There has long been scepticism around the state of the Perl market, the ability for new jobs to be created, and when (if ever), someone would be writing its obituary.
Despite the recent Brexit vote, as we near towards the end of 2016, it’s time to tell you not to panic. Save the in-memoriam notes because there are still Perl Jobs out there, the state of the Perl jobs market is still strong, and Perl is (still) not dead.
Not dead means not dead
Let’s get the obvious question out of the way first; has or will Brexit affect the state of the Perl jobs market? Whilst the British public and the Government both still aren’t quite sure what Brexit actually means, the effect on the Perl jobs market is looking a little rosier.
The initial shock hasn’t seemed to have slowed down the hiring of any of the companies I work with although until Article 50 has been triggered and we know about the various intricacies of it all, there will continue to be uncertainty surrounding freedom of movement.
Whilst currently this isn’t an issue, it is potentially going to become a larger one within the tech sector in the coming years, particularly with the movement of talent between Perl houses across Europe. In response to this, I recently set up a petition urging the government to allow freedom of movement to continue within the tech sector!
Is Perl still a viable language?
The popularity of Perl offers a big hand in terms of the success of its market, and looking back at the history of its popularity from 1996 to 2016 it has steadily moved down in the TIOBE index.
However, it has always remained in the top 10 of all programming languages and in the current TIOBE index November 2016 Perl is at position 10. So how can popularity be increased and in turn contribute to the growth of the Perl jobs market?
The Community Effect
Responsibility for the longevity and growth of the Perl jobs market can lie in the hands of the Perl Development community itself. The more developers choose to learn Perl and continue to contribute towards the language development and buzz amongst the development community, the more likely it will be utilised and furthered in future projects, start-ups, and so on.
Having been welcomed into the Perl community many years ago and attended many more events since, it’s clear to see that the Perl community is one of the languages biggest assets. It’s often these events and the community where you are reminded about the continual resilience and progress Perl holds and the sheer love and passion it’s users have for it.
Perl Jobs: out there, but where?
So, are there still Perl Jobs out there? The short answer is yes. Despite Brexit, companies and even start-ups are still growing, and the role of the tech team is still seen as valuable for organisational success. Even with its dip in popularity over the years, start-ups are continuing to choose Perl, meaning there is still a guarantee of job security for skilled Perl developers.
All different types of businesses are hiring skilled Perl developers, from e-commerce and consultancy to payment companies. In terms of location, Perl jobs can also be found in cities with strong Perl houses such as London and European cities of Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Vienna and Stockholm to name a few.
With varying levels of Perl developer roles within different types of industries, salary will be very much dependent on location, experience and technical capability. If you’re wondering what you could earn as a Perl developer, why not take a look at a quick salary guide we have put together.
What are hiring managers looking for?
With all types of Perl jobs out there a developer with versatility is in high demand. Traditional skills such as knowing how to effectively use the Perl language, JavaScript and overall web development are key.
However, in the current Perl market hiring managers are looking for more, and there is a big emphasis on full-stack development and Angular. If you don’t already know Angular, I would definitely take a look. Aside from the technical skills, when it comes to standing out from the rest in the Perl job market, companies are also looking based on personality and the candidate’s passion for Perl. This ranges from key communication skills to getting on with the company’s culture and being able to work effectively in a team.
How do you stand out from the crowd?
To stand out in the current market you need to be more than just a great developer, and a great way to do this is by getting involved with the Perl community. This can be achieved in several ways, from attending Perl events and local Perl meet-ups to contributing online. There is a huge Perl presence online and one way to show your passion for all things Perl is through blogging, social media and contributing to Stack Overflow, CPAN modules and Github.
Tips on how to stand out as a developer here.
What’s next?
Despite the restrictions that may be coming with Brexit and the dip in popularity of the programming language over the years, the state of the Perl jobs market is strong. The market continues to grow at a natural rate and being in the top 10 popular programming languages of 2016 shows companies are still choosing the Perl platform over others.
For the Perl market to flourish and be a part of the future of programming it must connect with the next generation of developers and businesses. This can be achieved through the continued organisation and attendance of Perl community events, the increase of accessible learning materials as well as discussing and sharing knowledge to give Perl the credit and appreciation it deserves.
If you are looking for a new role in Perl development, check out the current Perl Jobs we have available.
If you are attending this year’s London Perl Workshop on the 3rd of December I am happy to discuss more on the state of the Perl market, and how you can advance your career as a Perl developer.