A student's guide to winning the ASSIST Tech Challenge
How to win one of Suceava's biggest software development competitions for students? How does that extend to other competitions? We know the answer, as we may or may not have friends on the inside!
Here are some tips we put together that you should use to win in 2024.
The ASSIST Tech Challenge registration is easy. Be quick and slick about it. Assembling your team is undoubtedly better than registering alone. Why? You get to pick the colleagues you already know will work well together instead of meeting your teammates at the start of the competition.
You will also want to snatch up the best of the best early. If you linger too much, that great designer or tester might end up in another team. Each team member is essential. Treat this step with urgency, although the deadline might be permissive.
Once you've registered and participated in the opening event, don't rush to your project. Rush to your mentor. Talk with your team and then with your mentor because the chances of winning increase exponentially when you understand that great apps don't just "happen".
Fantastic software solutions result from well-coordinated teams that keep sight of the goal and road ahead while also listening to advice given by a well-seasoned specialist.
Your mentor is not there to monitor you but to help you grow. They guide you to the best instruments to fulfill your dream. Treat your mentor as a friend that's kind enough to give you a helping hand.
Keep in mind that everybody is unique. Treat this as your most significant advantage. Even if the expertise level might differ, enjoy the different perspectives that each of your teammates brings.
ASSIST Tech Challenge is not meant to be a chore. It is a way to explore a shared passion while learning practical skills that will later be instrumental in tackling an IT career. Growth happens by listening and finding solutions. To become more professional, the development of soft skills is a requirement.
Want to win your next team-based competition or next year's Tech Challenge? Start practicing soft skills like communication, stress management, and dispute resolution today!
PRO tip: Schedule meetings with your team. Take responsibility, show up to those meetings, and let your opening question to the group be, "how are you today?". Make sure everybody feels safe enough to share their breakthroughs and concerns.
We love superheroes here at ASSIST Software, and we've been watching them closely. We bet you can think of instances when superheroes were almost bested by their enemies. Why did that happen? Most of the time, it's because the hero underestimated the opponent. If you think you don't need help or additional knowledge over a technology, consider it a red flag.
Even the brightest software engineers learn through competitions and projects. While we strongly encourage you to be confident and instill confidence in others, make sure your confidence comes from the right place.
PRO tip: Place less confidence in your knowledge of a technology and more on your ability to learn.
Remember that a competition such as ASSIST Tech Challenge is an absolute win even if you don't get the main prize. Contests are fun only if they challenge your skills. What students learn at ASSIST Tech Challenge counts more than you think when trying to build a thriving IT career.
As you work on your project, you are already winning. Every line of code written is a small victory. Do you want to win again next year?
The ASSISTS Tech Challenge student competition just ended its third run and was dubbed a massive success. However, for those of you who still need to become more familiar with one of the biggest ASSIST Software events for students, we will look together at what makes this one truly stand out.
ASSIST Tech Challenge started in 2021, intending to shorten the gap between specialists and students while also abiding by the rules of living in a pandemic. The beauty of this competition was that it didn't require face-to-face interaction. Students and mentors could meet online and work together or exchange ideas.
With a craving for interaction and normality, the student response surpassed our expectations. The number of registered teams grew in 2022. Therefore, we raised the value of prizes and prepared more mentors in waiting for the 2023 season of ASSIST Tech Challenge.
