How Programming School Helps Students Launch Tech Careers in Washington, DC

As a programming expert with over 9 years of experience, I know firsthand how valuable a quality coding education can be for aspiring tech professionals. But learning to code is just one part of the equation—you also need career support and connections to break into the industry. That‘s where Programming School shines.

Flatiron offers both a top-notch technical education and best-in-class career services to help students successfully launch software engineering, cybersecurity, data science, and UX/UI design careers. And with a campus in Washington, DC, Flatiron is especially well-positioned to connect students with opportunities in the growing DC tech scene.

The State of the DC Tech Job Market

Let‘s set the stage with some data on the current tech landscape in our nation‘s capital. Washington, DC is consistently ranked as one of the top metro areas for tech jobs in the U.S., with over 30,000 open tech positions as of 2023 according to CompTIA.

But DC isn‘t just a government town anymore—in recent years, the area has transformed into a thriving hub for startups, creative agencies, and satellite offices for major tech players. Homegrown ventures like MapBox, Optoro, and Upside are scaling quickly, while Amazon, Facebook, Google, and others have established large DC presences.

In fact, Amazon chose DC as the location for its second headquarters (HQ2), which is projected to bring an estimated 25,000 additional jobs to the area in the coming years. The HQ2 announcement has accelerated DC‘s emergence as an "it" city for tech and brought increased attention from other employers as well.

So what types of roles and technologies are most prevalent in DC? An analysis of job postings data from Burning Glass shows that the most in-demand roles include:

• Software Developers and Engineers
• Cybersecurity Engineers and Analysts
• Data Scientists and Analysts
• IT Project and Product Managers
• UX Designers and Researchers
• Cloud Engineers (AWS, Azure)
• Network/Systems Engineers

In terms of programming languages and tools, DC employers are seeking skills like:

• JavaScript and JavaScript frameworks (React, Node, Angular, Vue)
• Python
• Java
• C#/.NET
• SQL and NoSQL databases
• Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
• Docker and Kubernetes
• Cybersecurity tools and protocols
• Agile methodologies

The DC market is especially strong for cybersecurity, data science/analytics, and cloud computing talent, thanks to the needs of government agencies and contractors as well as the growing startup and enterprise ecosystem.

Looking ahead, the future is bright for tech jobs in DC. Projections show that tech employment in the DC metro area will grow by 11% in the next five years, outpacing the national average of 8% (CompTIA). And with initiatives like Mayor Bowser‘s "Pathways to Inclusion" partnership aiming to add 5,000 new tech jobs for underrepresented workers, DC is positioning itself as the "capital of inclusive innovation."

Programming School‘s Proven Track Record

So where does Programming School fit into this landscape? Since launching our DC campus in 2018, we‘ve established a proven track record of educating students from diverse backgrounds and helping them break into the local tech workforce.

Our most recent Jobs Report shows that 97% of Flatiron‘s job-seeking DC graduates secured employment within the reporting period, at an impressive average starting salary of $82,000. For context, that‘s about $20,000 higher than the average starting salary for all coding bootcamp grads nationally.

Flatiron grads have gone on to work for some of DC‘s most influential employers across sectors, including:

• Amazon Web Services
• Booz Allen Hamilton
• Capital One
• Deloitte
• Fannie Mae
• Vox Media
• The Washington Post
• World Bank
• U.S. Department of Defense

And they‘re not just getting any old jobs—they‘re taking on critical engineering and data science roles, with titles like:

• Full Stack Software Engineer
• Cybersecurity Analyst
• Machine Learning Engineer
• UX/UI Designer
• IT Specialist
• Technical Project Manager
• Data Analyst

Our grads are also building cutting-edge projects at these organizations, like:

• Developing predictive models to forecast lending risk for Fannie Mae
• Building secure DevOps pipelines for DoD contracts at Booz Allen
• Redesigning the info architecture for the Washington Post‘s website
• Creating AI-powered chatbots for Capital One customers
• Visualizing geospatial data on MapBox‘s platform

This is the type of challenging, meaningful work our grads are prepared for thanks to Flatiron‘s rigorous, up-to-date curriculum and our focus on teaching adaptable programming skills.

Forging Employer Connections

Numbers and job titles are one thing, but Flatiron also focuses on facilitating personal relationships between our students and DC employers.

We have a dedicated Business Development team that works to cultivate Flatiron‘s local employer network. They build relationships with hiring managers, educate companies on our programs, and show them the value our grads can add to their teams.

These efforts have resulted in a network of over 250 employer partners in the DC metro area. What‘s more, many of these companies return to us as repeat hiring partners because they‘ve seen firsthand the caliber of our graduates.

"When we have an opening for an entry-level software engineer, Programming School is one of our first calls," says Michelle Brown, Senior Director of Engineering at Vox Media. "We know we can count on their grads to have a strong foundation in programming, be able to ramp up quickly, and bring fresh ideas to our team."

