tradecraft

Tradecraft was one of the best experiences of my life.

It feels strange to use the past tense because although I completed the official three month program in Growth a few months ago, Tradecraft is and will continue to be a huge part of my life.

For three months, I worked my ass off. Nights and weekends. Reaching out to mentors. Taking on projects for high-profile startups with real expectations.

I learned more in those three months than I could have possibly expected, and then after, I went out to figure out where I wanted to land.

See, the reason it's weird to use the past tense is that even after those three months passed, Tradecraft has been there for me.

When I was going through interviews, evaluating my opportunities, and negotiating my contract, Tradecraft was an unbelievable support. And I absolutely credit all the support I got as the reason I landed my dream job.

There are lots of great places to learn the nuts and bolts of how to work in tech startups.

I'm so glad I chose Tradecraft because it's ultimately about a long-term relationship where I'm continually supported with the knowledge, resources, and relationships to kick ass long into my career.

And in turn, I get excited about giving back to Tradecraft because it's an incredible community of friends, mentors, and advocates who support each other.

It's a big commitment of time, energy, and money. But if you're ready to commit and you're given the opportunity, I can't think of a more rewarding experience than Tradecraft.

I heartily endorse Tradecraft for delivering exactly what they promise--accelerating a career into a meaningful role at a startup.

The instructors are smart, passionate, and connected. The program teaches you quite a lot (like drinking from a firehose), and you do great work for the startups that they pair you with.  

I worked in the sales and business development track, and our instructor/mentor provided terrific instruction on accomplishing a lot in those roles. He also was terrific to lean on while working for the paired startup, diagramming and breaking down what went right and what went wrong within our sales process.

Tradecraft also concentrates very hard on doing everything it can to help you find a job, including mock interviews. Most importantly, however, is Tradecraft's network (growing every day) that it taps into to help people find the right role. It's how I found mine.

Cheers to Tradecraft.

I moved to the Bay Area to be a part of the first class of Tradecraft and it was insturmental in helping me land my dream job. Tradecraft's curriculum serves a wide range of individuals from those breaking into tech and startups to students who are looking to hone specific skills or identify their passions and identify their next opportunity.
Tradecraft helped me to quickly get up to speed on Silicon Valley and learn the companies, individuals and resources that are available. As a lover of efficiency, I appreciate that this took 3 months, not a year and a half. The Tradecraft team was very supportive and helpful throughout the program and my job search process. 

I enjoyed the ability to learn and then immediately apply the curriculum with startups that we worked with. We had the opportunity to focus on soft skills (personal development and EQ) which I found as helpful, if not more than the hard skills I walked away with. Finally, I'm really appreciative of the ongoing network and community that I am a part of -- and growing!

Most amazing experience of my life. In 3 months, I went from an SEO / Content Strategist for small businesses to Director of Growth for an early-stage startup. I received career training, personal development training, and entrepreneurial training. Tradecraft revolutionized the way I think about marketing. Highly recommend if you want to focus on growth, sales & business development, Dev or UX for startups. Regarding the decision to attend Tradecraft vs a more traditional learning institution ... Know how you run into old college buddies and think "Oh yea! John hasn't changed a bit! Good 'ole John!"? That doesn't happen with Tradecraft graduates. Once they've got the TC momentum of discovering, iterating and absorbing, they continue - and you can see that personal evolution even a year later.

As a member of the first class, I thought attending Tradecraft and giving up 3 months of a working salary while also paying tuition would be a big risk, not to mention that it was a brand new (and unproven) program at the time.

It was the best decision I made for my career so far.  The return on investment has been more than worth it, and this program has accelerated my career at least 2-3 years.  I am very happy to be working at my current company now, and I was definitely a much more competitive candidate in the job market after the program.

As a member of the Growth track, I can't speak highly enough of our mentor instructors--Graham Hunter and Will Bunker.  Graham's dedication in teaching and challenging us to go beyond and teach ourselves made this educational experience unlike any others I've experienced.  Will's career advice and encouragement taught me more about my own motivations to seek fulfillment in my career.  Ultimately, it was Graham who made the crucial introduction that led to my current position--all because he told me about a tech meet up after class.  Kudos also to the founders Misha Chellam and Russ Klusas who selected an excellent first cohort.  I learned as much from my fellow classmates as I did from our instructors and industry mentors.  

I would recommend this course for people who know they want to break into or accelerate their tech careers.  Opportunities to learn and to network are presented to you, but you do have to be highly motivated and hard-working to take advantage of them to the fullest.  It's not a program to hold your hand.  Instead, it's a program that will open doors for you and introduce you to people you probably wouldn't meet otherwise.  You'll have to work to reap the benefits, but they are well worth it.

About me: I went through Tradecraft (TC) in the fifth cohort's Growth Marketing track. I wrote answers to FAQs from prospective students on my blog, in case this and other reviews aren't comprehensive enough.

