workforce immediately after your graduation. Reskilling For a long time, people thought they were limited to the roles that they studied. For example, marketing students thought they were limited to just marketing roles and responsibilities; however, the intersectionality of the majority of fields has led to a change in that mindset and reskilling has become a popular choice. Reskilling is quite simple; in fact, many companies are choosing to reskill their workers and take what they already know they’re capable of, such as teamwork and critical thinking, and teach them what they need to know to meet company demands. Tech is advancing and more and more individuals are seeing it as a viable option, no matter their background. Tech across industries Gone are the days of working in simply one area; as we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic, all industries are relying more and more on tech. As we touched upon above, this means that people of all backgrounds can get into tech at any moment ; Ironhack alumni come from professions such as teaching, administration, marketing, hospitality, and more. In fact, we’ve seen it all on our campuses. Bootcamps and Professional Development In addition to preparing you for the workforce by teaching you everything you need to know to enter the market, bootcamps provide you with another incredible advantage: professional development and career support . From the day you confirm your spot in the bootcamp, you’ll be able to access some of the tech school’s resources, such as their career services, job boards, and alumni networks. Ironhack’s Career Services At Ironhack, we fully understand and respect the investment you’re making into your future by choosing to take one of our bootcamps and that’s why we’ve worked to perfect our Career Services, a team of tech-experienced HR professionals who work with you one on one. Here’s a breakdown of our four step process: Preliminary discovery : let’s get to the bottom of why you’re taking the bootcamp before it even begins! During this section, you’ll focus on figuring out why you’re here, what you want to achieve, and what your goals are. Even though we’re here to help as needed, the results of both the bootcamp and your job search will ultimately depend on you and it’s essential to figure out your motivations early on. Digital foundations : begin your journey in tech while meeting one-on-one with one of our talented Career Coaches who are here to help you succeed; they have experience in tech recruiting and will help review your CV, LinkedIn profile, pitch, and portfolio to ensure you’re putting your best foot forward for the job search. During this section, you’ll also be asked about your language and location preferences. Preparation : dive into Career Week and learn lots in workshops, webinars, and challenges; now that you’re clear on your goals and skills, you can practice interviewing, check out the jobs that interest you, and resolve any concerns you may have. Job hunting : finish the bootcamp strong and head right into the job hunt, taking advantage of our one-to-one sessions with our Career Coaches and using our wide network of global alumni and connections to get your first step into tech. Common FAQs about Bootcamps Still have some burning questions? Let’s answer them: Will employers even consider my application if I don’t have a four-year degree? We can’t speak for every employer out there, but we are quite familiar with the tech job market and can assure you of one thing: employers are looking for high-quality, skilled applicants that demonstrate both hard and soft skills. The vast majority of employers will look mainly at your skills and qualifications and focus on what you can actually bring to the table. Tech is just for men. Will I be hired as a woman/minority? Absolutely; tech still has a long way to go in terms of equality and that’s no secret. But it’s improving and more and more women are finding success in the industry. Don’t believe us? Check it out yourself: Women in tech serve as mentors for younger girls and women just starting out They use their unique and diverse experiences to provide an entirely new outlook: something that’s sorely needed in many industries. Female tech employees improve both workplace culture and office safety. Their collaboration results in products that are better designed and thought out for a wider range of people, not just men. I’ve never worked in tech--will bootcamps really prepare me for the real world? Yes! Bootcamps are designed to give you both the knowledge you need to get a job and the foundational knowledge needed to succeed in tech. After all, you’ll need a solid base to build off of and bootcamps provide just that. Bootcamps are expensive for such a short class length. Are they worth it? Well, like everything, you get out what you put in. If you’re willing to dedicate time and effort to them, they are absolutely worth it and can help you get a job in tech for much less money than a traditional four-year university degree. And finally, the big one: Will tech bootcamps actually help me get a job? We hope that this whole article has shown you the importance of tech bootcamps and that the industry needs bootcamp grads right now ; the tech sector requires forward-thinking, diverse workers that are ready to keep learning on the go and can bring a wide range of experiences to the table. Now that we’ve resolved all your doubts, what are you waiting for?! Ironhack’s bootcamps in web development , UX/UI design , data analytics , and cybersecurity are all carefully designed to help you launch your career in tech, providing you first with the foundational knowledge needed and then harnessing your individual skills to find the perfect place for you. If you’re already convinced, check out our application process here and get started on your tech journey. We can’t wait to see everything you accomplish!

