TL;DR
As an international student in the United States, I joined tech communities hoping to find internships, mentors, resources, and opportuniti...
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Hi Hema,
Thanks for putting this out for me. I am slowly realising that communities are not just resources. Treating them like one, actually creates a barrier you might subconciously create for any other resource (for ex: "Maybe this is not for me").
I am putting out this comment to motivate myself to actively participate into communities, contribute and "find my people".
Curious to know how did you find your first community to join in India, your first meetup.
Thanks, Risabh!
I can definitely relate to what you said about treating communities like resources. I think I did that at first too, and it took me a while to realize they could be so much more than that.
For me, my community journey actually started in the US, not India. I was curious and started searching for women-in-tech communities, programs, and groups I could join. From there, I kept discovering more communities through people, events, recommendations, and sometimes just by stumbling across them.
Honestly, a lot of it came from curiosity and simply showing up.
And to be honest, I'm still learning how to participate more actively myself. I spent a long time as a silent reader before I started commenting and contributing. DEV has definitely helped me become more comfortable with that, and I've met some wonderful people here because of it.
Wishing you all the best. Maybe we'll see each other around the comments more often now 😄
Thanks Hema!
For sure, see you around !!
Being on DEV shaped me actually.
Before this, I had a portfolio, GitHub, LinkedIn, you name it. Just the bare bones in my opinion since that is what everyone is doing around me. However, although I put in my effort, it slowly went to waste. What I mean by this is "you can build a very good project, but no one will know about it".
DEV was on my mind since 2020, but didn't join to begin with since blogging wasn't my thing. Now, every time I write, it felt rewarding to the point where I continue doing it. It was a journey I did not anticipated.
Good work! :D
p.s I sent the Sloan Message since it was kind of hard to read due to many chunks feeling like bulletin points instead of sentences. I suggest adding images/formatting to make it readable. Content wise, it is good!!!
Thanks, Francis!
Really appreciate the feedback. Sorry about the formatting 😅. I went back and reworked it a bit so it flows better now.
And I can definitely relate to what you said about putting your work out there. That's something I'm still learning too.
Glad DEV has been such a rewarding experience for you as well 😄
Saw the improvement and it is much better! Thanks for changing it! :D
Thank you for pointing it out in the first place! The post is definitely better because of the feedback 😄
First day on DEV and this is my first article.
Welcome to DEV, Aryan 😃
Hope you're having a great first day here so far. Wishing you all the best on your journey, and I hope you enjoy being part of the community as much as I have 😄
This really resonates. It’s easy to focus on opportunities, but the people you meet in the process end up mattering much more long-term.
Thank you, Vasyl 😀
I feel the same way. Looking back, it's the people I met along the way that I remember most.
Oh Hema, this is such a lovely and heartwarming article! 🥹 Thank you for sharing your story! 💛
Actually, our
dev.tojourneys are quite similar. I was also a silent reader first, too shy to even leave a comment. But seeing how supportive and inviting the community is, I got encouraged to add comments, and even started thinking that maybe someone would read what I have to say about technical writing and UX.This hits home especially hard:
It's just exactly as you say – even if we work on different stacks, from different locations and time zones, we all share the same doubts and uncertainties. Thank you for pointing this out; just knowing that we are all struggling our way to our goals makes the journey much more enjoyable 💛
Thank you so much, Klaudia 😃
Honestly, one thing I always admired about you was how welcoming you were in the comments. Even before I started writing, I would see you encouraging people and leaving thoughtful replies everywhere.
I think that was one of the things that made me feel comfortable enough to start commenting too. It showed me that communities grow because people take the time to make others feel welcome.
And it's funny how similar our journeys are. Going from silent readers to writers felt like a huge step at the time, but I'm glad we both took it.
Thank you for always being so supportive, both on my posts and across the community 💛
Aaaaw, this is so heartwarming! 🥹
Thank you for taking the courage and being part of this community 💛
joined dev communities for job leads too. got that. but the part i didn’t expect was having people who’d debug your code AND your impostor syndrome at 11pm. took me way too long to stop lurking and just ask.
The "debug your code and your impostor syndrome at 11pm" line is so real 😄
I relate to the lurking part too. It took me a while to start commenting and putting myself out there. Looking back, I'm really glad I did.
lurking phase is more useful than people admit - still absorbing, just quietly. the shift from reading to posting is the real unlock. most people never make it there.
