Let me tell you something: landing a DevRel job is nothing like landing a traditional engineering role. I learned this the hard way when I made my first transition into Developer Relations.
I walked into my first DevRel interview thinking my GitHub profile and technical skills would be enough. Boy, was I wrong! The interviewer asked me to explain a complex API concept to a room full of non-technical stakeholders. I fumbled through it like I was reading documentation out loud.
That's when I realized DevRel isn't just about being a good developer - it's about being a good developer who can bridge worlds.
If you're passionate about helping other developers succeed and want to make that your career, this guide will help you avoid the mistakes I made. But first, if you're new to the field entirely, start with our What is DevRel guide to understand what you're getting into.
Understanding What DevRel Really Is (Beyond the Job Description)
Here's the thing most job descriptions won't tell you: DevRel is part technical expert, part community therapist, part product advocate, and part conference speaker. On any given day, you might debug someone's code, write a blog post, argue with product managers about API design, and give a talk to 500 developers.
I remember my first week at Twilio when a developer tweeted that our documentation was "hot garbage." Instead of getting defensive, my manager said, "Great! Now we know what to fix." That's when I understood that DevRel is about embracing feedback, not avoiding it.
The best DevRel professionals I know share a few key traits:
They're technical enough to earn respect from senior engineers, but they can explain complex concepts to someone who's never written a line of code. They genuinely get excited when they help a developer solve a problem. And they're comfortable being wrong in public because that's how you learn.
Most importantly, they understand that their job isn't to make developers love their company - it's to make their company worthy of developers' trust.
Finding Companies That Actually Get DevRel
Not all DevRel jobs are created equal. I've seen too many talented people join companies that hired them to "do DevRel" without understanding what that means.
Here's what to look for: companies that already have active developer communities, even if they're small. Companies where engineers regularly speak at conferences or contribute to open source. Companies that treat developer feedback as product input, not just support tickets.
Red flags? Companies that want you to "increase developer sign-ups by 300%" in your first quarter. Companies where the engineering team has never heard of the DevRel role. Companies that think DevRel is just marketing with a technical twist.
I once interviewed at a company where the hiring manager asked me how I'd "convert developers into customers." That told me everything I needed to know about how they viewed their developer community.
The best DevRel roles are at companies that see developers as partners, not targets. For more on why this matters, check out our piece on Why DevRel is Crucial for Startup Success.
Building Your Personal Brand (Without Feeling Gross About It)
I used to hate the phrase "personal brand." It felt so... marketing-y. But here's the reality: in DevRel, your reputation in the developer community is your resume.
Start by sharing what you're learning. Write blog posts about problems you've solved, not just tutorials you've followed. Contribute to open source projects, even if it's just fixing typos in documentation. Engage in technical discussions on Twitter, Stack Overflow, or Reddit.
The key is authenticity. Don't try to be the expert on everything. Pick a few areas you're genuinely interested in and go deep. I built my early reputation by writing about API design patterns I was learning at work. Nothing groundbreaking, just honest reflections on what worked and what didn't.
Speaking at conferences is huge for DevRel roles, but you don't need to start with keynotes. I gave my first talk at a local meetup to 12 people. Half of them were on their phones. But it taught me how to handle nerves and how to read a room.
For tips on creating content that actually resonates with developers, our Developer-Friendly Blog Post Structure guide breaks down what works.
Showcasing Your Technical Chops
Here's something that surprised me: DevRel interviews often include more technical assessment than regular engineering interviews. Why? Because you need to be credible when you're helping developers debug their code or explaining why a particular approach is better.
Keep your GitHub active with projects that show both breadth and depth. I maintain a few small projects that demonstrate different technologies I work with. Nothing fancy, but they show I can actually code, not just talk about coding.
More importantly, document your problem-solving process. Write about challenges you've faced and how you solved them. This shows you can think through problems and communicate your approach - both crucial for DevRel.
I once got a DevRel job partly because I'd written a blog post about debugging a particularly nasty race condition. The hiring manager said it showed I could both solve complex problems and explain them clearly.
Getting Real About Community Engagement
Here's where a lot of people fake it till they make it, and it shows. Genuine community engagement can't be manufactured for a job application.
Start by being helpful in communities you're already part of. Answer questions on Stack Overflow. Contribute to discussions in Discord servers or Slack groups. Help organize local meetups.
The key word is "helpful." Don't just promote your own content or try to establish yourself as an expert. Focus on solving problems and supporting other developers.
I built some of my strongest professional relationships by helping debug issues in open source projects I used. No agenda, just wanting to give back to tools that made my life easier.
Preparing for DevRel Interviews (They're Weird)
DevRel interviews are unlike anything else in tech. You might be asked to give an impromptu presentation, write sample documentation, or role-play a difficult community situation.
I've been asked to explain REST APIs to a room of designers, write a tutorial for a fictional API, and describe how I'd handle a developer publicly criticizing our product on Twitter.
The best preparation is practice. Give talks at local meetups. Write technical blog posts. Engage with developer communities online. These aren't just resume builders - they're the actual skills you'll use in the role.
Here are some questions I always ask in DevRel interviews:
"How does the company measure DevRel success?" If they can't give you a clear answer, that's a red flag.
"What's the biggest challenge facing your developer community right now?" This tells you what you'd actually be working on.
"How does DevRel collaborate with product and engineering teams?" You need to understand your internal relationships.
"Can you give me an example of developer feedback that changed your product?" This shows whether they actually listen to their community.
Navigating Your First DevRel Role
Once you land the job, here's what I wish someone had told me on day one:
Listen more than you talk, especially in your first few months. Every company's developer community is different. What worked at your last company might not work here.
Build relationships with your engineering team early. You'll need their help to understand the product deeply, and they'll need your help to understand what developers actually want.
Don't try to fix everything at once. I made this mistake early on, trying to revamp documentation, reorganize the community forum, and launch a new content series all in my first month. Pick one thing and do it well.
Be patient with results. Community building takes time. I've seen too many DevRel professionals get frustrated when they don't see immediate impact. Trust the process.
For more on building successful programs from the ground up, check out our guide on How to Build a Successful Developer Program.
The Reality Check
Let me be honest: DevRel can be exhausting. You're constantly context-switching between technical deep dives and high-level strategy. You're often traveling for conferences. You're dealing with public criticism of your product.
But it's also incredibly rewarding. When a developer tells you that your tutorial helped them ship their first feature, or when you see community members helping each other solve problems, or when product feedback you gathered leads to a feature that makes thousands of developers' lives easier - those moments make it all worth it.
The field is still evolving, which means there's room to shape what DevRel becomes. The companies that figure out how to scale genuine developer relationships while maintaining authenticity are going to win big.
Your Next Steps
If you've made it this far, you're probably serious about pursuing DevRel. Here's what I'd do if I were starting today:
Pick one area of technology you're genuinely excited about and start creating content around it. Not because you have to, but because you want to share what you're learning.
Find your local developer community and start participating. Not networking - participating. Help organize events, answer questions, share resources.
Start speaking, even if it's just lightning talks at meetups. The confidence you build will serve you well in interviews and in the role itself.
Most importantly, remember that DevRel is about serving developers, not serving companies. The best DevRel professionals I know would recommend a competitor's tool if it was the right fit for a developer's needs.
That's the kind of trust that builds lasting communities.
Want to understand more about the strategic importance of DevRel? Our insights on Founding DevRel Programs: A Guide to Success show why companies are investing in this field.
Good luck on your DevRel journey. The community needs more people who genuinely care about helping developers succeed.