A hackathon is an event where people come together to collaborate on ways to solve a problem and create a new product with the goal of producing some tangible results in a finite period of time. Hackathons could be likened to the modern day fairs that once would showcase new inventions and technologies but rather than your typical fair you will find programmers, investors and designers side by side. The popularity of hackathons is growing at a dramatic rate but there is one question that keeps people from participating and this is where it is difficult for them to leverage the experiences gained from hackathon projects.
The Next Step in Your Career: Hackathons and Your Professional Practice
Hackathons can be used to showcase your ideas, create a new startup company and develop a product and even advance your career in some areas. Hackathons are used to identify new ideas and innovations that can be developed. Often the goal is to advance a technology and process in a particular industry and solving problems at a hackathon can lead to being seen as an expert in the industry. It could also lead to the end of your job and in the event that you are successful then a new career path could develop.
How can Hackathons Help You: Leveraging your Experience?
A hackathon is an event and all of the experience gained from it is important to your professional career. Every Virtual Hackathon is a different experience and has different goals in mind so it is difficult to provide any concrete advice on what you should be doing at a hackathon. It is more important to focus on the experience that you will gain with each project that you work on. It is important to prepare before the hackathon so that you are able to formulate a plan and then follow through on the plan.
1. Determine Your Goals :
The first thing that you need to do is determine what goals you have for the hackathon. This helps you focus on the hackathon and it can help you avoid any distractions. It is important to have a firm grasp of your own skills so that you are able to contribute the most to the hackathon. It is easy to get distracted at a hackathon and work on ideas that are outside of your expertise so determine what goals you want to achieve first and then once that is determined choose the best idea for focusing your effort on achieving those goals.
2. Find Your Idea :
You could spend all of the time in the world coming up with ideas but it is much better if you choose one idea that really excites you and follow through with it during the hackathon. It is important to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and being able to focus on it can make all the difference. The hackathon is just one medium for your success so if you are able to transfer this into practice then you will be able to use it as a stepping stone for success further down the road.
3. Work on Something that You are Passionate About :
It is much easier when you are interested in the idea that you are working on at a hackathon because this will allow you to work through any challenges with ease and with more dedication than if you were working on something that was less interesting to you. It is much better to have an idea that you are passionate about because then you will be able to focus yourself on it and make sure that you follow through with it. The Hackathon guide is a great opportunity for you to really put your passion into work and develop those skills that you need.
4. Attend Only One Hackathon :
It is important to only attend one hackathon. In general it is best to study the people that are around you as well as the resources available at each hackathon but if your first one doesn’t go as planned then you are going to end up with a bad experience. If you are unable to attend a hackathon for some reason then try not to make more plans for the same one in the future. The information obtained during the first hackathon will help you prepare for any other hackathons that come along later on so it is best that you only take the information that you need from the first one and then move on to the next one.
5. Think About Your Vision :
You should think about your vision and always be willing to help someone else with theirs if you can. It is important that you always think about how you can help others in the entire process of any new idea. In doing so it helps to reduce any frustration that they may have in learning something new and this will only make them more receptive to your ideas. It is important to focus on your vision but it is also important to think about everyone’s opinions and thoughts on the matter. This can only help you improve your skills and develop new ones.
6. Prepare For the Worst Case Scenario :
It is important to always prepare yourself for the worst case scenario that you could face at a hackathon so that you are prepared for anything that could happen. You should be especially wary of scams, people stealing your ideas and people misusing your code. In that case you will want to evaluate the situation and think of a solution as quickly as possible. It is best to have a plan for every possible situation so that you will be prepared and ready for anything.
7. Focus on Results Over Form :
At the start of a hackathon everything can feel like work but once the hackathon starts, focus more on results than form. In the beginning your job is more focused on getting everyone set up and making sure everyone has what they need to succeed. Once you have shown that you can do this then you can start working on your final goal. You will be able to take on a lot more responsibility once you prove that you know what you are doing. It is important to make sure that you are there to help others in the beginning but it is also important to focus on results instead of form.
Mercer | Mettl is a platform that helps individuals, teams and organizations to make the best out of hackathons by providing expert support and mentorship. It also provides a place where innovative students from all over the world can meet their teachers, professors and other researchers of their fields.
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