For lots of us, the opportunity to live in another country and study, learn, and grow in a variety of ways has come and gone a few times. Most times, experiences abroad after your 20s consist of a week or two on vacation or a short work trip, but what if you could make it longer? Studying abroad at a tech bootcamp is a great way to have that experience and the chance to enter a world of new possibilities. The benefits to studying abroad are limitless; let’s discuss. Reasons to Study Abroad at a Tech Bootcamp Open a new perspective If moving just 100 miles away can be a major shift, imagine moving across an ocean or continent! Leaving your country gives you the chance to: See how people live in a different climate, culture, landscape, and history See how much it differs from your own culture and customs Meet new people and learn about their points of view 2. Learn more than just one language When studying at a tech bootcamp, one of the major goals for web development and cybersecurity professionals is to learn coding and other computer languages. And when moving to another country to study tech, you have the choice to learn another language–a different kind of language , of course! Computer coding languages may not be used for verbal communication but languages like German, Spanish, and French are. Maybe you studied a language in college or grew up learning it and a tech bootcamp abroad could mean reconnecting and relearning an old language. It’s just like becoming reacquainted with an old friend. 3. Escape from the same old and create a new life Life can sometimes become monotonous and dull; however, new changes and adventures can be an opportunity to invigorate your life again. A tech bootcamp means new challenges  and opportunities abound and starting your exciting adventure in a new place can also be a way to put the past behind you and focus on a future full of hope. And as you’ll be moving into a field that has so much room for growth and limitless potential, your future is very bright. 4. Grow as a person Living in a city where you don’t know the local language can be quite difficult; nevertheless, deciding to study abroad is where so much growth and development happens. When we are faced with challenges that we are capable of overcoming and go on an adventure that connects with our deepest desires and hopes, we connect to ourselves and develop more confidence. We can try new foods and be fine, we can order that coffee in another language, mess up the words, and still enjoy the experience, knowing that we have our own backs. When we put ourselves out there time and time again, it can lead to incredible personal growth. 5. Balance work, life, and studying Tech bootcamps vary in duration and can be full or part-time and depending on the schedule you choose, you have the option to study abroad, work, and explore what the area has to offer. Having the option to choose a part-time schedule in a new country can be a luxury and may be exactly what you need to give you a great work/fun balance that you didn’t have before. In some parts of the world, you live to work while in other parts you work to live. A mindset shift when it comes to time management and lifestyle can have a lasting impact on your future. 6. Adapt to remote work abroad Since the Covid-19 pandemic shook the world, many workplaces and institutions have turned to remote work and studying at a tech bootcamp in another country would also be a fantastic way to accumulate remote work experience . While at a tech bootcamp, many continue working, balancing their studies and job to maintain a steady income and learn. And living abroad and completing remote work with a new time schedule adds another layer to improve upon and adapt to for remote work. 7. Make contacts around the world Studying abroad anywhere is all about the new and people is no exception: People from around the world go to tech bootcamps abroad and also locals enjoy the tech bootcamps in their cities. Having access to both foreigners and locals gives you the opportunity to create lasting bonds with people that you can not only visit in different countries, but also can show you around the city you’re living in. Your classmates can even potentially connect you with potential job offers and point you in the right direction when you graduate and start expanding your circle. Having access to all these contacts is really important after graduation. 8. Improve soft skills Classrooms are a place for learning but classrooms in a different country means learning takes on a whole new form. You can learn a lot of soft skills when studying like time management, growth mindset, and teamwork; however, stepping out of the classroom into a new country gives you access to develop other soft skills like adaptability, communication, and networking. Soft skills such as these look great when it’s time to apply for jobs post-bootcamp. What kinds of situations outside of the classroom might help you work on these soft skills? Socializing with new people in a variety of different settings Adapting to a culture where the norms and customs differ from your own Altering your own speaking style to help others understand you better Handling conflicts with roommates from other countries Listening actively to unfamiliar words, expressions, and ways of speaking Developing these soft skills come in all sorts of flavors and in a new country, the chances to have many at-bats are infinite. 9. Experience new styles of learning and studying There are a variety of ways in which students learn and how they do it depends highly on the country and their education system. Some have more of a hands off approach while others believe that more work like on group projects and tests are the best methodology. For example, in countries like Spain, teachers tend to lecture more often and give less assignments but in the United States, there’s lots of homework and more outside office hours. 10. Find your home Moving to any new place could provoke feelings and a connection that you haven’t experienced before. If you've lived in one town, city, or country for your whole life, an unfamiliar setting you’ve never been to before can mean you find a new home and life. The culture, food, and maybe even a special person could be the determining factor that turns your study abroad experience into a long-lasting decision to make a new life in a new place. Or it may make you realize that your home was right where you left it before your study abroad experience began. Although we’ve only listed ten benefits to studying abroad, there are many more that make it a really exciting and great opportunity to not only work on your professional life, but also your personal life. The most important aspect to keep in mind is that if you’re looking to change your life in a big way, take the dive and do a tech bootcamp abroad because it will 100% have a lasting impact on how you see and experience the world. If you’re looking to take the plunge and study abroad, look no further than Ironhack’s tech bootcamps. There are options to do so all around the world: Amsterdam Paris Miami Berlin Barcelona Madrid Lisbon And if you have another place in mind, you can always do an Ironhack course remotely. The world is your oyster.

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

