Hi there again, tech enthusiasts! I'm back with another insightful piece about Open Source. This time, I'm going to talk about how to navigate the Outreachy application process successfully and maximize your chances of being selected as an intern. But before I proceed, do you have any concerns?
Here are a couple of frequently asked questions (FAQs) that we'll consider:
I'm new and have no prior experience in Open source, can I still participate?
I'm not a developer neither am I into coding, do I still have a chance to participate?
I'm an Outreachy applicant and just got accepted into the contribution stage, how do I proceed from here?
How do I select projects and record my contributions?
These questions are very valid, and I asked them too. Sometimes it's good to have first-hand experience so that you can have a feel of what it looks like, and that's where I got the confidence to write this piece for you.
Open Source, as we discussed in previous articles, is any program or project whose source code is made publicly accessible for people to use, modify, and redistribute. And irrespective of your background, skills, and discipline, you can participate in Open Source contributions as long as you're interested. I will show you one way you can do this.
There is a platform that provides paid and remote internships for Open Source and Open Science contributions for people who are underrepresented and faced with systemic bias (gender, race, education, etc.) in the IT industry in their community. The platform is called Outreachy, and its primary goal is for interns to learn about Open source, and contribute to it.
Please, ensure to study the Outreachy Yearly Scheduled and Application Period Overview because that's where your decision-making process starts.
There are three parts to the Outreachy application process:
Initial application period
Contribution period
Intern selection period
The moment the initial application is approved, the contribution period usually begins. This is the stage that determines whether you will make it to the internship selection or not. This is also where you’ll start contributing. Mentors will analyze the abilities they believe are relevant and important to the internship project, and Outreachy interns are chosen according to the quality of work contributed during this period.
How to select a project during the contribution period
Assessing project options - You’ll have to look through the list of projects and note down a couple of them that interest you.
Streamlining your selections - To improve your focus, you should now reduce the size of your list. During my time, I had about 6 projects of interest that I streamlined (reduced) to two based on my strong skill set and its requirements.
Weigh the project requirements and skills - Ensure to study and weigh the project skills and requirements involved very well before making a decision.
Strategically select a Community and Project - It is also important to choose a community whose values align with yours. For any project you decide to pick, you know that there are other people who, like you, want to contribute and be selected. It takes focus to accomplish this. And if you’re working on too many tasks at once, that will be practically impossible. Note that each community has an estimate of how many interns it can take on, another piece of advice is to choose a project that’s looking to accept 3 to 5 interns. If a project is accepting 3 to 5 interns, your chances of getting accepted are higher than if it is just taking 1. But notwithstanding, I would recommend choosing a project with few applicants.
Contact your mentor
After you’ve got a list of potential projects, you must get in touch with the project mentor for further information on how to start contributing. Now, most projects will urge you to join their community on Slack, Google Chat, or other platforms to facilitate communication. Mentors for each project are usually indicated in the project description. Regarding the mentors’ contacts, some projects usually include information on how to get in touch with them.
Introduce Yourself
You can start with a brief introduction about yourself and what you look forward to within the community. If there are documented formats on how to introduce yourself once you join, please follow through.
Complete your profile
Make sure you update the information on your profile in accordance with any applicable guidelines. If none exist, still ensure to set up your profiles to enable proper identification, tags, and interaction with the community.
Study the onboarding material
Take your time and carefully study the onboarding materials and project guidelines. Understanding the project’s goals and requirements will position you for success and ensure that your contributions align with the project’s goals.
Start contributing early: As soon as you find a project, do not wait until the last minute. If you do, you’ll notice that some projects get closed in a couple of days because they’ve gotten many strong applicants who have already made outstanding contributions. And mentors won’t have enough time to assess your skills. Additionally, it allows you extra time to revise and modify your work before submitting the final version, based on the feedback you receive.
Record your contribution(s): Some communities provide a format to record contributions. During mine, interns were expected to link the respective pages where they’ve made contributions in their portfolio or blog. Note that only applicants who contribute, record their contributions, and submit a final application on the Outreachy site will be considered.
Ensure to complete all assigned tasks: The purpose of the contribution period is to enable mentors to determine if an applicant is prepared to succeed throughout the internship. Throughout the contribution period, applicants will get project-specific assignments that are different. So completing tasks during the contribution period helps applicants get familiar with the mentor, the guidelines, and the values of the open-source community.
Prioritize quality contribution(s) over quantity: Quality work sets you apart from the other applicants, and it's not about how many contributions you make. I selected two projects to work on, but at the end of the day, I had to forgo one and focus all my energy on the other one. I had to give it everything I had because juggling several tasks at once is time-consuming, draining, and can even cause you to lose focus. You’ll find yourself being busy but not productive. Remember, what counts is a QUALITY contribution over quantity.
Always ask questions
Why is this important? It saves time! As someone who is probably new to open-source contributions, you will most likely almost certainly have questions to ask. Never be embarrassed to seek answers or ask questions if you are confused about something. Asking questions is an important aspect of learning, and mentors and fellow contributors are there to assist you, so do not hesitate.
Never be shy/timid to ask questions when you are not clear on what is expected of you. Generally, mentors observe how applicants ask questions, how they respond to feedback, and their overall communication style.
Interact and communicate in your community
Different communities have their communication style and mentors may or may not indicate this in the project description. For my project, you were free to contact their mentors directly or ask in the mentoring group/channel. While other communities may restrict their applicants to only public discussion channels. Whatever works for the community, you should adhere.
This is one aspect I leveraged in getting first-hand information. Sometimes, it may take a long to get a response due to mentors' availability and time zone difference, but rest assured, you’ll get answers. Just be patient; they're humans attending to multiple candidates like you.
Take note of time zone differences: Outreachy’s remote nature is one of its best features. Consider the time zones of mentors and make necessary adjustments, even if it means altering your sleep or work schedule. Every new endeavor requires some compromises.
Be patient and polite with your mentors: Show gratitude and respect to your mentors; they're volunteers sharing knowledge with you. Mentors often face a hectic and demanding contribution period due to the volume of questions from contributors. Additionally, considering time zone differences, mentors may indicate their availability in the project description; if not, inquire. Exercise patience as they respond to your inquiries.
Be kind and collaborate with fellow interns: Collaboration is one of the things that make open source unique and beautiful. Offer support to fellow interns facing challenges. Some may approach with competitive energy; don't let it affect you. You're smart, you're unique, and so should your work be.
Stay active in your community: Ensure notifications are enabled for communication channels within your community. Attend meetings, engage in discussions, ask and answer questions, and assist fellow interns.
Be prepared to acquire new skills: Coming from a cybersecurity background, open source contributions isn't something you hear about unless you mingle with people from different IT backgrounds (developers, designers, and technical writers, etc.). I got exposed to this the moment I started attending and volunteering for tech events and summits, and it greatly shaped my mindset. I was willing to try something new, but it also meant picking up new skills. My curiosity and excitement contributed to this. So, be prepared to acquire certain skills if you don’t already have them, especially if they’re necessary for the project you’ve chosen.
• Always strive for excellence
Approach the contribution stage with optimism and a desire to make a lasting impression. Your efforts will be greatly appreciated and will impact the project and open source community for a long time.
Lastly, for additional resources and further information, consider exploring the following links:
Learn more about Open source
Learn more about the initial application phase
List of available projects for this round: click here
For more information on how to find a mentor click here.
These resources can provide valuable insights and assistance as you embark on your open-source journey through Outreachy.
That's all I have to share for now and I hope this guide answers any questions you may have. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have more questions. I wish you the best in your endeavors. Bye!
📷Photo Credit: Outreachy