Accelerating your personal and professional growth through open source contributions: Standing out in a world full of talents.

Join me to explore how open source contribution can accelerate your personal and professional growth. In a world full of talented individuals, standing out can be a challenge. By leveraging the talent-rich ecosystem of open-source communities, you can gain valuable experience, build your personal brand, and connect with like-minded individuals. This talk will cover key strategies for identifying and contributing to open-source projects, managing your time, building relationships, and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech. Whether you're a seasoned contributor or just getting started, you'll leave with practical insights and actionable steps for leveraging open-source contributions to accelerate your growth and stand out among other talents.

Transcript

1. Community Health Analytics Open Source Software https://chaoss.community/ https://github.com/chaoss @CHAOSS_Africa
2. Accelerating your personal and professional growth through open source contributions: Standing out in a world full of talents. Desmond Obisi Flanksource @0X_anon_
3. Desmond Obisi Flanksource @0X_anon_ Meet Desmond • OSS Contributor at Flanksource, Ansible and Polytope Labs • Developer Advocate/Experience Engineer • Technical Writer, Speaker and Builder
4. Accelerating your personal and professional growth through open source contributions: Standing out in a world full of talents.
5. Introduction • What is open source? • Why contribute to open source?
6. What is Open Source? Open source software (OSS) is computer software that is released under a license in which the copyright holder grants users the rights to use, study, change, and distribute the software and its source code to anyone and for any purpose. Open-source software is a prominent example of open collaboration, meaning any capable user is able to participate online in development, making the number of possible contributors indefinite. The ability to examine the code facilitates public trust in the software.
7. Why Contribute? • To give back to the community. • To learn new skills & meet mentors. • To meet people & build network. • To make a difference or an impact. • To have fun! • To build portfolio and stand out
8. The Talent-Job-Career Pipeline • The challenges of the talent-job-career progression pipeline • How open source contributions can help you stand out • Testimonials of people who open source have helped land roles
9. Challenges of talent-job-career progression pipeline • Time-consuming recruitment process. • Cultural fit and team dynamics. • Talent shortage. • Low number of niche experts. • Skill gaps and changing technology landscape. • Lack of visibility and advocacy. • Inadequate recognition and rewards. • Bias and subjective evaluations. • Lack of mentorship and guidance. • Limited opportunities for skill development. Talent-Job Job-Career Progression
10. How open source can help you stand out • You get to learn new technologies. • Building trust and reputation. • Access to rich network. • Opportunity to amass experience. • Building amazing portfolio.
11. Testimonials What some people have to say on how open source boost their career growth…
12. Finding Projects • Finding open source projects. • Projects evaluation. • Getting started contributing to open source projects.
13. Finding open source projects • Identify your interests and skills. • Explore open source platforms. • Join open source focused communities . Ovio Up for Grabs First Contrib utions Code tribute Good First Issue Code Triage
14. Projects evaluation • How the project is run? • Does it fit my interest and goals? • What’s their strength (Capitalize!). • What’s their weakness (Can I Help?).
15. Getting started contributing to open source projects Begin with small, manageable tasks to build your confidence and familiarity with the project's development process. Look for "good first issue" or "beginner-friendly" tags in the project's issue tracker. This allows you to make meaningful contributions without feeling overwhelmed. Take the time to understand the project's goals, objectives, and overall structure. Read through documentation, explore the codebase, and get acquainted with the project's issue tracker or feature backlog Open source is a collaborative endeavor, and feedback is an integral part of the process. Be open to constructive criticism and use it as an opportunity to improve your skills. Iterate on your work based on feedback received, and strive for continuous learning and growth. Actively participate in the project's community discussions, mailing lists, chat channels, or forums. Introduce yourself, ask questions, and offer help to establish connections and build relationships. Study the work of experienced contributors and observe how they interact with the community. Pay attention to coding styles, project conventions, and communication practices. Engage in discussions and ask for guidance when needed. Selecting the right open source project is crucial when starting out. Consider factors such as your interests, the project's technology stack, community engagement, and documentation availability. Keep track of your contributions and maintain a portfolio that highlights your open source work. This serves as proof of your skills and commitment, and can be valuable when seeking future opportunities or showcasing your expertise to potential employers.
16. Leveraging Open Source Projects • Demonstrate expertise through open source contributions • Build commitment to the craft • Build network with people in the community
17. Demonstrate your expertise • Showcase your technical skills: Open source projects provide an excellent platform to demonstrate your expertise in specific programming languages, frameworks, or technologies. • Contribute to popular projects: Contributing to well-known and widely used open source projects helps establish credibility and showcases your ability to work with complex codebases. • Highlight your contributions: Mention specific features, bug fixes, or improvements you've made to open source projects, along with any recognition or positive feedback you received.
18. Build commitment to the craft • Continuous learning: Engaging with open source projects exposes you to new technologies, coding practices, and industry trends, fostering a commitment to ongoing learning and improvement. • Embrace challenges: Open source projects often present unique challenges that push your technical skills and problem-solving abilities. Overcoming these challenges demonstrates your dedication and commitment to overcoming obstacles. • Consistency and persistence: Regular contributions to open source projects reflect your commitment to the craft by showcasing your consistent effort and dedication over time.
19. Build network with people in the community • Engage in discussions: Participate in online forums, mailing lists, and chat rooms related to open source projects. Contribute ideas, ask questions, and provide assistance to establish connections with like-minded individuals. • Attend conferences and meetups: Attend open source conferences and local meetups to network with other contributors, maintain existing relationships, and build new connections. • Collaborate on projects: Join collaborative projects or start your own initiatives, working alongside other community members to build relationships and establish a strong network of peers.
20. Consistency & Discipline • Setting realistic goals • How to stay motivated and disciplined • Measuring and sharing success
21. Setting realistic goals • Define clear objectives: Identify specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals that align with your open source contributions. • Break down goals into milestones: Divide larger goals into smaller, manageable tasks to track progress and maintain focus. • Consider your capacity: Take into account your available time, skills, and resources when setting goals to ensure they are realistic and achievable. • Consider your constraints: Also take into account your limitations or hindrances when setting goals.
22. How to stay motivated and disciplined • Find your motivation: Identify the reasons why you are passionate about open source and the benefits it brings. Remind yourself of these motivations regularly to stay inspired. • Create a routine: Establish a consistent schedule for working on open source projects. Having a routine helps build discipline and ensures regular progress. • Seek support and accountability: Engage with a community of like-minded individuals who can provide encouragement, advice, and accountability. Join online forums or local meetups to connect with others who share your interests.
23. Measuring and sharing success • Define success metrics: Determine the key indicators of success for your open source contributions. This could include the number of pull requests merged, positive feedback received, or impact on the project's user base. • Track your progress: Keep a record of your contributions, achievements, and milestones. This allows you to see your growth over time and provides evidence of your dedication and discipline. • Share your successes: Celebrate your accomplishments by sharing them with the open source community. Write blog posts, give presentations, or contribute to case studies to showcase your achievements and inspire others.
24. THANK YOU