Becoming an AWS Community Builder offers a unique opportunity to connect, grow, and make a positive impact within the AWS community. The application process opens once a year in January for new applicants, with a separate re-application period for current Builders a few months later. Since it’s a competitive process, planning ahead and showcasing your unique strengths and consistent contributions is key.

Here are seven essential strategies to help you create a standout application—whether you’re a first-time applicant or a returning AWS Community Builder.

Plan Ahead: Reflect on Your Goals and Gather Highlights

Preparing early is crucial, as the application window is limited. Start by reflecting on why you want to become (or remain) an AWS Community Builder and gather examples of your most meaningful contributions. List projects, initiatives, and engagements that best showcase your skills, consistency, and commitment to AWS.

If you’re uncertain about where to start, consider discussing your contributions with a mentor, colleague, or friend who knows your work well. Often, we don’t fully recognize our own accomplishments, and hearing from someone else can offer a fresh perspective.

Showcase Your Specialty and Consistent Engagement

AWS Community Builders bring a variety of skills to the program. Highlight your unique specialty—whether it’s serverless, machine learning, infrastructure, or data analytics—and demonstrate your expertise in that area. Consistency is also key: avoid contributing only in the month leading up to the application window. Year-round engagement, such as participating in online forums or sharing knowledge, demonstrates an ongoing commitment to the AWS community.

Use the STAR Method to Highlight Your Impact

When describing your accomplishments, consider using the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, and Result. This framework keeps your examples clear, focused, and impactful, helping AWS evaluators understand your unique contributions.

For instance:

Situation: Describe the event or challenge.
Task: Explain your role or objective.
Action: Detail the steps you took.
Result: Highlight the impact—such as positive feedback, engagement stats, or knowledge shared.

Adding specific metrics, such as engagement numbers, and including quotes or feedback you’ve received can strengthen your examples, making them even more compelling.

Include a Strong Content Link: Quality Over Quantity

In previous years AWS Community Builders application, you can include only one link to showcase your content, so choose wisely. Select a piece that best represents your knowledge and expertise, such as a blog post, tutorial, or video that addresses a common challenge, explains a complex topic, or adds unique value. Make sure it aligns with your specialty and demonstrates your ability to communicate technical concepts effectively.

Tip: Make sure the content you include is publicly available. AWS values contributions that are accessible to the community, so ensure your link leads to content others can view, share, and learn from.

Demonstrate Public Community Involvement and Collaboration

The AWS Community Builders program emphasizes collaboration and public community involvement. Highlight your engagement in AWS forums, local meetups, events, or online communities. Focus not just on individual achievements but also on how you’ve collaborated with others and fostered a sense of community. For example, have you helped answer questions on AWS forums? Co-hosted a local event? Contributed to open-source projects?

If you’re a returning applicant, document how you’ve built on past experiences. Each year, Builders are expected to increase their impact, so if you’ve previously organized events or collaborated on projects, highlight how you’ve expanded those efforts. Showing growth demonstrates commitment to the AWS community and a willingness to keep pushing the community forward and also how you are benefitting from being in the program.

Clarify Your Motivation and Vision for the Program

Have you thought about your goals and a vision for how you’ll contribute to AWS community? How you will benefit from being in the program? Take time to explain why you want to join (or stay in) the program, what you hope to achieve, and how you’ll give back.

If you’re reapplying, your application is about your achievements over the past year and outlines what you hope to accomplish next. This shows not only your personal commitment to growth but also your dedication to the broader AWS community.

If at First You Don’t Succeed, Learn and Try Again

Applying for the AWS Community Builders program is competitive. If you’re not selected, view it as a chance to learn. Consistent engagement and growth over time show your dedication, so don’t be discouraged by a setback.

As a 3 year AWS Community Builder, I remind myself each year that re-application is a new opportunity to reflect on my growth. To keep contributing, continue refining your skills, and build on your experiences.

If you’re ready to make an impact in the AWS community, becoming an AWS Community Builder is a fantastic opportunity to connect, contribute, and grow. But standing out in the application process requires more than just listing your skills—it’s about showcasing your unique contributions, ongoing engagement, and commitment to helping others.

Here are additional ways to set yourself apart and areas to emphasise:

Problem Solver: Showcase unique solutions to real-world AWS challenges, highlighting your creative and practical problem-solving skills.

Thought Leadership: Share insights on AWS trends and best practices regularly, positioning yourself as a guide for the community.

*Mentorship and Education: * Emphasize any teaching, mentoring, or workshop experiences that help others grow in their AWS skills.

Niche Expertise: Develop a deeper specialty within your area (e.g., serverless security), showing AWS that you’re an expert in a specific aspect of the platform.

Open-Source Contributions: Highlight any AWS-related contributions to GitHub or open-source projects, showing your commitment to hands-on learning and community support.

Key Metrics: Include numbers to demonstrate your reach (e.g., content views, event attendees), offering concrete proof of your community impact.

Cross-Platform Engagement: Mention involvement across AWS communities (user groups, re:Post, forums) to show broad, consistent engagement.

Authentic Stories: Share personal stories about your AWS journey, including challenges overcome, to demonstrate resilience and a commitment to learning.

Putting It All into Action

Applying to the AWS Community Builders program is about showcasing your unique contributions and commitment to the AWS community. Plan ahead, focus on quality and consistency, and align your efforts with your area of expertise. Each application or re-application is part of a journey, and success comes from a commitment to learning, growth, and perseverance.

If you’re passionate about AWS, keep building, keep sharing, and keep applying and stay AWSome. Each step moves you closer to joining a vibrant community of Builders dedicated to advancing the AWS community. Good luck!