Akka, I need your help! 🙏
Of course!
Feel free to send me a connection request and a DM on LinkedIn. I'll do my best to help.
LinkedIn
Hello akka! You free?
Yes
I messaged on LinkedIn. Consier checking that at your leisure. 🙏 Thank you akka!
...
I replied back. Please check.
This resonated a lot.
One thing I've noticed recently is that communities create a weird kind of compound interest. You might join because of a resource, an opportunity, or a piece of advice, but years later what you remember are the people.
Honestly, if someone had told me six months ago that some of the most meaningful parts of my tech journey would come from random comment sections and conversations with people I'd never met in person, I probably wouldn't have believed them 😄
Really enjoyed this read. The "find your people" message is one I think more developers need to hear.
Aryan, I love the way you described it as compound interest. That's such a good way to put it.
And I completely agree. If someone had told me a few years ago that random conversations, comments, and people I'd never met in person would end up being such a meaningful part of my journey, I probably wouldn't have believed it either 😄
Really appreciate you reading and sharing that.
This is such a good reminder that half of tech is pretending you're there for the networking and then accidentally collecting a bunch of humans you genuinely care about. The internships, referrals, and opportunities are great, but the real DLC is finding people who hype you up when you're spiraling over a rejection email at 2 AM. Also, "access to information was the problem" is painfully real. So many opportunities are basically hidden boss fights unless someone drops the secret map in the group chat. Great read.
"Hidden boss fights unless someone drops the secret map" is probably one of the best descriptions of opportunities I've heard.
That's honestly been my experience too. A lot of opportunities are out there, but finding them at the right time is often the hardest part.
And you're right about the people part. I definitely joined communities looking for opportunities, but looking back, the people I met along the way are probably what I'm most grateful for.
Thanks for reading 😀
Online hackathons.
For the first time, I collaborated with another person, whom I don't know at all.
It was the first time, I was discussing with another person about the project.
Working on a real project with seriousness.
It completely changed the way I think, the way I approach a project, an idea.
From that day to this day, I met a lot of good people!
Some became good friends. Some became good teammates.
Some became more than that!
That's awesome 😃
I think collaboration is something you don't fully appreciate until you experience it. Working with someone you've never met before and building something together teaches you so much beyond just the technical side.
And I completely agree, some of the best people we meet come from those unexpected experiences 😄
DEV Community is a wonderful place for developers to cooperate and improve their skills together. Let’s enjoy it and help make the community even better! 😀
Thank you 😄
I think that's what I've enjoyed most here too. Everyone is learning from each other, but people are also genuinely supportive along the way.
It's one of the reasons I've felt so comfortable being part of this community. Really happy to be here alongside all of you 😃
"Find your people, not just technologies" — that one sentence is going to sit with me for a while. Looking back at my own time here, the most valuable thing hasn't been the article stats, but the people who keep showing up in the comments. The Dev Opportunity Radar series is the best footnote to that whole "find your people" message. Appreciate you showing up — both in your writing and in this community. 👊
That means a lot 😄
I think you're right about the people part. The articles are great, but seeing familiar names in the comments and conversations is what makes a community feel like a community.
Really appreciate you reading and taking the time to comment 🙌
That's exactly what I was hoping for. See you in the next comment section 🙌
The line that stuck with me is "the opportunities opened doors, the relationships made me want to keep walking through them." That reframes something a lot of us get backwards. We optimize for the door and treat the people as a means to it, then wonder why the wins feel hollow.
Rob, I really appreciate that.
That line was one of my favorite parts to write because it captures something I didn't understand when I first started joining communities. Looking back, a lot of the opportunities mattered in the moment, but it's the people I met through them that stayed with me.
Thanks for reading and sharing that 😃
The Dev Opportunity Radar part was really nice to read. You turned your own experience of missing opportunities into something that could help others avoid the same problem. That feels like a real example of what a good community should be.
That's actually one of my favorite things that's come out of the series. It started because I missed opportunities, but seeing people contribute Community Finds and share opportunities has made it feel like much more than just a list.
