To Be or Not To Be the First DevRel Hire
Since the DevRel role came into the spotlight, many professionals have made transitions or are looking to explore this role, which is good. However, I'd say many people may not actually know what this role fully entails. The role of DevRel is more than just the fancy title and benefits.
Transitioning to DevRel is no small feat. If you're lucky to join an organization where a DevRel team already exists, there's a structure in place to guide you. But what if you're the first-ever DevRel hire in that organization? You'll need to create the structure from scratch, and the success or failure of that team will largely depend on your efforts.
Now weighing both situations, the question remains: "To be or not to be the first DevRel hire?"
To answer this question, we first need to understand the basics of DevRel.
What Exactly is the Fuss About DevRel?
DevRel is short for Developer Relations, and it's an umbrella term for a range of activities and roles focused on building and maintaining relationships between a company and its developer community.
By understanding developer needs, providing valuable resources, and creating engaging experiences, DevRel professionals drive product adoption, build a community of dedicated developers, and accelerate business growth.
These DevRel roles or activities typically include, but are not limited to, the following:
Developer Advocacy: Representing the company to developers and vice versa.
Community Management: Building and nurturing a community of developers around the company's products or APIs.
Technical Writing: Creating documentation, tutorials, and other educational content.
Developer Marketing: Promoting the company's developer products or platforms.
Event Management: Organizing and participating in hackathons, conferences, and workshops.
Open Source Management: Overseeing the company's open source initiatives and contributions.
Developer Experience (DX): Ensuring that developers have a smooth and positive experience with the company's products.
With a clear understanding of what Developer Relations entails, let's explore the challenges and opportunities of being the first DevRel hire, along with the factors to consider before joining an organization as a DevRel professional.
Challenges of Being the First DevRel Hire
The challenges of being the first DevRel hire can be a bit nuanced as they may not apply to everyone.
People with previous DevRel experience may find these challenges less daunting as they have relevant experience to navigate the situation. However, this doesn't mean they wouldn’t encounter challenges, as organizations have different products, goals, structures, and needs for their developer community.
What are some of these challenges?
Building from Scratch: As the first DevRel hire, you'll be responsible for creating the DevRel program and structure from scratch. This includes defining objectives and setting goals and processes. Depending on the kind of organization, you may even be required to create and manage a developer community.
Handling Multiple Responsibilities: This needs little explanation because, as the only person on the team, you'll have to navigate multiple duties: speaking at conferences, engaging your community, creating educational materials, bringing awareness to your product, and even organizing events.
Defining Success Metrics and KPIs: Measuring success in DevRel can be challenging. To create a successful DevRel program, you'll need to define what success looks like for the DevRel program. This involves setting KPIs and metrics that align with the company's goals.
Educating Stakeholders and Managing Expectations: Some companies just hire DevRel professionals without having a clear goal. If you find yourself in this situation, you'll spend significant time educating your colleagues, particularly those in leadership positions, about the role and importance of DevRel. You'll also need to manage and set realistic expectations for what DevRel can achieve, both in terms of timeline and outcomes.
Opportunities of Being the First DevRel Hire
The challenges and opportunities of being the first DevRel hire are like two sides of a coin. Overcoming these challenges can open up various opportunities, leading to growth and significant impact within the organization and the developer community.
Career Growth and Skill Development: As the first DevRel hire, you'll need to adapt and learn various aspects of the role quickly. This necessity becomes an opportunity for rapid growth. You'll develop a diverse skill set spanning technical knowledge, communication, strategy, and leadership. This broad experience can accelerate your career trajectory and make you a valuable asset.
Shaping the DevRel Strategy: You have the freedom to innovate and experiment with new approaches to DevRel. You can try out different strategies, tools, and techniques to see what works best, allowing you to be creative and make a significant impact.
Visibility and Recognition in the Organization: Being the sole person responsible for DevRel puts you in the spotlight. Your work will likely be noticed by leadership, giving you the chance to demonstrate your value and potentially fast-track your career growth.
Creating Lasting Impact: You have the opportunity to create a lasting impact on the organization, future DevRel hires, and the developer community. Your efforts can lay the foundation for a successful DevRel program that continues to grow and evolve.
Factors to Consider Before Accepting the Role
The most important factor is evaluating how well the organization understands and values Developer Relations. Your success or failure largely depends on this.
If the company has a clear vision for DevRel and recognizes its importance, you are more likely to receive the support and resources needed to build a successful program.
However, if DevRel is seen as just a "nice-to-have", you may face significant challenges in demonstrating its impact. Also, if there's a lay-off in that organization, your role will most likely be the first to be scrapped because it may not be seen as essential.
Conclusion
The challenges of being the first DevRel hire should not stop you from pursuing it. Instead, do deep research about the organization and how its values align with your goals. For those new to DevRel, it’s essential to ask plenty of questions during interviews to understand the company's expectations and culture. You can also reach out to experienced DevRel professionals and ask for guidance before accepting the role.
Here are some recommended books written by DevRel experts that can help guide you:
