5 Key Reasons You Must Join a Tech Community as a Developer
Joining a tech community is a necessary step every developer needs to get the right positioning that will usher them into a successful career. You definitely want an environment that will give you more grounds to perfect your skills and acquire knowledge that will make a distinctive difference in your career life. Being part of a tech community will give you the chance to share ideas with like-minded individuals and also get the right advice and support you’ll need to bring whatever ideas you have to life.
A tech community is simply a platform that has the capacity to groom you into a better developer, keeping you current on the latest developments, as well as giving you the exposure you need in your area of expertise. Through these communities, you’re able to find peers and mentors that enable you to advance your career and code-related goals. Going on the journey to becoming a developer is a difficult one for anyone starting out but these groups and support systems help fill that journey with camaraderie and optimism.
It’s a total win-win venture because you’ll have the chance to give and receive; you get to learn from experts in other areas plus, you get the chance to impact the community with the knowledge and skills you’ve acquired.
Everyone is trying to get more visibility in the tech space. Being part of a tech community gives you an upper hand in attracting the contracts or jobs you need. For one thing, being part of such a platform will help you showcase your potentials to a group of people who may have different needs that correspond to your areas of expertise.
Remaining valuable is what everyone in the development industry struggles with. It takes more than just contemporary knowledge to remain valuable given that the world keeps changing and people never stop sorting out better ways of making life more accommodating. In fact, it is impossible to think redundancy is far-fetched. Every developer must up their game to meet up to the ever-existing competitive tech space.
As a developer, to stay valuable, you need your creativity sparked up at all times. You need to keep being innovative and be more effectual when it comes to problem-solving. This is why being part of a tech community is a thoughtful proposition given that it comes with all that you need to build your portfolio and to brand yourself. When it comes to remaining in value, the aspect of being motivated breeds meaning.
Having people with whom you work helps you keep your balance and interest. The truth is, many good ideas die when we lose our motivation and interest. It is easy to remain in balance even during challenges, especially when fellow peers recount their success stories explaining how they walked through similar challenges. A community as such makes a whole difference in one’s carrier by keeping one consistent in doing those things that may not be rewarding at the moment but have more output in the long run.
Why join a tech community?
1- It’s a place to network
Any forum that encourages human interaction is a place to build relationships that will eventually be beneficial to one’s career life. As a developer, you’ll have the chance to meet people with whom you share a similar thought pattern and people with whom you can work together to bring your ideas to life. Meeting fellow developers like yourself and engaging in meaningful conversations with them gives you more insight into the tech world. It stirs up the competitive spirit in you and prompts you to continue seeking to evolve in your career. You also have the chance to see through different perspectives and build team spirit with other developers.
2- An opportunity to sell yourself
The most rewarding and lucrative reason for joining a tech community is that you get to sell yourself. Unlike the usual dropping of CVs, you might be fortunate enough to have an employer come up to you with an opportunity. It is often in the process of giving that you receive. In giving to your tech community, you’ll be making a name for yourself, impacting people who may recommend you for one or more deals. For developers, the tech community is also a good way to build up your own personal brand. For one thing, a developer brand is a very important asset, especially when you decide to move jobs.
3- Mentorship: Gaining support and guidance
Everyone needs mentoring. You may have great ideas but you still need the right guidance and support to make them happen. You may know much but you still need more knowledge and skills that will enable you to explore more tech opportunities. Being part of a tech community will be good nurturing ground and having people to guide and monitor you is such an opportunity to clinch on. This is particularly good for beginners in the tech world who would be opportune to learn from the experts, as tech communities act as a bridge between experts and learners.
4- The place to build your communication skills
Being part of a tech community will help you improve your communication skills. Being able to effectively communicate is a skill that helps you thrive in every other aspect of your life. You will be able to improve your presentation skills and gain more confidence in talking to an audience. The ability to communicate in itself can foster your career. Communication always sets a difference. It gives just about anyone the ability to create impact; you’ll not only have the knowledge but you’ll communicate it to your audience in the most effective way.
5- A chance to impact the world
If you have ever wanted to make the world a better place, you definitely have your chance of being part of a tech community. Impacting others and being part of a good movement is what will make you feel fulfilled, feel significant, and useful. It’s very important to give back to your community. This is because in doing so, you are creating a ripple effect. What people really need is not money but a positive change that comes with knowledge, education, and motivation.
History has it that those who created the most impact did not give money but their time and resources. Seeing people grow, and being able to contribute to their growth is indeed what gives meaning to everything you do. So don’t miss the chance to impact the world by giving your time and resources.
What are you waiting for?
There’s no need to wait longer. Join a tech community, get the experience, learn new skills, and grab every opportunity that presents itself. You must not take chances when it comes to showcasing your skills. Your employer might just be sitting in the audience. Time is your greatest resource and what you give your time to could entirely transform your life for good. The best thing you will do for yourself is being in an environment that motivates you towards growth. Being able to invest in yourself by perfecting your skills and inputting into the lives and careers of others should be your priority.
An environment such as a tech community will enable you to build sustainable relationships that you wouldn’t regret three to five years down the line. Sometimes, finding yourself in the right place is what makes you succeed. Being part of a tech community is and will always be that right place for any developer. Like any community, your local tech community thrives on the input it gets from you and other developers in the area.
Are you part of a tech community already? Or are you still having second thoughts about joining one? Let us know in the comments below.
