One of the reasons we are passionate about the technology industry is that it is highly innovative and always changing and advancing. However, despite making it such a rewarding and exciting sector, it can make it tricky for contract workers looking for their next roles. Contractors need to keep their skills updated, share their knowledge and experience, and catch the eye of business leaders and hiring managers to land their next contract roles or projects.
This insightful guide will examine five of the most productive and supportive tech communities that can support contract workers, from seasoned professionals to newcomers to the industry. We’ll examine each tech community in detail, focusing on features, benefits, and target audience.
1. GitHub
GitHub is a popular platform that hosts version control and software development using Git, a distribution version control system. It enables developers to collaborate on projects from any location, contribute to open-source projects, and manage code repositories effectively. GitHub has an array of features, including:
Git Repository Hosting - It provides a centralised location to host Git repositories. This hosts the documentation, source code, and a project’s revision history.
Social Coding - GitHub has developed a social coding environment where developers can contribute to open-source projects, follow each other, and have discussions around code changes through comments and pull requests.
Collaboration Tools - These tools allow collaboration among developers by providing tools such as branching and merging. This enables multiple developers to work on different branches of a repository at the same time and then merge their changes back into the central codebase.
Project Management Tools - GitHub provides features such as project boards, wikis, and project boards. These tools support teams in organising and managing software development projects.
Advanced Security Tools - The platform’s security features advanced tools such as Dependabot, which can automatically assess for and fix vulnerabilities, and code scanning, which identifies potential security risks in your codebase.
The ReadMe Project - The ReadMe project aims to give the developer community a voice by telling stories. In-depth articles discuss topics such as ‘Building autonomy with AI’ and ‘Get Your First Software Developer Job’. There is also a podcast that goes behind the scenes on exciting open-source projects and developers who made them happen.
Ultimately, GitHub provides a platform for developers, from seasoned professionals to newcomers to contract workers, to share projects with the world, build software together, and receive contributions from their peers.
At the same time, open-source projects benefit from the community support and transparency that GitHub drives, making it a vital and central hub for some of the world’s most important software projects. GitHub will help you manage your project more effectively and stay connected with the wider programming community.
2. Virtual Coffee
Formed in 2020, Virtual Coffee prides itself on being an intimate tech community that builds connections and support from people at all stages of their tech careers. It offers weekly virtual meetups where community members can share their experiences, engage in conversations, and gain insights from peers. The community is open to everyone, from experienced professionals to newcomers to contract workers; all you need is an interest in technology.
Their core values are mutual support and inclusivity, and they have a variety of useful technology resources, including:
Virtual Coffee Podcast - Interviews with members of the tech community to discover who they are and what their story is in tech.
Events - This tech community holds regular events virtually every day, where topics such as interview preparation, new technologies, and job search are discussed. They even sometimes have guest speakers from the industry.
Visual Coffee Handbook - This handbook provides all the information you need to get the most out of the virtual coffee tech community.
Lunch and Learns—Lunch and Learns are usually one-hour sessions on a specific topic. They can take various formats, including traditional conference-style talks, question-and-answer sessions, and panel discussions.
Lighting Talks - During lighting talks, a group of members takes turns presenting a 5 to 20-minute talk on a topic of choice. Past talks have covered subjects as diverse as Chatgpt and the power of storytelling.
Virtual Coffee not only provides an inclusive tech community for enthusiasts to engage and connect but also helps you stay updated on industry advancements and trends, building collaborative cultures based around learning and development.
3. Google Developers Group
Boasting nearly 450,000 members in 56 countries, Google Developers Group is a worldwide network of tech communities enabling developers to connect, learn, and grow. The group aims to provide inclusive platforms for a wide range of people, from seasoned professionals to beginners to contract workers. Each Google Developer Group chapter operates independently, but all form part of the larger network, ensuring diverse participation and a broad reach.
GDG has a huge calendar of events, and due to GDR's global reach, their events are truly worldwide, from North America to Africa to Europe to Asia. Subjects of recent events include:
Build with Gemini
Women in machine learning
Google Cloud
Increasing website visibility on Google
Indie games - build and grow a successful games company.
The GDG's community-centric approach supports creating an environment where members can seek advice, share knowledge, and collaborate on projects. Contract workers can gain visibility and showcase their expertise, which can support their search for their next contract roles. Each Google Developer Group chapter operates independently, but all form part of the larger network, ensuring diverse participation and a broad reach.
