Open-Source Career Roadmap 🗺️

"I want to do open source but I don't know where to start" - if that's you, this session exists for you. We'll figure out your niche, your first 60 days of contributions, and how to turn those contributions into something recruiters and mentors actually notice.

Who it's for: Students confused about:

1. Where to start with open source (1st to 3rd Year student)
2. Which domain to commit to
3. How to build real credibility (not just badges and certificates)

What we'll cover:

1. Choosing your niche - Cloud / DevOps / CNCF / Security / Backend / ML - picking one and committing
2. How to find quality projects - the filters that separate active CNCF projects from ghost towns
3. How to raise high-impact PRs - what gets merged vs. what gets ignored, and why
4. GitHub profile optimization - what your profile says to a reviewer in 12 seconds
5. How to build long-term visibility - content, community, and compounding presence

You'll get:

1. Domain clarity - a confident answer to "what should I focus on?"
2. 60-day contribution roadmap - week-by-week plan, written and sent within 48 hours of the call
3. GitHub improvement checklist - specific changes, not generic advice
4. Contribution growth strategy - how to go from "first PR merged" to "people know my name in this project"

Don't book if: You already know your niche and just need help with a specific GSoC/LFX application - book the GSoC / LFX Application Strategy session instead. This is the "where do I even begin?" session.

My background: I started exactly here - confused, no contributions, no idea where to begin. Eighteen months later: SRE at Obmondo, founder of Kerno and Sevro, LFX Mentee → LFX Mentor → GSoC Mentor with OWASP BLT. I built the playbook by living it.