Embracing the Future: Code Fellows Integrates AI into Tech Education

By Mitchell Robertson on August 22, 2023

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, staying ahead of the curve is paramount for success. Here at Code Fellows, we have long held a reputation for leading the way in tech education, and we are continuing to do just that as we take a pioneering step by fully embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to prepare our graduates for the future. By integrating AI-powered tools like ChatGPT into our curriculum, we are revolutionizing the way students learn to code, innovate, and excel in the tech industry.

Partnering for Progress: Code Fellows and The Alliance Empower Underserved Communities through Tech Education

By Mitchell Robertson on August 16, 2023

In an exciting new collaboration, the Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City and Code Fellows have partnered together to expand tech education and career opportunities for underserved communities in Oklahoma City. The partnership, which offers no-cost software and cybersecurity training, aims to bridge the gap and provide access to valuable education and job prospects in the fast-paced world of technology. Through this initiative, individuals from diverse backgrounds will have the chance to thrive and contribute to the thriving tech industry in Oklahoma City.

Northeastern and Code Fellows Partner to Provide New Pathways to Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology

By Mitchell Robertson on January 6, 2023

Code Fellows is partnering with Northeastern University College of Professional Studies to provide learners from any background a pathway to obtain their Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology.

How to Accelerate Your Learning with Stacked Modules

By John Cokos on November 18, 2022

Learn. More. Faster.

It’s a bold promise and one that can be fulfilled only when we are willing to not only challenge our assumptions about how we learn but abandon what we think has worked for us in the past. Get comfortable being uncomfortable and really accelerate your learning with an experience-based, stacked approach.

Job Interviews: What (not) to do

By Mitchell Robertson on March 29, 2022

You have the technical skills, know-how, and can effectively speak to your experience and qualifications. But are you prepared to demonstrate confidence, connect interpersonally, and build a strong rapport?

For a lot of companies, an applicant’s culture fit is as (if not more) important as your skills and experience level.

Is Code Fellows Better Than a Four-Year Degree?

By Mitchell Robertson on February 23, 2022

Conventional wisdom points to the value of a college degree, and there are a lot of benefits, but is it worth it? The annual cost of a college education has increased by more than 59% since 2000, while wages for individuals with a Bachelor’s degree have increased by only 5% (3% for individuals with only a high school diploma). This is not sustainable.

15 Ways to Pay for Your Education

By Mitchell Robertson on February 20, 2022

If a program has a solid return on investment—the employment rate is strong, as is the average graduate starting salary—but you don’t have the money to pay for it, how and where do you start?

AWS Without Breaking the Bank

By Roger Huba on February 9, 2022

Imagine you are following along in an online tutorial that will walk you through creating a cloud-based API to serve up some data from an AWS EC2 instance, connected to a database. You complete the tutorial and end up with this great API. You decide to share it with your friend who will “ohh and ahh” at your site. A month later you get an email from AWS that mentions a bill is due. To your surprise, the bill is over $300. WHAT? HOW? No way! What do I do now? How do I keep this from happening ever again?

In this article, I’ll offer the essential guidance you need to keep this from happening to you (again?).

VET TEC: What Is It, and How Can It Help Fund Your Tech Education?

By Teri Pfeffer on February 3, 2022

Transitioning out of the military and into the civilian workforce can be difficult, so it’s helpful to know all of the resources available to help you succeed in a new career path. One resource available to you: the VET TEC program. Learn from our military program manager, Teri Pfeffer, about what the VET TEC program is and how it can help fund your tech education.

Cultivating Portland's Vibrant and Inclusive Tech Community

By Mitchell Robertson on January 5, 2022

In 2015, Code Fellows launched Code Fellows PDX in the heart of downtown Portland. Through our local connections, strong curriculum and inclusive education, we were able to help cultivate the city’s vibrant and inclusive software development culture. We believe tech careers should be opened to everyone. The future of tech will be shaped by the diversity in our world–through the full breadth of humanity.

Making the Most of Your GI Bill®: Five Things Veterans Need to Know

By Teri Pfeffer on January 3, 2022

As a veteran, you already have most of what it takes to become a great coder: you have grit, determination, motivation, and are a great problem-solver. Thanks to our certification by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, you can put those skills to use with a career in the tech industry when you use your GI Bill® to fund your Code Fellows education. Our military program manager Teri Pfeffer explains the five most important things you need to know about the GI Bill® and how it can help kickstart your career in coding.

