Hot on the heels of SoT2010′s launch last week, we’re heading into bootcamp season… tomorrow!
SoT Bootcamps are designed to get students ready for work. Between now and the end of the semester, we’re focusing on the fluffy stuff, CVs, communication skills, and how to launch your Tech career in Wellington. In July, we’ll get into the technical topics.
First up, lunchtime Tuesday is John Clegg’s career talk:
The Job market is tough, getting a job and building a career is a lot harder than ever before. John will tell you want employers are now looking for and what you need to do to get ahead.
He’ll also be talking about the new Summer of Tech and what we’re doing to help you have a job and start your career.
Thursday evening is the world famous “resume smackdown” session. So you think you know how to write a CV that gets noticed? Hear it from a real live employer, you may be surprised, offended, but ultimately attending this workshop will help get you one step closer to a job interview. Trust us, we’ve seen a lot of resumes that go straight into the trash, so make sure its not yours.
FYI these sessions are open to ALL SoT students – yes, these first couple are being held at VUW but students from elsewhere are very welcome!
Is there life after Summer of Code??
Oh yes!!… SoC 09 interns are getting ready to finish off their studies, move into contract or permanent roles in their host companies or finding other opportunities for the next step in their IT careers.
We want to stay in touch! Please join our LinkedIn group – “Summer of Code – New Zealand”. This is where we’ll post ad hoc job opportunities, notices, announcements, and it’s a great way of staying connected to the wider community of SoC alumni & supporters.
So – what’s it for?
Maybe you’ve got an idea for a Bootcamp topic? Want to suggest a seminar speaker? There’s a job board, and lots of space to discuss stuff.
But mostly, LinkedIn is about staying connected.
As the sun sets over SoC 09, we thought we’d better squeeze in just 1 more party. 40 interns, 30 companies, you guys have been great… there’s been challenges & successes, lots of learning and a whole pile of coding! Although some internships are running through till the end of Feb, most are finishing in the next week or so.
We’re going to wrap it all up with a BBQ, hear about some amazing IT careers happening in Wellington (Alan from Trademe, plus some high-flying SoC alumni), and generally catch up with interns, companies, bootcamp & seminar presenters, sponsors & supporters.
Let us thank you for being part of an awesome Summer of Code programme, share stories & celebrate the GREAT work you’ve done.
Invites are in your inbox now!
Learn how to win over your colleagues (and boss) and get your ideas on the table in the work environment. Bernie White is a professional communications coach, and will talk about how to present a business case, how to get your ideas heard, and how to communicate effectively in the work environment.
This workshop is a “Masterclass” following on from the SoC 09 Communications Bootcamp (but you can attend the Masterclass even if you didn’t attend the Bootcamp). It is ONLY open to SoC students. More info here.
Thanks to all the SoC interns who entered the draw to win Webstock tickets, the 2 lucky recipients were pulled out of the ceremonial SoC cap at last night’s Xmas Party. Congratz to Josh & Michael D., that is a super-awesome opportunity!
But wait, there’s more…!
Everyone’s a winner with Webstock. Summer of Code is pleased to announce a most awesome & exclusive special deal on tickets to Webstock 2010. This is a VERY limited offer (20 tickets, first come first served) and ONLY available to SoC 09 interns.
The deal: Special SoC Webstock price of $500 (inc GST) to the main conference on 18 & 19 Feb 2010.
That is an awesome discount, it’s less than half price, people!! If you want to invest in one thing for your web-related career next year, Webstock is it!! The web world comes to Wellington, and this is your big chance to be part of it.
To take advantage of this super-special-SoC-deal, contact Summer of Code and we will hook you up.
Remember, there are only 20 tickets available. Be in quick.
Announcing a fantabulous SoC 09 prize draw!
… Here’s The Fine Print:
In order to be eligible for this prize, you must be a current SoC 09 intern AND email me telling me what Strengths you discovered in your StrengthsFinder assessment. Winners will be announced at the SoC 09 Xmas Party.
Deadline for entries: 15 December.
[Note: info about your strengths will remain totally confidential & anonymous, we want to give you a really big incentive to DO the assessment!
… Here’s The Prize:
SoC 09 has a couple of tickets to Webstock 2010 up for grabs…!! Webstock is Wellington’s premiere web conference, featuring industry leaders and kick-ass speakers talking on topics such as accessibility, web standards, usability and other best practices. Trust us, it’s AWESOME.
…has landed!
Yup, the shiny fabulous SoC 09 swag can be ready for collection from the W2W09 registration desk from 2pm on SoC 09 launch day… that’s Tuesday, 17 November.
Those SoC 09 folks who didn’t get their orders in, email info (@) summerofcode.co.nz like, NOW, and we’ll see if we can hook you up.
Announcing the upcoming Xero Summer Seminar Series (XSSS) designed to get the top talent & top companies involved in SoC 09 well & truly networked with the wider ICT community.
