How to get into DevRel
Developer Relations (DevRel) as a profession has been coined in 1980, when Apple created the first DevRel program, starting with Mike Murray, who coined the term software evangelist to persuade third-party developers to develop software and applications for the Macintosh platform.
DevRel, when run right, can bring long-term impact to technology improvement and adoption, community growth, and the creation of evangelizers of a particular product, by enabling businesses to have lower customer acquisition cost and decrease churn rates improving the net retention rate of a company.
In this field, you need understand that developers are more likely to buy and leverage tech stacks and products they believe or actually feel strongly connected with instead of companies that reach to them with a heavy salesy marketing approach.
Let’s dive into how to get into DevRel and kickstart your career 🤝
Understanding the role of a DevRel professional
The role of a Developer Relations (DevRel) professional is multifaceted, it blends technical expertise with strong communication skills.
As a TL;DR, DevRel is all about building and nurturing relationships between a company and its developer community. This involves understanding both the technical needs of developers and the strategic goals of the company you’re representing as a DevRel.
The primary duties of a DevRel are shaped by their company's objectives and strategies.
Our roles typically involve creating technical content, such as blog posts, social content, tutorials, and documentation, with a goal to help developers use a particular product or tech stack more effectively. DevRel experts also frequently interact with the community through various channels like social media, forums, and events, providing support and gathering feedback to drive product improvements. This dual focus on content creation and community engagement is key for the success of both the developers and the company.
The intersection of technical skills and community building is what sets DevRel apart from other tech roles. A DevRel professional does not need to be technically proficient, but needs to understand how developers think, talk, and connect. So being capable of empathizing with developers, understanding their challenges, and communicating solutions in a way that resonates. This involves staying updated with the latest trends in tech and being able to convey complex technical concepts in digestable terms.
Ultimately, we play a critical role in fostering a strong, engaged, and loyal developer community, which in turn drives innovation, product adoption, and customer loyalty for the company we’re representing.
Skills and qualifications
The foundation of a career in Developer Relations rests on a bedrock of essential technical skills. Understanding programming languages, not necessarily in a deep manner and familiarity with tools and platforms used by developers are a must. This technical skill ensures that a DevRel professional can not only understand but also effectively address the challenges and needs of the developer community they serve.
Equally important are communication and community engagement skills. The ability to articulate complex technical concepts in a clear, relatable manner is key. This includes writing technical blogs, creating video content, speaking at conferences, and actively participating in online forums. These activities require a blend of creativity, clarity, and the ability to engage audiences both in person and digitally.
Personal attributes play a significant role in the success of a DevRel professional. Empathy towards the developer community, patience in problem-solving, and a genuine passion for technology and its potential impact are crucial. Additionally, being a proactive learner who stays abreast of the latest tech trends and industry changes will ensure that the DevRel professional remains relevant and effective in their role.
Networking abilities are also vital. Building and maintaining relationships within the tech community, both online and offline, can lead to a wealth of opportunities and insights. This involves attending meetups, participating in hackathons, and engaging with peers and experts through social media and professional networks. These connections not only enrich the DevRel professional's knowledge and skills but also strengthen the community's trust and reliance on the company they represent.
Building your foundation
Contributing to open-source projects, participating in coding bootcamps, or working on personal tech projects, social content, videos, and blog posts, can significantly enhance your technical skills and provide practical experience that resonates with the developer community. You will get feedback from the community, I promise.
Alongside technical knowledge, developing soft skills is crucial. Effective communication is at the heart of DevRel, requiring the ability to articulate ideas clearly and engage in meaningful conversations with developers. Empathy is another key skill, allowing you to understand and address the concerns of the developer community genuinely. These soft skills are vital in creating a positive and lasting impact in your interactions.
Networking plays a pivotal role in building your foundation in DevRel. Do your best to attend industry conferences, participate in meetups, and engage in communities. These social activities not only expand your knowledge and skill set but also help you build connections with other professionals in our field. These networks can provide valuable insights, mentorship opportunities, and potentially open doors to future job prospects.
A continuous learning mindset is essential for growth in Developer Relations. The tech industry is dynamic, with new technologies and trends emerging regularly. Staying updated with these changes and constantly upgrading your skills will help you remain relevant and effective in your role. This includes self-study, online courses, attending workshops, and following thought leaders and influencers in the tech space.
Understanding company’s needs
A key aspect of excelling in Developer Relations is understanding the specific needs and goals of the company you represent. What is the north star metric? How are campaigns built? What sector are they targeting, is it gaming?
