I DID IT! I got accepted into the AWS Community Builders program! It was a great way to start the fourth quarter of the year, and I'm super excited to contribute and build cool things with other builders around the globe for 12 months!
Because I've gotten into the program, I would like to share some tips on what you could do to increase your chances of becoming a Community Builder. Before I share those tips, let me define what the Community Builders program is.
The AWS Community Builders program offers technical resources, education, and networking opportunities to AWS enthusiasts and thought leaders who are passionate about knowledge sharing and building out technical solutions within AWS. Aside from the networking opportunities, there are several benefits that a person receives when joining this program. It includes, but is not limited to, promotional credits for AWS, learning about new services and features that are being developed by the product teams, and lots of swag! The program has several specialty areas that folks can join such as Security/Identity, Machine Learning, Game Tech, Storage, etc. ("AWS Community Builders", n.d.)
The application opens up twice a year, so feel free to add your name to the waitlist here.
Now that you have an understanding of what this community provides, let's talk about some tips that'll help you get in!
Tip 1: Become visible on social media platforms
Becoming visible is fairly important. As an AWS Community Builder, I'm expected to create content and share that with the world. Prior to getting into the program, I was already creating and publishing content on social media platforms such as Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. When you create content, you're increasing your visibility and building your brand. The amount of content and views will help strengthen your application.
Tip 2: Build things in AWS
You are applying to be an AWS Community Builder, so please build things in AWS. Write tools for services in AWS and publish the code on Github. Make a YouTube video showing people how to execute a Lambda function from a Step Function. There are several things you could do and build in AWS, so make sure you are building AND you're documenting what you're building.
Tip 3: Collaborate, collaborate, collaborate!
Make friends with people in tech and create things together! It does not have to be within AWS. It could be contributing to open source projects, speaking on podcasts, co-authoring technical blog posts, etc. The amount of things that you could do is endless! The key thing is that you want to make sure that you are collaborating with individuals in your field of study and creating content!
Tip 4: Get a few AWS certifications
Getting AWS certifications will help you get your foot in the door. Based on what I've seen, the majority of the community builders have at least 1 fundamental or associate-level AWS certification. Getting one is not only good for your career, but it would help strengthen your application by solidifying that you are passionate about building in AWS.
Tip 5: Create content around your favorite category(ies) in AWS
When you apply, you'll have to select one or more categories in AWS that you want to create content for. Before applying, make sure you create content for those categories. For example, I love the security and identity services of AWS, so I created content YouTube videos on how to pass the AWS Security Specialty. In addition, I developed an open-source framework called DataCop, which relies on AWS Macie to protect S3 buckets. You don't have to go all out, but the more content and solutions you create within a specific category, the higher your chances of getting accepted for that category will be.
I would like to add one small thing: Just because you follow these tips DOES NOT guarantee admission into the program. However, if you follow these tips, I am positive that you will increase your chances of getting into the program. The goal is to create a strong application that'll set you apart from the rest. It's a highly selective program, so I hope you find these tips helpful.
Cheers!
References:
AWS Community Builders. Amazon. (n.d.). Retrieved September 3, 2022, from https://aws.amazon.com/developer/community/community-builders/
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