Frequently Asked Questions
Below you'll find answers to the questions we get asked the most about applying for LevelUp.
If you can't find the answers to any of your questions please send an email to levelup@thoughtworks.com and we'll do our best to help you out.
General FAQs
Q: How much does it cost to attend LevelUp?
A: LevelUp is completely free!
Q: How is that possible?
A: LevelUp is run by a group of dedicated Thoughtworks volunteers who believe in giving back to the community.
Q: Will there be food and drinks?
A: LevelUp (face to face) events are catered, just make sure you let us know about any dietary requirements when you register.
Q: How do I get a job at Thoughtworks?
A: Thoughtworks is always on the look out for talented people, please get in touch!
LevelUp Build FAQs
Q: Is there any homework?
A: There is no requirement for you to do any work outside of the scheduled sessions through a number of people choose to do so. The reading list contains answers to many questions and is highly beneficial but not essential.
Q: I'm not a student, can I still apply?
A: Non-students are more than welcome to apply but people who are currently studying, unemployed or without it industry experience will be prioritised when we select teams.
Q: Do I need to bring anything?
A: A positive attitude and open mind! If you are taking a Developer role you should bring a laptop. If you don’t have a laptop, please get in touch and we will try and sort you out. As we expect all Developers to pair, you will need to be comfortable with other people using your laptop with your supervision.
Q: I applied for a spot at LevelUp Build but wasn't selected, what gives?
A: On average the number of applicants is 2-3 times greater than the number of places available. We would love to accept everyone but it's simply not possible. The number of places is limited by a few factors.
- We need to have balanced teams i.e. The right ratio of Developers, Business Analysts and Experience Designers – the experience we offer would not be possible with a team of only Developers.
- Availability of Thoughtworks volunteers. In order to give you the best experience, we have a ratio of about 1 Thoughtworker to every 3 participants. Our volunteers are giving up their personal time to support you and numbers can vary due to personal commitments.
Q: I've already attended a LevelUp event, can I still take part?
A: You can attend as many non-Build events as you want but only one LevelUp Build due to the limited number of spots available.
We typically have over 100 applicants applying for the 20-30 places available and it would be unfair to have someone else attend more than once.
Q: I registered for LevelUp but life got complicated and I can no longer attend, what do I do?
A: We completely understand. If you've already registered for LevelUp and can no longer attend, all we ask is that you let us know as soon as possible. LevelUp events are extremely popular and there are plenty of people who would like to take your place. Just email levelup@thoughtworks.com and let us know.
Q: I wasn't accepted, what gives?
A: The most common reasons candidates are not accepted include:
- Limited places available
- Too much industry experience for e.g. you've been working for more than 1-2 years in the role you are applying for
- Not answering all the questions in the registration form. If you want to take part please tell us why! The selection process takes time and candidates who take the time to tell us what they want to get out of the experience or why they want to take part are given priority over those who do not
Q: I've never written any code before, is LevelUp Build right for me?
A: There are roles in LevelUp Build teams for coders and non-coders, however anyone taking a Developer role is expected to have experience in one language, at least – you don't need to be an expert, you do need to be comfortable with the basic concepts.
Q: Okay, but I still want to learn to code, can you help me?
A: There are lots of great resources out there for people who want to learn to code, here are some good starting points:
- Codecademy - code school - r/learnprogramming
Q: Will I be on the same team as people I know?
A: We carefully decide how teams are structured based on successful applicants prior to the kick off day. If you know somebody else taking part you may or may not end up on the same team.
Q: Who decides what we build?
A: You will work as a team with your product owner to decide what to build, learning to negotiate and work as a team is a key aspect of LevelUp.
Q: Is this an internship?
A: No. LevelUp Build is an experience and an experience is what you get.
Q: Can I put this on LinkedIn?
A: You can put your participation in LevelUp Build on your LinkedIn profile, but please list it under 'projects' or 'experience'. Please do not list this as an internship or Thoughtworks as an employer.
LevelUp Now FAQs
Q: Are session recordings available?
A: No. LevelUp Now is a live event! Every episode is a one-off opportunity so recordings will not be available afterwards.
Q: Can I register for the whole series at once?
A: At present, registration is per session so please complete the registration form for each episode you would like to attend. Hopefully we’ll find a better solution in future!
Q: Can people see or hear me?
A: We use 'webinar' mode in the Zoom session so only the panelists will have video and audio enabled. You can participate in the conversation using chat or the Q&A functionality but you don’t have to worry about being on camera.
Q: How do I interact with panelists?
A: If you’d like to ask one of the presenters a question, please use the dedicated Q&A function to ensure your
questions don’t get lost in the chat.
Q: Can I interact with other attendees?
A: There is a dedicated chat function during our LevelUp Now events which you can use to message the other attendees.
Q: Are the live sessions accessible for all?
A: Yes. Participants have the option to access live captioning as needed.
