How to run an intern meetup

Note: written in 2012, but it still applies.

This is the checklist version. Normally I'd write a story about how to do this, but that takes more time and also is probably less reproducible.

Goals

Suck points

Reasons why your event might suck, based on past experiences at meetups I attended during my three bay area software engineering internships. Also based on the two meetups I helped organize in summer 2011 and 2012 (the meetups I organized didn't have these problems :).

How not to suck and have a good event

Venue & Physical stuff

Getting the word out

Making the most of the event, for the sake of your company

Have fun!
David

PS Here’s an article on how Cloudera ran their internship program.

David Trejo

Engineer at Chime & consultant. Past clients include Credit Karma, Aconex, Triplebyte, Neo, the Brown Computer Science Department, Voxer, Cloudera, and the Veteran's Benefits Administration.