Code Fellows Wins WTIA DEI Award

By Mitchell Robertson on December 14, 2021

On November 4th WTIA hosted its first DEI Summit, commemorating the first year of WTIA’s intentional and focused efforts to eradicate systems of inequity in the tech sector. The event also marked the launch of WTIA’s DEI Awards, which recognized and honored organizations making outstanding progress toward achieving diversity, equity and inclusion wins for employees, clients, and stakeholders.

Alumni Spotlight: Will’s Journey: From Homeless to Software Engineer

By Mitchell Robertson on December 13, 2021

Meet Ulrich Wilfred Motchoffo (Will) – Will is a Code Fellows’ Alum and a resilient learner with an incredible story! Will’s journey into tech was not an easy one, in fact, it was far from it, as he faced challenge after challenge, but his persistence paid off.

Partnering to Increase Digital Equity in K-12

By Mitchell Robertson on October 14, 2021

Code Fellows has partnered with the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and Central Oregon STEM Hub piloting a program to provide tech education to students throughout central Oregon. Now in our second year, we are off to a great start and long partnership to produce lasting change.

Leading the Way in Employment Outcomes

By Mitchell Robertson on September 2, 2021

At Code Fellows, we are passionate about helping individuals transform their lives through fast-paced career-focused technical education. This is why we are more than honored to announce that our recently audited employment results show that our alumni have achieved an outstanding 93% In-field Employment Rate.

Powered by Code Fellows: Transforming Lives Through Tech Education

By Mitchell Robertson on February 9, 2021

Building a strong and sustainable economy requires strategic partnerships, human and capital investment, and access to relevant training and education. These three important factors can provide continuous growth, prosperity, and inclusion that raises the standard of living for the entire community and ensures everyone has a chance to succeed.

Turning Ideas Into Code: Making Roman Numerals Count

By JB Tellez on January 23, 2021

Want to turn your ideas into code? Here’s a tip. The battle is usually won before you’ve written a line of code. Our code represents the very specific set of instructions that we give to our computers, but before we tell our computer what to do, we need to know EXACTLY what problem we are solving, and how EXACTLY we are going to solve it. This is where all the real work of programming begins and we have to rely on our problem-solving methodologies.

Build Your Own Home Cyber Range: Part 1

By David Lee on January 12, 2021

Ever wondered how cybersecurity pros simulate threats in a safe manner? Join me in this first entry in my series all about how I built my own affordable home cyber range, and how you can too!

3 Tips to Help You Avoid the Resolution Rut

By Mitchell Robertson on January 6, 2021

2021 is here and like most of the world, you are probably thinking about what your New Year Resolutions will be. Rather than fall into the rut of setting and forgetting your resolutions this year, create goals that inspire you to get up every day and get after accomplishing them.

5 Things 2020 Has Taught Us

By Mitchell Robertson on December 3, 2020

For better or worse, 2020 has changed us—hopefully for the better! Looking back, we can see the lessons we’ve learned—about grit and determination, health and wellbeing, community and connection, patience and humility, learning and growth are lessons that will impact most of us for the rest of our lives.

Meet Kate: A Conservationist Who Found New Passion In Code

By Mitchell Robertson on November 11, 2020

Kate Zurlo-Cuva moved to Seattle for family, only to discover her love for front-end development, and a new career as a Technical Project Manager.

Powering Jamaica's Digital Transformation

By Mitchell Robertson on October 14, 2020

Code Fellows is proud to be powering the digital transformation of Jamaica through training individuals with the technical skills to start rewarding new careers and accelerate Jamaica’s digital economy!

Value of Remote Working …. and Remote Learning

By Mitchell Robertson on September 10, 2020

Remote work is here to stay. “WFH” is the new normal for companies large and small. Job seekers and companies with positions to fill are slowly realizing how much this opens up opportunities for finding the right match. This is why it’s so important to learn the skills to be a productive, well-balanced professional who can work remotely.

