In the tech space, getting a job is not totally based on how good you are at the technical side of things, but rather your positioning. This means being able to put yourself out there and show employers how your skills and experience can benefit their company.
It is the goal of 90%-if not 100%-of geeks who are in tech to get hired, but without stepping out to the public that is nearly impossible.
As you read, I will share my journey on how I got into open source and secured my first international role as a software engineer at OpenSauced by contributing to their open source projects.*
My Background and Passion
My desire to know how the web works has always been my driving force. So from the day I was given my first mobile phone (Nokia s2) in the year 2010, I took it upon myself to explore this little gadget at my disposal.
In 2020, during the covid 19 pandemic, I started learning the basics of the web (HTML, CSS & Javascript) with a friend (a graphic designer) who also was trying to transition into UI/UX design. Luckily, I got my first job at Softkodesllc which didn’t last long due to my lack of experience. So I kept on learning until I got into open source.
How I got to know about open source
In a Twitter space by @ShawnBasquiat(The HUNT) was the first place I heard about open source and ways to contribute to open source. Then I ran into a video on YouTube talking about how to make your first contributions to open source projects.
The life-changing move I took that led to the AHA! moment
After listening to the talks and tips from the space, I decided to set a 30-days target for myself to make contributions to open source projects in the month of August 2022. I got my first PR up on the 3rd of the same month https://github.com/open-sauced/hot/pull/285.
The second and third PR followed on the 4th
At first, I was confused about how to start, but when I took up the courage to pick up my first issue, it all started making sense 😇😇😇. I got a warm welcome on my first contribution which resulted in me wanting to make more and more contributions to the same project 🔥🔥 (all thanks to @bdougieyo).
The AHA! moment
Shortly after my contributions, I got a message from the CEO of OpenSauced.
It all seemed like magic to me at first 😊😊...but it was reality! My first step towards working in public earned me a Software Engineering role 🍕🍕
That's my short story on how I got hired making open-source contributions 💫💫
Tips
If you are looking to get started with open source, here are some tips to get started:
Choose a Project that Aligns with Your Interests: Start by identifying open-source projects that align with your passions and skills. Whether it's web development, machine learning, or design, finding a project that excites you will keep you motivated and engaged.
Start Small and Contribute: Begin by tackling small tasks or bugs within the project. This allows you to familiarize yourself with the codebase and workflow. Look for "good first issue" or "beginner-friendly" tags that indicate suitable tasks for newcomers.
Engage with the Community: Join the project's community forums, mailing lists, or chat channels. Introduce yourself, ask questions, and seek guidance from experienced contributors. Engaging with the community not only helps you learn but also opens doors to collaboration and mentorship opportunities.
Read Documentation and Code: Invest time in understanding the project's documentation and codebase. Familiarize yourself with the project's structure, coding conventions, and guidelines. This knowledge will help you navigate the code more efficiently and contribute effectively.
Embrace Feedback and Learn from Others: Open source is a collaborative environment, so be open to feedback from experienced contributors. Take constructive criticism positively and use it to improve your skills. Learning from others' code and approaches will also broaden your understanding of best practices.
With these few tips listed, you can kick-start your journey into open source.
If you find this article helpful, then click on the follow button to get more updates and helpful resources on JavaScript, Reactjs, and Next.js. You can also follow me on Twitter @OgDev-01 to get useful resources and tech trends or on OpenSauced to see what contributions I've been making and the ones I highlight! Stay saucy! 🍕🍕
_This is not fiction. However, this piece does not guarantee the desired result you might need. It is designed to point you toward the right path. And as it was coined in Fiedler’s Contingency Theory _
There is no one best way to get things done.
Hence, there is a need for a contingency plan
Latest comments (78)
Thanks for sharing it was quite very helpful
Hi there,
I am really inspired by the journey on how you started contributing to open source and got hired in OpenSauced
As a final year student eager to move into open source and pursue internship/full-time opportunities, I'm curious about which projects I should focus on. I understand not all open source companies actively hire, so how do I choose the right projects to maximize my chances of getting hired through open source contributions? If you have any guidance or insights to share, I'd greatly appreciate it.
I shared this post of yours on 1024.
Securing a Job Through My Open Source Contributions
Many many thank you for sharing your open source project experience.
I also think that contributing to open source project is really helpful to get a job in tech fields.
I will try it must.
Great!
Awesome! I'm trying to take the same path because it's really difficult to stand out from the crowd with your resume but if you make your mark on GitHub by contributing then it's very certain that someone is going to reach out to you with an opportunity.
Not only does contributing to open source projects get you exposure in the industry, but you’re also doing good by helping to improve these projects for others. So much of what we do for a living is built on open source software, it’s important to remember that we all play a part in helping that work to continue for future generations.
After reading this blog, I went on my quest to put myself out there. I checked out few repos that has beginner friendly, good for first time issues. But all of them are already assigned/ taken up by someone else.
How can I get the issue assigned to me / how do I get myself a issue to work on ?
Help me out here pls
Hey @tharapearlly, the best good first issues is the one you created yourself. Try going through the product and understand the project itself, and In the process of testing and understanding the product, you'll get your good first issue. Also remember to go through the projects contribution guide to understand how to assign issues to yourself🍕
Okay, that's a good advice. Let me try that.
Thanks 😊
Thanks for the tip!, greetings from Argentina!
Hi Damian, Welcome to the community
Congrats and thanks for sharing your experience with others to inspire
Thanks!
If anyone here is looking for an open source project to contribute to check out murmurations.network - the decentralised data sharing project. We've built a bunch of open source tools and services to help make data open and interoperable between different websites and networks, and are now looking to roll out some Wordpress tools to make it easy for WP Admins to share data between Wordpress sites... we'd love more people to contribute and even become part of the core team :)
hey, I am interested. How can I contact you ? I want to know more about the project.
murmurations.network/contact/
Wow! Thanks for sharing
🍕
This is very wonderful article and really helpful for me. Thank you very much.
Excited to hear that @trojandeveloper 🍕
I'm always happy to hear about other people's wins. This was inspiring to read. Keep going, Champ 💪🏾
Thanks @hassan_codes 🍕
Are grads given higher priority than
Self-taught programmers whiling hiring?
The priority depends on the preference of the employer, and what employers value most is the candidates ability to perform the job effectively 🤌. Being a grad does not guarantee you a position. 🍕🍕