Have you ever thought about working with smart people from around the world to solve big problems using the latest technology? I got to do that at Google's Girl Hackathon 2024.
Hi! I'm a second-year Computer Science student at Nalanda College of Engineering, Chandi.
What is Google's Girl Hackathon?
Every year, Google gives women a great chance to show their coding skills and interest in new technologies through the Girl Hackathon.
The First Round: Resume Screening
The first round focuses on your resume. It's very important because it helps you get selected. Here are some tips for your resume:
No Mistakes: Make sure there are no grammar errors.
ATS Score: Check if your resume is ATS-friendly (Applicant Tracking System). A good ATS score helps.
I cleared the resume screening round. On April 10, I got an email saying my application was selected for the Google Girl Hackathon 2024.
Events Conducted
Inaugural Session
The first event was on April 13. All participants were welcomed and given details about how the hackathon works.
Learning Cohort Session
The next event was on April 14. We learned:
Communication Skills: The importance of good communication.
Data Structures and Algorithms: Basics of DSA.
AI Tools: Google AI tools that we could use in our projects.
The Second Round: Coding Challenge
In the second round, we had to solve two coding problems in 60 minutes. This was done online on Hackerearth.
I got two dynamic programming questions, but I couldn't solve them because I didn't understand the patterns. This stopped me from moving to the next round. I was not selected to go further.
My Takeaway
Even though I didn't pass the coding round, the hackathon was a great learning experience. It showed me where I need to improve in data structures and algorithms. Instead of feeling bad about not moving forward, I'm using this as motivation to get better at the things I struggled with. I'm thankful to Google for creating a supportive environment that pushed me to identify and work on my shortcomings. From now on, I will spend more time practicing coding problems and studying the basics of computing.
Advice to Others
To all the girls and women who didn't make it – don't be discouraged. Use this experience to improve your skills. The Google Girl Hackathon isn't just about winning; it's about growing and learning. Every challenge is a chance to get better. With hard work, we'll all be ready to succeed in the next coding competition. This is just the beginning of our journey to becoming great in technology.