Meet Christopher: Code Fellows Graduate, CTO, and Apple Keynote Speaker

By Mitchell Robertson on July 7, 2020

Christopher Cohen has always been one step ahead of technology. As a Code Fellows graduate and chief technology officer of FiLMiC Inc., Christopher is not only pushing the boundaries of what smartphones can do (and presenting his groundbreaking innovations to Apple developers at Apple Special Event Keynotes)—he’s pushing the boundaries of what he can do, too.

Learn to Code From the Cayman Islands

By Mitchell Robertson on July 1, 2020

How our Powered by Code Fellows program helps local economies through providing professional software development skills through live-remote learning.

In Celebration of Juneteenth

By Jeff Malek on June 19, 2020

It is not a “day off” for me or our staff, it’s definitely a “day on”. Meaning, if we’ve learned anything in the last few weeks of 2020, it’s that 155 years later, collectively as a nation we haven’t said enough in support of anti-racism, we haven’t done enough in support of anti-racism, and we need to persist going forward, reminding each other that we have a lot of work ahead of us.

Anti-racism: Being Non-Racist Is Not Enough

By Jeff Malek on June 18, 2020

We remain committed to breaking down systemic barriers and ensuring all people are treated with respect and dignity. Privilege exists. Systemic racism exists. We are united with our staff, students, alumni, and partners in the fight against systemic racism and injustice.

Five Things I’ve Learned as a Person of Color in Tech

By Dezireé Teague on June 9, 2020

Hear some of the lessons Code Fellows graduate and current software developer Dezireé Teague has learned as a person of color working in the tech industry.!

Leading the Way: How Code Fellows is Innovating Cyber Education

By David Lee on May 7, 2020

How does Code Fellows all-new Ops sequence—that culminates in a certificate of Cybersecurity Engineering—set itself apart from other cyber education offerings? Let’s take a look!

6 Keys to Writing the Perfect Cover Letter

By Mitchell Robertson on April 23, 2020

Let’s stop with the generic cover letters! A great cover letter should help you stand out. When written poorly, a cover letter can make a promising candidate seem like an uncreative, uninteresting boiler-plate copy.

COVID-19: How to Thrive in This Time of Uncertainty

By Mitchell Robertson on April 10, 2020

At Code Fellows, we are passionate about helping individuals transform their lives through education. We believe that it is critical to learn the skills that allow you to pursue your passion while also providing for you financially. Being able to work remote, means you not only have the ability to endure tough times like the ones we are facing now but also live where you want, work where you want, and live the life that you want.

Defining Impostor Syndrome: How to Own Your Success

By Mitchell Robertson on March 3, 2020

Late last year, life coach Micha Goebig gave a presentation on overcoming impostor syndrome at a Code Fellows Partner Power Hour. You’ve probably heard of the phrase, but you might not know exactly what it means. Don’t worry, you’re not alone.

Here, we’re detailing what impostor syndrome is and breaking down Micha’s tips for overcoming it and learning to feel confident about your success. Everyone lacks confidence sometimes, but with these tips, we hope to help you learn where that’s healthy—as opposed to limiting and destructive—so you can believe in yourself as much as we believe in you.

Meet Teri: Military Program Manager

By Mitchell Robertson on February 13, 2020

Teri is a big part of what makes Code Fellows so special. In an effort to connect with the veteran community and sharing what an amazing resource she is, we’re writing this peice on her so that current and potential students can get to know her and realize the wealth of support and passion she brings.

It's For You!

By Jeff Malek on January 23, 2020

I sent the response below to an email we received from someone who objected to one of our ads, which contained the message “coding is not just for the white, the male, the privileged, the wealthy or the college educated”. Hopefully this post will help others who may have been offended to understand the intent behind this message.

Learning to Code: 5 Paths to Becoming a Software Developer and How to Enhance Your Skills Along the Way - Part 4

By Heather Cherewaty on January 18, 2020

Are you learning to code or looking to improve your technical skills? Join us for a 5 part blog series on the many paths to a career in Tech and how you can improve your skills, and your job prospects, along the way! Monthly, from September through January, we’ll be exploring various learning mediums and how to best leverage those resources for success. We’ll cover free online tutorials and courses, coding schools/bootcamps, CS degree programs, interview prep, and continuing education. You can find September’s blog on “The Self-guided Route” here, October’s blog on “The College Route” here, and November’s blog on “The Code School Route” here.

