People eager for a career in tech enter bootcamps that offer programs they can complete in 16 weeks or fewer. While this is doable for some, others prefer to enroll in a more immersive program where they can take more time to absorb the knowledge and skills they gain.
Enter, Kenzie Academy.
Kenzie Academy, an Indiana-based tech academy, offers immersive programs in UX design, full-stack web development, and software engineering. The latter is co-developed with Amazon Technical Academy’s (ATA) engineers to focus more on backend Java development and Cloud Architecture.
Kenzie Academy positions itself as a happy medium between a college and a bootcamp with programs focusing on performance rather than test-based evaluations. Its UX Design and Full-Stack Web Development programs take nine months to complete while the Software Engineering program takes 12 months.
In this article, we bring attention to how you can be career-ready in UX design and software engineering when you enroll with Kenzie Academy.
Gain the skills you need to explore rewarding tech careers with Kenzie Academy’s high-quality Software Engineering and UX Design programs.
Apply to Kenzie Academy todayUX Design and Software Engineering at a Glance
Software engineer and UX designer are two of the hottest roles in the tech market. But what do they do, and why are they in high demand?
A software engineer designs, implements, and monitors software and applications used within an organization. They are well-versed in programming languages like C++, JavaScript, and Python, to name a few. Since software engineering is a broad discipline, some professionals focus on particular subdisciplines, including web and mobile application development, full stack development, front end development, and backend development.
UX designers or user experience designers guarantee that any app, website, or machine functions smoothly and delivers an experience that meets users’ expectations. They are also constantly on the lookout for design flaws they can improve to achieve better functionality.
With this said, UX designers are vital to many organizations. They are present across most industries and work closely with software engineers and developers inside organizations.
Like software engineering, UX design also has subdisciplines, including User Interface (UI) design and product design. UI designers come up with the visual design according to the UX design. Product designers have a more holistic role, from ideation and design of products to execution.
UX Design and Software Engineering Career Outlook
Michael Page, a recruitment company, dubbed software engineering “the world’s most in-demand profession.” As per its analysis, 28 out of 36 countries in the study show that the leading occupations are in the tech industry.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics echoed this in its recent study where it projects a 22 percent increase in demand for software engineers and developers by 2028. Such an increase amounts to around 189,200 job openings each year. For comparison, the average job projection across all industries is five percent.
Full-stack web developers earn a national average salary of $88,123 per year, while software engineers can expect an average annual base salary of $108,249. These figures may increase depending on years of work experience to $140,000 and $160,000, respectively.
UX design placed fifth on LinkedIn’s list of in-demand skills. As a UX designer, Glassdoor shows you can earn an average of $115,743 annual salary in the United States. Successful UX designers have the chance of becoming a Lead UX or Principal UX designer, which can potentially earn them $147,000 to $174,000 per year.
So, how does Kenzie Academy help you achieve these dream roles in tech?
5 Steps to a Tech Career with Kenzie Academy
Kenzie Academy is committed to creating a learning experience that equips its learners with the right skill set to tackle real-world challenges. Below are the five steps you can take to land a career in tech when you enroll with Kenzie Academy.
Step 1: Prepare for the application process
Kenzie Academy designed its program to lean towards hands-on learning. The learners have ample time to digest the concepts and theories taught by instructors, which they apply through exercises and assignments.
With this in mind, aspiring software engineering and full-stack web development learners are encouraged to try the Kenzie Free to learn the basics of coding. Besides its $0 price tag, the course is packed with valuable lessons and tutorials designed by industry experts who worked for top-notch companies such as Google and LinkedIn. Learners can get familiar with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript—tools that are used during the program.
Learners benefit from Kenzie Free in two ways. First, they gain a head start and better chances of securing a seat in the bootcamp by learning the fundamentals of coding. Second, Kenzie Free gives a preview of what to expect in the bootcamp and if Kenzie Academy’s teaching method matches your learning style. If so, you can proceed with the application process.
Step 2: Submit your application
The enrollment process with Kenzie Academy starts by sending in your application online. After which, a Kenzie admissions counselor will have a sit-down session with you to identify your goals and orient you about the academy.
Kenzie Academy encourages everyone to enroll. But like any educational institution, assessments are in place to ensure that you are ready for the rigor of the program. As an applicant, you will undergo a skills test to assess your math, verbal, and spatial abilities. The total composite score will determine if you have the required aptitude for the program.
You’ll also need to determine whether Kenzie Academy is a financial fit for you. For starters, the UX Design program costs $13,000, while the Full-Stack Web Development program tuition is $18,000 and the Software Engineering with the ATA program costs $20,000.
Learners have multiple options to fund their education, including paying tuition upfront, applying for loans, or opting for a monthly installment payment plan. Kenzie’s Admissions Counselors are available to help discuss the best option for each learner.
Step 3: Complete your technical training
Kenzie Academy designed its programs to work around the schedule of its learners. This means students can set up a comfortable schedule with their advisors for as long as they can complete the necessary time commitment each week.
For those enrolled in the Software Engineering Program, the first three months will focus on the foundations of backend development. Instructors also train learners to think and approach problems like a real software engineer, write codes, debug software, and collaborate with co-engineers. The remaining months cover advanced lessons, like using Java to develop a program, deep-diving into cloud architecture, and building software from scratch.
In Kenzie’s Full-Stack Web Development Program, learners get in-depth training in JavaScript, React.js, Node.js, and Mongo DB. The course materials included in the program are programming fundamentals, CSS, JavaScript DOM manipulation, JS browser events and callbacks, and data models, to name a few. Kenzie Academy aims to hone web developers who are experts in frontend and backend systems in its nine-month program.
The UX Design Program is optimized to allow learners with jobs or other commitments to study at their own pace. The program comprises three parts: fundamentals, application, and character development.
The first part emphasizes understanding what a UX designer is and how they differ from other subsets, like User Interface (UI) design. Learners also need to complete web design projects where they apply concepts they learned.
The second part is more about creating a portfolio by breathing life into their design ideas. Here, the course facilitators will condition learners to be industry-ready by exposing them to real problems. Finally, Kenzie Academy molds its learners to be more collaborative as they will work with teams of other engineers and designers in the future.
Step 4: Tap into Kenzie Academy’s Placement Services
Kenzie Academy recognizes the fact that while there are many job openings in the market, having the right skills and attitude is what will land you a job. Hence, career advisors work closely with the graduates from the get-go to attain positive results.
The Kenzie Placement team instills values and skills among learners that employers are seeking. These are the desire to learn, grow, and the initiative to go above and beyond in delivering high-quality outputs. The team also coaches learners in writing compelling cover letters, resumes, and LinkedIn profiles. Learners will work individually and in group settings to prepare for interviews and build their networks.
On top of all these, Kenzie learners also gain first-hand insights from industry experts via the Ask Me Anything sessions. Webinars, info sessions, and open houses are conducted multiple times a month and are accessible online.
Step 5: Get career tips from Kenzie advisors to land the perfect tech job
Searching for a job is not a simple task. You cannot simply send your resume to multiple companies and hope for the best. That said, Kenzie career advisors plan the job search strategies according to learners’ career goals. After which, Kenzie advisors match the learners with employer partners who align with their skill set and goals.
Through Kenzie Profile, the academy’s employer partner site, hiring managers can browse graduates’ profiles and online portfolios. The Placement team also helps graduates broaden their reach to other companies via CareerScore Job Tracking Software.
As reviewed by FutureWonder, a software consultancy that hired Kenzie Academy graduates, “Kenzie Academy produces great candidates with a solid foundation. Your [hired Kenzie] grads are willing to learn and [are] committed to growth. For entry-level candidates, mindset and coachability are huge [factors that we seek], and the [Kenzie Academy] graduates embody these.”
Why Choose Kenzie Academy?
Kenzie Academy boasts a tried-and-tested formula of building a holistic curriculum that is rigorous and immersive yet doesn’t rush shaping its learners into desirable tech professionals. As a result, many Kenzie grads have landed fulfilling tech jobs upon graduation.
Graduates of the UX design program have gone to work as web designers, UX/UI designers, and mobile app designers. Software engineering graduates could pivot into full-stack web developer, software developer, software engineer, and software analyst roles, to name a few.
Those who graduated from Software Engineering with ATA Program are exempted from Amazon’s four-year degree requirement when they apply for entry-level software engineering roles at the company.
Your Kenzie Academy certificate is also honored at Southern New Hampshire University should you want to continue your studies in select programs without starting from scratch. All these perks amplify what Kenzie Academy is all about: a training ground dedicated to increasing access to learner-first tech education.
Kick-start your career in UX design and software engineering when you enroll at Kenzie Academy.
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.
