---
title: Why I Chose apprentice.io
teaser: Leveling up with a thoughtbot apprenticeship.
tags: apprenticeship
author: Jason Draper
published_on: 2012-03-26
---

![''](https://images.thoughtbot.com/blog-images/2012/tumblr_m1cuzkr5481r91fem.jpg)

I’m [Jason Draper](http://www.drapergeek.com) and I’m a developer apprentice
here at thoughtbot in the [apprentice.io](http://apprentice.io) program. Since
the beginning of March it’s been a whirlwind of tests, code and agile
development.

It’s no secret that Rails developers are in high demand right now. To offset
this issue, companies have turned to training developers from the ground up and
then hiring them for their own work or helping the developers find a job
elsewhere. Living Social started [Hungry Academy](http://hungryacademy.com).
There is also Dev Bootcamp and many others.

So why did I choose apprentice.io?

## Know the training methods

apprentice.io is heavily hands-on with actual client work. There are no “made
up” projects. Sure, as apprentices we all work on our own side projects but
during the day, I’m working on client code. Working on code for a client means
you must write what the client wants and needs which may not be the same thing.
The belief both here at thoughtbot and by myself is that you learn more by
actual work.

In addition to hands-on development with client work, thoughtbot offers several
workshops throughout our apprenticeship which complement our learning. The
workshops give us a chance to go deeper into situations which would not
otherwise arise during the course of working with clients. The workshops are
immensely useful and an integral part of our training.

## Know the code

I've been writing Rails code for a while but I wanted to learn better coding
skills from people who knew their stuff. If you’ve done any Rails work at all,
you’ve heard of at least one of thoughtbot’s gems or projects. I’ve been using
[paperclip](https://github.com/thoughtbot/paperclip) for a long time and
[factory_bot](https://github.com/thoughtbot/factory_bot) is amazing for
getting rid of fixtures. So when I decided that I wanted to expand my knowledge,
I could crack open their code and see exactly what these guys produce. I knew
they had what I wanted to learn.

## Know the firm

In Boston and in the Rails community, thoughtbot is well known and respected. I
wanted to work for an organization that required a high level of quality in
their code as well as their practices, not just a company that had a “one hit
wonder” that took them to the top.

## Know the program

Though the apprentice.io program is new, for years thoughtbot has had
apprentices ([not
interns](https://thoughtbot.com/blog/post/14216183124/internship-or-apprenticeship))
internally and trained outside developers via
[workshops](http://workshops.thoughtbot.com).

## Know the community

Learning doesn’t stop outside the office. Boston has a strong tech community and
groups such as [BostonRB](http://bostonrb.org/) thrive with experienced and new
users alike.

## Know thyself (it’s a personal choice)

What I wanted to get out of the apprenticeship was going from a junior developer
to the next level. I wasn’t sure where I wanted to work afterwards so I liked
that apprentice.io has very loose employment restrictions. I couldn’t be more
excited.

![''](https://images.thoughtbot.com/blog-images/2012/tumblr_m1cuz4Sen41r91fem.jpg)