What is DevRel, and what’s with the avocados?! 🥑🥑🥑
🧐 developcado, yeah, I don’t think it’ll stick either. 😂
My first thought when hearing the term DevRel, was, what is that, and do you say it Dev-Reel, or Dev-Ril. I’m still unsure the exact way to say it, I hope that it’ll come with time or that I won’t get corrected too many times. It’s a bit embarrassing how bad I can be with names and terminology saying it right. Even Vite, which is pronounced Veet. More detail on that another time.
The term DevRel refers to Developer Relations also known as Developer Advocate, Developer Evangelist, or Developer Relationships. Many terms fall into the overarching bucket of DevRel. My definition is “Creating human connection between a product and developers. Which gives a platform to developers to be heard and succeed.” Each company has its own definition of the role, which makes the journey of becoming a DevRel that much more exciting… or frustrating. 🧐 And, uhhhh…. what about Community Manager, is that a part of DevRel too? Exactly!
Taking a step back into my journey to becoming a DevRel will help me explain the resources and research done to make this blog.
In early 2021, I started at a company that helps developers create API Specs easier. Over the year there, I transitioned from content and communications manager, sales enablement manager, to learning service manager. Six months into working at the company, during my time as Sales Enablement Manager, I went to a local API Meetup and realized when I was asked about the company I work for, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY DO. I was mortified.
In September 2021, I started as the Learning Services Manager. The goal was to launch a platform that would teach customers about the product and how to better use the product. At this point, the company did not have the bare basics of what an API was, the pieces of an API, and what an API spec was from the company’s point of view. To create this content, I had one on one meetings with many of the developers and engineers to start teaching me the bare basics of what an API was, and about how the company specifically fit into the API Lifecycle. I learned why form first instead of code first, created a better experience for the developer. It was an eye-opening experience that felt incomplete when I was let go in January 2022.
During my time as the Learning Services Manager, I reached out to the local API Meetup group to see if I can find a mentor or more resources outside my current company. That was in November and as I said before, by January, I no longer needed to know much about APIs. One of the co-organizers saw something that I didn’t, APIs are dope, that I love humans, and co-organizing the API Meetup group would be a way to contribute to the local community and expand my knowledge of APIs. It was only after the healing process from being let go and the surgery I had end of February that I was open to join as one of the co-organizers. One of the best decisions in my life.
Through that one decision, I met incredible humans that welcomed me to the community, had the opportunity to MC at an apidays conference, and found mentorship not only in the API world, but also in neurodiversity.
One of the biggest impacts of rejoining the API community, is that I had the opportunity to narrow down what I wanted out of my career and next role, to become a DevRel. Well, my exact response when I was asked was:
“Absolute dream job would be to have the podcast complement my career in APIs and my career supporting what I do in the podcast and what I hope to achieve by turning that company into a nonprofit. One I want to speak about how human connection creates better APIs and vice versa.
An ideal role would be, where I can ask a lot of questions, advocate for others, and help mediate to find a solution. From what I’ve seen from DevRel, project management and community managers look like awesome jobs! I care more about the people I’m working with, and what I’d be doing, rather than the job title. I would love to find something that would provide support and encouragement to do more things like MCing, and speaking.
…. Big items I’d be looking for would be flexibility so I can keep up the podcast and mostly remote working. I love to travel and have my passport so I can go anywhere when needed. It’s when I’m in the states tho I dig not needing a car and the time it takes to get to work when I work from home 😂”
It’s crazy when your thoughts become reality. Ok, my thoughts become reality. Shortly after figuring this out, I started my adventure with Twitter! I always knew Twitter was a thing yet I always stayed far away due to not understanding how connected I could feel becoming a part of Tech Twitter. Without knowing it, a colleague from an old company posted a tweet asking for existing DevRels to post here to allow those looking into DevRel to find resources to reach out to. That’s where the magic started happening! Without realizing Twitter does use the DMs, I awkwardly started replying to each person, asking the best way to reach out to them. Yeah, I was that person. 🤦♀️
Thursday was my first meeting with a DevRel. From that meeting, I learned, I could be ADHD and dyslexic and learn to code. I also learned that I didn’t have the tech or the content to show a track record of why I should be hired as a DevRel. By the following Wednesday, I spoke to 4 more DevRel humans. By that point, it was decided, that I would start Teach Jenn Tech on July 1st, 2022 with Jere.
