How a hackathon project turned into my work at CodeRabbit

A junior developer shares their journey from participating in a CalHacks Hackathon to securing an internship at CodeRabbit by building an AI-powered merge conflict resolver called merj. The project, stemming from the need to simplify the tedious process of resolving merge conflicts, caught the attention of CodeRabbit's representatives, who provided valuable guidance to refine the idea beyond basic LLM capabilities. The developer emphasizes the importance of building projects that require real engineering decisions, seeking help early, and following up with tangible progress rather than desperation. Through effective communication and iteration, they turned the hackathon experience into a career opportunity, underscoring the value of demonstrating practical skills and initiative to potential employers.