Did you apply to Outreachy and receive a “Your Initial Application Was Not Successful” email? Or maybe you got into the contribution stage but after a rigorous month of contribution, you were not selected as an intern. How disheartening that can be!
Rejection stings, especially when you’ve poured your heart and time into an application. Outreachy is competitive, and not everyone who applies will make it through.
So if you’ve found yourself on the other side of the selection list, don’t despair. The Open Source sky is wide enough for every bird to fly.
If you’re truly passionate about contributing to open source and building a successful open source career, this article offers practical advice on how to pursue that path—whether you get into Outreachy or not.
Table of Contents
Why You Were Not Selected
First, it’s important to understand the context. Outreachy receives hundreds of applications for a limited number of slots. The selection process is rigorous, and even highly qualified applicants may not be chosen due to factors beyond their control.
Note that this is just my perspective, drawn from personal experience and conversations with other past interns. It may not fully reflect the specific reasons why mentors or organizers might not select an applicant. But the factors I’ll discuss are worth considering and can help guide your future applications.
1. Project fit
Project fit is about more than just matching technical skills. I often advise applicants to choose projects that they’re passionate about. It’s not enough to only have the technical skills the project requires. Do your interests align with the project’s goals? Have you shown an understanding of its challenges? Are your contributions relevant to what the project actually needs?
Mentors look for candidates who don’t just want an internship, but who genuinely care about the project’s mission. They seek individuals who can see beyond the code to the broader impact of the open source initiative.
2. Contribution quality
Applicants are encouraged to start with smaller tasks and progress to more complex ones. But because contributions are tracked, some applicants may be tempted to focus on the quantity of their contributions rather than the quality.
If you were a mentor for a project focused on improving accessibility, whom would you choose: an applicant who has logged 10 contributions, all consisting of typo fixes in documentation? Or one who has made 2 contributions, including a comprehensive accessibility audit and a detailed report?
One thoughtful, high-quality contribution often outweighs several superficial ones because it demonstrates your potential to add real value to the project.
3. Overall application narrative
Your application is a story, not just a list of achievements.
How compellingly do you explain your motivations?
Do you demonstrate a long-term commitment to open source?
Can you articulate your learning goals?
Do you show potential for growth?
How do you connect your past experiences to the project?
Mentors read hundreds of applications. Those that tell a coherent, passionate story are more likely to stand out.
4. The sheer volume of exceptional candidates
Sometimes, there are just so many exceptional applicants and not enough internship slots. It’s a tough decision for the mentors.
In this case, whether you’re selected or not is a matter of mathematical probability. So, if you are not selected, it doesn’t mean you’re not skilled or deserving enough. Understanding this can help you approach rejection with a growth mindset rather than self-doubt.
Should You Reapply?
“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again” — William Edward Hickson
Many successful Outreachy interns were not selected on their first try. I’m one of them. If you’re eligible and still passionate about the program, by all means, reapply.
Here’s how to strengthen your next application:
Start Early: Start exploring past Outreachy projects and building connections with mentors well before the application phase. Some communities (for example, Oppia, Wikimedia, Fedora, and Bioconductor) are regular Outreachy participants and are likely to participate in the next internship round.
Expand Your Skills: Use the time between application cycles to deepen your knowledge in areas that align with Outreachy projects, whether it’s coding, documentation, or community management.
A friend of mine, Karimot Isiaka, started learning about accessibility after discovering that the project I worked on during my Outreachy internship was focused on this area. Today, she’s one of the December 2024 interns working on a project centered around accessibility. Had she not taken the initiative to expand her skills and dive into accessibility, she likely wouldn’t have been prepared for this opportunity. Be like Karimot.
Build Relationships: Join project communities, participate in discussions, and contribute consistently. Mentors often notice applicants who’ve been active contributors.
Alternative Routes to Contributing to Open Source
Outreachy has played a significant role in introducing people from underrepresented groups to open source, providing mentorship, and offering a pathway to impactful contributions. But it’s just one route among many. Open source is a vast ecosystem, filled with opportunities to learn, grow, and even build a career.
Here are other ways to make an impact in open source:
1. Independent Contributions
One of the most direct ways to get involved in open source is by contributing independently to projects that align with your interests. You can:
Go on GitHub or Gitlab and look for issues tagged as “good first issue” or “help wanted.”