Creating a strong LinkedIn profile as a web developer is a crucial step in your employment journey. Your LinkedIn profile is how you showcase your skills and expertise to both potential clients and employers---and nothing’s more important than a good first impression. Let’s go over some tips to help you create a LinkedIn profile that’s as incredible as you are! What Is a LinkedIn Profile? A LinkedIn profile is more than just a few words and images on a social platform; an effective LinkedIn profile showcases your professional brand, highlights your achievements, and communicates your expertise as a web developer ---all before anyone ever even meets you! Naturally, if you’re reading this article, odds are that you already see some benefits from creating an effective profile and you either want to get started or want to improve your LinkedIn profile. However, we’ve found that it’s generally incredibly helpful to understand the motivation for why we should do something before we get started. By better understanding the why , we think you’ll be able to figure out how to make the LinkedIn profile that best reflects you and all the great things that you bring to the table. Why should I make my LinkedIn profile stand out? As a web developer, all your work revolves around using the web to create value. And we’re here to tell you that there’s nothing more valuable than investing in yourself! If you take a step back and look at the big picture, a thoughtful and compelling LinkedIn profile is nothing more than an efficient and effective investment in yourself. Not to overuse the investment analogy, but by spending time on creating a profile that best reflects who you are as a developer and as a person, you can virtually guarantee that this investment will pay off. So, what really are all those benefits we keep going on and on about? Well, we think there are four big ones: networking, job opportunities, industry insights, and personal branding. Let’s talk a little bit more about each: Networking : connect with other industry leaders for job opportunities, conferences, and colleagues. Job opportunities : LinkedIn’s job board is known for its wide range of positions; use it to send your resume out or browse listings to see what skills are in demand. Industry insights : we wouldn’t call LinkedIn a social networking or a news site, but it’s certainly a great place to read about industry trends and see what’s up in the sector. Personal branding : even if you’re working in-house for a company right now, your future as a freelancer could be around the corner; your LinkedIn profile is a great place to work on your personal branding and create your own, cultivated image. But okay, we know what you’re thinking: this section is named “ What Is a LinkedIn Profile ” and we haven’t really explained what a LinkedIn profile is! We’ve just gone on and on about why it’s important to have one. The thing is, though, we cannot stress enough how important it is for you, as a web developer, to have a LinkedIn profile! If you don’t have one already, make one right now! With that said, let’s dive right in and learn about what a LinkedIn profile is and what you can do to make yours stand out. What are the elements that make up a LinkedIn profile? This one’s going to be kind of a doozy, but stay with us! There are ten (yes, you heard that right) elements that make up a LinkedIn profile, and some of them are more important than others. In order of most important to least important, we have your profile photo, activity, headline, about section, work experience, accomplishments, education, skills, recommendations, and interests. Here’s a little bit of information about each: Profile Photo : this is a professional headshot, a clear, high quality photo that reflects the image you want to portray to potential employers and clients. Your profile photo will be the first thing anybody notices! With a professional headshot, you’ll be sure to make a good first impression. Activity : this includes all your interactions with other LinkedIn users including posts, comments and likes. By engaging with others and sharing content, you can both expand your network as well as establish yourself as an expert in your field. Don’t be shy! Headline : this is a clear and concise description of who you are as a web developer. This should be a one-sentence summary of your professional experience and expertise. You only have 120 characters to work with, so be short & sweet. About Section : here you can explain exactly who you are. Provide a brief summary of your professional experience, achievements, and goals. Don’t just list out words but instead tell your story and highlight the value that you bring to the table. Work Experience : this is a chronological list of your current and previous work experience. Be sure to include dates, job titles, responsibilities, and accomplishments.Be straightforward. Accomplishments : this is a place where you can list your additional achievements, awards, publications, or even volunteer experience. A list of “extra” things that didn’t necessarily belong in your about section and weren’t important enough to state in your headline. Education : tell the world about your degrees, certifications, and professional development courses. Be careful not to overload this section as not every course is worth adding---keep it high level! Skills : this is a list of the things that you’re good at. Other people with whom you’ve worked or interacted (i.e. your network) can endorse your skills. Recommendations : where other LinkedIn users’ recommendations go. Especially useful for those of us who do freelance development work. Interests : this is the perfect place to list the things that interest you, whether or not they apply to your work. Here, you can add activities that are important to you and that can make you stand out amongst the crowd. So, there you go: a brief summary of the ten elements that make up a LinkedIn profile. It can be a little overwhelming at first, but stick with us and we’ll show you exactly how you can make your LinkedIn profile stand out. How Can I Make My LinkedIn Profile Stand Out? Let’s focus on the five most important sections of your LinkedIn profile. If you spend time making your profile photo, activity, headline, about section, and work experience pop, you can maximize the benefits of your LinkedIn profile. Just remember, like most things, what you put into it is what you’ll get out of it. Tips and tricks for all LinkedIn users There are tons of ways to use LinkedIn to your benefit, but let’s run down a couple for each of the main sections: Photo : make sure it’s clear, focused on your face, and clearly displays what you want to portray to potential employers. Activity : this is where people can see the posts with which you’ve been interacting, the things you share, and any original posts you make; ensure that you’re sharing relevant materials and putting out professional content. About : this is your time to put together the best possible elevator pitch! In just a few sentences, sum up your experience and what you offer. Headline : try not to limit your headline to your current role; be broad and open to new opportunities. Work experience : using action words and actual data to back up what you’re writing, outline your work experience in all your previous roles, showing everything you’re capable of. Exceptional profiles for web developers Let’s dive into the nitty gritty of LinkedIn profiles for web developers and discuss what’s absolutely crucial to your success on the site. Keywords Recruiters find profiles by searching for specific keywords; include your hard skills such as JavaScript, Python, or Spring to guarantee that your profile pops up during searches. After all, if no one can find you, what’s the point?! Descriptions Recruiters want to know what you’re capable of quickly and without much delay. Take a look at this concise example of summing up your experience: As a Back-end Developer, my role is to work with a team of four with JavaScript and Python to write code, resolve problems, and provide global support to the product team. Endorsements You can write whatever you want on your profile and that’s why it’s important to have colleagues backing up what you’re claiming! Ask those you know your skills to leave a comment on your profile or endorse a skill so that recruiters know that others also believe you’re capable of what you’ve written. Does this sum it up a bit? We hope we’ve outlined how to use LinkedIn as a tool that can help you land your dream job, curate your personal brand, and present yourself as an incomparable web developer.