This involves comprehending your company's technology, its place in the market, and the target audience it serves. Gaining this knowledge enables you to tailor your DevRel strategies to align with the company's objectives, whether it's driving product adoption, fostering community growth, or enhancing brand reputation among developers.
It's also important to recognize the unique challenges and pain points faced by the company. These could range from technical issues within the product to broader market competition challenges. Understanding these challenges allows you to better support the developer community by providing relevant solutions and feedback to the product team, thereby contributing to the product's improvement and the company's success.
Effective communication between Developer Relations and other departments such as product development, marketing, and sales is crucial. As a DevRel professional, you act as a liaison, ensuring that the needs and feedback of the developer community are accurately conveyed to these internal teams. This collaboration not only enhances the product but also ensures that marketing and sales strategies resonate more authentically with the developer audience.
Lastly, it's important to measure and demonstrate the impact of your DevRel activities on the company's goals. This could involve tracking metrics like developer engagement levels, community growth, product feedback implementation, and even direct applications being built on top of your tech stack. Clear metrics help in validating the importance of DevRel efforts and securing continued support and resources from the company.
Engaging with the community
Community engagement is the heartbeat of Developer Relations. This involves creating a platform where developers feel heard, supported, and motivated. Engagement can take many forms, from answering technical questions on forums to organizing and participating in hackathons and coding events. The goal is to create a strong, interactive community where members feel a sense of belonging and empowerment.
Creating and sharing content is a powerful way to engage with the developer community. This can include writing technical blogs, producing tutorials, and creating video content that addresses common challenges or introduces new features and best practices. The content should be informative, accessible, and tailored to the interests and needs of the community, helping to establish you as a trusted and knowledgeable resource.
Hosting meetups and participating in tech meetups and conferences is another crucial aspect of community engagement. These events provide a platform for direct interaction with the community, offering opportunities for learning, networking, and feedback. They also serve as an excellent way to stay attuned to the latest trends and concerns within the developer world, ensuring your strategies remain relevant and effective.
Lastly, engagement should be a two-way street. It’s not just about disseminating information but also about listening and responding to the community’s feedback. Encourage open dialogue, gather insights on product usage, and understand the evolving needs of developers. This feedback loop is essential for building products that truly resonate with your audience and for fostering a loyal and active developer community.
Creating a personal brand
Establishing a personal brand is crucial in Developer Relations, as it helps you stand out as a professional to find job opportunities and build authority within the tech community. Your personal brand is a reflection of your expertise, interests, and values, and it can significantly influence your ability to engage and inspire other developers.
Start by identifying your unique strengths and areas of expertise, and consider how you can share these with the community in a way that adds value.
Social media is a powerful tool for building your personal brand. Platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter (or X, lol), TikTok, and YouTube offer diverse ways to connect with the community. Share your insights, experiences, and learnings in your areas of expertise. Engage with your audience through comments, live sessions, and collaborative content. Consistency and authenticity in your social media presence are key to building a loyal following.
Whether it's blogging, creating videos, or podcasting, choose the medium that best suits your style and strengths. Focus on creating high-quality, informative content that addresses the needs and interests of your audience. This could include tutorials, industry analyses, personal experiences, or explorations of new technologies.
Collaborate with other influencers and professionals in the field. These interactions not only expand your network but also provide opportunities for mutual learning and growth, further solidifying your position as a knowledgeable and influential figure in the Developer Relations space.
Getting your first DevRel job
Securing your first job in Developer Relations often requires a blend of traditional job search strategies and more innovative approaches like building in public and networking. While a strong resume and portfolio showcasing your technical skills and community involvement are essential, demonstrating your expertise and passion through public channels can set you apart. Share your journey of learning new technologies, participating in projects, and contributing to the community on platforms like GitHub, personal blogs, or social media.
Networking plays a crucial role in the DevRel job market. Engage with the community and industry professionals through tech meetups, conferences, and online communities. Build relationships with other DevRel professionals, as they can provide insights into job opportunities and referrals. Remember, in DevRel, your network is not just a route to job opportunities but also a support system for continuous learning and growth.
In your job search, focus on companies whose values and products align with your interests and expertise. Tailor your application to highlight how your skills and experiences uniquely position you to meet the company’s DevRel needs. Emphasize your ability to connect with developers, create engaging content, and build community around a product or technology. Hopefully at this stage, you will already have a good set of social content, blog posts, videos, and attended meet-ups. Show, don’t tell.
During interviews, be prepared to discuss not only your technical skills but also your approach to community engagement and content creation. Employers will be interested in your ability to relate with developers, communicate effectively, simplify technical concepts, and creative ways to foster a positive community environment. Showcase your understanding of the DevRel role as a bridge between the company and the developer community, highlighting your experiences and strategies that demonstrate this capability.
