Two years in a row I participated in a student IT competition called TVZ Mobile Challenge Cup (TVZ Mc2). First year as a competitor and afterwards I helped organize it. Here is what I have learned.
Lessons learned
1. You will meet new people
People you meet at these competitions will be an important part of your professional carrier. Of course, in IT industry you will not get a job only because you know someone, but if people know how good you are they will recommend you and that can have a great impact on your career. Last year we organized a “speed date” between programmers and designers and students had a chance to meet a lot of new people.
2. You will learn a lot
At college most of the assignments consist of only few, often predicted problems which you try to solve. When you are developing an application at student competition one hundred problems will appear and that will push you out of your comfort zone. Trust me, competition will force you to learn a lot more.
3. Team work
College will give you a team work experience but it can not be measured with the experience of a team working together to build an award winning application. This experience is priceless and most important thing I learned was patience.
4. Build a personal brand
Have you ever wondered why Kim Kardashian is posting all those images on Instagram or why is she attending all those celebrity events? She is building a brand and so should you. Now, you probably should not post your half-naked images on Instagram but participating in a student competition is a great way to show off your skills and talent.
5. Connect with potential employers
IT industry is growing at fast pace and a lot of employers do not have time to go through all the CVs they receive. It’s a lot easier for them to find new people at competitions. 65% of last year TVZ Mc2 finalists have landed a job after the competition. If you are looking for a job in IT industry competitions are by far the best place to get one.
The Best Decision I Ever Made
Competing at TVZ Mc2 was the best decision I made at college. It helped me a lot and the most important thing, it was fun.
If you are a student at the Polytechnic of Zagreb I encourage you to compete this year at Mobile Challenge Cup. We are starting by giving all students attending Polytechnic of Zagreb free Android, Windows phone and iOS workshops. Yes, that is right, FREE FOR ALL.
You can sign up at our official web page and remember, always try to be the best because
Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose*