Spend your summer learning to code

The coding fellowship is a summer program that teaches web development skills to people from underrepresented groups in tech.
Apply now

About the fellowship

The Less Annoying CRM Coding Fellowship is a summer program for people from underrepresented groups in tech. We'll cover the fundamentals of coding, web design, and no code tools. We'll start with the very basics, and by the end of the summer, you'll have your own portfolio of fully functional web applications.

When
Monday - Thursday 9am-5pm.
The fellowship starts in mid-May and runs through mid-August.
Where
100% Remote.
Applicants must be located in the US.
Pay
Fellows receive a $1,500/month stipend.
Application Deadline
February 26, 2021
The tech industry has a problem. Developer teams across the industry are homogenous and our communities are not.
Only 25% of programmers are women, and less than 5% are Black, and those numbers aren't really improving. Technology will be the driving force behind much of the change we see in the future, and it's essential that people from underrepresented groups have a stake in that change.We started this coding fellowship in the hopes of providing a new path for people who are interested in technology but come from groups that have traditionally been disenfranchised within the tech industry.
Sound good? Keep reading to learn more
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What's in it for you?

Learn to code

Regardless of your major or your interests after college, knowing how to code will be an incredibly valuable skill. In addition to the technical knowledge that you gain, you'll increase your self-sufficiency as well as your problem-solving tactics. Learning to code is choosing to teach yourself to think in new ways. Whether you want to go to grad school, get a job, or you have absolutely no idea what you want to do with your life and you mostly just want people to stop bothering you about it, this fellowship will put you in a unique position to accomplish your goals.This can also be a great option if you've been considering taking a computer science class but you're nervous about how you'd do. After this coding fellowship, you'll breeze through a computer science class in college.

Build your resume

This is an exclusive fellowship program which will look impressive and unique on your resume. You will spend the summer building your own personal portfolio which means that in addition to being able to say you can code on your resume, you'll have tangible proof of your new skills.
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Over the summer you will learn  about the wide range of professional pathways for someone who knows how to code. The coding fellowship can be a great stepping stone for the next role in your career whether you continue in the tech industry or not.

Have a great summer

At Less Annoying CRM, we take pride in having an incredible team, and we make sure everyone here enjoys their jobs and their lives outside of work. As a coding fellow, you'll be treated just like any other member of the team. You'll work in our virtual office on Sococo, have lunch and group work time with the full-timers, meet directly with the CEO of the company, and participate in all company events. We were 100% remote for the first time ever last summer and we figured out a great blend of simple and creative ways to stay connected-like virtual board game nights and happy hours. We're committed to ensuring that coding fellows are immersed in the LACRM culture even if they're in pj's from the waist down.

How is this different from other ways of learning to code?

There are plenty of computer science classes and coding bootcamps out there. This fellowship is a completely different experience. Here are some reasons why.

Mentorship

Hi, I'm Malia, and I'm the Fellowship Coordinator here at Less Annoying CRM. I think the coding fellowship is one of the most important things we're doing as a company, and I'm going to make sure that you have absolutely everything you need to make it a success. Fun fact: I was a coding fellow way back in 2017 when the fellowship first started. I've been where you are right now and I'm excited to help you get to where you want to go!

We only accept about 5-8 coding fellows each summer. We aren't able to accept more because we spend so much time working personally with each fellow. You'll still receive all of the standard coding lessons you'd get in any bootcamp or computer science class, but as an LACRM fellow you'll also get a ton of one-on-one attention from me and other members of our engineering team. Together we'll schedule regular meetings with you where we'll look over your code and make sure you're following best practices. You can also ask me or any of the other developers at the company for help anytime you get stuck. Additionally, we know that everyone has different interests and goals, and we'll tailor the summer so that it's a perfect fit for you. After you've finished the introductory coding lessons and have a decent foundation, the CEO and I will meet with you and talk about what you're most interested in, what you want to learn, and what things you're thinking about doing professionally after college. Together we'll plan a summer project tailored to your specific goals, and I'll help you put together a roadmap to ensure that you can accomplish all of those goals before the summer ends.

If you have any questions, concerns or doubts, feel free to email me at malia.jones@lessannoyingcrm.com and I'll be happy to chat. I can also put you in touch with some of the fellows from previous years if you'd like to speak with someone who has already been through this program.

Applied Skills

This isn't a college course. You won't be doing homework, and there won't be any tests. You'll be exposed to a variety of different learning styles that you probably haven't experienced in college classes. Everything you learn will immediately be applied to your personal portfolio. When you finish the fellowship, you'll be comfortable with at least six different languages/technologies (HTML, CSS, Javascript, Adalo, Figma, and Webflow). That may sound scary, but don't worry, we'll walk you through everything you need to know, and by the end of the summer, you'll be a pro. These are all very common languages and tools that you can almost certainly use in whatever field you choose to go into. If you ever need to learn another language (R, Python, etc.) you'll have the experience and confidence to teach yourself.

More than just coding

Spending a summer at LACRM will expose you to much more than just code. We've designed the program to help you build a foundation in web development - the summer will be spent learning front end development, web design, and no code tools. There will be plenty of time for exploration in each of these areas. In addition to this we'll hold classes on related concepts such as project management and online marketing. You'll learn about our business model, how startups work, how employee benefits work, etc. We'll have a few outside guests who code for a living come in and talk about their experiences. And at the end of the summer, you will give a group presentation with the other coding fellows to the company and members of the community.

Interactive learning in a remote environment

The coding fellowship is a lot different from online school. This past year led to our office going 100% remote to keep each other safe, luckily we have learned to stay connected. The lessons are live and always as interactive as possible.  We will build projects together, review key concepts, and collaborate over audio and video calls in Google Meets and Sococo. You won't always be collaborating with the whole cohort some of your time will be spent working in a smaller group or with a partner. You'll have a 1:1 with Malia or a dev, and there will be time to work independently as well. As you learn through building you'll have many opportunities to engage and learn from others.

Who are we looking for?

The fellowship is open to anyone who identifies as a woman, as Black, or as a member of any other group that is disenfranchised in the tech industry. Most people come in with absolutely no coding experience but if you've tinkered with coding before this could still be a good place for you.

Whether you already have some coding experience or not, you will need discipline and self-motivation. This isn't school. You won't be given a grade at the end, and no one will be looking over your shoulder. We'll provide you with all of the resources and mentorship you need to succeed, but coding can be frustrating at times and it requires a tremendous amount of self-direction.

Less Annoying CRM

We are Less Annoying CRM, a tech startup based in downtown St. Louis. We make Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software which helps small businesses stay organized and productive. If you'd like to learn more about what a CRM is, you can read up on it here.
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We were started in 2009 by two brothers, Tyler and Bracken King, and we now have over 23,000 paying users because we're focused on helping them succeed. When we're not obsessing over our customers, we're obsessing over our employees. We've got an awesome team that works hard and has a great time together, and we'd love for you to join us this summer! Read more about us.
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As a coding fellow, your time will be spent working on your own personal project rather than anything related to the company, but you'll still be a part of our team!

Apply now!

Our fellowship application for the summer of 2021 is now closed. If you have any questions about our next application cycle, you can reach us at fellowship@lessannoyingcrm.com.