Growing in your career
Progressing in your Developer Relations career involves more than just honing your existing skills; it's about continually expanding your capabilities and finding new ways to add value. Setting clear career goals is crucial. Whether aiming for a senior DevRel position, focusing on a particular technology, or aspiring to lead a team, having specific objectives helps guide your professional development and decision-making.
The tech industry is dynamic, with new tech, frameworks, and best practices emerging regularly. Stay ahead by dedicating time to learning new skills, whether through online courses, attending workshops, or participating in hackathons. This not only enhances your technical proficiency but also ensures you remain a valuable resource to the developer community.
Professional development opportunities are abundant in the tech community. Seek out mentorship programs, join professional groups, and attend industry conferences. These experiences provide exposure to different perspectives and insights, which can be invaluable in your career growth. Don’t underestimate the power of networking; the connections you make can open doors to new opportunities and collaborations.
Lastly, contribute to the DevRel community by sharing your knowledge and experiences. This could be through speaking at events, mentoring newcomers, or contributing to DevRel-focused publications and blogs.
By giving back to the community, you not only help others grow but also establish yourself as a thought leader in the field, further advancing your career.
Challenges and solutions in Developer Relations
Let’s be honest. Working in Developer Relations comes with its unique set of challenges.
Two common issues are balancing the technical and community aspects of the role together with the plurality of roles you could cover as a DevRel. DevRel professionals often find themselves juggling technical content creation, community management, and sometimes even direct product development support or sales...
Setting clear boundaries, prioritizing tasks, and managing time effectively are crucial skills to develop in order to maintain this balance. This is a mistake I’ve made over and over, for being too excited and eager to get started in a fresh environment, and, honestly, a lesson that was hard to learn and still is challenging.
Another challenge is ensuring genuine and effective communication within the developer community. Avoiding a salesy approach and instead focusing on authentic, helpful interactions is key. This involves not just promoting the company's products but also providing value through educational content, support, and active listening to community feedback. Building trust within the community is essential for long-term engagement and loyalty.
Measuring the impact of DevRel activities can be tricky, as the results are often qualitative rather than quantitative. Establishing clear metrics and KPIs, such as community growth, engagement levels, and feedback implementation, can help demonstrate the value of DevRel efforts to the broader company. This requires continuous monitoring and adjusting strategies based on these metrics.
Finally, keeping up with the fast-paced nature of technology and the evolving needs of developers is a constant challenge. Staying informed about the latest trends, tools, and practices in the tech world is essential. Continuous learning and adaptability are key, along with the willingness to experiment with new approaches to community engagement and technical content creation.
Wrapping up! 🫡
Your growth in this field depends as much on your personal development as it does on your professional skills.
The landscape of technology and developer communities is ever-changing, and so are the opportunities and challenges in Developer Relations. Stay adaptable, open to feedback, and proactive in seeking new ways to engage with and support the developer community. Your role is pivotal in shaping how developers perceive and interact with technology and products.
Finally, never underestimate the power of the community you build and engage with. The relationships, the content you create, and the support you provide all contribute to an ecosystem where tech, businesses, and individuals can grow together.
Remember that your efforts make a significant difference in the tech world.
Resources
Articles and blogs
Developer Relations Explainer on DEV Community
This article provides an overview of what Developer Relations is, its core tenets, and the important questions DevRel works to answer. It explores various roles within DevRel, including Developer Advocate, Evangelist, and Community Manager.The Camunda Developer Relations Career Path by Mary Thengvall
This blog post discusses the importance of a career path in Developer Relations and provides insights into career advancement within the field.
YouTube videos
"What is the ROI of Developer Relations?" by Phil Leggetter
This video discusses the return on investment of Developer Relations, sharing experiences and opinions on measurable and non-measurable aspects of DevRel.
Websites
DeveloperRelations.com
This website features the latest news, features, and articles on measurable Developer Relations and engaging with early-career developers.LearnDevRel.com
Offers a collection of Developer Relations resources, insights, and real-life examples delivered via a newsletter. It also lists thought leaders and content in the DevRel space.
In our next post for subscribers, we will give you actionable points in form that you can follow and implement, some key takeaways you can expect are:
✅ How to setup your profile (cover image, profile picture, effective bio, and more)
🤯 How to generate ideas and understand what to post
✍️ Post frequency and optimization
👋 Making friends and networking
🤝 DM etiquette, network effectively
Time to start Dev-Relin’ 😉
Are you a tech stack and want to collaborate with our collective?
 | A guest post by
|