About TC: Size/stage depends on you, but Tradecraft prepares you to work at tech companies. Through various mechanisms, some intentional and others not, TC forces students to learn and work both cooperatively and independently, advocate for themselves and their needs, and manage their time and relationships. These are probably the three most valuable skills anyone can master, and they are essential to anyone who works in or hopes to break into tech, especially on the non-technical side of things.

Strengths:

• Internal Network -- Tradecraft students and alumni are fantastic people and a rich group to learn from and lean on professionally. 
• External Network -- Tradecraft's founders and instructors are well-connected and happy to leverage their connections for students.
• Mentors -- Mentors might more accurately be called Speakers. They come in for Q&A sessions with current students (and occassionally alums) and have been known to help students professionally.
• Learning Environment -- Students are forced to focus their learning and advocate for themselves when they get stuck. There aren't many, if any, freebies.
• Projects -- Students work with startups to solve problems and gain experience.
• Instructors -- TC instructors are wonderful people and experienced practitioners in their given fields.

Weaknesses:

•  In my time there, Tradecraft's curriculum was basically a compilation of free online resources that we were guided through. I felt like we skimmed the surface in class and needed to devote most of my free time to developing a more limited, selective skillset.

Overall ​Recommendation: Highly recommended. The softness of the curriculum was disappointing, but the network, projects, and overall exposure have more than paid themselves off. Bottom line, Tradecraft is a great jumping off point for anyone looking to get started in tech.

Tradecraft proved to be one of the best investments in terms of time and money I have ever made. It has all the components of a great teaching environment: well-structured curriculums, experienced teachers, projects to get hands-on experience, and a stellar network of industry experts.

Where Tradecraft differs from the rest is an environment of highly selected peers to challenge your thoughts and make you grow, as a professional and as a person. The environment is optimized to challenge you and give you the tools and mindset to achieve great results in your career.

A professional playground you will hardly forget.

Tradecraft is one of the best decisions I've made, not just for my career, but in life. It's rare that we are afforded the opportunity to focus on our personal and professional development, in parallel, for 12 straight weeks. Tradecraft encourages you to do just that. The program fosters a culture where you are inspired by your peers, instructors, and industry mentors to challenge yourself and grow as much as possible. In the end, you will develop your strengths, grow your network, expand your acumen, and trade expertise with some of the most talented people you'll ever meet. You'll also have an action plan for locking in a role at the company of your dreams. You'll have the skills to proactively assess and target those companies, find your internal champion, navigate the interview process, and negotiate an offer. You'll be able to articulate the value you bring to the table and what you are capable of doing for that organization. They will benefit from your Tradecraft network as well!

 

Tradecraft was an excellent experience.

For 12 weeks, I got to build a network of talented people, while rapidly developing my abilities as a UX designer. At the end, my reward was a role at a tech company I love to report to every day. 

If you go into Tradecraft with a specific goal, Misha, Russ, and the rest of the crew at TC will help you cut through the clutter and stay laser focused on the stuff that matters most. I'd recommend Tradecraft to any self-driven individual who is ready to jumpstart the next phase of their career. 

Going to Tradecraft has proved to be one of the best choices I've made career-wise.

I was a copywriter who wanted to pursue something different. At Tradecraft, I developed the skills I needed to get a foot in the door. 

Tradecraft rigourously prepares you to work in fast-paced, creative environments. From the rapidly evolving curriculum to instructors who inspire, support and challenge you on the daily, it's an electric experience.

Tradecraft's unstructured design challenges you to excercise a different muscle than traditional schooling. Here, you're responsible for your own goals, prioirities and limits--and defining them is half of the fun. 

At Tradecraft, you can do all of the above with a smile, because you're surrounded by interesting, passionate and driven peers. The connections I made at Tradecraft were an essential part of the experience, and I plan to be a part of the Tradecraft community for a long time. 

I have written publicly about my experience at Tradecraft (TC) previously on Medium, but thought it would be helpful to include it here, as well.

Here's a snippet from my post entitled The Tradecraft Effect:

TC is not a school in the traditional sense. There are no tests, there are no grades, and you technically aren’t required to do all the assignments. TC is much more than a school. In fact, it’s a movement away from traditional schooling. In school you just need to learn the material that will be on the test in order to pass, which is part of why many people coming out of college have trouble working in early-stage startups. I like to think of TC as more of a people accelerator. They’re looking for people who are intrinsically motivated, are thirsty for more in their careers, and are willing to put their lives on hold to get to where they want to go.

And another:

While I may have been able to get to where I’m at without joining TC, it would have taken much longer to assemble a comparable and growing support network of friends and colleagues. The value of TC extends well beyond the awesome job you end up landing after the program is over and makes the $12,000 look like a steal. If you’re on the fence about attending, my advice is to jump all-in and bet on yourself. You won’t regret it.

My contact info is on the Medium post. Feel free to reach out if you have questions.

