AWS Community Builders Program — How to Apply and Instructions
We all aspire to a sense of community in some way. When I reflect on my most joyful experiences, other individuals have always played a major role. As natural and almost as necessary as breathing is community. I am constantly reminded that it’s all about the other people.
Being from a location with no feeling of community, I wanted to inspire others to have faith in themselves and achieve goals that might at first seem impossible or unattainable. As a result, I made the decision to join AWS Communities through the AWS Community Builders Program and AWS User Groups.
The AWS Community Builders program offers technical resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to AWS enthusiasts and emerging thought leaders who are passionate about sharing knowledge and connecting with the technical community.
Interested AWS builders should apply to the program to build relationships with AWS product teams, AWS Heroes, and the AWS community.
Throughout the program, subject matter experts will provide mentorship and share insights, including information about the latest services, as well as best practices for creating technical content, increasing reach, and sharing AWS knowledge across online and in-person communities. The program will accept a limited number of members per year. All AWS builders are welcome and encouraged to apply.
My Background: I am IT Infrastructure Cloud Delivery Manager and Migration Consultant , Enthusiast| 2x AWS Certified | 8x GCPCertified | 5x Azure Certified.
What is AWS Community Builders?
AWS Community Builders are cloud computing and AWS technology enthusiasts and up-and-coming thought leaders. Our work as evangelists and content producers helps and inspires people in the larger technical community as they migrate to the cloud. By exchanging ideas and insights, we develop personally and professionally as a group. AWS offers specific webinars, panels, and tools to the Community Builders.
The AWS Community Builders (CB) is a cloud community program officially organized by AWS. The program is designed to support enthusiastic AWS community members by providing:
- Technical mentorship
- Exclusive networking opportunities
- Virtual speak events
Think of it like getting special attention and support from AWS
AWS Community Builder Categories
AWS Community Builders are designated but not limited to a very specific AWS topic/category. The following categories:
- Networking and Content Delivery
- Storage
- Containers
- Machine Learning
- Serverless
- Gravitron / Arm Development
- Data (Databases, Analytics, Blockchain)
- Developer Tools
- Game Tech
- Mobile and Web Apps
- Management, Governance and Migration
- Security, Identity & Compliance
Focus your attention on a specific category of interest
For the application, you will go through a process like this:
- Initial form filling
- Selecting your category (as mentioned previously)
- Sharing your cloud journey
- Sharing your social media profiles
- Sharing links to blogs, videos you have recorded and events you have delivered in
Also, mention any cloud certifications you have completed or are currently preparing for.
Who can apply to the AWS Community Builders Program?
Any individual who is 18 or older and passionate about building on AWS can apply to join the AWS Community Builders program. The application process is open to AWS builders worldwide, and all interested individuals are welcome and encouraged to apply. The AWS Community Builders program seeks applicants from all regions, demographics, and underrepresented communities.
Why would you want to join the AWS Community Builders Program?
Members of the program will receive:
- Access to AWS product teams and information about new services and features
- Mentorship from AWS subject matter experts on a variety of topics, including content creation, community building, and support for submitting CFPs and securing speaking engagements
- AWS Promotional Credits and other helpful resources to support content creation and community-based work
- Fast track your AWS knowledge and gain unique community opportunities
AWS Promotional Credits
- AWS Credits are the equivalent of US dollars that can be spent on most AWS cloud resources.
- These AWS credits are provided to you to power creative community projects.
- Accepted members will receive AWS Credits
AWS Networking
- When joining the AWS Community Builders you are networked with all other active builders
- Exclusive access to the AWS Community Builders private Slack Channel
How do you join the AWS Community Builders?
Step 1 — Apply
On the AWS Community Builders page, you have to click apply:
Step 2 — Choose a category
You need to choose your preferred first and second technical category. If accepted into the program you’ll be assigned to that category.
Categories help align applicants with groups so AWS can align resources to the group. Anyone in any category can participate in virtually every opportunity, so you’re not limited by being in one group.
Step 3 — Share your cloud story
Share your cloud story in 1000 characters or less to AWS
Step 4 — Share your Social Media Profiles
Step 5 — Share Links to Blogs, Videos, Events etc…
Step 6 — Fill out Survey
Fill out a very short survey about your online and in-person community activities
How can I get involved in the community?
Every individual excels at something so there’s not a set thing you need to do in order to guarantee entry into the program.
However, some of the ways that can assist you in the program:
- Blogging : Write blogs on a topic you are passionate about. Doesn’t have to be weekly or monthly, whenever you feel ready, then just write. My personal recommendation is to use medium. Create an account and start writing. Get a friend or colleague to review your writing, then post and share it on your socials.
- Social media: Twitter and LinkedIn are the two most popular platforms for those in the Tech industry. Feel free to use the hashtags #awscommunity or just #aws when posting on both of the platforms, and for a wider reach. They are both amazing places to connect with like-minded individuals, receive and give feedback on your learning. I personally use LinkedIn often and has helped to progress my career. You can also follow “100daysofcloud”, an amazing community which allows you to grow your cloud computing skills.
- YouTube: The amount of ways you can contribute here is huge and what you can gain from it is endless. You don’t need crazy recording setups; a decent phone and a laptop will be enough for you to screen and voice record yourself sharing knowledge.
- Contributing to forums: Blogging is not a must, simple guiding people on tech forums can go a long way. Listening and contributing to fruitful discussions on cloud and tech can open your mind to further learning. Also, sharing your knowledge and assisting others is one of the best ways to increase your knowledge.
- Build & Share: Host an application Elastic Beanstalk, host a static website on S3 or a dynamic one on EC2. Create as much as possible on AWS, post these on your GitHub and socials.
The program can be very competitive and not all who apply will get accepted on their first application. Applications open twice a year, so more opportunities are available and your time will come.
Program Requirments
- You must be 18 years or older Open to everyone globally (with exception to countries under US embargo)
- Applications are reviewed and accepted twice a year
- There is no cost to apply or to hold membership Eligible for all technical levels: Level 100 (Beginner), Level 200 (Intermediate), Level 300 (Advanced), Level 400 (Expert) Technical accuracy and community engagement can be more important than technical depth.
- Membership lasts for a year, and you must re-apply every year to renew membership.
Once I’m accepted as a “builder” what am I supposed to do?
- Join Virtual Calls
- Participate in mentorship opportunities
- Continue to share or produce educational and technical content
- Actively engage with and help build the AWS community
- Demonstrate continued interest in learning more about AWS
How to Apply and Get Accepted ( Tips , Tricks & little Insights into the program )
- It’s not about getting “the free stuff” but growing your personal skill set, expanding your career ambitions or taking a leap into a brand new area of tech you always wanted to explore. Write about your current or completed projects to date, (helps to add your personal github or selective repos).
- What future areas of tech you are looking to learn more about or greatly upskill in.
- Mention any certifications you completed or are currently studying for.
- Provide any example project ideas you have that you could get potential collaboration or feedback on.
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Again here’s the link to apply — 👉Apply Here👈
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