Editing Community Organizing (section)

=== Newcomer Barriers ===

* Personal
** Lack of interest Lack of clear professional goals
** Lack of proactiveness Fear of judgment
** Low self-efficacy Performance anxiety
** Shyness to ask questions
** Newcomer’s personality conflicts with the role
** Newcomer’s inability to improve upon criticism 
** Difficulty in time-management
** Difficulty in managing different accounts

* Interpersonal
** Low response rate
** Difficulty in finding help in the community
** Lack of Newcomer’s interpersonal skills
** Difference in work experience and age
** Cultural differences Communication issues related to time zone and place
** Lack of English language skills
** Lack of interpersonal skills in mentors
** Harsh project atmosphere

* Process
** Long project processes
** Willingness to start with a complex task
** Issues with project micro-climate
** Difficulty in choosing a Newcomer-friendly project
** Lack of knowledge about procedures and conventions
** Lack of documentation Problem with the process of submitting code
** Difficulty in identifying appropriate tasks for Newcomers

* Technical
** Difficulty in setting up development environment
** Task too complex for Newcomers 
** High code complexity
** Lack of Newcomer’s background knowledge
** Difficulty in learning related tools or technologies
** Difference in the devices that mentors and mentees use

* List of strategies suggested by mentors to overcome the barriers
** Implement structured onboarding programs with clear milestones and goals
** Create mentorship programs pairing Newcomers with experienced contributors
** Create virtual and physical regional/timezone-based sub-communities (chapters / cells)
** Create dedicated Newcomer support channels
** Train mentors in inclusive communication
** Create clear, step-by-step contribution guides
** Implement streamlined project workflows
** Create project glossaries and convention guides
** Maintain (beginner-friendly) up-to-date documentation with regular reviews
** Provide visual guides for code submission processes
** Create task difficulty ratings and tag issues suitable for Newcomers (“good first issue”)
** Organize technical workshops and training sessions (talks)
* Implement consistent development environments (use Nix)

Initially, the Newcomer identifies a project aligned with their interests and technical capabilities. They begin by observing project discussions and familiarizing themselves with the codebase and documentation. During this exploration phase, they identify potential mentors and support channels within the community.

The Newcomer then takes incremental steps toward contribution, starting with small, well-defined tasks tagged as “good first issues.” They set up their development environment following documented procedures and conventions. When facing technical or process-related barriers, they actively seek help through appropriate community channels, demonstrating persistence and receptiveness to feedback.

Through consistent engagement and gradually increasing contribution complexity, the Newcomer builds relationships with core contributors while developing deeper technical understanding. They maintain regular activity patterns, avoiding prolonged periods of inactivity. This sustained engagement helps them transition from peripheral participation to more central involvement in the project’s technical discussions and decision-making processes.

This progression from initial contact to successful integration typically spans several months, during which the Newcomer develops both technical expertise and social capital within the project community. The early career phase is particularly crucial, as it establishes patterns of contribution and collaboration that often predict long-term success in the project.

Key Success Factors include:
* Maintaining consistent contribution patterns
* Starting with appropriately scoped tasks
* Being responsive to community feedback
* Building relationships with experienced contributors
* Following project conventions and processes
* Demonstrating persistence through challenges
* Gradually increasing technical involvement

<span id="mentor-barriers"></span>