When looking for a dream job in tech, it’s important to find the right tech communities. These are groups of people who share your interests and can help you learn new things, make connections, and find opportunities. There are lots of different tech communities out there, but here are two that we think are especially important.
GitHub is a community of developers who share code repositories or collections of code files. This is a great place to find open source code for your project or find collaborators for a new project. GitHub also has an amazing job board where you can search for jobs and read reviews from current and former employees.
Product Hunt is a community of product enthusiasts who share new products they’ve discovered or created. This is a great place to find new tools to use in your projects or just to get inspired by what other people are creating. Product Hunt also has an amazing job board where you can search for jobs and read reviews from current and former employees.
Let's take a closer look at each of these communities so that you can understand the benefits of each.
GitHub - an In-Depth Look
GitHub is an indispensable and invaluable asset for any tech worker looking to further their career. Launched in 2007, it's a powerful software platform that facilitates collaboration between teams or individual users by allowing them to share code and data, run tests, and even review each other's changes in real time.
Currently, according to GitHub, there are over 65 million developers using the site. As such, GitHub has become a must-have for anyone searching for tech jobs that require coding skills. Not only does it enable developers to show potential employers real-world examples of their skill set, but it can also be used as a platform to showcase portfolios and top-rated projects with which they are involved.
Additionally, the easy accessibility of collaborative commits on public repositories can build networks of both learners and mentors who have the same programming interests and language experiences that may lead to additional job opportunities.
According to Shawn Plummer, CEO, The Annuity Expert, "GitHub is a must-have for tech professionals who want to stay ahead of the curve. Not only does it allow you to showcase your coding skills, but it also provides an excellent platform for networking and collaboration."
All in all, GitHub is an excellent development platform for aspiring tech professionals who are serious about taking their career in technology to the next level.
Product Hunt - an In-Depth Look
Product Hunt, which was launched in 2013, is easily the go-to spot for tech industry enthusiasts. By providing an open platform for discovering, discussing, and showcasing new products and services across a variety of industries, Product Hunt does more than just notify users of product announcements; it has become a dynamic online community where users can actually connect with the people behind them.
For job seekers in the tech industry, this is hugely beneficial as they can use Product Hunt to both find new opportunities and make meaningful connections with potential employers. According to Product Hunt, as of November 2021, there were over 3.8 million users of the platform.
From engaging in discussions around a given product to connecting directly with relevant influencers or companies, there's no denying that Product Hunt has created a valuable space where employers are likely to find potential employees.
Michael Nemeroff, CEO & Co-Founder, Rush Order Tees, says, "Product Hunt is an amazing resource for tech industry professionals and job seekers. It's a great way to stay up-to-date on the latest trends, as well as find new opportunities or make meaningful connections."
How These Communities Can Help In Your Job Search
Joining online communities like GitHub and Product Hunt can be an effective way for tech job seekers to increase their visibility and gain access to the latest industry trends.
By engaging in conversations, getting involved in projects, and creating profiles and portfolios of their work, job seekers can establish themselves as forward-thinking professionals who are invested in the success of the industry.
Members of these communities also have a great opportunity to network with tech professionals and employers, potentially opening doors to interviews or even career opportunities.
Additionally, staying up-to-date on the latest technologies by exploring the resources available in these communities can help those looking for tech jobs sharpen their skills and show employers they have what it takes to become a valuable member of the team.
According to Jim Pendergast, Senior Vice President, altLINE Sobanco, "GitHub and Product Hunt are great options for tech job seekers who want to stay connected with the industry and find new opportunities. Joining these communities gives job seekers a chance to showcase their skills and make meaningful connections with companies they might not have access to otherwise."
GitHub Membership Options
GitHub offers a variety of membership options for individuals and organizations. The free plan is ideal for individuals who want to learn and build their own projects, as well as small teams or organizations that need an efficient way to collaborate.
It includes unlimited public and private repositories, automatic version updates, 500MB of packages storage, community support, and more.
The team plan is designed for larger teams and organizations with advanced collaboration needs. It includes everything from the free membership plus the following:
Protected branches
Access to GitHub codespaces
Draft pull requests
2GB of packages storage
Pages and wikis
Finally, the Enterprise plan is designed for enterprises that have specific security and compliance requirements. This plan provides enterprise-level support with flexible deployment options such as on-premise or cloud deployment models. It provides advanced security features such as encryption at rest and user access control policies to ensure confidential data isn't compromised.
Additionally, it provides advanced audit logging so administrators can monitor system activities across all users in the organization.
Product Hunt Membership Options
Joining Product Hunt is free and you can get started by simply signing up with an email address. Once signed up, users have access to the platform's vast library of products and can post reviews, comment on existing posts, join chats, and discuss topics related to tech.
Product Hunt also offers a Pro membership plan, called Founder Club, which gives you access to different deals from around 32 different companies that are extremely useful to startups of all types.
Product Hunt also has a free newsletter which consists of a daily digest of products recommended by users on the platform.
Tips for Success
To be successful in these tech communities, you should focus on building relationships, establishing yourself as an expert in your field, and actively engaging with the community. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Be active
The best way to get noticed in these tech communities is by being active and engaging with other members. This means joining conversations, asking questions, offering helpful advice, and responding to comments. This will help you build relationships with other members, as well as show potential employers your technical knowledge and expertise.
Remember, however, that being active doesn't mean tweeting every hour or posting dozens of comments. Instead, focus on quality over quantity and make sure the conversations you join are meaningful.
Be helpful
One of the best ways to stand out in tech communities is by helping others. If someone is having a problem with their code, offer advice. If someone is looking for work, recommend companies. Being helpful and generous with your knowledge will help you stand out from the crowd and build better relationships with other members.
Follow the rules
An often overlooked tip is to read and follow the rules of each community. Each one has different norms, etiquette, and guidelines that you should be familiar with before participating. Failure to abide by these rules can result in getting banned from the community, so it's important to take the time to become familiar with them before joining the conversation.
Participate in discussions
The tech communities on GitHub and Product Hunt are full of conversations about the latest trends, technologies, and products. Participating in these discussions is a great way to stay up to date with the industry and meet other professionals who share your interests.
Make sure you also take part in discussions related to your field of expertise. This will help establish you as an expert and show potential employers that you know what you're talking about. In addition, you can use these conversations to learn from other experienced professionals and gain valuable insights into the industry.
Contribute to projects on GitHub
GitHub is a great place to showcase your skills by contributing to open source projects. Not only will this give you the opportunity to work with real-life developers, but it will also give you a chance to show potential employers the type of work of which you are capable.
It's important to remember that open source projects are often complex, so make sure you have the right skills and experience before attempting to contribute. You should also research the project thoroughly and read through any documentation available to make sure you understand what is expected of you.
Use Product Hunt's upvote feature
Finally, Product Hunt offers an upvote feature that allows users to “like” products they find interesting. This is a great way to show your appreciation for projects that you find interesting and to help them gain more visibility on the platform. This is also a great way to show potential employers your taste in tech products and demonstrate your knowledge of the industry.
Final Thoughts
GitHub and Product Hunt are both great tech communities that offer a wealth of information, insights, and opportunities. With so much to learn and discover, they are a great place to start if you're looking to get involved in the tech industry.
Just remember to be active, participate in discussions, contribute to projects on GitHub, and use Product Hunt's upvote feature. Doing so will help you build relationships, establish yourself as an expert in your field, and gain valuable insights into the tech industry.
