Applying for jobs can be daunting at the best of times—let alone when making a complete career change and trying to break into a new industry. And, with even more uncertainty thrown into the mix by the current pandemic, navigating the world of work is no mean feat. But what if you had access to a complete career-change package? What if there was a way to learn in-demand tech skills and be guaranteed a job at the end of it?
CareerFoundry is an online education provider, offering career-change programs in UX design, UI design, web development, and data analytics—some of the most sought-after professions in the tech industry right now. Their flexible online programs come with one-to-one mentorship, expert career support, and a job guarantee. If they can’t help you find a job after six months of graduating, you could be eligible for a full refund. Sound interesting? Keep reading to find out how they fulfill this promise.
The CareerFoundry Job Guarantee
It is understandable that many people will see changing careers as a risk right now. But in reality, a job in tech is one of your safest bets if you’re looking for job security and a career in which you are constantly developing in-demand skills. CareerFoundry recognizes that it can feel intimidating to put yourself out there and take that leap; having helped over 3,000 people change careers, they’re no stranger to the amount of courage and dedication it takes. To take the pressure off, CareerFoundry offers a safety net in the form of a job guarantee. If you don’t find a job within 6 months of graduating, you could be refunded the entire cost of your program.
Unlike many other bootcamps, you don’t need any specific qualifications or a certain number of years of experience in order to be eligible for CareerFoundry’s job guarantee. You do need to demonstrate that you are dedicated and committed to finding work. You’ll need to complete the Job Preparation Course—a free module included in your program—and apply for five jobs per week. You’ll also need to regularly touch base with your career specialist, making sure you respond to them within 72 hours and upload your portfolio to various industry websites. Ultimately, most of the job guarantee criteria relate to the things you’ll be doing anyway as part of your job search; there are no unnecessary hoops to jump through! You can find more information about the CareerFoundry job guarantee here.
So now you might be wondering: Does the job guarantee actually work? CareerFoundry boasts a 96% success rate, meaning that 96% of eligible graduates find a job within six months of completing their program. CareerFoundry graduates go on to work as UX designers, UI designers, web developers, engineers, software developers, and data analysts for major tech giants such as Amazon, Facebook, Google, Netflix, and Paypal.
A Strong Support Network
Studying online, at your own pace, is great for flexibility. But what about when you need some guidance or a little nudge in the right direction? As a CareerFoundry student, studying independently doesn’t mean studying alone. From day one, you’ll be assigned a career specialist in your timezone who will coach you through your career change with personalized, one-on-one support. You’ll be able to contact your career specialist whenever you need, and you’re guaranteed to hear back from them within 48 hours. This support doesn’t end when you graduate, either. You’ll have continued access to your career specialist’s advice and expertise after finishing your program and in your new career.
“I loved how hands-on my career specialist Danielle was. She was really adamant about preparing me for working life,” said Megan, a graduate of CareerFoundry’s UX Design program. “We did mock interviews, looked at salary compensation, she even gave me advice on how to talk to your boss or negotiate a higher salary. She taught me all the useful things that you don’t really learn in school.”
Aside from the support provided by your career specialist, you’ll also become part of CareerFoundry’s global community made up of students, alumni, mentors, tutors, and career specialists, which is over 5,000 strong, and growing by the day. From fellow students to ex-alumni coming back to offer jobs to new graduates, there is a wealth of support available—and lots of exciting opportunities out there for you to take advantage of.
Throughout your program, you’ll be able to connect with your network via informative online meet-ups, where you’ll exchange valuable advice and feedback with fellow students. These online meet-ups include virtual coffee dates where students discuss their career goals, challenges, and life in general, and events such as #IamRemarkable which encourages women and other underrepresented groups in tech to speak out about their experiences in the industry.
In addition to this, CareerFoundry sponsors meet-up groups such as Design + Friends, a Berlin-based collective of UX and UI designers. Throughout your program, you’re also encouraged to find a study buddy with who you can exchange ideas and peer review one another’s work. This is an excellent way to practice and demonstrate your ability to collaborate—a skill that is paramount in any profession.