Gone are the days of perusing the yellow pages to find that contact or business you’re looking for. Since smartphones became a necessity in society a decade ago, social media has become an essential way for sharing information and contacting businesses, people, and organizations. Nowadays, it’s rare to find a business or organization that doesn’t have some kind of social media presence to promote themselves, whether it be on a website or an accompanying Instagram page. Websites and apps are developed for an infinite amount of reasons and without web developers who create and code fervently, our devices would be useless. Thanks to web development, we are also able to share all of our posts, pictures, videos, and other forms of media on socials. Both social media and web development depend on one another; you could say that they have a symbiotic relationship that allows them to mutually benefit from each other . First, let’s look at some important considerations to keep in mind when combining the two and then some ways to fully take advantage of their connectivity, usefulness, and ubiquity in our lives. Consistent brand identity Instability and unpredictability can be scary for customers; consistency can make them feel safe when interacting with a brand and help them place their trust in the right place. Building trust not only means sticking to your word, but also projecting an image that doesn’t waver. Just like with people, businesses have an identity and maintaining a clear and consistent message across various mediums is key . A strong brand identity shows the mission and beliefs of the company; from the color scheme and design to the writing style, cohesion between websites and their social media shows that the business knows who they are and what they are doing. By leveraging social media marketing and SEO, both freelancers and companies can maximize traffic to their sites where they can fully express their brand identity across all platforms. At the end of the day, a strong, cohesive brand identity communicates trust, safety, and consistency for not only the customer, but also the company itself. Just a click away Presenting a united image throughout all your pages is important, but how do you get from one page to another? When designing websites, web developers have to remember that it’s extremely important for the business and social accounts to link to each other. Luckily, both websites and apps are now designed with connectivity between them in mind, which means that you can find icons and links bridging them. How? Let’s see: The stories feature on most social media platforms gives users the option to add links as clickable buttons Users can link to websites in their bio Websites have nifty little buttons (normally found at the bottom of the page) that bring users straight to the social media page Although those buttons are useful, there are many other ways to optimize their interconnectedness and make them more seamlessly united. For example, a website can post YouTube videos of content that connect directly to their YouTube page. These functions physically bridge the gap between social media and web development so that they feel like one seamless entity . It takes two The upside to when any two things are different is that they are also complementary, allowing one to help the other in a variety of ways. Social media Most people put short, bite-sized pieces of information that are meant for fast consumption or to plant an idea in people’s heads. Short tweets, Instagram stories, and Facebook posts are all examples of short messages that spark interest and are generally concise, fast, and easily consumed . Websites/apps Longer and more detailed writing is provided, giving users more information about their brand identity, mission, products, and core values. Websites focus uniquely on the content that they choose to post, which means that the reader won’t normally get distracted by another story popping up or a list of suggestions like on social media. If social media is a swipe of the finger on a dating app, then the website is a coffee date to get to know the person. You may be able to feel something from both, but your informed decision comes from the coffee date. How to Combine Social Media and Web Development Short and long posts Now that you have these features in mind, combining the two in creative ways is both useful and fun. Creating synergy between both a website and social media is easy when making campaigns that unite the two; to leverage the mechanics of short and long posts, you can share bite-sized posts on social media that link to longer posts on the webpage, piquing people’s interest briefly, urging them to click the link, and then providing them with all the information on the website. These kinds of social media posts can range in content, pertaining to topics like an important part of the company’s story, values that the company strives to embody, or even employee posts to highlight the staff. These three examples show attention-grabbing and engaging snippets to the audience in the form of videos, photos, and/or brief texts; by linking the posts to the website, viewers will consume relevant information, potentially click their way to longer posts, and learn more about the company. The customer is the star What’s the best way to make someone feel special? For most, putting them under the spotlight and making them feel like they’re the main attraction is the perfect way: Provide space for people to share and connect with other potential clients on social media, making your image appear more approachable and relatable, just like with online reviews Integrate a spotlight or review into the website; video or text interviews, stories, and reviews on the website give more space to share more in depth information Use social media websites like Youtube or Twitter to give additional visibility to the brand, encouraging them to check out the website/social media pages Choose your own adventure Presenting a survey with several options for website content shows what the browser really wants from the website and their social media presence in general. There are many advantages to using surveys on socials: Data and feedback directly from the client provides companies and freelancers with information about what they can do to increase engagement and web traffic Ideas can be easily scrapped when they receive little to no votes Open-ended questions can lead to new ideas that may inspire new content Combining social media and web development is essential when looking to create a consistent brand identity and develop a loyal and recurring clientele. When making profiles and content, seeking connections between them, businesses, individuals, and organizations must have a firm image of what they want to project to the world and decide how it will impact their message and image. There are an endless number of creative ways to expand, mix, and combine them: let your mind wander and see what comes up. If web development interests you, you know what to do:

If you’re thinking about a career in the tech industry, signing up for a tech bootcamp is one of the simplest ways to dig in, get familiarized with the work , and gain the skills you’ll need to be a successful tech professional. However, bootcamps are intense . They cover a lot of material in a relatively short period of time and require participants to be ready for what can sometimes be significant workloads. In order to get the most out of a bootcamp , it’s necessary to be ready and familiarized with the material from day one. We applaud folks who’ve invested in their future careers through signing up for a tech bootcamp. That said, simply enrolling in a course does not mean you’ll obtain the knowledge through osmosis; in many ways, it’s actually the opposite. Entering a new sector can feel like entering a new country: there’s new vocabulary to learn, different workflows to get familiarized with, and that’s not even mentioning entirely new coding programs and softwares . If you arrive unprepared, what you get out of the experience will be different than if you had completed your prework before starting your course. What is Prework? Prework is the preparatory work you’ll do before starting your Ironhack bootcamp. In the context of a tech bootcamp, prework can come in the form of required pre-course reading, simple coding exercises, or other assignments to help folks enter the course with the basic framework and knowledge of the material. However, prework does not need to be assigned. It can also be something that you take on independently, knowing your own limitations of the material in order to feel more prepared entering the first day of the course. So in addition to your Ironhack-provided prework, your own preparation could include: Knowing what you’ve signed up for : you should know what course you’re enrolled in and have a general understanding of why you signed up for it. For example, what material will be covered? Do you need to bring your own computer? Who is your teacher and what unique mastery do they have over the material? Familiarizing yourself with the material : if you’re relatively new to the tech sector, or even if you’ve spent time in the field, you’ll be sure to encounter new material, vocabulary, softwares and coding languages. In order to get the most out of the experience, you should arrive familiar with the vocabulary and programs so that you’re not having to play catch up as the bootcamp progresses. Getting to know the possible directions to apply the knowledge obtained : you’ll be in a much stronger position if you arrive at the bootcamp having a base knowledge of your interests, strengths, and the possible career pathways you’d like to apply to what you're learning. You’ll be able to zero in on the information that feels most important to you , ask questions that pertain to your interests, and have a better understanding of the real life implications of what you’re learning. Completing assignments or coding exercises: many bootcamps will assign you prework in hopes of jumping right into the material the first day. It’s a way that bootcamps push participants to familiarize themselves with the material so that the course can progress at the necessary pace in order to get through all the material. Arrive having completed that work and with questions that you may have about the material. Prework is meant to help you obtain the foundational skills and knowledge of the bootcamp so that you can get the most out of the course. It’s an investment in yourself and a commitment to making the most of the bootcamp experience. What Does Prework Look Like in Preparing for a Tech Bootcamp? We’ve all signed up for a class or arrived at an event without having done the slightest amount of research. Sometimes it’s fine, other times it’s embarrassing, but generally the conclusion is that there were concrete things that we could have done to have better prepared ourselves for the activity. That said, prework is an investment in yourself . It’s a commitment to being successful in a bootcamp in which you’ve already made a significant investment. And it's being honest about your limitations in order to address those weak points and minimize the knowledge gaps that may set you back in mastering other knowledge. In preparing for a tech bootcamp, there are a number of skills and material that would be worth brushing up on: Learn the basics of a programming language: you’ll be sure to encounter new programming languages and many tech bootcamps require that participants have a basic understanding of programs like Python, Java, or JavaScript. Prework may include reading through their websites, watching tutorials about these programs, or playing around with their features simply so that you start with a base knowledge of what these programs can offer. Brush up on math: you won’t be able to escape a tech bootcamp without engaging with simple mathematical principles. Having a strong math foundation is important (even if you haven’t thought about these topics in years!), thus brushing up on algebra, geometry, or calculus is key. You’ll be surprised how much you know and how easy it is to get back into the math rhythm. Complete online courses: there are many online courses (and often free courses) that help folks build the foundational knowledge needed to be successful in a tech bootcamp. After looking through the material of your tech bootcamp, look for online courses that may help you get the basics of programming languages, web design, or data analysis. Build a project: often the best way to learn is by doing. Building a project, no matter if it comes out as good as you envisioned, is the first step in digging into new material. At the very least you’ll learn what feels intuitive for you, what’s frustrating, and what areas you’d like to more deeply engage. Read up on the latest developments in the industry: tech is a constantly changing industry and you’ll undoubtedly enter the bootcamp better versed in relevant topics to the bootcamp’s curriculum. In order to truly engage in conversations about the industry, it’s important to be aware of the ongoing developments in the field, recent events and their impacts on the sector, and other best practices relating to the material that your bootcamp will address. The Ironhack blog is a great place to start! Technical setup: prework may include setting your computer up with necessary softwares and tools needed for the bootcamp. Research what you’ll need or email your professor to confirm if there are program languages, text editors, or other tools you’ll need. In all, the prework for a tech bootcamp is designed to give you a strong base of knowledge and skills that will help you be success as you participate in the course. Bootcamps are often very intense, thus any work that you can do beforehand that allows you to smoothly transition into the new demands of the course will greatly help you get more out of the course. Benefits of Prework It may be hard to convince yourself to do non-required work for a course that you haven’t even started, but you’ll get so much more out of the bootcamp if you have a strong foundation to work from, are aware of your interests, strengths, and weaknesses as you enter the course, and have an even clearer understanding of your goals of participating in the course. Besides, it’s always better to feel overprepared than to feel lost and overwhelmed by the new demands of the course. A couple other benefits include: Getting a head start: by arriving well-prepared for the course, you’ll be able to hit the ground running from day one. Arriving prepared means you’ll arrive more confident, more capable of participating, and allow you to continue to get ahead as you can take on more advanced topics and go further with the material. Identifying knowledge gaps: in many ways, prework is doing a pre-course evaluation of your strengths and weaknesses as they relate to the course material so that you can be more successful.This allows you to focus on the areas you need to improve before you start so that you can get the most out of the bootcamp and: Identify your gaps Get familiar with your anxieties Get clear on where you want to apply all that you learn. Easing anxiety: starting an intensive bootcamp can be stressful, especially if it’s material with which you’re not familiar. Prework can help ease any pre-bootcamp anxieties, allow you to get clear on what you expect and what’s expected of you , and arrive on the first day more confident and relaxed. Increasing your chances of success: as we know, arriving prepared increases your chances of reaching success. You’ll arrive with a stronger foundation and better equipped to take on the rigorous demands of a tech bootcamp. Everyone loves a head start and prework, despite possibly feeling tedious, gives you the competitive edge you need in order to arrive at the bootcamp feeling confident and capable . By signing up for a bootcamp, you’re investing in your future career and in a new version of yourself. You know that you can become a successful tech professional, but only if you’re willing to work hard, learn new skills, and take on the challenges of entering a new sector. Prework is what allows you to arrive ready to handle the demands of the bootcamp, and emerge successful. If you’re interested in a tech bootcamp, we have options! Check out our tech bootcamps in Web Development , UX/UI Design , or Data Analysis.