7 Ways Veterans Can Optimize Their LinkedIn Profile for Jobs in Tech

By Teri Pfeffer on December 10, 2019

When it comes to professional networking sites, LinkedIn is the way to go. For veterans specifically, LinkedIn can be an invaluable tool when transitioning into the workforce outside of the military. Here, our very own military program manager and military spouse of 24 years, Teri Pfeffer, shares her top LinkedIn tips for veterans.

Learning to Code: 5 Paths to Becoming a Software Developer and How to Enhance Your Skills Along the Way - Part 3

By Heather Cherewaty on November 27, 2019

Are you learning to code or looking to improve your technical skills? Join us for a 5 part blog series on the many paths to a career in Tech and how you can improve your skills, and your job prospects, along the way! Monthly, from September through January, we’ll be exploring various learning mediums and how to best leverage those resources for success. We’ll cover free online tutorials and courses, coding schools/bootcamps, CS degree programs, interview prep, and continuing education. You can find September’s blog on “The Self-guided Route” here and October’s blog on “The College Route” here.

Meet Ada Lovelace (and Other Women Who Shaped Technology)

By Mitchell Robertson on November 26, 2019

Without women, technology would be nowhere near where it is today, but that’s a narrative that many people don’t yet know. Today, we’re introducing (or reintroducing) you to some of tech’s finest female trailblazers so we can all celebrate the women who pioneered the industry—and paved the way for generations to come.

Learning to Code: 5 Paths to Becoming a Software Developer and How to Enhance Your Skills Along the Way - Part 2

By Heather Cherewaty on October 11, 2019

Are you learning to code or looking to improve your technical skills? Join us for a 5 part blog series on the many paths to a career in Tech and how you can improve your skills, and your job prospects, along the way! Monthly, from September through January, we’ll be exploring various learning mediums and how to best leverage those resources for success. We’ll cover free online tutorials and courses, coding schools/bootcamps, CS degree programs, interview prep, and continuing education. You can find September’s blog on “The Self-guided Route” here.

Meet Amber: Code Fellows Graduate

By Mitchell Robertson on October 1, 2019

When Amber Kim started Code Fellows, she wasn’t afraid to fail. In fact, she wanted to: “The faster you learn, the faster you know where the holes in your logic are, and the faster you can either pivot or work on your weak links.”

Forging Partnerships: The Cayman Code Academy

By Mitchell Robertson on September 18, 2019

How our Powered by Code Fellows program helps local economies, from the Cayman Islands to the Middle East.

Meet Jen: Code Fellows Graduate

By Mitchell Robertson on September 12, 2019

When Jen Carrigan enrolled at Code Fellows, she dove in headfirst: she quit her job, dropped out of her computer science degree program, and devoted herself completely to the Code Fellows program instead. It may have been a risk, but it paid off royally—today, Jen is a Code Fellows graduate and software development engineer. Jen’s journey to Code Fellows may have been full of some twists and turns, but she reached her destination by taking it one step at a time.

Meet Hector: Code Fellows Graduate

By Mitchell Robertson on August 19, 2019

When Hector Norzagaray enrolled in Code Fellows, he expected to learn how to code. What he didn’t expect was to find a community of people who rallied together to help him believe in himself—and make it through.

Meet Ivette: Here's How She's Impacting Her Community after Code 201

By Sarah Fischer on January 9, 2019

Meet Ivette Cortez! Knowing the importance of STEM education for young students, she wanted to add programming to her skill set and to her curriculum as a middle school language instructor. After finishing Code 201, she integrated more technology into her classroom, organized after-school coding classes, and started working with ChickTech. Learn more about her journey and how she’s using her education to benefit her community!

Meet James: From Elementary School Teacher to UI Developer

By Sarah Fischer on October 18, 2018

Meet James Billard! He realized he needed a change after seven years as an elementary school instructor. He studied in our nights & weekends track, and now works as a UI Developer at Indigo Slate. Read his advice, struggles, and ultimate triumph as he made a massive career change to pursue his goals.