I had a wonderful time at Tradecraft. When I decided to apply, I really had no idea what I was getting into, and when I decided to enroll, I really didn't know what I was getting into.

One of the things a classmate said to me while I was in the program has stuck with me: "Look, if you do what they say, it works." He was a cohort ahead of me, and at the time, I wasn't sure it was true. It was. The environment and culture at TC is optimized to help you achieve your goals, whether that's to break into tech from the first time, or to hone a specific set of skills in preparation for a stretch role, or whatever else. It's a self-directed program that where you really get out what you put in.

When I talk about Tradecraft, some of my friends tell me it's like I'm talking about the best time in my life, and when I talk to current students in the program, I can see what they are saying. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Inspiring instructors
Fantastic culture, students who make it happen
Awesome mentors

$12k and 3-months is a lot to give-up to take a course at Tradecraft.  
I would recommend Tradecraft over General Assembly in a heartbeat. Doing Tradecraft is cheaper and faster than 2 years of Grad School ( spending $80k+ and 2 years in HCI) to get a job upon graduation. 

Are you motivated? Are you interested in changing your career? Are you interested in coding, growth, UX or sales? If so, Tradecraft can help you. 

Why it's worth it: 

1. Personal Development sessions with Shawn Plunkett

2. Learning UX with Kate Rutter and Laura Klein

3. The people & culture!!

4. Career Development with Misha Chellam and Brett Hunter

5. Inspiring Q&As with mentors (i.e. Ryan Hoover, Noah Kagan, Seth Godin, and Gagan Biyani, ..the list goes on!)

There isn't much on the Tradecraft website, so I recommend doing some digging on your own (read the Medium articles written by Tradecraft students, follow Tradecraft Twitter accounts and etc.)

I was a part of the first cohort in the user experience track under the tutelage of Kate Rutter and Laura Klein. Tradecraft was just getting established at the time, and there was a lot of good energy in we were all helping each other accelerate our careers. The lessons learned in the ux field and in general networking were invaluable. The real-world experience is what sets Tradecraft apart from other programs - to have actual portfolio pieces with real-world results is important. Misha and Russ run a great program, and Tradecraft is the real deal. It certainly accelerated my career for the better.

Tradecraft provides a wholesome and wonderful experience! In addition to the focus of your choosen cirriculum, there are two courses focused in career and personal development that all run in parallel. I found this to be really valuable in conjunction with the UX design cirriculum, as it helped me to grow as person and designer to be better prepared for the job search. The UX cirriculum was a great way to become familar with the standard principles of UX design, I felt that I got a great foundation and understanding of this practice. 

 

 

 

I worked a few years in tech startups before joining Tradecraft. I thought they were cool. In the past year since exiting the program, I created a company with somebody I had met through Tradecraft, applied to Y Combinator, got in, raised money, and am now hiring. So, yeah...they call that "leveling up." It happens at Tradecraft.

A few words for the wise: Tradecraft is a great place to "find yourself," but those months are precious. I strongly recommend having some very specific goals in place at the outset. Also, do you need a lot of structure? Figure out how to build it yourself.

If you're willing to dive in, find positive ways to push yourself, and can truly open your mind to possibility, you'll find a lot of opportunity in Tradecraft. 

I was so lucky to have found Tradecraft. It was exactly what I needed in my life and career at the right time. After 10 years of prior work experience in UX, I felt I needed to expand my skillset and grow. With little background in marketing or analytics, I learnt a tremendous amount in the Growth track, which was both hugely informative and challenging. You could literally watch my knowledge horizon expand. 

What I hadn't realized was how much else Tradecraft would give me in addition to that. I learned about startups, equity, applying for jobs, and personal development. And if that wasn't enough, I gained an amazing new family, a network, coaches, and a job. Tradecraft is a really supportive family. I've never clicked with people so easily before as I did with my cohort at Tradecraft. And the instructors continue to have my back, like guardian angels. I couldn't be more grateful.

Tradecraft was by far, one of the best investments I've made in my career. It primed me for a tough job market here in Silicon Valley and helped me outgrow any other experience that I could have gained in a period of 3 months. Yes, it's not cheap, but the founders will do whatever is in their power to help you succeed.

If you're motivated and believe in yourself -- great things can be achieved from here. The salary post-graduation speak for themselves: a few of my friends are now making more than $100K with a job in growth, sales, or design.

I had a very positive experience at Tradecraft. 

1. I was in UX track. The UX curriculum allows you to learn the essentials of user research and interaction design through projects. The instructors (Kate Rutter and Laura Klein) are so experienced. You can learn anything UX from them. 

2. In addition to the instructors, we also have a personal development coach in house, allowing us to not only grow professionally but also personally. 

3. We have tons of top-notch investors and practioners coming in to give talks. Nothing competes with learning from the best. 

4. People. The energy is uplifting. Everyone here works hard and is genuinely interested in each others' success.