5 Steps To Standing Out At A Hackathon
At Two Sigma, we’re always on the lookout for talented individuals who can help us advance our mission. As a systematic investment manager, we live by the scientific method and leverage cutting-edge technology to inform our investing, instead of relying on traditional models. Beyond our investment business, our organization believes in the power of investing in community, be it through funding research, charities, and education initiatives.
When we seek out new recruits to join our team, we look for candidates who share our love for data and improving the community around them. One major recruitment tool we use to find these candidates are hackathons. Hackathons are an extraordinary recruiting resource because they bring together a bevy of talent, who create and share innovative ideas in a collaborative space. We recently participated in a few incredible hackathons – SHPE, HackMIT, and YHack, to name a few. At this year's National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Convention in Kansas City, MO, we sponsored a hackathon alongside Google, Cox Automotive, and Rockwell Collins. Hackathons are fantastic opportunities to inspire and pioneer new ideas, and for our growing team to identify talent. We come not only with Two Sigma engineers to provide industry-level mentorship to participants as they build out their projects, but also with our recruiters to connect with prospective candidates.
Want to get noticed at your next hackathon? Here are five tips to help you stand out.
1. Walk us through your process.
Evaluators want to see how you work. This is their chance to witness your problem solving and collaboration skills, as well as learning aptitude. Instead of a one-hour interview, they get to see how you approach a problem from start to finish. To give them a clear window into your thought process, it’s best to communicate effectively at every opportunity. That way, the sponsors and mentors have a better understanding of what you’re building and why. Hackathons are also a chance to build relationships with mentors, who may become potential colleagues. Be sure to ask questions, explain your thinking, and absorb advice. It’ll go a long way.
2. Use your resources.
Hackathons can be overwhelming. Instead of focusing on what you don’t have (ample time or sleep, for instance), focus on what you do have. Utilize opportunities for mentorship. Incorporate as many provided documents and tools as possible. Think deeply about the focus of the competition and dive into the themes at your disposal. While at YHack, one team was led by a stats major and used in-depth analysis to show patterns between Twitter sentiment and stock movements. The impressive part was that they learned the programming language, Groovy on-site just to get the complex charts working. Then they were able to figure out auto-translation to move data between Python and Groovy. They ended up winning the hackathon!
3. Come ready to network.
At a hackathon, the hosts set the tone for the event. If you want to succeed, it’s best to know who you are trying to please. Before the competition, do your research. Get to know more about the sponsors and what their goals are. How can you help them build better? Peruse the event website and the websites of each sponsor. Perhaps you know someone from those companies who can give you added insight. Now is the time to reach out. Don’t be afraid to soak up all you can before you walk in the door. This will give you an edge in competition and in recruiting. It also helps to research companies in attendance. You should also submit an application online in advance, and, when you meet recruiters at the event, let them know where they can view your online projects. You should also feel free to mention other coding competitions and hackathons you’ve participated in and highlight those in which you placed. As you meet recruiters and potential mentors, make sure you get their contact info and send follow-up emails after the hackathon to keep the conversation going.
4. Build a story.
Your demo and delivery are everything. If you want to place well, you need to stand out. In order to do this, show the judges how you approached the problem(s) at hand. Walk them through your journey and don’t be afraid to build a narrative. Think through the following: 1) What questions are you aiming to answer? 2) How can you best demonstrate what you’ve accomplished so far? 3) If given more time, what would you do next? 4) How does your work apply to the real world? 5) What inspired you? When we sponsored SHPE’s Hackathon in Fall 2016, the theme was “Build a Farmer’s Future.” The challenge: Create a tool or improved environment for those connected to the farming industry. One of the teams that placed and won, had a team member whose father was a farm worker. They were able to bring this story into the demo, which spoke to the greater impact of their project.
5. Show your dedication.
Recruiters are looking for problem-solvers – people who are eager to collaborate and who can think on their feet. They aim to identify people who relish a challenge and are eager to continually research and develop new concepts. In other words, they want an engaged person with a positive attitude. At a recent event, one of the teams that stood out to us the most was a team that stayed through the night of the hackathon, rotating in shifts so someone was always developing. They wanted to be there, and they let us know it. That sort of energy is infectious. Our mentors were really excited by their commitment, and they were more eager to assist them and better understand their project.
Two Sigma is a Jopwell partner company.
Image courtesy of Two Sigma