Contribute to documentation, test cases, or bug fixes.
Participate in Hacktoberfest, an annual celebration that encourages people to contribute to open source projects while earning rewards and gaining experience.
Independent contributions allow you to build a portfolio and demonstrate your skills in a practical context, which can be just as impactful as participating in a formal program. Here’s a helpful article by Fanny Nyayic about how to get started as a beginner open source contributor.
2. Other Open Source Internship Programs
If you’re bent on the internship route, there are other structured open source programs similar to Outreachy. Some of them include:
Google Summer of Code (GSoC): GSoC is a global program that introduces students and new open source contributors to real-world software development. Participants work on a project with an open source organization, receiving mentorship, a stipend, and experience contributing to the open source community.
Google Season of Docs: This program connects technical writers with open source organizations to improve their documentation. Writers work on tasks such as user guides, tutorials, or API documentation, enhancing the usability and accessibility of open source projects.
LFX Mentorship: Offered by the Linux Foundation, LFX Mentorship provides hands-on experience working with Linux Foundation projects. It supports contributors in learning about open source technologies, networking, and growing their technical expertise through paid mentorship opportunities.
MLH Fellowship: The Major League Hacking (MLH) Fellowship is a remote program where participants build and contribute to open source projects in areas like software development, systems design, or data science, while collaborating with peers and receiving mentorship from industry experts.
Season of KDE: This mentorship program is run by the KDE Community, an open source organization focused on free software projects. Participants work on KDE initiatives such as software development, design, documentation, or community-building activities.
AsyncAPI Mentorship Program: The AsyncAPI Mentorship Program offers contributors opportunities to work on improving AsyncAPI tools and documentation. Participants collaborate on projects like software libraries, community initiatives, design, or technical documentation while learning open source best practices.
Summer of Bitcoin: This program introduces university students to Bitcoin and open source development. Participants work with experienced mentors on projects that contribute to the Bitcoin ecosystem, focusing on coding, documentation, or research initiatives.
3. Paid Opportunities in Open Source
Open source contributions can open doors to paid opportunities. Here are some ways to monetize your efforts:
Sponsorship Platforms: Programs like GitHub Sponsors and OpenCollective enable contributors and maintainers to receive financial backing for their work.
Google Open Source Peer Bonus Program: The Google Open Source Peer Bonus program recognizes and rewards contributors for their impact on open source projects.
Open Source Job Hubs: Platforms like Open Source JobHub, OSSJobs, and Open Source Design curate paid opportunities within the open source ecosystem and connect contributors with roles that align with their skills.
Bounty Programs: Many open source projects offer bounty programs where contributors can earn money for completing specific tasks, fixing bugs, or adding features. The AsyncAPI Bounty Program is an example. Platforms like Bountysource, IssueHunt, and Gitcoin also connect contributors with paid tasks in open source
Full-Time Roles: Many tech companies hire developers to focus exclusively on maintaining or enhancing open source projects they rely on or sponsor.
4. Non-Code Contributions
Non-code contributions are an underrated yet valuable way to get involved. If you’re a non-technical person, you can contribute to open source in any of the following ways:
Design: Creating UI/UX designs or social media graphics for open source projects.
Community management: Moderating forums, organizing meetups, or managing social media. Amarachi Johnson has a helpful article here on contributing to open source projects as a community manager.
Advocacy: Writing articles, giving talks, or creating tutorials about the project. Christine Belzie has a helpful article here on how technical writers can contribute to OSS.
5. Personal Projects
If you’re passionate about solving a particular problem, consider starting your own open source project. That side project you’re working on? You could make it open source. Invite other people to contribute. Build an open source community around this project you care about. Who knows? You could build the next freeCodeCamp.
Keep Contributing to Open Source
Rejection hurts, but it’s not the end of the road. Many accomplished contributors faced rejection at some point. Some didn’t make it into Outreachy or GSoC but went on to become project maintainers, speakers, or leaders in the open source space.
If you haven’t gotten into Outreachy, take a moment to regroup and then try again. And while you’re at it, explore other opportunities. Don’t give up. Rejection is just a step in the journey. Keep pushing forward, and you’ll find your place in the open source world.
Source: freeCodeCamp Programming Tutorials: Python, JavaScript, Git & MoreÂ
