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Did you miss your activation email? August 28, 2008, 04:33:38 AM
Did you miss your activation email? August 28, 2008, 04:33:38 AM
SMF Team Blog
Simple Machines, our team, and our recruitment process
From time to time we get inquiries from certain people expressing interest in helping out with the project, and possibly joining the team. I figured I would share with you how we select team members and what you can do to help out.
First thing is to realize that we are always looking for more people. Simple Machines has grown rapidly in the last year and as such, our team has expanded also. Here are some of the things we look for in potential members, there is no particular order to this list:
How to get onto the team
While there are some opposing views, the generally consensus of the team is that you should not ask to join the team. Joining the team is not a goal in of itself. The best way to get on the team is to not try to get on the team, and instead use that energy to help the project as a whole.
Do what you enjoy doing. If you aspire to be a mod developer, go read the Mod Requests board and develop some mods. If you think the design team is the place for you then go create some kick butt themes and submit them to the theme site.
At the same time, try to help those who are learning. A great theme designer is great, but one that can assist people in creating their themes is even better.
We'll often wait months before inviting someone to join the team. This allows us to see how regular they are and to make sure they aren't "faking" it.
If you get asked to join the team, there is a good chance it'll be as a Support Specialist. A good portion of our team starts there as that team as the most amount of work to do. It also allows us to see how well you perform in the team environment.
The process of getting someone onto the team
The process itself is simple. A team member will notice that a particular member has been really helpful and shows the above traits. That team member will post a recommendation to the team board, where the potentional team member is discussed, their previous postings looked at, and mods or themes looked at, etc. We try to make sure there are no reasons why they shouldn't join the team. If the team is in agreement the team leader for a particular team will contact the person and invite them to join that team. If the person accepts the team leader then lets the administrators known who then change their groups and gets them into the team.
Also, note that the teams listed on the team page should not be viewed as a constraint mechanism. We are always looking for people with unique skills and knowledge, even if it doesn't fit into one of the teams. So if you have a strength that you think would be beneficial to the project, please share it with the other users.
First thing is to realize that we are always looking for more people. Simple Machines has grown rapidly in the last year and as such, our team has expanded also. Here are some of the things we look for in potential members, there is no particular order to this list:
- Posts often and regularly. We need people who are active and able to contribute regularly.
- Posts accurate information. Not knowing the answer is fine, however posting a bad solution is worse then no solution.
- Posts information in an easy to understand manner. As the project has expanded, we are getting more users who don't have a vast experience with computers. We need people who can help them out as well as the super geeks like me.
- Is respectful to the other users, especially when confronted with an opposing view.
- Ability to work as a part of a team.
- Has been contributing for a while. We often get people who surge onto the scene but quickly fizzle out. We are looking for people who will still be active a year or more from now.
How to get onto the team
While there are some opposing views, the generally consensus of the team is that you should not ask to join the team. Joining the team is not a goal in of itself. The best way to get on the team is to not try to get on the team, and instead use that energy to help the project as a whole.
Do what you enjoy doing. If you aspire to be a mod developer, go read the Mod Requests board and develop some mods. If you think the design team is the place for you then go create some kick butt themes and submit them to the theme site.
At the same time, try to help those who are learning. A great theme designer is great, but one that can assist people in creating their themes is even better.
We'll often wait months before inviting someone to join the team. This allows us to see how regular they are and to make sure they aren't "faking" it.
If you get asked to join the team, there is a good chance it'll be as a Support Specialist. A good portion of our team starts there as that team as the most amount of work to do. It also allows us to see how well you perform in the team environment.
The process of getting someone onto the team
The process itself is simple. A team member will notice that a particular member has been really helpful and shows the above traits. That team member will post a recommendation to the team board, where the potentional team member is discussed, their previous postings looked at, and mods or themes looked at, etc. We try to make sure there are no reasons why they shouldn't join the team. If the team is in agreement the team leader for a particular team will contact the person and invite them to join that team. If the person accepts the team leader then lets the administrators known who then change their groups and gets them into the team.
