Top university students are among the most sought-after talents in today’s competitive job market, and if you want to attract the best, your company needs to stand out on campus. Dynamic, multi-day hackathon events where students collaborate on innovative programming projects are a proven way to do just that.
Why? They offer a unique opportunity to showcase your brand, engage directly with high-potential candidates, and spot creative problem-solvers in action. In fact, a 2025 DataHub report found that over 80% of Fortune 100 companies now host or sponsor hackathon events to drive innovation and build a pipeline of top-tier talent.
By leveraging these events, you can position your company as a leader in innovation while connecting with the next generation of tech talent. Ready to make hackathons work for you? Here’s how.
1. Create engaging, informative content
It doesn’t matter if you bring in the CEO of a major company to a symposium or hackathon events; if the subject matter isn’t relevant to the interests, hopes, and desires of your young talent audience, it may fall flat. A major part of hackathons is the one- to five-minute sponsor speech, and with such limited time, storytelling and humor are key to success.
For instance, experiences shared by Cockroach Lab – a US Software development company with a long hackathon recruitment history show that clear goal-setting and purposeful communication during these pitches help sponsors stand out and foster genuine connections with participants. As for content, you don’t need to stick strictly to computer science lectures.
Your best session will incorporate elements of the field but appeal to a broad audience. Consider a catchy title that draws students in, like shifting from “Computer Science at Google” to “How My First Myspace Page Led Me to a Career at Google.”
This approach will breathe more life into your brand, making it more relatable for prospective hires.
2. Streamline your job fair presence
From Millennials to Gen Z and Gen Alpha, young talent is known for shorter job tenures.
According to a recent Fortune article, on average, Gen Z only stays about 1.1 years in their first five years on the job. It’s not about being flaky; they’re just prioritizing growth and good culture over blind loyalty.
So, hook them in with a clear idea of your company culture, benefits, and perks. Lose the paperwork entirely, and avoid forcing them to fill out extensive questionnaires when their time at the fair is limited.
💡Skip collecting paper resumes by using an app like Rakuna Event & Campus Recruiting Solution, where you can capture, digitize, and manage talent’s resumes with our smart OCR AI and eliminate clutter.
For deeper insights, your campus recruiters can attend conferences like TRU to better understand job fairs, social media outreach, and top universities. And here’s a pro tip: bring a software engineer along with an HR member. Who better to inspire confidence than a potential future coworker?
If students have technical questions, having that engineer ready demonstrates your company’s expertise and can make all the difference in attracting top talent while the HR member tackles more logistic-oriented tasks.
3. Inspire with workshops and training courses
If your company is smaller and less likely to draw crowds to an info session, consider boosting your on-campus presence by teaching valuable skills through workshops & hackathon events. Choose something your team excels at, like coding mobile applications, and host a session that adds real value. Major companies do this effectively.
💡 For example, Cognizant effectively partners with online learning platforms to run its Skills Accelerator program, delivering targeted tech training that equips participants with job-ready skills before they even enter the hiring process.
💡 Apple, as another case, runs free coding workshops and provides educational materials, leading to repeat attendees who develop trust in the brand. It’s a smart move: regular sessions not only create better-prepared candidates for your roles but also spark word-of-mouth recognition and increase application rates.
You’ll find that this hands-on approach positions your company as an invested partner in students’ growth.
4. Hosting Hackathon Events for Talent Acquisition
Hackathon events have evolved far beyond late-night coding marathons fueled by pizza. Today, they’re one of the most effective ways to connect computer science students and early-career professionals with future job opportunities, while giving recruiters a chance to watch talent in action.
By sponsoring or hosting one, your organization can:
- Spot talent in real time: Assess problem-solving, technical skills, and teamwork in a live environment.
- Build brand recognition: Position your company as an innovator in front of top-tier talent.
- Shape the challenge: Set parameters relevant to your field (e.g., healthcare data, financial APIs, retail apps), sparking creativity that may even surface business-ready solutions.
Designing a Hackathon That Works for Recruitment
If your goal is to hire great people, not just run a flashy event and careful planning matters. Here’s a blueprint Fortune 500 recruiting teams can adapt:
- Define your objectives
- Do you want to pipeline interns and entry-level hires?
- Are you looking to build awareness among engineering students in specific schools or regions?
- Or do you want to co-create solutions that could influence internal innovation?
- Choose the right format
- On-campus: Great for building relationships with universities and student organizations.
- Virtual or hybrid: Expands reach and accommodates diverse participants.
- Invite-only: Focused on quality over quantity, often for specialized skill sets.
- Nail the logistics
- Set a clear timeframe (24-72 hours is typical).
- Provide necessary resources: APIs, datasets, cloud credits, or even problem statements.
- Ensure accessible registration and communication channels.
- Create a great participant experience
The technical challenge is only half the story. Non-technical elements play a huge role in shaping the perception of your brand:
- Free meals and snacks (yes, pizza still wins hearts).
- Swag like T-shirts, hoodies, or stickers that live beyond the event.
Workshops with engineers or recruiters that provide learning value. - Side activities such as games, trivia, or wellness breaks – that keep energy high.
- Measure what matters
Post-event, track metrics like:
- Number of participants converted into applicants.
- Quality of project submissions and relevance to your field.
- Brand engagement on campus or online.
- Cost-per-hire compared to other recruiting methods.
Learn from the Best
Some hackathon events have set the gold standard for combining innovation with recruitment opportunities:
- AngelHack Global Hackathon Series: A premier global competition spanning 7 cities with over 26,000 developers participating in creating impactful solutions. It has a grand finale in Singapore, well-known for innovation and community engagement.
- HackZurich: One of Europe’s largest and most prestigious hackathons, held annually with intense collaboration and cutting-edge projects over 48 hours.
- HackMIT: Famous for drawing top talent and innovators from around the world, focusing on new solutions using the latest technologies.
- Hack the North: Canada’s largest hackathon, attracting over 1000 participants globally, featuring a 36-hour challenge and significant prize funding.
- IETF Hackathons: Known for practical implementations of internet technologies, open to all, with global events emphasizing collaboration and standard advancements.
- UST D3CODE Hackathon: A global hackathon covering six countries, fostering innovative and scalable solutions focused on social impact.
Studying how these events balance competition, fun, and professional development can inspire your own approach.
The Takeaway
Hackathons aren’t just competitions, they’re talent showcases. With thoughtful planning and the right partner tools, they can:
- Shorten your recruitment funnel.
- Lower hiring costs.
- Attract diverse, niche candidates who thrive in collaborative environments.
Above all, remember: a well-run hackathon should feel fun, authentic, and aligned with your company’s brand. When you get it right, you don’t just fill roles, you create lasting relationships with the next generation of innovators.
And if you’re ready to streamline the process, tools like Rakuna’s Recruit App and Event Management Solution can help you manage logistics, track candidate engagement, and ensure follow-ups don’t slip through the cracks at your event.
Team Rakuna
The Rakuna Team comprises a diverse group of professionals hailing from various corners of the world.
With a passion to enable organizations to hire their next waves of talents, we are dedicated to help organizations stay updated on important recruiting technology and industry best practices.
