It’s no secret that people are looking for a lot more in tech bootcamps besides learning technical skills. Tech bootcamps are a way to break into the tech industry, and because of that, high-grade career services have become an important part of the experience.
But, what separates one job assistance program from another? How can you tell which will make you stand out in the crowd, and especially in an interview? The answers may be found in a school’s outcomes.
For Ironhack, a tech bootcamp with nine campuses worldwide, its student outcomes speak volumes of its pedagogy. Ironhack offers a variety of tech programs, including Web Development, UX/UI Design, Data Analytics, and Cybersecurity. Since the pandemic, the school has also expanded its offerings online, allowing students everywhere to learn with Ironhack anytime and anywhere.
Ironhack boasts a variety of skills-training programs and a Careerhack program, both of which are designed to help you launch your career in tech.
Be part of Ironhack’s next cohort today.Ironhack Outcomes: Success by the Numbers
In 2018, Ironhack became the first European bootcamp to release independently audited outcomes data. “Our student’s outcomes have always been our greatest metric for success, and we are taking strides to share their stories by auditing and publishing our students’ outcomes,” the school said.
In collaboration with top-tier accounting firm PwC, Ironhack works to ensure it is “delivering accurate, verified numbers”.
From Ironhack’s most recent outcomes report, over 7,500 students have graduated from Ironhack campuses since its inception. Within the last round of data gathering, there was a 96 percent graduation rate comprising 829 students:
- 322 UX/UI Design students
- 44 Data Analytics students
- 463 Web Development students
Out of these graduates, there was a placement rate of 76 percent within 90 days of graduating and 89 percent within 180 days of graduating. Ironhack has a tremendous amount of success landing students in unique, engaging careers. Its graduates have gone on to fill in various roles at companies such as Twitter, Google, Visa, General Electric, Accenture, Rocket Internet, and more.
The outcomes are enough to get anyone looking for a bootcamp excited, but what’s more impressive is how Ironhack achieves these figures. Enter: Careerhack.
Careerhack: Receive Career Support from Application to Employment
There’s a reason why Ironhack has great job placement numbers, and it has to do with its vision to become “the most outcomes-focused institution in the world, at scale”.
Its outcomes team is dedicated to ensuring that students are focused on developing the skills necessary to land and build a long-lasting career from the time they apply to Ironhack, all the way to graduation and beyond.
Ironhack’s Career Services, also known as Careerhack, is an instrumental aspect of the school; it begins even before the technical training does. According to Ironhack, this is a top priority because it believes that the process of finding your dream career is a marathon, not a sprint.
At Ironhack, Careerhack is embedded into the program, so students are continuously building their employability skills every step of the way. Careerhack comprises three stages.
- Stage 0 or Discovery. Engage in reflective exercises and take stock of your goals, skills, and potential career paths.
- Stage 1 or Digital Foundations. Put yourself out there and build your professional network.
- Stage 2 or Job Hunt. Develop critical job search skills, from refining your interview and negotiation skills to ramping up with the job application.
Read more about what each stage of Careerhack involves here.
How Ironhack Connects Students with Hiring Companies
While you’re working your way through Ironhack’s Careerhack program, the outcomes team is working alongside you by engaging directly with hiring companies. This relationship works three ways.
Firstly, companies will alert Ironhack of any relevant job openings, and they will then select a suitable candidate out of Ironhack’s talent pool. Secondly, companies come to Ironhack’s outcomes team with a list of criteria that they look for in a candidate—like a UX/UI designer based in Barcelona or a developer based in Amsterdam. The outcomes team will then recommend several candidates that fit the bill.
Finally, there is the ultimate matchmaking process, where the outcomes team speaks directly with the hiring companies to get a deeper understanding of what they’re looking for, the skills they need, and the background of the candidate they want to hire, before providing a list of four to five students that would make excellent matches.
Advice from the Outcomes Head at Ironhack
Gemma, who is the Global Outcomes Lead, said motivation is key for those looking to launch their tech careers through Ironhack.
“We see great results from people who really work hard and try to maximize every service they have access to with us,” she said, adding that the bootcamp journey is a unique moment in one’s life.
“You need to put everything into it, or else it’s really tough. Students face roadblocks, you receive feedback, criticism, but you have to really believe in your dream. You’ll find a company that you think is really cool, that empowers you, and then you just have to go for it.”
Gemma said while Ironhack has witnessed many dedicated students achieve long-lasting careers, the journey may not look the same for every student. “It doesn’t always come as quick as you think it will. Sometimes it’s after 100 applications, 20 interviews, that you finally get your dream job. You have to be prepared to work hard at it.”
However, Gemma said that things do get easier once you have pushed through and secured your first tech job. From her experience, she said it’s not just the technical skills that will propel your career, but it’s also your human qualities.
“The companies and partners we work with don’t hire junior employees just because of their technical skills. They hire because of their motivation, learning aptitude, and eagerness. Don’t ever lose that, because that’s what drives your success.”
Ironhack’s Outcomes: Alumni Stories
As mentioned, over 7,000 people have benefited from Ironhack’s programs and services since the school was founded. These graduates represent various groups of people, which indicates that there is room in tech for everyone, regardless of their backgrounds. Let’s look at how Ironhack’s graduates have fared in the tech workplace.
Jordi Milan: Ending a 7-Year Career Gap with a Bang
Jordi used to be a graphic designer. But when he started raising his family, he had to hit pause on a job he’s passionate about to look for more stability. He found a job as an assistant at a fuel station. Despite this, he’s always thought about going back to what he loved.
Using an Income Share Agreement, Jordi seized the chance and enrolled in Ironhack’s UX/UI Design bootcamp program. Today, he is a UI designer at CounterGrogWise, a software company based in Barcelona.
Regina Hunter: From a Social Content Manager to a QA Analyst
When she came to Ironhack’s Berlin campus, Regina was working as a social content manager with a background in criminal justice. Her career change journey was not easy as she fought with performance anxiety and insecurity. But, she took a leap with Ironhack’s full-time Data Analytics program and is now happy in her role as a Junior QA Analyst at TikTok.
Vitor Vieira: Exploring Different Roles in a Law Firm
Like so many working adults, Vitor found himself uninspired in his role as a lawyer. However, he did not dare to make a career shift. What finally motivated him was the positive reviews he found on Ironhack.
In 2020, Vitor took the Web Development program and he has never looked back. Now, he works as a front end developer for Faria, Cendão & Maia Advogados. Vitor said he may still be working at a law firm, but he’s hopeful and excited about his new career path.
Can Ironhack Help You Launch a Career in Tech?
According to Jordi, Regina, Vitor, Ironhack can be your launching pad to a tech career. Helping students achieve long-term professional success has been the guiding force for Ironhack’s career services team since it began.
This is evident in the way the technical and job hunt training at Ironhack are structured. The positive outcomes also underline the hard work that Ironhack puts in to help students find meaningful employment.
Are you ready to work hard and jumpstart your dream career? Apply to Ironhack’s next cohort today.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
