Building a Network of Supportive Developers

I’ve been reflecting on my conversation with Nader Dabit currently building developer communities at Eigen Labs, and formerly with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and The Graph. What struck me most was how many of his insights we have been actively applying while building the developer + founder community at soonami.io GmbH. Here are the top takeaways I’ve been leaning on 👇 1/ Building a developer community is a marathon, not a sprint. Developers want to go where there’s traction, but traction doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, trust, and a lot of value creation. 2/ Transparency builds trust. Be open about the trade-offs of your platform. No tech is perfect. Developers appreciate honesty over hype. If they know what they’re working with, they can make informed decisions. 3/ Help developers whether they use your product or not. The best DevRel teams provide value beyond their own ecosystem. Answer questions, share knowledge, and be part of the broader developer journey. This goodwill always comes back. 4/ Meet developers where they are. Not every developer is hanging out on Twitter. Find them in Discord, Telegram, GitHub, hackathons, or niche forums. Engage where they feel comfortable, not where it's easiest for you. 5/ Hackathons: Not just about numbers, but long-term impact. Instead of attracting bounty hunters who leave after a quick win, structure your hackathons to support serious builders. Offer milestone-based funding, mentorship, and ecosystem support. 6/ Long-term DevRel isn’t about short-term metrics. It's not just about tracking engagement. It’s about relationship-building over months (or years). DevRel should create a ripple effect—one great project inspires others. 7/ Cross-functional collaboration is key. Building a developer community isn’t just a DevRel task. Marketing, engineering, and leadership must align to provide the best support for developers. 8/ One strong builder > 100 inactive users. It’s not about quantity. Even if just one project from your hackathon or community scales, it can change the entire ecosystem. 9/ Want to break into DevRel? Here’s Nader’s advice: 🔹 Deeply understand the product 🔹 Build relationships with internal teams 🔹 Focus on providing genuine value 10/ Final takeaway: Developer communities thrive on authenticity, support, and long-term thinking. It’s not about pushing a product, it’s about empowering people to build. What’s your biggest takeaway from this? Let’s discuss! 

Limiting yourself to a single "official" mentor is like only eating at one restaurant your entire life. Different developers have different strengths. One might excel at system design, another at coding practices, and another at career navigation. The most successful junior developers build relationships with multiple informal mentors, each providing guidance in different areas. This approach: - Exposes you to diverse perspectives - Prevents over-reliance on one person's opinions - Creates a more robust support network - Accelerates your learning across multiple domains Stop seeking the perfect mentor and start building your personal board of advisors. Ready to stop limiting yourself? Start building your mentor network today.

Networking for me isn’t about collecting business cards; it’s about building real connections that last. Here’s what I’ve come to value in effective networking: - Genuine relationships come from meaningful interactions—thought-provoking conversations, shared projects, and truly listening. This builds the trust that underpins valuable connections. - While large events have their perks, smaller gatherings create a space where deeper connections can thrive, and real engagement can take place. - By helping others grow, your network naturally expands with people eager to engage. - Seek advice as much as you offer it. This mutual exchange of knowledge strengthens relationships and provides new perspectives. This approach also inspired me to start The Game Makers' Lounge podcast, where I share stories from emerging developers and industry veterans. For me it’s about fostering a community through shared journeys and insights. Networking, at its core, is about building genuine, meaningful connections. Got a unique networking tip that’s worked for you? Would love to know more about it! #Networking #GameDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth

I recently connected with a fantastic software engineer who, despite having a killer skillset, felt their career growth was stagnant. The culprit? A weak network. In the fast-paced world of tech, connections are currency. They open doors to exciting opportunities, fuel collaboration, and keep you ahead of the curve. But how do you build a powerful network that goes beyond just collecting contacts? 👩🎓 Become a Knowledge Hub: Don't just consume content – share valuable insights and learnings on LinkedIn, forums, or industry blogs. Become a trusted source people turn to for knowledge. 🙋♂️ Embrace the Power of "Hello": Strike up conversations with people you meet at online or in-person events. Ask thoughtful questions and actively listen – genuine interest goes a long way. 👩💻 Follow Up Like a Pro: Don't let connections fizzle out. Send personalized messages after meeting someone, referencing a specific aspect of your conversation. 👩🔧 Be a Connector, Not Just a Collector: Think "community" over "contacts." Introduce people in your network who might benefit from knowing each other. 👩🏫 Give Back to Grow Together: Offer your skills or support to others in your network. This fosters a culture of reciprocity and strengthens connections. What are your best networking tips? #networking #recruitment #careerdevelopment

𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 🅻🅴🆂🆂🅾🅽 8/10 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 Connections are invaluable in the tech industry—they can open doors to opportunities, provide insights into the field, and accelerate your career growth. Here's how to build a strong professional network: 𝟭. 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀, 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀 Industry events are excellent places to meet professionals, exchange ideas, and stay updated on the latest trends. Look out for: • 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀: Often hosted by tech communities or organizations in your area. • 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀: These might focus on topics like AI, cybersecurity, or software development. Examples include DEF CON, PyCon, or Hackathons. • 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀: These provide a hands-on way to learn while connecting with like-minded peers. When you attend these events, don’t just be a passive observer. Introduce yourself to speakers, interact with participants, and exchange contact information. 𝟮. 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗶𝘁𝗛𝘂𝗯 • 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻: Create a professional profile that highlights your skills and projects. Share your achievements, follow influential professionals, and actively engage by commenting on posts or sharing useful content. • 𝗚𝗶𝘁𝗛𝘂𝗯: Showcase your coding skills by contributing to open-source projects or uploading your own work. Engaging in open-source communities allows you to learn from others and build relationships with developers worldwide. Building your online presence makes it easier for others to discover your work and expertise. 𝟯. 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 • 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀: They offer real-world experience and introduce you to professionals in the industry. Treat every internship as a chance to prove your skills and expand your network. • 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽: Reach out to experienced professionals, professors, or alumni for guidance. Many are happy to share their journey and advice, which can be a source of inspiration and direction. Always follow up with a thankyou note or email after meaningful interactions—it leaves a lasting impression. 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗶𝗽: 𝗕𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 Networking isn’t about collecting contacts; it’s about building genuine relationships. Be approachable, respectful, and consistent in maintaining connections. Over time, this network can become a support system that helps you learn, grow, and succeed in your programming career. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵, 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘪𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. #Students #ComputerScience #Programming #SelfImprovement

The most successful developers I know have one thing in common: They stopped applying to jobs. Instead, they started building relationships. Here's the reality check: • 85% of jobs are never posted online • Your resume gets 6 seconds of attention (if you're lucky) • Mass-applying is a numbers game you'll never win But networking feels gross, right? "I'm not good at small talk." "I don't want to bother people." "I'm just a developer, not a salesperson." I get it. I used to think the same thing. Until I realized something: Networking isn't about selling yourself. It's about solving problems. Here's what actually works: 1. Find developers at target companies 2. Follow their content and engage thoughtfully 3. Share your own learnings (even small wins count) 4. Offer help before asking for anything 5. Build genuine relationships over months, not days Example: Instead of "Hey, are you hiring?" Try: "Loved your post about microservices. We faced a similar challenge at my company. Here's how we solved it..." The magic happens when people think of YOU when opportunities arise. Not because you applied. Because you're already in their network. Your next job won't come from LinkedIn Easy Apply. It'll come from a conversation you started today. What's stopping you from reaching out to one person this week?