Resources To Help Underrepresented Groups Get Into Programming
As a straight, white, Christian, American male I recognize that most of my job search advice is based on my own experience and observations, which may not be 100% applicable to those from different backgrounds.
To remedy this, I asked my network on LinkedIn and Twitter for tools and resources built specifically for helping those from non-traditional backgrounds get into Software Engineering.
The list below represents that aggregation coupled with my own annotations to help surface what specific services each provides, it’s cost, etc.
If I misrepresent anything, message me to fix it
If I’m missing other resources, message me to add it
Now here we go 🥳
Tools & Resources
ADP List
Learn and grow with help from over 4000 mentors from 60+ different countries, from various industries, and all walks of life for free
Website: https://app.adplist.org/
Services: Mentoring
Pricing: free
Location: N/A (online)
Best for: anyone
Mentor Color
Learn from experts working at FAANG and other top companies through live courses and coaching sessions.
Website: https://mentorcolor.org/
Services: Mentoring
Pricing: depends (some mentors are free, while some are not)
Location: N/A (online)
Best for: anyone
Scrimba
Helps motivated students become hireable developers for a fraction of the cost
Website: https://scrimba.com/
Services: Education
Pricing: $18/month (self-paced) vs $299/month (teacher-led)
Location: N/A (online)
Best for: anyone
Bold Idea
Students learn computer science by creating hands-on computing projects and building relationships with technology mentors
Website: https://boldidea.org/
Services: Education
Pricing: Free (Dallas ISD) vs $800/month (Community)
Location: Dallas, TX
Best For: Girls & Minorities < 18 years old
Code First Girls
We are on a mission to transform tech by providing the skills, space, and inspiration for women and non-binaries to become kick-ass developers, data whizzes, and future leaders.
We continue to help more women and non-binary candidates to break into and excel within the industry by linking amazing talent with businesses.
Website: https://codefirstgirls.com/
Services: Education, Community
Pricing: Free
Location: United Kingdom
Best For: Women, Non-binary
Code Your Future
Do you want to change your career or your life, but face difficulties getting the skills you need? CodeYourFuture’s free coding and employability courses were made for you.
Website: https://codeyourfuture.io/
Services: Apprenticeships, Education, Placement
Pricing: Free
Location: United Kingdom
Best For: Refugees, Single Parents, those diagnosed with mental health issues, The disadvantaged, or anyone experience discrimination (women, minorities, ex-offenders, the homeless, long-term unemployed, etc.)
GirlCode
GirlCode® is a female / non-binary career-focussed online community and consultancy on a mission to both support and inspire female software engineers throughout their careers, whilst adding real value. We want to make it easier to both enter and remain in the industry to close the gender tech gap.
Website: https://www.girl-code.co.uk/
Services: Scholarships, Education, Mentoring, Placement
Pricing: Free
Location: N/A (online)
Best For: Women, Non-binary
Carolina Code School
At Carolina Code School, we mentor individuals into professional programmers in an immersive classroom setting. Located in Greenville, South Carolina, we offer a full-time, 12-week Web Development course designed to prepare students for a career in software development.
Website: https://carolinacodeschool.org/
Services: Education
Pricing: $899 (part-time), $13,900 (full-time). Scholarships available
Location: South Carolina, USA
Best For: Anyone
Learn Academy
With our award-winning Coding Bootcamp, you can build a successful career in web development — and together, we can build an evolved and equitable tech industry.
With equal access to knowledge and career development, LEARN academy is teaching a new generation of daring and diverse students to be compassionate, curious, and professional web developers.
Website: https://www.learnacademy.org/
Services: Education
Pricing: $14,500 (scholarships available)
Location: N/A (online)
Best For: Minorities
Multiverse
We’re building an outstanding alternative to college and corporate training via professional apprenticeships
Website: https://www.multiverse.io/en-US
Services: Education, Apprenticeship, Mentoring, Placement
Pricing: free
Location: N/A (online)
Best For: Minorities, Women, the Disadvantaged
Creating Coding Careers
We recruit, hire, and train individuals all across America who may have otherwise felt a career in tech was unattainable. We’re committed to enhancing lives and enriching local communities. And by successfully placing highly trained, top-quality candidates at premier software companies, we are doing our part to reshape the tech industry to reflect the diversity of our communities.
Website: https://cccareers.org/
Services: Education, Apprenticeship, Mentoring, Placement
Pricing: Free
Location: N/A (online)
Best For: Minorities
Black Tech Pipeline
Sign up and get matched with vetted companies that value Black tech talent
Website: https://blacktechpipeline.com/
Services: Placement
Pricing: free
Location: N/A (online)
Best For: Minorities
Dev Color
/dev /color is the global career accelerator for Black software engineers, technologists, and executives. And, we are the go-to accountability partner for the companies who invest in, employ and are led by them.
Website: https://devcolor.org/
Services: Entrepreneurship
Pricing: $299, $499, $799 (see website)
Location: N/A (online)
Best For: Minorities
Us in Technology
Us in Technology is on a mission to help diversify the technology industry by training and placing minorities and historically excluded individuals in sales, marketing, coding, engineering, and revenue roles with top tech companies committed to attracting, retaining and developing underrepresented talent.
Website: https://www.usintechnology.com/
Services: Mentoring, Placement
Pricing: Free
Location: N/A (online)
Best For: Minorities
To be Determined
We help people of marginalized and low socioeconomic status achieve career independence.
We pair new developers, designers, and strategists with award-winning, seasoned mentors to create world-class quality products.
Website: https://tobedetermined.dev/
Services: Direct Hire
Pricing: Free
Location: N/A (online)
Best For: Minorities, the Disadvantaged
Collab Codes
The Collab Lab increases access to web development jobs for early-career developers and, in particular, people in under-represented groups in tech by providing experiential skills training in software team collaboration and career management.
Website: https://the-collab-lab.codes/
Services: Community
Pricing: Free
Location: N/A (online)
Best For: Women, Minorities
#100devs
An online, free, 30 week bootcamp, meant to bring you from zero programming skills to employable taught by Leon Noel
Website: https://leonnoel.com/100devs/
Services: Education
Pricing: Free
Location: N/A (online)
Best For: Anyone
Brilliant Black Minds Karat
Making technical interviewing predictive, fair, and enjoyable with the Interviewing Cloud.
Website: https://brilliantblackminds.karat.com/
Services: Interview Prep
Pricing: Free
Location: N/A (online)
Best For: Minorities
Natives in Tech
Cultivate a tech ecosystem of Native technologists crafting free and open source technology for Native communities.
Website: https://nativesintech.org/
Services: Networking
Pricing: Free
Location: N/A (online)
Best For: Native
Sisterhood of Native American Coders
SONAC: Sisterhood of Native American Coders is a nonprofit that creates access and exposure to the field of computer science (CS) to address the disparities in opportunities to learn for underrepresented Native American girls.
Website: https://sisterhoodofnativeamericancoders.org/
Services: Education
Pricing: Free
Location: N/A (online)
Best For: Female Native American Youth (9–12 years old)
You’re Not Alone
While this list is nowhere near comprehensive, it does highlight one important truth — that you are not alone
Have you been discriminated against?
Are you struggling financially?
Can you not speak English?
Are you a single parent?
Support is just a Google search away
Because no matter what your background or current struggle is, someone has been in your shoes before
And they have overcome — and so can you 💪
Need More Help?
Job searches are intimidating, especially if you’re inexperienced or coming from a non-traditional background.
If you need more assistance, follow my content and check out my other career preparation services to improve your chances of landing that first job! 💪