Xero have stepped up to sponsor our lunchtime tech-talk seminars. We are pulling together the programme right this very minute, but have locked in some dates and venues, so this is your headsup (open your diaries now…)
Xero Summer Seminar Series (XSSS) – weekly (ish) from 23 Nov – 8 Feb
Here are the first 4 dates, they’re all Mondays, all starting at 12.15pm, finishing by 1.15pm. Lunch is included, and there will be no charge for SoC 09 participants:
23 November – XSSS Kickoff (at Ocean Design)
30 November (at the Chamber)
7 December (at Ocean)
14 December (at Ocean)
We will update with more details asap, but while students are in exam mode, we’re in countdown mode to a hot Summer of Code 09.
Also stay tuned for more on the SoC 09 Xmas party!!!
… to be held on a boat, on the evening of 17 December (more info coming soon 
Edit: Meet and Greet Date updated
There a number of deadlines this week.
Students:
- Monday 10th August 5pm – Student Registration closes
- Wednesday 12th August 12pm – Summer of Code Testing period ends. (If you can not log onto the test email info@summerofcode.co.nz immediately.
- Friday 14th August 5pm – Student Profile completion closes – Full Resumes and profiles, tests need to be completed.
- Monday 17th August (time and venue TBA) - The final Summer of Code Bootcamp on communication skills. (This is only open to SoC students with complete profiles)
- Wednesday 19th 6pm – 9pm Wednesday 26th 6pm – 9pm – Summer of Code 09 Meet and Greet . Networking for prospective companies and students.
Companies:
- Wednesday 12th August 5pm – Company registration closes
- Friday 14th August 5pm – Company project profiles complete and draft grant profiles to Grow Wellington via Ruth.
- Wednesday 19th 6:00pm – 9pm Wednesday 26th 6pm – 9pm Time TBA- Summer of Code 09 Meet and Greet . Networking for prospective companies and students.
Students
To be eligible for Summer of Code, you MUST complete your online profile:
- A recent photo (That’s a decent photo)
- Completed the Summer of Code Test
- Submitted your resume
- Completed the Skills profile
- Written an introduction to yourself as to why companies should hire you.
(Sorry for the short notice 
)
The interviews have been allocated. Please login to http://www.summerofcode.co.nz to find out your allocation list / timetable. Unfortunately, students may have be present from 9am to 3.30pm tomorrow, depending on the schedule.
If for some reason, you cannot make it to any interview, please make sure to contact the companies beforehand to arrange alternative interviews. Our recommendation is to make an alternative time on that day itself as all the companies will be there.
So, details about the interview again:
Date: 8th October 2008, Thursday (Tomorrow)
Time: 9am-12pm, 12.30pm-3.30pm
Venue: West Wing Railway Station, Victoria University (http://www.zoomin.co.nz/map/nz/wellington/wellington+central/-railway+west+wing+victoria+university+of+wellington/)
Cheers,
The Summer of Code team.
Place: Zeal, 18 Garrett Street, Wellington (http://www.zoomin.co.nz/map/nz/wellington/te+aro/garrett+street/18/-zeal+cafe/)
Date: Wednesday October 1
Time: 6pm – 8pm
What: Come and hear from the companies that want YOU!
Food and drink provided 
RSVP by Monday September 29 (See invitation email)
Have not received an invitation? Need help with tests? Email info@@summerofcode.co.nz.
Note: It’s on Wednesday, not Tuesday.
Here is a public service annoucement: Testing begins this week. Students, please check your emails for more information. Here is the email replicated below.
Thanks for confirming your involvement this year with Summer of Code. Now that we’ve got your registration and contact details, we can let you know the next steps from here:
1. Testing (22nd – 29th September)
2. Meet and Greet (next week)
Testing
The testing is a simple, easy process where we give you a chance to strut your stuff and demonstrate your knowledge and skills.
- Testing will start 12pm Monday 22nd September 2008.
- Testing will be open until 12pm Monday 29th September 2008.
- Students must go to http://www.summerofcode.co.nz/test
- Use the summerofcode username and password.
- That’s all! Further instructions are at the Testing website.
Students not signed up by Monday 22nd September will not be able to access the testing website. They need to contact us at testing@summerofcode.co.nz
Meet and Greet
The Meet and Greet will be next week (date and venue TBC), and it’s basically just a chance for you to start ‘speed-dating’ any potential employers, and learn more about any projects you’re interested in. We’ll let you know in the next few days exactly when and where it will be, but at this stage it looks likely to be next Tuesday night somewhere in the CBD.
CVs and Skills Matrix
PLEASE make sure to have these all completed ASAP.
Due to a last-minute problem, the .NET session has been postponed to next Thursday (31st July). In its place, the Rails session will be held instead.
All sessions tomorrow will be at Cotton Building Room 238.
As you may have heard, Summer of Code 2008 will include boot camps. These boot camps are held for the purpose of exposing some of the in demand skills that we think would be very useful for your ICT career.
We will have topics ranging from Introduction to Web 101 to Source Control to .NET and Rails. These sessions are meant to be hands-on and act as a fun way to learn about that new skill you have always been wanting to know about. We can’t show you everything, due to the time limit, but further materials and references will be provided at the end of each session to help you along the way.
These bootcamps will be on from next week. Full information will be posted on http://www.summerofcode.co.nz/bootcamps. Space is limited, so RSVP is needed. Please sign up at the summer of code site now. (Past SoCers should be able to use their old login)
Oh, did I mention there will be food provided