From Seattle to Cedar Rapids: Meet the School Bringing Tech Education to Iowa

By Mitchell Robertson on September 21, 2018

Did you know that 12 schools license our curriculum to train software developers in their cities?

Meet Gregory: From Army Electrician to Software Developer

By Sarah Fischer on May 15, 2018

Meet Gregory Dukes! His career path lacked direction until he decided to learn to code at Code Fellows. Find out how he made the decision to study ASP.NET, what his job search looked like, and how he went from new hire to lead dev in just three weeks on the job!

Meet Caleb: From Tech Supervisor to Software Design Engineer

By Sarah Fischer on March 9, 2018

Meet Caleb Wells! He wanted a career in tech but wasn’t sure if coding was for him. After pursuing his education at Code Fellows, he was hired as a Software Design Engineer at Alaska Airlines. Read how he changed his career potential in just five months!

Meet Yana: Substitute Teacher Turned Software Engineer

By Sarah Fischer on December 14, 2017

Meet Yana Radenska! She was accepted into an apprenticeship program through WTIA’s Apprenti and completed her technical training at Code Fellows before starting her apprenticeship at Avvo.

Alumni-Focused Events Boost Grads’ Careers & Community

By Mitchell Robertson on September 25, 2017

As the first coding academy in the Seattle market, we launched our operations in 2013 with hopes of improving the quality of tech education and access to careers in tech.

Meet Nathan: Coder, Entrepreneur, and Founder of pennypost

By Sarah Fischer on August 11, 2017

Nathan Maas wanted to use his knack for innovation to help people stay connected, regardless of their location. After learning to code at Code Fellows, he went on to start pennypost as a way to help people stay in touch around the world.

Stability: An Open Letter from Code Fellows CEO

By Jeff Malek on July 21, 2017

The past few weeks have been game changing for the code school marketplace, and for students in training to become developers across the country.

Meet Rae: Yogi Turned Software Developer

By Mitchell Robertson on July 21, 2017

Rae Helsel is a yoga instructor who decided to make a career switch to mobile development. She shares how her background made her the perfect fit for a New York startup, what she loved most about her learning experience, and her advice for anyone considering a similar transition.

Meet Kaylyn: Nurse Turned Software Engineer

By Sarah Fischer on May 24, 2017

Meet Kaylyn Yuh! She graduated from Code Fellows as a full-stack JavaScript developer and now works as a software engineer at Bevy. She shares more about her time in class and what has surprised her most about her new role in tech.

Diversity in Tech: How Diversity Partners are Making an Impact

By Mitchell Robertson on March 21, 2017

For years, tech companies have been challenged to diversify their teams. We look to the data, using the demographics of tech giants like Google and Twitter to gauge how the entire industry is performing.

Meet Lee: Project Manager Turned UX Engineer

By Sarah Fischer on March 13, 2017

Lee Broxson used a systematic schedule to apply for jobs and start a new career as a UX Engineer. Read on to learn the gameplan that leads to job offers from three different companies, plus his insight on how to land the right job after a coding bootcamp.

Meet Victor: From Military Veteran to Booz Allen Hamilton

By Mitchell Robertson on March 4, 2017

What do military veterans have to say about their time at Code Fellows?

Meet David: Navy Veteran Turned Data Developer

By Sarah Fischer on February 24, 2017

When Navy veteran David Fazio starting looking for long-term career paths that built on the technical training he’d received in the Navy, all signs pointed to software development. He shares how his military experience prepared him for a coding bootcamp, and his advice on acing the job search after graduation.

Meet Stefanie: From Psychology to Microsoft's LEAP Program

By Sarah Fischer on February 10, 2017

Stefanie Hansen was struggling to find a career path that was creative, intellectual, meaningful, and collaborative—until she started learning to code. Read along as she shares about her journey, getting accepted to Microsoft’s LEAP program, advice for aspiring developers, and more.

Best Coding Bootcamp Award for 5th Consecutive Year

By Mitchell Robertson on January 4, 2017

Code Fellows awarded SwitchUp’s 2020 Best Bootcamp Award! Thank you to the dedicated instructors, staff and students for helping us acheive our 5th consecutive year of acheiving this distiguished honor!

