Being Open Source doesn’t just mean making the code public. Being Open means believing in the Open systems strongly and showing it through your actions as well. We all want like-minded folks who share a similar vision to join our organization. Well, this happens when our hiring or team-building approach is open. Also, only the folks who are genuinely interested in the vision tend to contribute, adding depth and passion to our collaborative efforts.

"Hire for passion and intensity; There is training for everything else."
Nolan Bushnell

At Hyperswitch, our journey towards building a Linux-like infrastructure for payments took an interesting turn when we decided to innovate not just our product but also our hiring process.

🚨 BTW we are hiring for several roles, know more here.

In this blog post, we're excited to share how you can transform your hiring strategy through open source contributions and the remarkable impact it can have on your project and team.

3 Checks before you start ✅

1. A base Community of Contributors: Having an initial community of contributors around your product may not be a must but it adds huge advantage and a starting point for the open source hiring initiative. It serves as a solid foundation for the open source hiring initiative.

2. Contribution Guidelines: Clear contribution guidelines should be established beforehand, ensuring that your contributors understand the expectations and standards.

3. Tutorials and Blogs: Having existing resources such as tutorials and blogs help newcomers understand our project and its objectives.

Process that you can follow 🔄

1. Identify the Problem Statements/Issues 🎯
   Defining the problem statements or issues for potential contributors is crucial. Identify non-critical challenges that align with your project goals, provide opportunities for contributors to make meaningful contributions without overwhelming them. These challenges not only serve as tasks for contributors but also act as a filter to attract the right talent for your organization.
   
   
   By presenting specific problems aligned with the project objectives, you will be able to identify individuals who not only possess the technical skills but also share your passion and vision for open collaboration. This approach ensures that the community of contributors is composed of individuals who are genuinely invested in advancing your project's mission.

2. Creating Onboarding Materials for Hiring 📚
   It's obvious to have a clear and structured onboarding process for potential contributors. Develop onboarding materials that explain the hiring process, including how to get involved, where to find resources, and how to contribute effectively.

3. Promote the Hiring Plan 📢
   Promoting the hiring plan is essential to attract talented individuals who share your vision for open collaboration. You can leverage various channels, including social media, developer forums, and industry events, to spread the word about the open positions and the benefits of joining the community.

4. Providing Constant Support and Feedback 🤝
   The essence of open source is collaboration. Integrate this principle into your hiring process by providing ongoing support and feedback to contributors. Mentor contributors at every step, offer them assistance, answer their queries, and provide constructive feedback on contributions to help them improve their skills and understanding of your project.
   

5. Review and Merge Contributions 🔄
   Regularly reviewing and merging contributions is essential to maintain the quality and relevance of your project. Establish a systematic review process, ensuring that all contributions meet your standards and contribute to your project's objectives.

6. Recognize and Reward Contributors 🏅
   Acknowledging the efforts of your contributors is vital to foster a sense of appreciation and belonging within the community. Recognize their contributions publicly through badges, mentions in project announcements, and exclusive rewards, motivating them to continue their involvement.
   
   Well, this award is for you because you are taking the next step towards improved hiring.

7. Monitoring and Iterating 🔄
   Continuous monitoring and iteration will allow you to refine your open source hiring process based on feedback and evolving project needs. Regularly take inputs from contributors and stakeholders, identifying areas for improvement and implementing changes to enhance the overall experience.

8. Scaling and Expanding 🌍
   As the project and community grows, scale and expand your open source hiring efforts to accommodate the increasing demand for talent. Explore collaborations with other open source projects and organizations, broadening your reach and impact while prioritizing diversity and inclusion initiatives to ensure a welcoming and inclusive environment for all contributors.
   See how you can accommodate different time zones and geographies to be inclusive.

In conclusion, the journey towards open source hiring will be transformative for both- the product and the community of contributors. By embracing open collaboration and innovation, you can not only build a robust product but also cultivate a vibrant ecosystem of talent and creativity. We're excited to continue pushing the boundaries of open source development and shaping the future of payments together. Join us on this journey, and let's make a difference.

🌠 Embark on an enlightening journey through the intricate world of payments. These blogs are your compass to navigate the complexities of the payment galaxy.

As developers, we create a lot of value through the applications we build. Payments are the means to capture some of that value for ourselves. Surprisingly, the effort to set up a payments stack is often exaggerated. This is what we aim to solve at Hyperswitch by building a free and open payments switch. If you resonate with this vision, you can join the movement to help build an open payments ecosystem!

🎉 Learn more about how you can set up your own payments stack in minutes with Hyperswitch

• Want to contribute? Check out some of our good first issues here.
• Try Hyperswitch. Get your API keys here. Happy reading!