Volunteering as a Developer: Win-Win for You and the Tech Community

I recently had the opportunity to become a buddy for an intern at my job. A buddy is someone who helps onboard a new hire. Their role is to help the new hire to feel welcome and become productive faster. They provide guidance, support, and information, both technical and otherwise. I also decided to extend my leadership skills beyond the office by volunteering in the developer community.

Before landing my first developer role, I was involved in a variety of collaborative projects. I contributed to an open source project with Web Dev Path, participated in a Chingu voyage, collaborated with mentors and other early career developers at The Collab Lab, and joined an open source Hacktoberfest project. During these experiences, I was fortunate to connect with incredible mentors who played a significant role in my professional growth. Their guidance and support have shaped me into the professional I am today.

I couldn’t wait to give back and share my knowledge with others! I didn't need to have years upon years of experience as a developer to start helping out. There are many ways to lend a hand within the community, both in technical and non-technical capacities.

My Volunteering Experience

Recently, I've been volunteering at The Collab Lab. I have been reviewing LinkedIn profiles, conducting mock interviews, providing feedback, and offering career advice to early career software developers in the program. I'm also a committee volunteer that's working on revamping the program.

I have to say, it has been a fulfilling experience so far! There are so many positive aspects to my volunteer work. It's not only satisfying to know that I'm making a difference in their lives, but it's giving me the opportunity to sharpen my feedback giving skills. Additionally, being able to share my own tips and tricks, which I've gathered over many years, is truly rewarding.

By collaborating with others to help revamp the program, I get to meet and work with different people. I have the opportunity to learn from their perspectives and approaches to problem solving. The most fulfilling aspect of this experience is knowing that my contributions will shape the new program where future participants will learn to work in an agile software development team, alongside supportive project mentors. Check out this conversation to see what we are working on, how you can get involved or apply to participate in the next cohort.

Benefits of Volunteering

I love volunteering! I'm actually a part of so many amazing tech communities that sometimes I wish I had more time to contribute. It's such a rewarding and enriching experience that helps me grow not only as a developer, but also as a person.

You can make a positive impact on the world by using your skills and knowledge to help create applications, websites, databases etc. for non-profit organizations that support social, environmental or any other cause that matters to you.

You can learn a new programming language or framework, other technical and soft skills, by collaborating with others. Volunteering can help practice and improve coding, design, testing, debugging, project management or any other skills you want. You don’t have to wait for new opportunities in the workplace, volunteering can be a valuable experience that can enhance your resume and career prospects.

Another great benefit of volunteering is that you can get references and recommendations from the organizations you work with. It's a fantastic way to build relationships and make connections with professionals and potential employers who share your interests and values.

And let's not forget the social aspect of volunteering! As a developer, it can be a source of creativity while expanding your social network by connecting with people from all around the world in the process.

There's plenty of research on the subject of volunteering. Studies have shown that compared to non-volunteers, those who have volunteered in the past year tend to feel more satisfied with their lives and rate their overall health as better. So, not only does volunteering benefit the causes you care about, but it also has a positive impact on your own well-being. Diving into volunteering is a fantastic way to combine your skills, passion, and desire for personal growth while making a positive difference in the world.

How to find volunteering opportunities

If you're interested in volunteering, there are plenty of opportunities available both online and in your local community. You have the freedom to select a cause or organization that aligns with your interests, skills, and schedule. Additionally, you can explore various forms of volunteering, including one-time, short-term or long-term.

There are many online tech communities that are seeking volunteers to help build and maintain their platforms or programs. The best part is that you can choose to volunteer in either a technical or non-technical role, depending on your interests and skills. In the technical realm, you could get involved in exciting projects for non-profit organizations, allowing you to develop your skills while making a positive impact. Or, if you prefer a non-technical role, you can engage in activities such as mentoring others, mock interviewing, or providing help at tech events.

Take Virtual Coffee, for instance, where we have dedicated room leaders and note takers for our virtual coffee meetings. Recently, volunteers organized a lunch and learn session on "How to write an effective tech blog post." This inspired me to write this article and contribute to our monthly challenge. You can find many other enthusiastic volunteers in our community who contribute to its growth and success. If you prefer face-to-face interactions, you also have the option to join or create an in-person tech community or a community focused on a specific programming language.

Last but not least, open source projects! As a developer, I believe it's one of the coolest aspects of our career. By contributing to open source projects, you get to expand your skills and knowledge by learning new technologies or tools, and you also have the opportunity to collaborate with interesting individuals. You can even find a mentor to guide you or be a mentor to someone with less experience. It's such a fantastic way to grow and engage with the developer community. Check out this article on how to contribute to open source projects.

Discovering a role you enjoy in a community you love can enhance your experience. When you come across such an opportunity, it's important to ensure clear communication, respect deadlines, and collaborate effectively with your team. Additionally, being open to learning, embracing feedback and challenges will further contribute to your growth.

Volunteering is an amazing way to contribute to the tech community and enhance your career as a developer. By volunteering, you have the opportunity to assist others in achieving their goals, preserve a vibrant community, and also enhance your own skills and network. Have you had the chance to volunteer or receive support from a volunteer developer? How did it go?