Introducing Diversity & Inclusion Sessions at Seattle Startup Week

By Mitchell Robertson on November 3, 2016

A friend of mine, Russell Okung, Offensive Tackle for the Seattle Seahawks says, “We see this shift that’s moving toward the innovative economy, and regardless of background, regardless of your ethnicity or regardless of your socioeconomic status, you deserve to be included.”

Meet Tara: Developer at Jaguar Land Rover

By Jordana Gustafson on August 5, 2016

If you met Tara Kreft last fall and then ran into her again today, you’d notice two major differences.

Meet Clare: Scientist, Yeast Engineer, and Code Fellows Graduate

By Lauren Sauser on June 16, 2016

Clare Monahan spent half a decade as a protein engineer. As she neared her financial limitations as a scientist without a PhD, she turned her attention to writing code. Clare shares with us about her transition from the lab to the classroom, and then to a new career as a software developer.

Meet Alexandra: Experienced Software Developer and Code Fellows Graduate

By Sarah Fischer on May 20, 2016

Alexandra Norcross had 15 years of software development experience behind her when she opted for a change. After hearing about Code Fellows from a recent graduate, she decided to switch from developing for desktop and the web to programming iOS apps. She shares her experience during her course and what surprised her most about the program.

Code Fellows Presents MedBridge with GeekWire's Bootstrapper of the Year Award

By Mitchell Robertson on May 10, 2016

The GeekWire Awards 2016 took place yesterday evening in the Sky Church of Seattle’s Experience Music Project to celebrate more than a dozen categories of tech innovation, including ‘Startup of the Year,’ ‘Next Tech Titan,’ and the ever-prestigious ‘Geek of the Year.’

Meet Monica: Journalism Major, Front-End Developer, and Code Fellows Graduate

By Sarah Fischer on May 5, 2016

Monica Davidson is a seasoned Code Fellows alumni and software developer who studied front-end development in a Bootcamp (now Code 201) and Development Accelerator (now Code 401). She shares how she used her training at Code Fellows to achieve a life-long dream and how her training as a journalist helped her become a better software developer.

Meet Kasim: Material Engineer, Software Developer, and Code Fellows Graduate

By Lauren Sauser on April 29, 2016

Kasim Siddiqui spoke with us about his return to Seattle, his search for a more purposeful career, and the importance of a supportive spouse. Siddiqui received a scholarship to attend Code Fellows in 2015, and studied full-stack JavaScript.

Seahawk Tackle Russell Okung Launches the Greater Foundation, Our Newest Partner

By Mitchell Robertson on November 24, 2015

Code Fellows is proud to partner with the Greater Foundation to provide more opportunities for the next generation.

Networking Beyond Meetups

By Mitchell Robertson on June 25, 2015

The word “networking” stresses me out. It brings to mind strangers wearing self-adhesive nametags while milling around a room with cheap appetizers and forced small talk.

The good news is that that’s only a small part of networking.

Part 5: Negotiating Your Salary 101

By Mitchell Robertson on June 24, 2015

So … negotiating is uncomfortable. And important. And a guaranteed part of your job search.

Ooft.

Part 3: Build Your Online Brand

By Mitchell Robertson on June 24, 2015

When an employer searches for you online, you want them to like what they find. If they don’t, you could be passed over, but if they do, it may result in an interview.

Part 1: Shy Guy's Guide to Meetups

By Mitchell Robertson on June 24, 2015

Professional development is a large part of what our Development Accelerator students study during their eight weeks on campus. This five-part series is a glimpse into the training they receive to polish their online presence and be successful in their job search.

What You Shouldn't Put on Your Resume

By Mitchell Robertson on December 16, 2014

One page isn’t enough space to highlight your entire professional history. It is usually, however, a good allowance of space for you to list the qualifications that make you an attractive potential hire for a specific position and employer.

10 things you need to know before applying to a bootcamp

By Lindy Levinson on August 15, 2014

This immersive style of learning is not for the faint hearted. Here are 10 things to consider before submitting your application.

Code Fellows is Coming to Chicago

By Mitchell Robertson on August 14, 2014

The Full-Stack JavaScript Development Accelerator starts full time on May 11.

Zillow

By Mitchell Robertson on November 8, 2013

Zillow is a participant in Code Fellows’ job event on Jan. 16, 2013. They’re hiring!