Contest Experience | JPMorgan Chase: Code for Good 2023

Code for Good is typically an event, competition, or program organized by JPMorgan Chase with the goal of bringing together software developers, designers, and other technical talents to use their skills for positive social impact.

• Participants work collaboratively to create technological solutions, such as software applications, websites, or tools, that address real-world challenges faced by nonprofit organizations, community groups, or other social causes.
• Code for Good gives participants a chance to meet recruiting teams and experience what it’s like to work as a software engineer at JPMorgan Chase.
• During this event, participants spend 24 hours with mentors and other team members, developing creative solutions to help nonprofits tackle real-world problems.
• Participants will get the opportunity to interact with JPMorgan Chase’s industry experts and attend a series of workshops before the actual hackathon begins.
• Afterward, everyone is encouraged to get to know their team and our technologists, who are in it for the long haul as mentors.
• Students enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program or a program sponsored by JPMorgan Chase are eligible for Code For Good.

I am sharing my experience of Code for Good 2023, which involves a three-round process.

Round 1: Coding Challenge

The online coding test is the first step in the Software Engineer Program(SEP) selection process. The test is on the HackerRank platform. We were given a 48-hour test window within which we could start our test. Before starting the test, we have been asked to mention a few personal details[Name, Email_Id, etc.]. We should enter the same details that we have used to apply for the SEP on the JP Morgan Chase&Co career’s Page. This is a Programming test of 100 marks having 2 programming questions carrying 50 marks each. There is no negative marking. The time allowed for the test is 60 minutes. The test is proctored(both audio&video).

In the initial selection round of Code for Good 2023, I was presented with two coding questions that tested my abilities in strings, arrays, basic data structures, and collections. I successfully tackled both problems:

• One involved identifying the longest even-length string within a given sentence,
• While the other revolved around generating permutations of strings.

I cleared both questions with all the provided test cases. I aced both questions, meeting all test case requirements and securing a spot in the second round.One should atleast solve one of the questions with all test cases passed and other question with partial test cases passes to have a chance to select for next round.

Round 2: Virtual Interview

• The results of Coding challenge were announced after a week. The second phase of the selection process involved a virtual interview.
• Through the HireVue platform, I was prompted to respond to two behavioral questions via recorded videos, each limited to a 2-minute time frame.
• You will be given 2 attempts to record video for each question. The second attempt is considered as final and is submitted.
• I was asked about Career goals as one of my questions and second one was recent experience that I consider as my real time learning experience. Although I initially experienced nerves during my first attempt, I managed to regain my confidence and ultimately succeeded in my second try.
• This segment of the process underscored the significance of delivering clear and concise responses while communicating effectively.

Round 3: 24-Hour Hackathon

• I received an acknowledgement through mail after 1 month from My College Training Placement Office that I have been selected for final round. Around 37 students were selected from our college from all branches together.
• Advancing to the third round meant engaging in a 24-hour hackathon. This round’s task required crafting a solution for a nonprofit organization, utilizing either frontend or backend web technologies based on personal preferences.
• There were around 79 teams solving these challenges for over 24-hours. We had one of the largest virtual Code for Good ever in the history of Tech for Social Good on July 15-16 2023 where 545 students from all over India and 270+ JPMC volunteers came together to solve 8 NGO challenges.
• Nonprofit representatives will be on hand to describe their organization’s challenges and to answer any questions you have. You’ll discover that many nonprofits have a distinct need for technology resources that could improve their operations or directly impact their work in the field.
• We need to showcase our tech skills and work alongside a team, guided by technologists, to solve real-world problems for social good organizations.
• I chose to utilize Django, a Python framework for backend development but as many of my team members preferred MERN Stack for backend, I was compromised and decided to contribute to frontend development and refreshed my grasp of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for frontend.
• Before the hackathon, informative sessions provided insights into using essential tools like Git and GitHub, which played a pivotal role in collaboration within my team.

Team Formation and Interaction:

Around the middle of the week, I was assigned to a team of 6-8 participants. A formal session introduced us to our mentors, who would provide guidance throughout the hackathon. Effective communication within the team was paramount; we shared our unique strengths and technology preferences. As an introvert, I initially faced challenges in engaging actively, but as the hackathon progressed, I improved my participation and interaction with my teammates.

Hackathon Weekend:

The hackathon itself spanned a weekend, commencing at 11:30 AM on Saturday and concluding at 1:30 PM on Sunday. It was an intense 24-hour marathon demanding sustained wakefulness and productivity. I participated in one-on-one interviews with mentors at 7:30 PM on Saturday and 1:30 AM on Sunday. These interactions demanded my full engagement and readiness to demonstrate my skills and contributions.

Team Collaboration and Support:

Throughout the hackathon, I stayed active by continuously interacting with both my team members and mentors. Solid collaboration and open communication were crucial to our collective success. Despite the fatigue, I remained focused and alert during the entire duration, avoiding any breaks in sleep.

Conclusion:

My experience in Code for Good 2023 was transformative, as it allowed me to apply my coding skills to meaningful projects, improve my communication, and learn about effective teamwork in real-world scenarios.