4. Girls in Tech
Founded in San Francisco in 2007, Girls in Tech is a nonprofit organisation whose mission is to stop gender inequality in the technology industry by empowering women. Since its formation, it has grown significantly and has more than 110,000 members in 35 chapters globally. Some of their key accomplishments include:
15,000+ entrepreneurs funded, mentored and supported through AMPLIFY their startup pitch competition.
129,000+ participants in their coding, startup, and design boot camps.
75,000 + participants in their Hackathon series.
To engage and inspire their community, Girls in Tech have a wealth of technology resources on offer, including:
Blogs - Covering a range of topics, including career tips for mothers in tech, managing remote employees, and strategies for leading change.
Podcasts - Not to be left out of the podcast boom, the Girls in Tech talk to inspiring figures from the technology industry to discuss trends, networking, career development, new technologies, and much more.
Events - Girls in Tech also hosts various in-person and virtual events. These are held in different locations worldwide and discuss topics ranging from gender diversity to AI.
Hackathons - Hackathons offer contract workers the opportunity to collaborate with experts from various industries to create innovative solutions to today’s most significant changes in these fields.
Jobs Board - Girls in Tech also advertises exciting full-time and contract roles from locations worldwide, from chief technology officer to software engineers to product managers.
Girls in Tech are committed to helping you feel accepted, valued, and confident in any contract job you have, and when you’re asked how you fit into the tech industry, you’ll say, ‘As I am’.
5. 7CTOs
7CTOs was created in 2013 when Etienne de Bruin and Michael Saul spent more than two years meeting over 300 CTOs in 4 US cities. During these meetings, it became apparent that there was an urgent need for CTOP leadership training in technology execution and strategy to move away from their silos and develop close-knit communities of their mentors and peers.
Key purposes of the 7CTOs include:
Build forums that inspire and pursue innovative thinking.
Train CTOs as excellent leaders in building technology teams and businesses.
Investment in technological advancement to help communities thrive.
Now, boasting over 300 members worldwide, 7CTOs have some impressive companies that have trusted them to develop their chief technology officers, including Amazon, Toyota, and American Speciality Health.
To support CTOs, this tech community has various helpful technology resources, including:
Blogs - Their blogs aim to educate CTOs to support and advance their careers by exploring key topics such as Fractional CTO: What It Means and How to Become One and A CTO’s Guide to Hiring Methods (and How to Know Which to Use).
Podcast - Host Etienne de Bruin leads discussions with experienced Chief Technology Officers on important topics such as CTO Leadership: Navigating Startup Realities, Inspiring Teams, and Leading with Purpose in an Overthinking World.
Events and Meetups - 7CTOs hold virtual and in-person events for coaching, helping Women CTOs network, and topics such as compliance, hiring, and building a strong security organisation.
One-to-One Learning - 7CTOs provides structured training alongside an experienced CTO to establish objectives, recognise challenges, and refine behaviours to drive improvements that produce long-term advantages for your career.
In addition to these helpful technology resources, 7CTOs have their own dedicated chief technology officer training. This bespoke training aims to enhance leadership qualities through one-on-one coaching with highly experienced CTO coaches. Joining the 7CTO community may be the difference when navigating the highly competitive market of CTO contract jobs.
Looking for your next CTO contract role and need support elevating your personal brand? Discover our insightful guide - Why is Personal Branding Important for Landing CTO Contract Jobs?
Let’s Wrap Tech Communities Every Contract Worker Needs to Join
By joining the right online tech community, contract workers can enhance their skills, network with industry peers, and stay current with the latest trends and opportunities in the technology sector. These tech communities provide invaluable support, connections, and technology resources that can be instrumental in securing new contract roles and advancing their career. Engaging with these platforms allows contractors to continuously develop their professional profiles and stay competitive in such a fast-paced industry.
To maximise the benefits of each tech community, it’s vital to actively participate in discussions, attend events, and utilise the available technology resources such as webinars, job boards, and collaborative projects. Whether you’re seeking to expand your knowledge, gain mentorship, or showcase your expertise, these tech communities offer the support and tools needed to thrive in contract roles.
By leveraging these networks, contract workers can navigate the challenges and changes in the tech industry more effectively and position themselves for long-term success.
Are you a Tech Contract Worker Looking for Professional Support?
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If you want more information on how we can support you, contact our team today.