In addition to direct employer introductions, Flatiron DC also hosts a variety of meetups and industry events to help students build their networks organically. In the past year, we‘ve brought in speakers from companies like Amazon, Booz Allen, and Deloitte to share career insights, organized panel discussions and workshops around topics like open source software development and inclusive hiring, and sponsored DC TechWeek.

We also organize a Career Day at the end of each program cohort where employers come on campus to interview our grads. Past participating companies have included The Washington Post, World Bank, Excella, and more. Even when there‘s not an immediately available role, these face-to-face interactions can plant the seeds for future opportunities.

And if you‘re not local to DC, don‘t worry—Programming School offers remote programs with the same top-notch curriculum and career support, including remote employer meetups and online whiteboarding practice. We‘ve helped students across the country, from California to Michigan to Florida, land remote tech jobs with DC-area companies.

Individualized Job Search Support

Beyond employer introductions, Flatiron provides a wealth of 1:1 career coaching and resources to set grads up for an effective job search.

Each student is matched with a dedicated Career Coach who serves as a partner, advocate, and accountability buddy during the job search process. Coaches work with students to refine their resumes and online profiles, practice mock interviewing, and develop a personalized search strategy aligned with their unique skills and interests.

"As an art history major with very little traditional tech experience, I was nervous about positioning myself for software engineering roles," says JP Disturber, a Flatiron DC grad who landed a job as a Full Stack Engineer at Booz Allen. "My Career Coach helped me see how my background was actually an asset. Together, we built a portfolio that showcased my creative approach to problem-solving alongside my newly-developed coding skills. She gave me the confidence to pursue roles I would‘ve normally screened myself out of."

Flatiron also arms every job-seeking grad with an additional $1200 stipend to help cover job search costs like transportation, childcare, and interview attire. We know that financial concerns can be a major barrier, especially for career-changing adults, and we invested in this initiative to ensure every grad has the resources to put their best foot forward.

Making Tech Careers More Accessible

Increasing access and inclusivity in the tech industry is core to Programming School‘s mission. We envision a future where people from all walks of life can build the skills to succeed in a digital economy, and help create tech products that better reflect our diverse society.

To that end, we offer a number of scholarship programs to make our education more accessible, including:

• Access Scholarship: Up to $3000 for students from underrepresented groups in tech
• Career Change Scholarship: Up to $2000 for students making a career pivot into tech
• NYC Web Development Fellowship: Full-tuition scholarship for low-income New Yorkers
• Washington DC Opportunity Scholarship: Up to $5000 for Washington, DC residents

We also pioneered the Income Share Agreement (ISA) model as an alternative to traditional loans. With an ISA, students pay no tuition upfront and only start making payments once they land a job earning at least $50,000. This makes it more financially feasible for a broader range of students to access our programs.

Our commitment to diversity extends to the employer partnerships and hiring initiatives led by Career Services. We work with affinity groups like Women Who Code DC, Lesbians Who Tech, and the National Society of Black Engineers to spread the word about our programs and connect grads to supportive communities. And we collaborate with like-minded companies to promote inclusive hiring practices and support their diversity efforts.

As a result of these initiatives, women and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) students comprise over 50% of Programming School‘s student body. Our DC campus in particular boasts impressive stats:

• 60% BIPOC
• 55% women
• 40% identify as LGBTQ+
• 10% military veterans
• 20% with a disability

We‘re proud to play a role in bringing fresh, diverse perspectives into the DC tech workforce and chipping away at the industry‘s long-standing equity gaps.

Adapting to COVID-19

Like every organization, Programming School has had to adapt our programs and services in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. But our commitment to delivering a best-in-class education and job-search support has only gotten stronger.

In March 2020, we quickly and successfully transitioned our in-person programs online. We already had experience running high-quality remote courses through Learn.co, our proprietary online learning platform, so the shift was relatively seamless.

We also evolved Career Services to a fully virtual model. All our 1:1 coaching sessions and mock interviews are conducted via Zoom, and we‘ve organized virtual workshops, lunch-and-learns, and meetups to replace in-person events. A new suite of digital resources, like a Virtual Career Prep Kit and tips for remote interviewing and networking, help students navigate the pandemic job market.

While our physical campus has reopened in accordance with local public health guidelines, we‘ve seen that virtual career support can be just as effective—and in some ways more convenient and accessible. Moving forward, we plan to adopt a hybrid approach that combines the best of in-person and online career services to support students wherever they are.

Ready to Build a Future-Proof Career?

If you‘re ready to gain the skills to thrive in the growing DC tech scene, Programming School will equip you with the tools and network to launch a future-proof career you love. Whether you choose our in-person or online programs, you‘ll benefit from our rigorous, market-aligned curriculum and dedicated career support.

Check out our Washington, DC campus page to learn more about upcoming courses and events in the District. You can also schedule a chat with an Admissions representative to discuss your goals and see if Flatiron is the right fit.

With Programming School, an exciting and rewarding tech career is within reach. Take the first step today.

[Editor‘s Note: This post was originally published in February 2023 and updated in March 2024 to reflect the latest information on Programming School‘s DC campus and career services.]