Learn CSS at These 501 CSS Bootcamps

Fullstack Academy provided me with several tools and a feeling of confidence to pivot careers into a new industry. From programming, connecting with others, and leveraging my past experiences, I was able to land several small tech roles after graduation before landing a larger contract. Because I came from a nontraditional background without any connections in tech, each section within the program was a new experience for me. From frontend designs to backend servers, from mock technical interviews and making connections via LinkedIn, I found value in nearly every lesson of the program.

While many of the lessons and topics can be learned online via Youtube or another platform, FSA’s structure facilitated growth, gave me and my cohort a strong baseline, and encouraged continuous development. That being said, it is not perfect. Due to the rapid pace of the curriculum and frequent changes in technology, what is taught in the program can be forgotten or depreciated in a quick manner. We covered full-stack JavaScript, but covering the material and creating several projects is not the same as mastering a programming language. At the end of the day, it is up to you to understand the material, put it into practice, and keep up to date with the current technologies. If you want to become a developer or engineer, Fullstack Academy can provide and help you with the tools, but it is your job to master them. You will have an instructor and a TA, so use them for advice, ask them questions, and get as much information as you can from them! If you thrive in structure, need a community for support, and are willing to learn post-boot camp, this is a great option for you!

With the current state of the industry (2022-2023), it is difficult to gauge if the skills I acquired during Fullstack Academy were refined enough to truly be “job ready” after graduation. During my first few months of interviews, I found myself rather lost, struggling, and consistently failing to pass technical interviews, build the take-home projects (while simultaneously working my old job), and be noticed by recruiters. It was not until I started looking at roles adjacent to Software Engineering and Software Development that I found something that I enjoyed and succeeded in interviews. Because of the skills in JavaScript, React, Express, CSS, and other technologies learned throughout the program, my cohort and I found success and were often moved into the next round of interviews in the fields of QA engineering, SDET, Technical PM, Technical Writing, and more.

Throughout the entire year-long job search, there were several ups and plenty of downs. Despite this, career success with Laura McClernon was an absolute lifesaver. From the curated weekly job position list (which always resulted in high response rates), alumni chats, connection and job hunt walk-throughs, resume and LinkedIn reviews, and encouragement throughout the process, Laura was an absolute treasure. If career success was not part of Fullstack Academy’s program, I would have given up on the job hunt long ago.

Overall, I am grateful and supportive of the team at Fullstack Academy. They provide a great foundation for those looking to develop their skills and change careers. Their program is not for everyone; however, it is perfect for those who thrive in structure, routine, and learning more than what the lecture slides say. The skills—programming and soft skills—introduced throughout the program create a solid foundation for you to develop, create a network, and earn a role in the tech industry. Ultimately, Fullstack Academy provides you with the technical tools and career success resources, but it is up to you to maintain the tools, access the resources, and continue learning after graduation.

Let me first say that when I first found out about GenSpark that I was impressed with the way that they were positioned to help both tech companies looking to hire new employees, and students or others looking to make a career switch into the IT field. I was in my second to last course before finishing my web development certification at CSU Global, and while they had told us that we would be able to get a job as an entry level developer, because I was inexperienced and that's one of the main factors that employers look at when hiring new employees, it was really scary and unnerving (borderline hopeless) thinking about the fight ahead of me to get into a new career.  That said, I saw GenSpark as an opportunity for all 3 of us; them, their partners, and myself to win without all of the worry and headache, so I took a chance and said, "Let's make this happen," and jumped on with them. 

Since I have been training in the Mainframe cohort with GenSpark I can tell you that 2 things have stood out to me. The first thing is, that GenSpark is not playing. They have the connections that they say that they have, and they will get you trained... And then paid. The second thing is that the courses are JAM PACKED with a TON of learning, so be in "NOT EVEN PLAYING" mode from square one or be prepared to get your feelings hurt. (even though they will try to make sure that you don't...)

