Using the Power of Community to Enhance Your Career

It’s no longer enough to just be a great Java developer. If you want to advance your career you need to be blogging, speaking at conferences, engaging on social media, committing to open source, and the list goes on. This can feel like a daunting task and you’re probably asking yourself, Why? Why is my technical ability not enough? Well, the short answer is that a lot of the time the people making decisions about your career will never see your code. You need to ensure that those people are hearing and seeing your name.

The silver lining

You don’t need to do it all and there are communities to help you along the way. If the idea of standing on a stage in front 10, 50, 100, or more people literally puts you into a panic attack, don’t do it.

On the other hand, if you’re nervous and feel like you’ve got nothing to say, that’s something that a community can help with. Have you ever fixed an issue you’ve been fighting with and thought to yourself, If only I could have learned from someone who’s done this already? Everyone has these thoughts; they make for great subjects to cover in a talk or blog post.

If it’s the fear of talking on stage then start off small, present something to your team before submitting to a local Java User Group or conference.

How can community help?

As well as building your profile, another reason why engaging in community is so valuable is the content shared and conversations had. Technology is moving so fast that being a part of a community means you don’t need to wait for a book to be published to get access to great content. The people writing those books, researching the latest technologies, are sharing their insights at community events, on blogs, and discussing them on forums.

The people in the communities that you’re likely already involved with can all help you become better. From the speakers to the attendees, the things you learn from each other are sometimes more valuable than the overarching content of the event. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to everyone in the room. Thought leadership can be shared in so many ways and the people sitting next to you may have the answers you’ve been looking for.

If you’re from a location that does not have a thriving Java community, don’t panic, check out the Virtual JUG. https://virtualjug.com/

Looking for your next challenge?

If you’re after a new challenge then community can really help you in your job search. If a hiring manager can avoid looking through the hundred applications on their desk to hire someone they know will fit in the team with the right skills, they’ll do it.

What’s the best way to get to the top of the pile? Find ways to interact outside of the application process. Meeting in person at local user groups will also allow you to understand what it’s really like to work with the team. None of this candy-coated interview process only to find out on your first day that you’re not in an environment that’s right for you.

This circles back to where we started: The people making decisions about your career don’t always see your code!