Also, note that the teams listed on the team page should not be viewed as a constraint mechanism. We are always looking for people with unique skills and knowledge, even if it doesn't fit into one of the teams. So if you have a strength that you think would be beneficial to the project, please share it with the other users.
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I will try to realize what is expected from me to join the team
But you're right, I tech support on about 15 SMF forums. (Not all at once) but what I do for them is practicly nothing compared. Mostly, telling them on MSN how to fix error x or error y, occationally manually install a mod or two or guide them through.
But what seems like a lot to those 15 people is practically nothing to me or in comparison to what the guys do here.
Regards,
Ankur
If you want to join the Support Team head to the Support Boards and start helping people out with their problems. If you want to join the Mod team check out the Mod Requests area and make some mods, etc...
After a while of doing that, a team member might notice and will put your name forward in the Team Area.
-AwwLilMaggie
Offtopic: I think I'm taking french for GCSE this and next year
I don't sense anything wrong with you, so your chance could be soon
Because you are using too many punctuation marks !!?!!!??!??@@~~´?!?!)/'^)(/^(')
Yeah, split it into two: Applications and Comments etc... XD
If I know AwwLilMaggie, you guys will have a Doc site 75% larger by morning.
75% thats pushing it a bit, I'm only human.
-AwwLilMaggie
Sounds like you're recruiting an army
well, probably cause i dont give mutch support to those in need....
And you haven't written many mods to prove yourself
Looks like you mostly answered your own question
prove myself??
www.smf-apps.org
www.leipepo.com
more sites coming soon...
well, its just a show of what can be done with smf.... not promotion, if i wanted that ill sign up to google adwords, or rent a bannerspace here, but those sites are all smf-related, or any coding language that smf uses,witch also proves i know my php, mysql, and blablabla...
so that in turn affects this topic!
I am with TheGamer in this .
Seriously though, if people just try to help the community as a whole, as opposed to just aiming for a badge, then they'll be more likely to be considered.
subliminal message to buy something for jay on his amazon list
Its good to see a post letting fellow SMF'ers know how to get on. I know there are a few regulars on here that would make good contrabutions to the team. I've had help from a few good coders here, who know SMF pretty good. [well better than I do]
In public that is :-P
Always agreed, bribing shows no effort in trying to do whats right for the community
Um, do you guys/gals take food stamps?
Anyways, slight typo in the subject of this topic: Simple Machine should be Simple Machines
http://www.simplemachines.org/about/team.php
Truely its just amazing to see so many people but from that, it lowers chances of anyone scoring the position
3,000:1, is that all? LOL j/k.
oo wait it was for uni
And I got a snail mail letter for an interview. But that was for a paid job.
~
I wonder who'll be the next team member...
-ALM
Not that I am specifieng someone
j00 dont apply for us, we apply for j00.
-ALM
Yet here i sit, the one who was dumb enough to send Jerm and redone a PM expressing interest in joining the team.
And as much as I harass Amacythe, i'm surprised i've not been banned yet
I deny your membership
I forgot I even posted that...
Sarcasm aside. The way I see it is, everyone who contributes to the community is part of the team. The badge/title only reflect a level of commitment. A CM badge says I support the project with a donation.(and is able to do some testing on new versions). While a team badge shows that we support the project with the amount of time we commitment to it daily. SMF friends generally are past team members, but not all of them are. Some have helped SMF in other ways. Zef, wasn't ever officially on the team, but if you look at and page of SMF code, you should see his name.
There's many people who contribute to SMF. Just look @ the customize page. There's tons of themes,mods, built , packed and supported by SMF contributors with out an official team badge. Some of been asked in the past if they would like to join the team, and some have said no. Not because they didn't want to be on the team, because they were aware of the amount of time such a commitment takes, and not everyone is able to forfill it..
We are always looking. SMF is growing and new members are contributing every day. So if you are trying to get on the team, my advice is ask youself "do I have the time to commit?" and the keep contributing the way you have been. Trust me the team has already noticed.