We’ll get right to the point: a bootcamp is a significant investment and you’re taking on this investment for a reason: to kickstart your new career in tech. That’s why we offer all our students, whether remote or in-person, access to our career services. But before we dive into Ironhack’s specific offerings and what you can expect before, during, and after your bootcamp, let’s discuss the job market in tech and what a career in tech can entail. The Tech Job Market We’ve seen the news as well and we know that lots of tech companies experienced layoffs during the end of 2022 and beginning of 2023; this may affect your outlook and make you think: is now really a good time to get into tech? If I’ll just get laid off, then what’s the point? And with the arrival of tools like ChatGPT and other AI-fueled innovations, automation is around the corner, isn’t it? It can be easy to get sucked into this hole of negativity, but we’re here to help you see that tech is still an extremely lucrative field that’s growing so fast and new, qualified workers are needed. The unstable economy of the last year due to continued recovery from the pandemic and political unrest led to higher inflation rates and some companies reducing their workforces. We know this can be intimidating; after all, who wants to start a new career and immediately experience job uncertainty?! Not us--and that’s why Ironhack’s career services help you find the right role for you based on both your skills and market needs. For many of us, the pandemic may seem like a thing from the past, but the reality is that many companies are both still recovering and adapting to new realities; the pandemic caused many companies to rapidly advance with their digital strategies, no longer able to rely on in-person work. This means two things: More and more companies are looking for all kinds of tech employees to meet their growing digital needs. As more companies prioritized tech strategies, tech developed rapidly and employees need employees skilled in the newest technologies to meet market needs. Job market advantages from bootcamp learning You might think that in such an intense moment in tech where everything is advancing rapidly, employers will only want to see applications from workers with years of experience and impressive degrees, but that’s actually the catch: those profiles aren’t catching the eye of recruiters or hiring managers anymore. Here’s why: Tech is moving at such a fast pace that those fancy degrees or years of experience don’t have anything to do with today’s challenges in tech. Bootcamps are gaining popularity because of their ability to tackle the newest technologies and prepare graduates for entry-level jobs in just a few days. As digital needs spread across all industries, not just tech, recruiters are specifically looking for profiles with experience in diverse sectors to help them relate more to that particular field. Education or work experience in a different area can set you apart from more experienced tech candidates. The learning doesn’t stop once you’re in your first tech role; tech is moving at a dizzying speed and employers want workers who are ready to continuously learn and tackle the next challenge when it emerges; by making a career transition and switching to a new field, you’ll show employers that you’re ready to take on the next challenge–whatever it may be. Why Tech? We just told you that the tech job market is expanding rapidly, but that’s not the only advantage: Salaries : tech jobs are well-paid and that’s a fact. Even entry-level roles boast competitive salaries and, of course, the always visible room for upward mobility. Versatility : coming from a marketing background? How about sales? Or even teaching? No matter where your career change comes from, your previously earned skills and abilities will help you tackle the new problems the tech sector is facing. Growth : the continuous release of new technologies and constant innovation means that there will always be something new to learn, a new skill to master, and something different on which to focus your energy. Flexibility : the tech sector is known for flexible hours, remote work possibilities, and overall flexibility when it comes to your work. Now that we’ve convinced you that tech is the right choice for you, let’s check out exactly what Ironhack’s Career Services will offer you during and after your tech bootcamp. Ironhack’s Career Services At Ironhack, we know that your main priority is finding a job after the bootcamp. We fully understand you’ve given up a lot to sign up for a bootcamp and dedicated time, money, and energy to doing your best. And we want to help you; we’ve developed our Career Services for that exact reason. After all, your jump into tech is a big step and part of our commitment to you is ensuring that you’re ready to find that new role. Our Career Services is broken down into four areas: Preliminary Discovery, Digital Foundations, Preparation, and Job Hunting. Ready to discover what they offer? Preliminary Discovery We said we’re committed to you and your success and that’s why your job preparation will begin before the bootcamp even begins. That’s right! Before you even turn on your computer to tackle the basics of web development or the main cybersecurity threats facing companies today, you’ll start with some internal reflection, determining exactly what you want to achieve and accomplish after the bootcamp. There are two parts to this phase; you will begin by discovering what your goals are and then check out the job market , seeing what your possibilities are and learning what to keep in mind as the journey begins. Digital Foundations Now that you’ve started your bootcamp journey, it’s time to dive a little deeper into tech and find your niche; you’ll have your first meeting with one of our qualified Career Coaches who are trained to help you break into tech. Here’s what they offer: All our career coaches have relevant HR experience and offer personalized coaching to meet your specific needs. They have broad networks that can help you meet both alumni and other tech professionals. They will help you review your CV, portfolio, LinkedIn profile, pitch, and cover letter, keeping in mind the demands of the tech industry. Through offering guidance and advice specific to you, your goals, and your experience, our Career Coaches can help you attract recruiters. Lastly, they’ll make sure your location preference and language skills are noted, in addition to any soft skills you possess. Preparation All of our bootcamps, regardless of length or topic, boast a Career Week which is, well, exactly what it sounds like! Take a break from the trenches of your studies and get focused on your next big step: your new job . This week-long adventure will allow you to attend seminars, workshops, and webinars and tackle the challenges you’ve been facing on your job hunt. Here’s what you’ll learn during your Career Week: How to search for jobs How to apply for jobs How to interview successfully How to specialize in tech How to present yourself to recruiters Job hunting The big moment is here! We can’t prepare you any further: you are ready for this. And even though it’s now your time to shine, don’t worry; we’re not leaving you just yet. Our team will continue to help you with one-to-one guidance throughout the interview process and job hunt as a whole, helping you handle specific challenges and practice interviews. They’ll also use their connections to connect you with the right people; at Ironhack, we boast a global network of hiring partners and successful alumni that are eager to help you find your next role. Is your future in tech seeming more and more like a reality? We get it; completely switching careers is a big choice and one you can’t make lightly. Finding a job is a key part of your career jump; at Ironhack, we truly want the best for our students and that starts from day one (and before!). If our commitment to the job search is something that interests you, Ironhack might be the right choice for you. Check out our available bootcamps and check out job postings; you never know–your next role might be just a few weeks away.