Now that this is out of the way, "going well" has got to be the understatement of the year! I adore GenSpark and everything is moving right along as planned. The support is exactly the way it should be. It doesn't matter if your computer is updating and you were unable to check in, or you need a miracle worker to fix something more personal or technically impossible, they are "answer you right back and let's get that fixed for you" PERFECT. And that's the only way I would describe them.  The training had me triaged at first and trying to catch up for a minute, but only because I didn't know what to expect and it kind of shocked me at first, not because it's impossible. 

Bottom line, I really appreciate what GenSpark is doing, and whether it's the way that they are positioned to help companies and HR teams (which, according to this study
 (Links to an external site.) that shows that 97% of employers are planning to increase their investments in recruiting technology, only proves that they are obviously unhappy...) students, recent graduates, and career changers, (who, when you consider the fact that relevant job experience is one of the main drivers for manager looking to fill a position, and the fact that 97% of graduates
 (Links to an external site.) feel like they will need on-the-job training to further their careers after graduation, you could basically say that they are in a horrible position without the help...) or dreamers like me that are making progress towards even bigger dreams down the road and have plans that may end up making a big impact because of their ambition, whether it be within a company or in the evolution of IT itself... I believe that GenSpark is playing a major role and at the frontier of everything that is good in the hiring world. I am in my last week of training, and they had us set up with one of their big tech company partner before we even signed on, so I give them five stars! BRAVO! and THANKS GENSPARK!

 

Hello. I finished the introduction course and had a wonderful time.  The instructors were very knowledgeable and were very patient when I asked questions. They really took the time to break down complicated concepts into ways that I could understand completely. I would totally recommend the introduction course to anyone interested in web development.

Estudié el bootcamp Full Stack Web Developer hace un año y medio y llevo un año y medio trabajando como desarrolladora front en la industria, cuando antes era profesora y no tenía ni idea de programación.

Los profesores fueron muy amables y atentos, nos ayudaron en todo. Yo encontré trabajo incluso antes de haber terminado el bootcamp, en un puesto que conseguí por una recomendación de la escuela. ¡No puedo estar más agradecida a Carlos y a todo su equipazo!

Hay que hacer mucho trabajo durante el bootcamp pero es increíble lo que se aprende en tan poco tiempo.

¡¡¡Lo recomiendo al 100%!!! 

   The instructors are good, and they are actually working in the fields that they are teaching. They share a lot of information, give real world examples and put a bit of themselves into each class. After graduation, Fullstack does offer resume and interview assistance. You will learn a lot of really good and useful tools and information.
   I was working a full-time 40+ hour job while doing this online part-time bootcamp and wasn't able to do any school work while at my full-time job. Because of this I found it very difficult to keep up with the course work. They give you a lot of great information but it comes fast and it doesn't stop. I like to compare it to a speeding train and you're holding on but the train doesn't stop, it keeps flying down the track. If I fell behind, it was nearly impossible for me to catch up. I inquired about extra help but was denied and told that the 20 minutes of office hours, every 2 weeks, was enough (it wasn't). I understand they are revamping the process and offering longer office hours, so maybe that will help.  I reached out to the Student Success Manager (SSM) but it seems as though they don't care if you're succeeding, just if you're failing or not. Except for the handful of quizzes in the beginning, I failed every test and yet some how I passed and graduated. It seemed that most of my cohort classmates didn't have a job or had a part-time job or a job where they could do class work when they were at their jobs. If one of those options is your situation, I say go for it, but if you are in my situation, it's going to be really difficult. It was for me anyway.
   I think the ultimate success of this bootcamp is if I can get a job in the field of study. I graduated a couple weeks ago and still job hunting, so I can't really say if the bootcamp was a success or not. Working a part-time job while working a full-time job feels like 2 full-time jobs, so before you sign-up, think about your situation carefully and whether you have the time and energy to keep up with the pace for 6 months.  

TechPledge Training is an exceptional training program that caters to individuals seeking to enhance their technical skills and knowledge. With a focus on practical learning and industry-relevant curriculum, TechPledge Training offers a valuable platform for professional development.