Hackathons are a great way to get experience and network. Here's some reasons why you should do more hackathons.
A hackathon is very simply a meeting/event where a bunch of people get together to build product and solve a problem within a time span. Imagine you're given a business question, like develop a mobile app for X, or build a product that is designed around X city. Then, you'll have to not only develop the app, but also market it and sell it. Remember, this isn't just about developing something, but also marketing it and making people want it.
With all that said, here's some reasons to join hackathons.
Hackathons allow you to meet a bunch of super motivated, cool people. If you ever want to found a startup and want to meet cofounders, this is a great way. If you need new job opportunities, you'll meet a bunch of new, cool people who will give you recommendations, and many companies hold these hackathons to attract potential talent.
You gain a good amount of experience in a short timespan. Developing a great business product is hard, but doing it in 24 hours is even harder, so you end up learning a ton to get this done. The biggest thing here is getting some solid product experience. Contrary to popular belief, hackathons are not just for SWE; they cater to all crowds interested in developing product.
Hackathons are just flat out fun. They allow you to try new things, experiment, and meet a bunch of talented, hard working people.
So, hackathons provide professional experience, create a strong network, and provide a fun environment to experiment. Really, is there any reason not to try one?