Basic tech skills have rapidly become a part of everyday life in the last few decades. From smartphones and streaming services to video chatting and social media, digital technology has changed the way we interact with the world.
In the workforce, this development has been even more dramatic. Between 2002 and 2016, The U.S. The Department of Labor reported a 59% increase in occupations that required the use of digital tech. That trend is expected to continue, as the World Economic Forum predicts that nine out of 10 jobs will require digital skills by the year 2030. In the future of work, your career won’t have to be “in tech” for you to need sufficient tech know-how.
Luckily, technology is one of the most popular group categories on Meetup! Although lots of folks in these groups have specifically tech-oriented careers, joining a tech group can benefit people in any industry. Expanding your tech know-how will make you a more valuable asset to your current employer, or make you stand out from the crowd if you’re interviewing for a new job. Meetup tech groups are a fun and approachable resource for learning new skills and making professional contacts.
Why Meetup tech groups are so popular
If you’ve ever tried learning a new language or a new instrument, you know that it’s difficult to make progress without guidance. As with languages and instruments, the internet is chock-full of resources to help you learn tech skills—from Khan Academy to freeCodeCamp—but getting started all on your own can feel like being snowed under with information. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, lose your confidence, and give up.
Meetup tech groups offer a different approach that emphasizes the power of community. Members supplement their individual study by learning organically from each other. You might pick up a useful tidbit at a casual lunch, get a useful recommendation during a Zoom lesson, or soak up some professional wisdom from an industry veteran at a networking happy hour.
Don’t work in tech? Meetup tech groups can still offer you an advantage
As the research indicates, non-tech careers are steadily blending in with the general tech landscape. Even if you’re never going to need advanced computer programming skills, there are sure to be more fundamental tech concepts that will give you a leg up at work.
For example, it can be helpful for teachers to learn about new trends in education technology, for writers to learn about content management systems like WordPress, or for people in marketing to learn basic graphic design and UX/UI principles.
In addition to brushing up on some digital skills, a Meetup tech group can provide networking opportunities that might surprise you. People with tech jobs often work in the tech departments of organizations with a broad range of needs. If you’re trying to move up in the finance sector, you might connect with a member who does cyber security for a large firm. If you’re interested in administration, maybe you’ll meet an IT worker from a local university. These contacts can open doors for you.
How to get started with a Meetup tech group
Tech is quite a big umbrella term. You may have a difficult time getting acquainted in this space if you jump in just anywhere. Find a subset of the tech world that interests you, then search that topic on Meetup. It could be anything from artificial intelligence and game development to Microsoft Excel or Adobe Photoshop classes.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach. You could join a huge community like Build with Code – New York City (14,000+ members). They host free weekly HTML, CSS, and JavaScript workshops through immersive lectures and pair-programming sessions. Another excellent community is the Hyperledger Network, a worldwide collection of more than 180 groups, with 90,000+ members interested in open-source advancements for blockchain technology. There are also demographic-specific groups like Women Who Code Boulder/Denver.
Although it’s one of the most popular tech subjects, coding isn’t the only way you can explore tech on Meetup! Check out groups like SF Music Producers and the Florida Podcasters Association to learn about recording technology. Get hands-on with the San Diego Robotics Club or the Austin Automation Professionals.
How to engage with a tech community beyond attending events
Once you’ve identified a tech community and have attended its events, the next step is to engage with it more actively. Communities like the Hyperledger network encourage members to get more involved with the community by contributing to its codebase. For some, engagement with a tech community can be a challenge; without a robust set of technical skills, it’s not as clear how to strengthen one’s ties to a technical product.
Luckily, there are engagement programs for people new to tech or working in tech in non-engineering roles. Kong has its own Kong Contributor Program, which helps people from a variety of backgrounds share knowledge and interact with the community. Members can share posts on social media, contribute code, host events, or even draft guest posts for Kong’s blog to engage with the community, learn, and earn points toward swag.
“Our aim is to create opportunities for everyone, regardless of their background, to be able to contribute, meet other like-minded folks, and learn,” says Daliya Spasova, Community Manager at Kong. You don’t have to be a technical expert to engage with a technical community, all you have to do is lend a helping hand!
Meetup has more than six million members in over 7,000 unique technology groups! Find a group that suits you, attend one or two events, and exchange contact info with fellow group members who you hit it off with. While you’re learning a new skill and adding to your professional contacts, you might just be making some new friends, too.
Meetup would like to help the members of our community who have been affected by tech layoffs. Learn more about Meetup’s career resources including a free two-month Member+ subscription.
James Quigley is a writer, editor, and educator whose work has received Pushcart Prize and Best New Poets nominations. James was born and raised in New York, where he lives and works as a freelance writer. See more of his writing here.
Last modified on October 17, 2023
