Building a career in tech is not the easiest thing, especially if you are transitioning from another industry. Now, if you think of the Swiss market, which is particularly competitive, it is even more important to have a competitive edge when applying. Some important factors that will help you stand out and ultimately get the job you want:
- demonstrating interest in the topic/role being pursued,
- showing your ability to work in a team,
- building connections within the industry,
- providing references from previous working experiences or volunteering.
Have you ever considered how many of these you can tackle during a hackathon?
From the experience of designing and hosting Hack’n’Lead, we summarised below 5 reasons to attend a hackathon if you are interested in boosting your career:
1. Hackathons help you develop new skills
Attending a hackathon creates opportunities to learn and develop new skills in a fast-paced environment. Developing time management skills, learning new coding languages and programming techniques are just a few examples of upskilling opportunities during hackathons.
2. Healthy competition and interesting people
Hackathons bring together like-minded individuals. Programmers, project and product managers, designers, and domain experts are some of the roles that work together to develop original solutions to technological challenges while they learn from each other even if they are competitors.
3. Being up to date with recent technologies
Programmers regularly participate in hackathons to stay updated with the most recent technological advancements so they can get ahead in their careers and/or build their businesses quicker.
4. It looks good in your resume
Employers are always on the lookout for fresh talent that stands out from the rest. This is why listing hackathons in your resume will be beneficial, as it indicates that you are both skilled and passionate about engineering and technology. It also shows potential employers that you can work under pressure and meet strict deadlines.
5. Killer portfolio
Not only can you get relevant experience that you will need to land your future internship or technical job, but by participating in hackathons, you can also build an outstanding portfolio of projects you actually worked on.
Ready to join a hackathon? We have good news for you! Hack’n’lead — Switzerland’s first women-friendly hackathon — is coming back this summer of 2023 for its third edition. It will take place in Zurich on the weekend of June 24th and 25th.
Curious to know how Hack’n’Lead can support your career development?
With a strong focus on diversity and inclusion, Hack’n’Lead targets minority groups in tech, including women in tech and transitioning to the industry. Before, during and after Hack’n’Lead, you will be able to boost your career and step up your game no matter your experience level:
- Receive mentorship support from tech experts representing the sponsoring companies.
- Network with other tech enthusiasts and influential women in tech companies.
- Explore career opportunities during the “meet-the-recruiter” space, where you can discuss open positions within sponsoring companies, find out more about the company’s culture and ask for tips for your application process.
- Upskill before the hackathon with tech-related preparatory workshops.
- After the event, chances are you might continue developing an idea or project with some of the people you met during the hackathon.
Interested in joining? Learn more here.
About the author:
Eszter Rosta is a Social Media & Marketing Manager at women++. She is a creative and dedicated storyteller with good organizational skills. She’s passionate about digital marketing, writing and traveling. She likes working in a team just as much as getting tasks she can work on independently. She’s gained various experiences in different roles and countries before, and it looks like she found her place in the marketing industry in Switzerland.
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