All you need to know about AWS Community Builders Program — How to Apply & Get Accepted !!

Growing up in a place where there was no sense of community, I’ve made it my goal to inspire others to have faith in themselves and achieve goals that might seem impossible. That’s why I decided to join AWS Communities through the AWS Community Builders Program and AWS User Groups (Hyderabad just opened). I hope to connect with others who share my passion for community and make a positive impact in their lives.

What is AWS Community Builders?

The AWS Community Builders program is designed for individuals who are passionate about AWS and want to share their knowledge with the technical community. The program offers technical resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to emerging thought leaders.

To join the program, interested AWS builders can apply and build relationships with AWS product teams, AWS Heroes, and the AWS community. Throughout the program, subject matter experts will provide mentorship and share insights on the latest AWS services and best practices for creating technical content and sharing AWS knowledge.

The AWS Community Builders program is an official cloud community program organized by AWS. The program is specifically designed to support AWS community builders who are passionate about the cloud platform.

The program provides several benefits, including technical mentorship, exclusive networking opportunities, and virtual/Onsite speaking events. It’s like receiving special attention and support from AWS to help you build your skills and technical knowledge.

The program is selective and accepts a limited number of members each year. However, all AWS builders are welcome and encouraged to apply.

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.

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?

The AWS Community Builders program offers members several valuable benefits, including:

1. Access to AWS product teams and information about new services and features: Members of the program will receive exclusive access to AWS product teams and the latest information on new services and features.
2. Mentorship from AWS subject matter experts: The program provides 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.
3. AWS Promotional Credits and other resources: Members will also receive AWS Promotional Credits and other helpful resources to support their content creation and community-based work.
4. Unique community opportunities: The program offers members a fast track to expanding their AWS knowledge and gaining unique community opportunities that can help advance their careers and professional development.

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.

The AWS Community Builders program has several categories that are designed to help align applicants with groups and enable AWS to align resources accordingly. However, it’s important to note that members are not limited by being in one group and can participate in virtually every opportunity available. The categories are simply a way to help AWS organize and tailor its support to the needs of each member.

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 the Survey
Fill out a very short survey about your online and in-person community activities

Program Requirments

• You must be 18 years or older Open to everyone globally (with the exception of 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 your membership.

Once accepted as an AWS Community Builder, there are several things you can do to make the most of your membership:

1. Join virtual calls: Attend virtual calls and events organized by AWS to connect with other members and stay up to date on the latest developments in the AWS ecosystem.
2. Participate in mentorship opportunities: Take advantage of the mentorship opportunities offered by AWS subject matter experts to learn and grow in your technical and community-building skills.
3. Continue to share or produce educational and technical content: Share your knowledge and expertise with the community by creating and sharing educational and technical content.
4. Actively engage with and help build the AWS community: Actively engage with other community members, help build the community, and promote the use of AWS services and solutions.
5. Demonstrate continued interest in learning more about AWS: Stay curious and continue to learn about AWS services and solutions. This will help you remain a valuable builder of the AWS the larger AWS community.

How to Apply and Get Accepted ( Tips, Tricks & Little Insights into the Program )

As an AWS Community Builder, your focus should not be on obtaining free stuff, but rather on growing your personal skill set, expanding your career ambitions, and exploring new areas of technology that you have always been curious about.

To showcase your skills, you could provide examples of your completed projects to date, including links to your personal Github. You could also mention any other projects that highlight your expertise with AWS services.

Additionally, consider studying for AWS certifications to gain a deeper understanding of AWS services and how they can be used to architect and deploy solutions. For example, you could aim to obtain the AWS Certified Solutions Architect — Associate certification.

To further upskill, think about future areas of technology that interest you, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence. Consider how these technologies can be applied in your current or desired industry to improve outcomes. One project idea could be to create a machine-learning model that predicts patient readmissions in the healthcare industry.

Finally, don’t be afraid to share your project ideas with others in the AWS Community Builders program. Collaboration and feedback from others can help you grow your skills and make your projects even more successful.

Additionally, You can watch my Talk “All you need to know about AWS Community Builders ”on YouTube.

I hope that gives you an idea of the AWS Builders community program & I hope to see you in the community. If you have any doubts or are unable to understand anything related to the program feel free to contact me on LinkedIn and Twitter.
If you are interested in learning AWS then follow me on GitHub.
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