Outreachy Basics: A Beginner's Guide

Key terms used in this guide

Applicant: Someone applying to be an intern.
Intern: Selected applicants who work with mentors for three months.
Mentor: Experienced contributors who define projects and guide interns.
Outreachy Organizers: Manage the entire program, from applications to funding.
Software Freedom Conservancy: Handles finances for Outreachy, including invoices and stipends.

Introduction

Outreachy isn't just about internships; it's about creating a tech community that's diverse and inclusive. It welcomes people from around the world who face bias or discrimination in the tech industry.

Whether you're a programmer or not, there are opportunities for everyone in Outreachy. Let's explore what this program offers.

What is an Outreachy internship?

Outreachy website

Outreachy is a three-month internship program organized by the Software Freedom Conservancy. It targets people who are underrepresented in the technology industry.

This paid and remote internship happens twice a year from May to August and December to March. Anyone facing bias or discrimination in their country's tech industry can apply.

It also provides a platform for newbies to get started by contributing to free and open-source software.

Benefits of Outreachy Internship

Learn and Grow

The Outreachy program gives room for interns to learn and grow by letting them work on Free and Open Source Software and get guidance from experienced mentors.

Interns can also pick up new tech skills and brush up on their current skills through contributions to open-source projects.

Get Real-world Experience

Another benefit of the Outreachy Internship program is that it allows interns to gain real-world experience.

They learn how to complete a project under a given deadline and how tasks are divided to meet goals on time among other things.

Earn Money

Outreachy is a paid internship so interns are paid up to $7000 for their hard work in the program.

Doors of opportunities

Interns can secure a job after the internship or even gain skills that will be sought after in the tech industry.

How Outreachy internship works

The Outreachy internship has three main stages. First, you apply. If accepted, you move to the Contribution stage, where you work on open-source projects. Then, you submit a final application and wait for a response.

If you're successful, you start your paid internship. During this time, you work with experienced mentors on various projects like programming, user experience, design, documentation, data science, etc. Many interns find jobs afterward using the skills they learnt.

These stages will be discussed fully in the next section of this article.

The Stages of Outreachy Internship

Outreachy operates in 3 stages:

Initial application
Contribution stage
Internship stage

The initial application

To apply for Outreachy, the first step is to complete an initial application. This application includes questions about your eligibility and a few essay questions.

These essays help Outreachy organizers understand more about you and why you might be considered an underrepresented or discriminated individual.

Take some time to think about your experiences and answer the questions as honestly as you can.

Here are the essay questions you'll need to answer:

What country will you be living in from (start date) to (end date), for example, May 27, 2024, to August 23, 2024?
Are you part of an underrepresented group (in the technology industry of the country listed above)?
Are there a few people who share your identity or background in that technology industry?
What systemic bias or discrimination would you face if you applied for a job in the technology industry of your country?
Does your learning environment have few people who share your identity or background?
What systemic bias or discrimination have you faced while building your skills?

Outreachy cares more about getting to know you than the length of your answers or how well you write.

After you submit your initial application, it might take a few weeks to get approved.

During this waiting time, Outreachy might email you to confirm your availability or ask for more info. So, keep an eye on your inbox.

For mid-year internships, apply by late January, and for end-of-year internships, apply by late August.

Eligibility

Outreachy is for everyone, but there are some criteria you need to meet before you apply to Outreachy, take a good look at the eligibility rules.

Here are some of the eligibility criteria for the Outreachy program:

You must be at least 18 years old.
You should be able to work 40 hours or more per week.
If you were a Google Summer of Code (GSoC) intern before or have a full-time job, you can't apply.
If you applied for Outreachy before but got rejected, you can still apply.
If you're a university student, you can apply for the first round if your university is in the Northern Hemisphere, and for the second round if it's in the Southern Hemisphere.
You must have 42 consecutive days free from school and exams during the internship. Make sure to apply to the right round.
If your university is near the equator or if you're in your final year, you can apply to either round.

Although the program welcomes women, transgender, genderqueer, non-binary individuals, people of color, and those who face discrimination. Men who experienced discrimination can also apply

To learn more about the Outreachy internship eligibility, read the Outreachy applicants guide.

How to apply for the initial Outreachy internship

Create an Outreachy Account

To apply for Outreachy, visit their website and sign up for an account. This account will be used for submitting your application and communicating with mentors throughout the application process.

Fill out the application

After making your account, fill out the application form. Give all the needed information like your contact details, and time available. Don't forget to answer the essay questions.

Submit Application

Once you finish filling out the application, double-check your answers to make sure they are correct. Then, submit it, and you're all set!

Best Practices for Outreachy initial application

If you're considering applying, these tips might help:

Start early You should begin your application early so you can have enough time to think about the answers to the essay questions. Don’t wait till the last minute, it can be risky.
Tell your story Use the essays to show who you are and why you'd be a good fit. Be honest about your answers. Treat it like an interview.
Edit your work Ensure that you double-check your answers especially the essays before you submit. You can revisit your essays after a day or so to catch any mistakes or areas for improvement.
Meet the deadline No matter how good your essay is, if you do not submit your application on time, it will be a waste. Ensure you submit your Outreachy initial application before the deadline.

The Contribution Stage

Outreachy initial application approval email

You will receive this email once your Outreachy initial application is approved

After your initial application is approved, you'll enter the "contribution stage," where you'll start making contributions to open-source projects.

Your chances of being selected depend on the quality of these contributions. During this stage, you'll interact with mentors.

Outreachy ensures fairness by not allowing mentors to select applicants based on personal preferences.

All mentors should be willing to work with any applicant during this stage, giving everyone an equal chance based on skills.

This stage has two phases, the project selection and the contribution itself. Let's dive into them.

Project Selection

To start making contributions, you should choose a project to work on.

This project will be your focus during the application process, and if you are selected as an intern, you will continue working on it during your three-month internship.

Choose at least one project from the list provided by different organizations and contribute by fixing bugs, working on documentation, or design.

Focus on quality rather than quantity of contributions.

Picking the right project can be challenging, so take your time and choose wisely.

Tip: Choose project(s) that match your skill and interest.

Making Contributions

Once you have chosen a project, you need to make at least one contribution before the project's deadline.

It could be small, like fixing a bug or improving documentation. This lets you interact with mentors and see if you're interested in the project.

During this time, you will learn about contributing to open-source software and working with remote teams.

Give yourself plenty of time for your contributions. Your first ones could take a week or more.

This is because you will need time to install software, read documentation, and understand the project.

Keep notes on your contributions and mentor feedback to track your progress.

What Contribution should you make?

Outreachy mentors create easy tasks called "contribution period tasks" for applicants to work on.

These tasks help mentors see if applicants have the skills needed for the internship and help applicants get used to the community.

Tasks depend on the project. For example:

Testing: Write a test for a bug
Programming: Update some code
Documentation: Fill in missing information
Translation: Translate text
Design: Make an illustration
Accessibility: Identify accessibility issues
User research: Record feedback from using the software.

Where to find contribution stage tasks

There are several places where mentors can list contribution period tasks for Outreachy applicants:

Open source / open science community issue tracker
Welcome page on the community website or wiki
Shared online document
Kanban board

Most communities tag newcomer-friendly issues to make them easy to find. Some tags used for labeling contribution period tasks include:

"Newcomer friendly"
"Good first task," "Good first issue," or "Good first bug"
"Outreachy"

Best Practices for the Outreachy Contribution Stage

Take a deep breath

It can be overwhelming at first and you can get a panic attack. So, take a deep breath, Exhale, and inhale as many times as you need. It’s going to be alright.

Start early

Don’t wait for a week or two weeks to select a project. The earlier the better. Some projects get closed after a week because of a large number of applicants choosing it.

You can miss your chance to choose the project that suits you.

