From Hackathon to Nokia Interview: My Unexpected Journey

Dishika Vaishkiyar — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 05:20:47 +0000

Earlier this year, I registered for Accelerate Her in Tech – A Student Hackathon. I went in thinking, “This will be fun, a good challenge, and a chance to learn something new.” I never imagined it would lead to something as unexpected and exciting as an interview with Nokia.

The Hackathon Timeline

Here’s how it all unfolded:

February 26, 2025 – Registration opens
March 8 – Round 1: Programming Challenge
March 21–23 – Round 2: Code Hunt
June – Finale

My Hackathon Experience

Round 1 was a quick programming challenge focused on core fundamentals and problem-solving under time pressure.

Round 2 was the 72-hour Code Hunt, filled with DSA challenges. It was about precision, problem-solving, and staying consistent across three days.

Here's the moment I found out I made it to Round 2:

I didn’t make it to Round 3, and honestly, I thought that was the end of the story.

The Unexpected Twist

A few weeks later, I opened my inbox, and one subject line instantly caught my eye:

“Interview Invitation from Nokia.”

I read it twice just to be sure.
Even though I didn’t reach the hackathon finale, my performance in the earlier rounds had caught their eye. That moment taught me something big: you don’t always have to “win” to get noticed. Sometimes, just showing up and giving your best is enough.

The Nokia Interview Experience

The interview was professional, well-structured, and honestly, a great learning experience.
Format: Online interview
Focus Areas: Technical skills and problem-solving approach
The interviewer started with the classics self-introduction and "Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?" Then we dove into technical questions with mostly resume-focused questions. The coding portion included easy to medium-level LeetCode problems focusing on arrays and strings.

Some questions I answered confidently, and others showed me exactly where I need to improve which, in my view, is priceless feedback for any future interviews.

What I Learned

Effort is noticed even when you're not in the spotlight.
The skills you sharpen for one opportunity can unexpectedly open doors to another.
The best opportunities often come when you least expect them.
Consistent practice and genuine effort create their own momentum.

This experience taught me that the journey itself can lead to destinations you never planned for. Sometimes, the "unexpected" turns out to be the most rewarding part of the story.

Final Thoughts

Regardless of the final result, this opportunity has been a huge step forward in my journey.
I’m genuinely grateful to the Accelerate Her in Tech organizers for creating such a platform, and to Nokia for giving me the chance to showcase my skills.

If there's one thing this whole experience has reminded me, it's that while outcomes matter, the journey matters more because every step adds to who you're becoming.

To anyone considering a hackathon or coding competition: Go for it. You never know where it might lead, and the skills you build along the way are yours to keep, regardless of where you place.

Have you had any unexpected opportunities arise from competitions or events you didn't "win"? I'd love to hear your stories in the comments!

Thanks for the time you gave in reading! Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or check out my Portfolio. Reach out to connect, discuss, learn, and collaborate together.
I'm always open to new conversations and opportunities!