Four TripleTen-Approved Sources for Pro-Bono Front-End Engineering Experience

Congrats! You’ve dipped your toes into the thrilling world of front-end engineering! Now, you're ready to embark on a quest for more advanced knowledge. But where do you gain experience and real-life cases to add your portfolio, aside from the bootcamp?

One option is to take on pro-bono projects. These are great ways to engage in practical tasks and test your newly-obtained front-end engineering know-how. In this article, we’ll share a TripleTen-approved list of sources to search and apply for pro-bono assignments.

Why is pro-bono work beneficial?

First, let’s look into what pro-bono work is and why it would be beneficial to take part in such projects.

Pro-bono work is similar to a real work environment, with only one basic difference. You’ll work for free to gain experience, network, and show your goodwill and potential. The projects you’ll come across will help charities, small businesses, and communities through technology to improve the world. 

For front-end engineers, pro-bono work might include building or improving a website, helping connect a service, creating web presentations, and many other cases. Sometimes your clients will be small charity foundations, or even international organizations that help fight humanitarian crises, ecological problems, or wildlife preservation. 

Each pro-bono project serves as a test of your abilities and an environment to gain hands-on experience. After successfully accomplishing your work, you can showcase your experience in your portfolio for potential employers. These practical cases will demonstrate your skills, teamwork abilities, and personal qualities.

Pro-bono work is more than a means to level up your skills; it's also a way to spread your heroic influence across the digital landscape. Dedicating your talents to noble causes will leave a trail of positive impact on your track record. It’s a good cause that levels up your resume with a great internship. You’ll show potential employers and allies that you have the skills and the heart of a hero who wants to use their talents to help others.

Now let’s discuss projects that offer pro-bono work.

GiveCamp

GiveCamp is a community founded by a Microsoft Developer Evangelist. Its goal is to help local communities in need by gathering technical specialists from different areas and working on a specific task over one weekend.  

There are various annual GiveCamp events all over the U.S. that bring together developers, designers, and tech enthusiasts. These teams create digital solutions for non-profit organizations to solve real-world problems. For example, the next GiveCamp in Cleveland, Ohio, will focus on delivering new websites and e-newsletters to non-profit organizations in northeastern Ohio. 

How is it arranged?

GiveCamp breaks the volunteers into groups that work on specific tasks and provide the outcome in just two days. Accommodation is usually not offered, so volunteers must drive home in the evening or book their own hotels. However, for some events, camping is organized. You can also opt to participate virtually.‍

What do you need to bring?

While the event provides pens, paper, and other miscellaneous office supplies, you still need to bring your own laptop and chargers.‍

Who can participate?‍

Technical volunteers with a background in software development. Common skill sets are listed for each event. Other professionals include project managers, designers, and copywriters.

Why should I participate?

GiveCamp events are a great opportunity to network with other professionals, spend an amazing creative time together, and boost your teamwork skills. Even if you’re new to tech, it’s the type of relevant experience that will look great on your resume.

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) program

As a participant of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) program, you'll use your front-end engineering skills to make a lasting impact on global initiatives. From battling poverty and injustice to safeguarding the environment and fostering peace, you can help make the world a better place.

Experience the transformative power of the UNV program as your skills touch lives and spark positive changes worldwide. You'll improve your front-end engineering skills and gain a deeper understanding of the global community.

How is it arranged?

Various assignments are published online on a regular basis. You can choose the type of assignment that fits you best, remote or on-site. Online tasks differ by technical roles, duration, and task. For instance, as a front-end engineer, you can work on website creation and maintenance. After choosing an assignment, you should sign in and submit an application from your profile.

How do I find a task?

Working with the search filters can be a little different since the organizations placing the offers are end-users and don’t have a technical understanding of their needs. If searching for “front end” gives no results, try looking up the following keywords: website, design, JavaScript, or WordPress.

Why should I participate?

The United Nations is a world-famous non-profit organization with a chain of thousands of life-changing initiatives. Becoming a UN volunteer broadens your horizons and adds credibility to your resume as a reliable and highly regarded experience.

Remote Hub Volunteering

Remote Hub is a job listing platform where you can find a volunteering section that connects companies and startups that don’t have budgets for specific tasks. Volunteers can test their skills and work on an assignment. 

Since it’s a technical platform, you will find hundreds of IT companies looking for entry-level specialists or those who would like to enrich their portfolios with real-life cases. Assignments include creating a website from scratch, joining a JavaScript team, developing, testing, and debugging web applications with React, etc. ‍

How is it arranged?

Just like in a regular job search platform, navigate to the Volunteering section and look up offers in web development. Then you need to apply for each position and confirm your skills and availability by providing a resume and a cover letter.

Why should I participate?

Volunteering jobs are no different than internships. By accomplishing an assignment, you can create a long-standing work relationship with the tech company and later apply to their paid openings. On Remote Hub, you can also find a good cause to dedicate your knowledge to.

Idealist

If social projects inspire you more than anything else, Idealist is the right place to find your volunteering organization. The platform is not strictly a volunteering opportunities board. It has listings for jobs, internships, and volunteering possibilities around the globe. 

For pro-bono work, you can find ongoing commitments and one-time gigs that help you gain additional experience and light up your resume with a world-known charity name. 

How will the work be organized?
Since most postings are regular job positions but for non-profit organizations, you can expect a predictable workload and fixed requirements. So yes, most likely, it will be just like a normal job. And the selection process will remind you of a real interview.

How do I search for an opportunity?

In the search field, you can fill in the keywords that match your proficiency. However, some results may be hidden, as Idealist is not a strictly technical platform. Filter your results by the issue area ‘Science and Technology’ or search by organization.

What are the examples of projects I can work on?

Opportunities include front-end development, mentoring, and teaching in tech, both on-site and remote. Sometimes the offers will be really unique, like teaching the basics of software engineering to community schools, contributing to a climate change initiative, or training your entrepreneurial skills in a technical non-profit startup. 

Committing yourself to a pro-bono assignment is a truly beneficial step that helps you gain real-life experience, create value in teams, network with professionals, and fill your resume with a case that shows your skills and personal qualities. 

Continuous learning is a two-way street. Pro-bono work gives you precious experience while you donate your knowledge to others.