Be thorough

When choosing a project, make sure to go through the entire list of projects carefully. Take your time to find the ones that match your skills.

Record your contribution

Whether, it has been merged or not, record your contribution. So you don't miss a thing. You can always edit the contributions on the outreachy website.

Talk to mentors

It's important to reach out to the mentors for your project. Don't worry about approaching them—they are here to help and support you.

Understand why they need an intern

After picking a project or two, keep in mind why the organization needs interns like you. They are looking for reliable contributors who can help the organization grow.

Show them you can be that valuable team player, even if you're not a coding superstar.

Focus on your task

It can be discouraging to see many people competing for the same position.

Plus, it can feel like everyone is handling more tasks than you.

Just take a deep breath, shut off the outside noise, and focus on the tasks you can handle. Nothing is set yet. You are doing great

Final Application Stage

After you’ve made a contribution and had it accepted, the last step is to fill out a final application.

The final application has some questions to help you reflect on your experiences with free and open-source software.

It also asks you to work with a mentor to fill out a timeline of your work on the project during the three-month internship.

The final application can be saved and revised until the application deadline.

The final application is similar to the initial one but with one key difference: the proposal.

Here are the essay questions you might encounter:

Past experience with this community: Here you should describe your involvement with this free software community before applying for Outreachy. Include experiences as both a user and a contributor.
Past experience with other communities: Here you should describe your involvement with any other free software communities before applying for Outreachy. Include experiences as both a user and a contributor.
Relevant Projects: Here you should discuss any relevant personal, work, or school projects that helped you gain skills applicable to this project. Explain what you learnt from working on them and provide links where possible.
(Optional) Community-specific Questions: Some communities may have additional questions. Check with your mentor and community coordinator to see if you need to provide any extra information.

Additionally, you'll work with your mentor to create a timeline of your project work during the three-month internship.

This timeline should outline the tasks you plan to complete at each step, considering any time commitments you have.

If you're still working on contributions, you can leave this blank and edit your application later.

Best practices for Outreachy final application

Here are some simpler tips for your final application:

Show your technical skills to prove you can handle the project's requirements.
Create a detailed project timeline, broken down by weeks.
Tell your story clearly in the essays, including how the internship will help your goals.
Submit your final application on time.

The Internship Phase

After the contribution period, mentors review the applicants' work and ensure their project timeline aligns with their contributions and commitment.

Then they tell Outreachy organizers which applicants they think should be chosen.

Finally, the names of all the selected applicants are posted on the Outreachy website's alums page.

How Outreachy interns are chosen

Here are some of the things considered when choosing an outreachy intern.

Intern free time

Outreachy organizers check how much free time interns have by reviewing their initial and final applications.

If an intern doesn't have much free time, they look at the quality of their contributions during the internship. If their contributions are good despite limited time, they can still be accepted.

Quality of contribution

Applicants are assessed by the quality of their contribution during the contribution stage. Applicants who made complex and quality contributions may be chosen as outreachy interns.

Note, that outreachy may ask the mentors for assessment while reviewing your contributions.

General Advice for potential Outreachy internship

These tips can be helpful, If you are planning on applying for an outreachy internship.

Sign up for notifications Get email notifications to stay informed about the application process.
Start promptly: Once notified, begin your application immediately.
Read carefully: Understand Outreachy's format and the specific requirements of the organizations.
Mark your calendar: Keep track of all deadlines and give yourself extra time for revisions. Also, consider the time zone difference when checking the deadline.
Be realistic: Focus on enhancing existing skills rather than learning entirely new ones. This will come in handy in the contribution stage.

Conclusion

Outreachy offers more than just an internship; it's a gateway to learning new skills and exploring the world of open-source software.

While the application process may seem overwhelming, the rewards, both financial and educational, make it worthwhile.

If you're new to tech or open source, Outreachy provides an excellent opportunity to learn and expand your knowledge.

To stay updated, join the announcement mailing list for notifications when the application period begins. Additionally, follow Outreachy on Twitter for regular updates and information.