Really appreciate you taking the time to read and comment 😃
My pleasure! 😃
This is a beautiful, deeply grounding piece. In an industry that constantly pressures us to optimize for the next transactional milestone—the next framework, the next role, the next optimization—it’s incredibly easy to lose sight of the fact that human connection is the only thing that actually sustains a long-term career.
As someone who took a very non-linear "long way around" into tech. I spent time in culinary school and working as a professional chef before pivoting into technical leadership and software architecture. I’ve learned this truth the hard way. The straightest line to an opportunity rarely yields the most fulfilling destination. The moments that mattered, the pivots that worked, and the resilience required to stay in this game all came down to the authentic communities and peers I built along the way, not the badges on a resume.
Your post reminded me so much of a reflective piece I recently shared on my own non-traditional journey, called The Long Way Around, where I wrestled with the exact themes of career pacing, perspective, and finding value beyond standard tech metrics.
Thank you for writing this. It’s a vital reminder for early-career developers and senior leaders alike that our value isn't defined by our output, but by the community we foster.
Thank you, Ken. I really appreciate that.
I think that's exactly what I've been realizing lately. So much advice in tech focuses on the next milestone, but when I look back, it's the people and communities that made the biggest difference in my journey.
And honestly, I love hearing stories like yours. Going from culinary school and being a professional chef to software architecture is such a unique path, and I think it's a great reminder that there isn't one "correct" way into tech.
I'll definitely check out The Long Way Around. Thanks for sharing your perspective and for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful comment.
Smart take. The real currency in tech isn't a badge; it's belonging. For international students and newcomers, communities are the true accelerator: mentors, peers, and safe spaces to learn and grow. Build the network, not just chase the next opportunity.
Thank you!
I don't think I appreciated that when I first started. Looking back now, a lot of the opportunities came and went, but many of the people I met through those communities are still part of my life. 😄
This really resonated with me. As someone trying to transition into tech later in life while working a full-time manufacturing job, I've spent a lot of time focusing on skills, certifications, projects, and job applications. It's easy to think the next opportunity is the most important thing.
What I've found, though, is very similar to what you described. The biggest impact often comes from the people you meet along the way. Whether it's someone sharing advice, giving feedback on a project, or simply taking the time to encourage you when you're doubting yourself, those interactions can make a huge difference.
I also liked your point that community isn't just about getting opportunities, it's about helping others discover them too. That's something I've started to appreciate through communities like DEV, where people openly share knowledge and support each other's growth.
Thanks for sharing your story. It's a good reminder that while technologies, frameworks, and job markets change constantly, the relationships we build can have a much longer-lasting impact.
Thanks, Josh 😀
Your journey is inspiring. Trying to break into tech while working full-time can't be easy, so major respect for that.
I also relate to what you said. We spend so much time focusing on skills, projects, and applications that it's easy to forget how much encouragement and support from other people can matter.
Glad we're both part of a community that makes that possible. Wishing you all the best on your journey!
What community has shaped your journey?
Was it a meetup, an online forum, an open-source project, a nonprofit, a Discord server, or something else entirely?
I would love to hear about the people and places that helped you find your place in tech.
Thank you for sharing this. Glad we're a part of the same DEV community. DEV has been such a welcoming place to share and learn.
Thank you 😃
I feel the same way. DEV has been one of the most welcoming communities I've been part of, and I'm glad to be here alongside all of you.
I relate to this.
A lot of people enter tech looking for opportunities, but the thing that ends up mattering most is often the people who challenge, guide, and support you along the way.
Varsha, thank you 😃
That's probably the part I wasn't expecting when I first joined communities. I was looking for opportunities, but years later it's the people I remember most.
I'm glad this resonated with you.
love this
Thank you so much 😀
I completely understand where you're coming from!
Being part of a community is far more rewarding than all the skills in the world. If you're alone in your corner, those skills can only take you so far. In a community, you share, you learn, and you often receive as much — if not more — than you give.
And your opportunity radar is simply amazing! The way you spotted and embraced those opportunities is genuinely inspiring.
For me it’s the challenge to meet up with the new world
I can relate to that. Stepping into a new world can feel overwhelming at times, and I think having a community around you makes that journey a little easier.
Thanks for reading!
Yeah its like everyone gets you here right
Yeah, exactly 😄
I think that's what I value most about communities. No matter where someone is in their journey, there's usually somebody who understands what you're going through or has been there before.
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