My first month at Shopify as a Developer Events Specialist
I think it’s about time to make that o-glory-famous post on my first month of being at Shopify. From onboarding to team meetings — to project management, I will give you all the details about working at Shopify.
When I decided to move to quit my job and move to Berlin, I didn’t have any plans or a job waiting for me. I didn’t know what I wanted to do next, but I knew what I was good at and what got me excited to get going. I have been organizing developer events, creating tech content, joining coding challenges, and connecting with developers. Just a week until my flight to Berlin, I was invited for a Shopify interview as a Developer Events Specialist for Europe. After the first call, I had another 3 calls followed right after. Shopify gave me the best interview experience. I would want to give you more details on this in the next post. Now, I will tell you how it has been at Shopify so far, and maybe this article could be an inspiration for you.
For those who don’t know, Shopify is digital by design, meaning the company is now fully remote. As the world changes, Shopify is adapting and shaping to a better way of working. You can learn more about working at Shopify here.
First thing first: Shopify Swaaaaaag! The box has been carefully crafted and sent to us and I really love that! Aside from this, you also get all your essentials (Macbook, monitor, camera, microphone, etc.).
Moving on, the first three weeks at Shopify cover onboarding. During this time, there are facilitators (depending on the program you have joined. I joined the RnD program, but my team is the Engineering Communications and Marketing). These three weeks are filled with introductions, networking, learning resources, team activities, self-directed studies, and Shopify parties (hell yeah!). I got the chance to complete my first week of onboarding, and then I found myself jumping into the field to learn and take over projects!
Although we work remotely now, Shopify cares about in-person connections. Building relationships and trust for the long term is critical for the company. To keep this going Shopifolk teams come together in thoughtfully crafted, in-person experiences where we create, build, and learn together. Lucky me, the first in-person of the Engineering Communications and Marketing team happened in Berlin on my third week of being at Shopify! It was amazing seeing the team in person, learning more about ongoing projects, doing all the planning, and getting together for social.
Right after a week of team gathering, I had a flight to London to join my first conference LeadDev London 2022, where Shopify Engineering was present as a sponsor! This trip gave me the opportunity to connect with more Shopifolk and other developers. Oh and I was lucky enough to meet with Shopify CTO, Allan Leinwand! Right after the conference, the Shopify Engineering team organized a community meetup with Allan and James Stanier having a fireside chat. Being present at the events allowed me to see and experience the whole process, which gave me a better understanding of my role, duties, and expectations.
As my London trip was coming to an end, I was getting ready for the next destination: Amsterdam! Shopify Engineering was present at React Summit 2022.Big thanks to the wonderful Shopifolk I met at the conference, after which we got the chance to grab dinner and get to know each other better. Here are a couple of shots from the conference:
My first month at Shopify was the busiest, but I LOVED it! I had the best experience meeting the team in person and learning more about project management. There is still so much to learn and I am very excited about my journey as a Developer Events Specialist. My passion turned into a job that I love thanks to the Shopifolk team who gave me this incredible opportunity. I can now continue creating an impact in the tech community and grow professionally.
I had a lot of people ask me about the responsibilities of a Developer Events Specialist and whether this role is a community management role. I will be sharing the details in the upcoming weeks. Meanwhile, feel free to drop down your questions in the comment section and I will include them in the article.