Livestreaming is terrifying and exciting. That can be its own blog post another day. Along the way of finding my way to DevRel, I have met some of the most technical people that are still human, some of the most relatable humans that are still technical, and that human connection truly does make tech work.
In my own experience, two months into starting Teach Jenn Tech, I’ve found there are so many definitions, tips and tricks, and incredible humans that can help you along the way to learn more about DevRel world.
Please remember: We are all on our own journey. We are all going at our own pace. It’s about the journey, not the destination.
Here are a few links that I hope you find helpful along your journey.
🥑 Teach Jenn Tech : linktr.ee/teachjenntech
🥑 What’s with the Avocado?? Is from @mary_grace’s book. https://twitter.com/JennJunod/status/1540386348523065344?s=20&t=kXUclI4yk4wE26YcRrJQOg
🥑 Struggles of a DevRel Twitter Space Recording hosted by @cecilphillip & @stripedev : https://twitter.com/JennJunod/status/1545098255549140992?s=20&t=kXUclI4yk4wE26YcRrJQOg
🥑 Struggles of a DevRel Article written by @blackgirlbytes from @github : https://dev.to/blackgirlbytes/the-hard-parts-of-developer-advocacy-for-me-530h
🥑 DevRel Practice posted by @ThisisVanshika : https://twitter.com/ThisisVanshika/status/1467200205380534272?s=20&t=kXUclI4yk4wE26YcRrJQOg
🥑 Tracking DevRel Metrics posted by @tessak22 from @SnapforDevs : https://twitter.com/tessak22/status/1542875766907703296?s=20&t=kXUclI4yk4wE26YcRrJQOg
🥑 Dope DevRels in the role posted by @adamd founder of @everydeveloper : https://twitter.com/adamd/status/1539684682366861314?s=20&t=kXUclI4yk4wE26YcRrJQOg
🥑 Answering the question we all are wondering about… What’s a DevRel? by @hola_soy_milk at the 2022 hybrid @skillsmatter conference https://youtu.be/HtK8Y8CzdY0
PS I always giggle at how much of a newb I was and cherish always being a newb at something.
Top comments (5)
“Creating human connection between a product and developers. Which gives a platform to developers to be heard and succeed" is interesting way to define DevRel. I used to think it was just promoting the product but emphasizing its connection to developers expanded my perspective on the role. Thanks for writing @jennjunod! :)
Welcome aboard and good luck in your ongoing DevRel journey!
Thank you Shai! It's been a fun roller coaster so far! What's one thing you'd suggest to a newbie DevRel?
It's very subjective but I find focusing on my weaknesses is important.
E.g. I like going to conferences. I like talking, etc. But I'm a terrible networker. I'm a bit socially awkward (as many engineers are). I try to force that instead of avoiding that and falling back to my strengths. I force myself to initiate conversations and stick with people who are my opposite so they can help me connect more.
In some cases I do the inverse for people. E.g. I write very easily, so I try to collaborate with people who have difficulty in that regard and help them.
I love this!
I find myself in similar situations when looking for individuals to work with. I am comfortable with speaking at conferences, networking, creating video content, yet I am challenged with writing and the technical side of what a DevRel needs to do. It's a big reason I started Teach Jenn Tech. To learn the tech and also have more technical content.
In regards of finding people that have difficulty with writing, I feel that! My colleague at Gravitee is a master at community and writing. We balance each other out. Also seeing that he is such a proficient writer has challenged me to find an accountability partner and write a blog post week.