Forget the prizes; it's all about the people: ASSIST Tech Challenge 2024

Since its debut 4 years ago, ASSIST Tech Challenge has masqueraded as a simple student competition. The truth is that this contest was never about the plain act of crowning champions. ASSIST Tech Challenge is more interested in building connections.

Organized by ASSIST Academy and ASSIST Software, the competition throws out the traditional model and focuses on something more valuable: people.

Forget the pressure of winning trophies or bragging rights. This month-long coding event, exclusively for students, is all about collaboration, learning, and launching careers. With joined forces with fellow coders, students tackle a real-world challenge provided by ASSIST and work together to build a full-stack app from scratch.

We interviewed three former participants, both winners and finalists, to see what they had to say about this experience and its impact on their hopes and dreams of working as software engineers.

How can a student competition change your life?

Student competitions are more than just skill and knowledge tests; they're transformative experiences that can launch young careers and shape futures. We asked three former participants, both winners and finalists, about their experience. Read what they had to say.

Cosmina A. participated in the ASSIST Tech Challenge in 2022 and was one of the finalists.

?? Q: What prompted you to register for the competition?

?? A: I decided to participate because of the recommendation of the HR department after I had already signed up for the summer internship. I wanted to gain more experience and understand what working as a team in a competitive environment is like.

?? Q: Did you gain the knowledge you felt you were lacking?

?? A: I learned how important organization and communication with the team is. I had many ideas and recommendations for best practices from the mentors. I don't think I had just one learning moment. My whole journey helped me learn a lot of new things in a short time.

?? Q: What is your recommendation to those wanting to participate in the ASSIST Tech Challenge?

?? A: I suggest having a minimum knowledge base for registered participants. Perseverance and curiosity to explore new concepts are essential to succeed in this competition.

C?t?lin M. participated in the ASSIST Tech Challenge in 2023 and won second place with his team.

?? Q: How did you end up participating in the competition?

??A: I am very competitive. It was difficult to refuse to participate even though I was in a more demanding period with the faculty (I was also working on my bachelor's degree + other deadlines). I had only one thought since I saw the ad: to win. Initially, I thought it would be an easy challenge, but it seemed difficult after I saw what the challenge consisted of.

?? Q: Was it? What did you learn?

??A: I learned from one of the mentors how to divide a difficult task into many small tasks that I knew how to solve. This helped me get over the moments when some problems seemed impossible at the time of the competition, but also now in my life as a developer.

?? Q: What's your recommendation for unsure students?

??A: The most important thing is to have confidence in your abilities, and when this no longer works, the next step is to break the tasks into small parts that you can solve. Make a guide based on the software requirements page from day one. Pay attention to all the details on the software requirements page because every point counts.

Samuel D. participated in the ASSIST Tech Challenge in 2023 and won the grand prize with his team.

?? Q: Why did you register for the competition? What expectations did you have?

??A: I chose to participate to learn more current skills sought after in the industry. I also wanted to know more about teamwork and the responsibility of having a specific role in a team. I wanted to learn how to create an application from scratch.

?? Q: What was the most important thing you learned during the competition?

??A: Tech Challenge taught me to collaborate effectively with my teammates when I was under pressure and when maybe I had a certain deadline. The contest taught me critical thinking when things don't go according to expectations. The most important moment for me was the final presentation of the application because it was my strong point and a factor that contributed to our success.

?? Q: What would be your recommendation for someone participating in the Tech Challenge for the first time?

??A: My recommendation would be to know their strengths. Don't try to learn a new concept/tool from the beginning, but work with something you are comfortable with. You only have a little time to learn new tools or programming languages. The key to success in this competition is the efficient distribution of project responsibilities and day-to-day communication with colleagues so that the flow is preserved and everyone is updated with what the team is thinking. This allows you to move forward as one.

• Last call for registrations!

This is your last chance to secure your spot in the ASSIST Tech Challenge, the student competition about more than just code. Buckle up for an unforgettable month of learning, collaborating, and building something incredible with your team. Don't wait for the buzzer to sound – dive into a real-world challenge, connect with industry experts, and unlock doors to exciting career opportunities. Remember, it's not just about the app you build; it's about the network you create. So, gather your coding crew, unleash your creativity, and register before the February 19th deadline! A bright future awaits – will you be a part of it?