The great thing about CareerFoundry is that once you graduate, and even once you’ve landed an exciting new job, you’ll always have access to support and guidance from your career specialist. With this lifetime support, you can rest assured that whatever direction you decide to take in your career, you’ll always have CareerFoundry behind you. That kind of tailor-made support and industry expertise is invaluable, especially in these uncertain times. With CareerFoundry, it’s not just about landing your first job and ticking a box; they’re deeply invested in your future career, wherever that may take you!
A Free Job Preparation Course
Once you’re halfway through your career change program in UX Design, UI Design, Web Development, or Data Analytics, you’ll have access to CareerFoundry’s one-month long add-on Job Preparation Course which will help you prepare for your new career. Through a personalized career and job search plan, you’ll work together with your career specialist to identify job opportunities that fit with both your experience and aspirations, all the while practicing how to ace interviews, make your cover letter really stand out, and successfully negotiate offers.
And that’s not all. On the course, you’ll:
- Craft your mission statement
- Develop your career change strategy
- Define your elevator pitch
- Showcase your process and skills
- Create your professional resume
- Build your professional portfolio
- Establish your professional brand
- Build your network and find opportunities through networking
- Search for jobs
As you can see, the Job Preparation Course covers a wide range of areas designed to make you shine in front of potential employers. But don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what UI design graduate, Martha, had to say: “I found the Job Prep Course so useful. It really encouraged me to be prepared for everything. I found my career specialist Andrea to be so supportive—just knowing that she was there to help me navigate any speed bump I encountered was so helpful.”
This view is echoed by UI design graduate Michael, who explained: “At first, I wasn’t sure if I really needed to do the Job Prep Course, but my mentor was adamant that it would be useful. I’m so glad I listened! I always felt that I had quite a random variety of job experiences, but the Job Prep Course really helped me to step back and look at the bigger picture. I was able to see how my previous experience, even the jobs that seemed unrelated to UI design, could add value to the roles I was applying for. I was especially grateful for the LinkedIn profile support—it wasn’t something I ever gave much thought, but I now know how vital it is to brand yourself properly.”
How do CareerFoundry graduates find jobs?
Designed and created by former students, CareerFoundry’s job board, CareerHub, boasts a list of jobs (including privately listed posts!) curated by career specialists and ready for you to grab. Regarding the different ways in which CareerFoundry graduates find work, 58% do so by directly applying to publicly posted positions; 27% find work through networking and referrals, and 15% end up with a job as a result of a recruiter contacting them.
On average, it takes CareerFoundry students around 2-10 weeks to find a job, with some launching their career via apprenticeships or internships, and others working freelance before securing a full-time role. There is a myriad of ways to start working once you finish your CareerFoundry program, but thanks to the support provided, it’s a relatively quick transition!
Conclusion
Changing careers can be scary, but it’s also extremely rewarding once you commit to it. This year’s events have led many people to reflect on how satisfied they really are in their careers, and although we are in uncertain times, CareerFoundry strives to make one thing certain: It’s entirely possible to forge a career you love, and they’ll support you every step of the way.
Thanks to the job guarantee, you can rest assured that you will have unlimited guidance throughout the program and beyond. Many previous graduates have benefitted from this and gone on to have successful careers, staying in touch with CareerFoundry and keeping them updated on their most recent roles and achievements. Spoilt for choice, UI design graduate Nattapon “got two job offers at the same time, and only had a week to choose between them. One was UX/UI at a startup, and the other was pure UX design at a more established company,” he said. “I consulted the career specialists on slack, and they were so helpful in guiding me towards the right decision.”
It is worth noting that the job guarantee is still offered amidst the pandemic under the same conditions, so you don’t have to worry. In fact, CareerFoundry recently adjusted their programs to account for the recent shift towards remote working—including how to present yourself and your work remotely, how to tailor your job search to remote roles, networking, and working collaboratively on projects remotely. If you’re unsure about what opportunities are available at the moment, see what CareerFoundry’s head of career services has to say about the current job market and how you can give yourself the best chance of succeeding. The bottom line: Don’t give up, as “you never know where the next opportunity will come from.”
Evident from the huge amount of support offered, it’s clear that CareerFoundry works to ensure their students are in excellent hands. Given that CareerFoundry’s job is not considered done until you are settled and happy in yours, why not head over to their website and get the ball rolling towards your dream career now?
You can also get a taste of what CareerFoundry is like with their shorter introduction courses. Try out their Intro to UX Design course here.
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.