We get it: a bootcamp is a serious undertaking and one that will require a significant investment on your part. After all, it’s life changing and will open doors to lots of new opportunities. And that price tag can seem daunting but insurmountable, but here’s something important to keep in mind: there are tons of ways to finance your bootcamp, no matter where you live, what you want to study, or the price of your bootcamp. In fact, once you start diving into options, you’ll find that there are more ways to finance your bootcamp than you might think: between government funding, scholarships, loans, and income share agreements, you’ll have your bootcamp tuition covered in no time. Before we dive into the nitty gritty of bootcamp funding, we have to mention one important detail: your financing options will depend heavily on your location and financial situation. So make sure you carefully review every option as it pertains to you and pick the best option. Why are bootcamps so expensive? This thought has almost definitely crossed your mind and don’t worry, we’re not offended! But we do have some answers: Bootcamps are an investment in your future and just like any other worthwhile investment, they require a financial commitment. They are cheaper than traditional learning methods like universities and they’re more useful . Yep, we said that. A significant problem facing the tech industry these days is the dizzying speed at which the sector moves; university graduates are well-versed in the technologies of three or four years ago, not the issues the industry is currently facing. Bootcamps are led by industry experts who are up-to-date with what companies actually want in their employees; in a bootcamp, your tuition dollars are going straight to your education. Considerations Before Choosing a Bootcamp As most bootcamps require a considerable investment, ensuring you chose the right one is absolutely critical. To make that key decision, ask yourself these questions: What job do I want to get after the bootcamp? How much money can I afford to spend on a bootcamp? If this number is low, take a look at possible scholarships or financing options How much time can I dedicate to a bootcamp? Will I still need to work/study while taking a bootcamp? With these four questions answered, you’ll have a better idea of which bootcamp is right for you. Then you can check out bootcamps that offer part time options or scholarship opportunities; by only looking at bootcamps that actually meet your needs, you’ll save a lot of time–and effort! Another key consideration is the financial undertaking that a bootcamp requires; unfortunately, it’s not just the tuition price that matters and understanding that there will be other implications is important. For example, if you’re planning on quitting your current job to attend a bootcamp, you will need to take into consideration your expenses and lack of income for the duration of the bootcamp, and, of course, the time it takes you to find a job. And even if you’re choosing a part-time course to continue working during your course, you need to take into consideration the added stress and hours that you’ll suddenly have; your free time will be completely gone and you’ll have to balance your job and lots of extra hours of studying. Lastly, keep in mind that you might have a small pay cut later on; if you’re leaving a role that you’ve been in awhile and have a good salary and benefits, you might receive a lower salary in your first entry-level job in tech. After all, you’re starting over. But here’s the catch: even entry-level salaries in tech pay well and room for growth is incredible ; you’ll be able to reach new heights quickly and move on to higher-paying jobs soon. Financing Your Bootcamp The actual decision of how to finance your bootcamp is the big one, right? It seems quite daunting, but there are lots of options out there that will help you pay. Let’s dive in: Payment plans Paying the full cost of your bootcamp upfront isn’t a reality for everyone and that’s totally understandable. You can take advantage of payment plans to spread the burden out over a few months and pay a bit every month. Most payment plans will require interest payments, but you can shop around until you find one that works for you. Before you decide on one, however, make sure you are clear on the following: The length : will you be paying over 3, 6, or maybe 12 months? Interest rates: most payment plans will require some sort of loan, but some out there are out to get you. Check out competitors and make sure you’re being offered a fair rate. Any special considerations : is there a penalty for late payments? On what day are payments charged? What happens if you quit the bootcamp? Income share agreements Another popular financing option is income share agreements. These companies offer a program where, in simple terms, they cover the cost of your bootcamp with the understanding that you’ll pay a certain percentage of your income once you get a job. For those concerned about the investment without certainty of getting a job, this is a great option. However, make sure to check out any terms and conditions and shop around before committing to one. Scholarships Your bootcamp might offer scholarships, but that’s not the only place you can look. Lots of foundations or governments offer scholarships for bootcamps and higher education courses to help you further your career; this depends heavily on your personal situation and location, of course. Many organizations also offer special offers for minorities and women to encourage more diversity in tech. Have we convinced you?! Bootcamps are a great investment in your future and there’s lots of things out there to help you out! Take the leap and start your research: you’ll find the best option for you, we’re sure of it.

