I actually appreciate the exposure Andela has created at least more people now knows more about who a software developer is.
My only issue is the notion they created that you don’t need to be a programmer to apply when in the real sense only… not just a programmer but a very good one can only pass there drill while they claim they train you when all they have been doing is telling you to read up or watch some training video within a short period and deliver a project or an assignment.
ONLY THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY A DEVELOPER CAN GET THIS DONE!!!
Except that they added a motivation of connecting me to a global company like Google. Without this motivation I might be sleeping behind the videos but the motivation we keep your eyes open even if it never happens because I ended up working for a company like Jumia or konga. All this happens after you have left your primary job that actually gave you all the experience that made you and got you selected by Andela until you ‘betrayed’ them and went for what seems to be a greener pasture but now you have cournered yourself, you can’t go back and you’ve signed a four year slavery where someone will be instructing you to develop an idea you’ve actually thought of before but now it’s going to be theirs not yours.
Bottom line
Andela is a talent scout organisation that motivates you to learn more, and when they found they pay you to develop for them.
Before you apply and hope you get selected make sure you are already a super programmer.
Because according to the statement on their website, they select only top 1% of global talent…TOP TALENT… so don’t be lured with the idea of paid training… because you are already ‘top’ before they selected you. They just added some more ‘panelbeating’ (every company does that to their new intake… we call it probation.) and claim they trained you and you have to pay to leave.
Andela will be balanced if they stick to ‘we select top talents’ than claiming they train people and you don’t have to be a developer to apply.