If you’re an experienced techie, you’re definitely in the know, but in case you are new to the sector: tech moves at a dizzying pace and employers are facing a nearly impossible situation of finding and retaining employees that are up-to-date with the newest technologies. Relying solely on the next generation of university graduates isn’t possible; they leave university well-versed on technology, but technologies of four years ago and by the time they enter the workforce, there’s a completely new group of skills needed . And while this is an issue facing lots of industries, not just tech, nothing advances faster than tech and the tech sector is one of the first to tackle this problem. Similarly, it’s impossible for employers to hire workers for every new skill; HR departments would be totally saturated with high turnover and lack of company loyalty. So, what is the solution? Bootcamps are growing in popularity, thanks to their ability to produce workforce-ready employees in a matter of months instead of years; however, once bootcamp grads are part of a company, technology keeps changing and evolving, meaning that another solution is needed. One of tech’s most shining principles is that of continuous learning. In an industry that’s moving so fast, you’re never done learning. We know, sounds frustrating, right ? You dedicate and invest time and money to your education, be it at a university or a bootcamp, and now hear that you’re expected to keep learning and improving. But that’s the beauty of tech: Changing technologies and skills means that there’s always a new thing to learn and master. Companies actively seek out employees that are quick on their feet and ready to tackle the next challenge. It’s both more productive and cost-effective to hire employees and later retrain them on new skills than constantly hiring and firing employees based on their current skills. And here’s where upskilling and reskilling come into play. As tech evolved rapidly, companies had to leave the idea of hiring employees for a specific skill behind and warm up to upskilling and reskilling. What are they? Let’s discuss: Upskilling : when your current skills are enhanced or further developed to take on new responsibilities within the same field. Reskilling : when you are retrained on a new skill that may be separate from your original skillset. Both are gaining popularity in tech and there’s a reason for that: companies have a way to use the skills and company loyalty that their current employees possess instead of trying to find new employees constantly. After all: The longer an employee is with a company, the stronger their brand loyalty and their dedication to the company is. HR costs skyrocket when new employees are constantly entering their company. The time dedicated to finding, interviewing, and negotiating with candidates can occupy lots of resources. Now that we’re on the same page, let’s dive deeper into the specificities of upskilling and reskilling, what they entail, and how they will help both companies and employees excel. Upskilling: What is it? Forbes called upskilling the most important word in the dictionary and we have to agree: upskilling is the future of tech . Digital transformation has led to an expansion of technologies practically constantly, and skilled tech workers are valuable , especially when they’ve already worked for and dedicated their time to a company. Upskilling is when you take a worker with specific skills and, for lack of a better word, upgrade their skills to be able to handle a new range of tasks . While it can be done both at work or individually, more and more companies are dedicating time and resources to in-house development programs that take the abilities their team already has and enhance them to meet market needs. Examples of upskilling Let’s explore some of the workforce’s most successful examples of upskilling and how it resulted in increased productivity for both the company and workers. AlphaSights provides knowledge on-demand to assess and consult with clients on a wide range of topics, but as technologies advanced rapidly, the Learning & Development team couldn’t keep up with creating up-to-date internal courses for their team. The courses provided to experts were behind the times, not tracked, and ultimately not useful. To combat this problem, AlphaSights turned to their own employees, asking experts in specific areas to create courses for their colleagues, harnessing their personal knowledge. 27% of their employees became course authors, sharing their knowledge with teams from other departments, helping create a more 360 degree vision. Mastercard: with a massive, 24,000 person-strong international workforce, Mastercard was well aware of the rapid changes in technology and looming need to shift their priorities at any moment. They created a global, easy-to-use platform that more than 75% of their company uses and the results speak for themselves: they saved more than $21 million through increased productivity and gained 100,000 hours of capacity. HSBC : for more than 157 years, HSBC has evolved to meet customer needs, always placing clients at the forefront of their development. With such a large and talented workforce, HSBC decided to focus on using their employees’ current skills to meet new needs; they used an workforce intelligence solution to define the skills of their workforce and use cross-functionality to work together, saving 60,000 hours of productivity. How to upskill your workforce We know we’ve convinced you, so it’s time for the next step: how can you actually upskill your workforce?! It’s not as intimidating as it might sound, we promise! Here’s what to do: Assess your workforce’s current capacities: people have a wide range of skills and you might be surprised by the skills they possess. Before you start trying to teach employees new skills, figure out what is already on the table and harness cross-functionality to make sure you’re not teaching an employee a skill that another one boasts. Assess current market needs : before you try to decide what employees can learn, you need to figure out what the market needs and where you see gaps; check out new technologies and see where your company could improve. Create plans : using the current skills of your company and market needs, create both individual learning plans for current employees and a way to track progress to ensure that upskilling is working for your organization. Reskilling: What is it? Reskilling takes the same idea of upskilling of using current workers to meet market needs, but instead of enhancing the current abilities of their employees, companies that reskill teach their workers a completely new skill that’s separate from their existing skill set. They could be somewhat related or connected, but generally require an entirely new approach. Although it may seem easier for companies to simply hire a new person that already has the in-demand skill set if they don’t have anyone in-house that meets market needs, the additional stress and pressure on HR to find someone quickly and introduce them to the company, complete the interview process, talk to references, and onboard the new employee uses up a lot of resources. When choosing to reskill a current employee, all those steps are skipped and you already know that the employee is loyal, works hard, and is an asset to the company. In addition to lessening the responsibilities of HR, it also provides a sort of security blanket in that you already know this employee and how they work. Although they will be taking on different responsibilities, their soft skills and general personality are already known and appreciated in the company. Examples of reskilling Put into practice, reskilling can be incredibly beneficial for companies. Let’s check out how: AT&T saw technology’s rapid advancements and realized that while half of their technology-focused workforce was prepared to keep up with the rush, the rest of their employees were falling behind; they also saw hiring new engineers and technology-centered workers was not a reality. They chose to reskill their existing workforce, providing them with the tools they needed to learn about technological advances. Accenture witnessed the increasing crossovers between fields and decided to create an open and free platform for their employees where they’re free to take courses on topics that are completely foreign to their current area and focus on obtaining a wide range of basic skills that cover multiple industries, not just their own. Verizon chose to focus on currently unemployed or underemployed individuals, especially those facing job displacement due to automation, giving them the chance to learn an industry skill that’s in-demand and increasing their chances of finding a job. How to reskill your workforce If we’ve convinced you that reskilling is the right choice for your company, take a look at the next steps so you can actually benefit from it. Research market needs: to know what new skills your employees need, you first need to know what skills are in demand! Check both with your team and external needs to decide where the skills gap is. Identify employees with capacity for reskilling : not all workers are good choices for reskilling tasks and some might be better suited for certain challenges than others; make sure you carefully choose the employee. Develop a reskilling process with your employees : work together with your team to create a reskilling plan that allows them to learn a new skill while still excelling in their original role, making sure they feel valued and appreciated. You get it, right? Upskilling and reskilling are the future of tech and the results are clear: finding new employees to meet rapidly advancing technologies is simply impossible and places undue stress on both recruiters and managers that are required to be constantly interviewing and training new workers. Choosing to capitalize on your already loyal and skilled employees is the best bet--and will help your company to continue growing and advancing.