OutSystems Training
When we start out as developers, we make a commitment to specialize in a development platform, technology, or programming language. I was a C# developer through and through - and, if you’re like me, you are likely to stick with this platform or technology for years. If you haven’t yet started your career but plan to become a developer, soon you’ll have to decide which platform, technology, or programming language will earn your commitment.
In the world of technology, we are also responsible for keeping up to date with the latest developments. In this quest, we need to be curious, yet cautious, about emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, low-code, AR/VR and the metaverse, and how it fits with our existing tech portfolio. After all, for several decades, we’ve all been bombarded with new technologies that turned out to be just a fad – for those of you who still remember working with Flash, thinking it would be the future of web development, I hear you.
Still, there are other technologies that have seen significant adoption and growth in the industry in the last several years. With the benefit of hindsight - and data! - it is only right that we share some context on the role low-code in general plays in application development today and why some developers are using it. We also provide some statistics that demonstrate how committing to the OutSystems platform or adding it to a professional development portfolio accelerates career growth.
The evolutionary perspective: A tale of abstractions
Programming languages have evolved right along with other significant innovations in the technology space. In fact, in many cases, they are the tool that allowed many of those innovations to see the light of day.
Since development languages came into being, new ones have been created to solve different problems and keep up with the demands of faster innovation and opportunities.
Four generations of programming languages
We started with machine languages, which were pretty much the binary codes that the different processors interpret in their native language. So then came assembly languages. An abstraction of machine code into a set of instructions mapped to the machine language, these were more readable for humans than pure machine code.
A third generation of much more human-readable languages used a logical structure and syntax to reduce the amount of code needed to program computer operations. These include FORTRAN, BASIC, C, Pascal, and others.
Finally, after three generations, platform-specific and easier to use languages began telling the computer what to do rather than how to do it. SQL is an example of a nonprocedural language used to query databases, but you have other languages for other domains such as data, mathematics, or even general development - OutSystems is one such example.
Low-code: The natural next step
When you look at it from this lens, you see that low-code is just a natural evolution of the programming landscape, another step towards being quicker at formulating the problems we’re trying to solve. The same way a C developer learns C++ and then perhaps C# or Java, and later on adds JavaScript and other frameworks to their skill set, I posit that all developers who are serious about their continued career growth should invest in becoming skilled in using low-code platforms.
Today, we witness a new chapter unfolding — the era of low-code development. This is where OutSystems takes center stage as the next step in this evolutionary journey with professional developers spearheading this revolution.
A glimpse into the future: OutSystems and career growth
Understanding that OutSystems is the next step in the evolution of programming languages is not merely a technical insight. It’s also a strategic move for career growth, even within the low-code space.
Let me share two data points for this argument.
Salaries that scale heights
We started this journey because we were curious about a remark that we heard occasionally from our community members. They said that OutSystems had been transformational in their career journey, allowing them to build on their existing software development skill set and accelerate their career progression and, by extension, compensation.
So, last year we looked at publicly available salary data for U.S. developers from Glassdoor. What we found from this well-known salary information platform was that OutSystems salaries were at the high-end of the tech salary range.
Since Glassdoor uses live data from reported salaries along with current job offers and pay ranges, those values will fluctuate. We decided to revisit the Glassdoor numbers at the end of September 2023 to see how things had evolved and observed an overall increase in pay across tech. Better yet, “OutSystems developer” was still standing as a top paid role - not only compared to other development roles, but also compared to other low-code developer roles.
September 2023 Median US Compensation for Different Tech Roles and Tenures (source: Glassdoor, September 2023)
The remarkable salary growth experienced by developers in the initial years of working with OutSystems really stands out. With OutSystems, experienced developers can use their existing development skills to accelerate learning, streamline development with abstraction and automation, and still go deep into the code when needed. As a result, the market value of skilled OutSystems professionals is enhanced.
How OutSystems is fueling career aspirations
We observed this specific acceleration during recent research at our ONE Developer Conference this year. We asked 367 of the developers in the OutSystems Community to share how their salaries had increased with their tenure using OutSystems, and the results were exciting.
Salary Growth vs OutSystems Tenure Research, September 2023
In particular, 50% of developers with 3-4 years of OutSystems increased their salaries by 50% or more, and 30% of the developers with 5-6 years of OutSystems experience have more than doubled their salary. These developers have become senior developers or expanded their scopes to tech leads or architects at an unprecedented pace.
Global demand for OutSystems developers
Businesses worldwide are recognizing the efficiency and agility that OutSystems brings to application development, leading to an increased demand for skilled professionals.
This results in an exciting job market for OutSystems developers. The demand for developers proficient in OutSystems is soaring, and it is not limited to a specific region, industry or sector. Currently, there are over 430 open OutSystems jobs on our OutSystems Job Board, with over 70 having been posted in the last week.
When we asked some of our customers and partners for their growth expectations from now through the first half of 2024, over 160 (77% of the respondents) stated that they “expect to grow the OutSystems team.” They want to hire over 1,800 developers–1100 in the next 3 months–both first-time OutSystems developers and senior positions, all over the world.
Some of these roles will be filled by existing developers in the OutSystems ecosystem. But the majority are waiting for those of you who are just starting out on your OutSystems journey–or even by those who are yet to start.
Why developers should consider OutSystems as a career
In summary, the best time for any professional developer to start learning OutSystems was yesterday, and hundreds of thousands have done exactly that. The next best time to do it is now. The main reasons are:
- Competitive salaries: As both public data and our research indicate, OutSystems developers are enjoying competitive salaries, making it a great career choice.
- Global opportunities: The demand for OutSystems developers is worldwide and there are several dozens of new job posts every week from our partners and customers.
- Rapid career progression: The accelerated learning curve gained with existing software development skills and the exposure to full-stack rapid software development from day one translate into faster career progression for developers.
- Future-proofing your skill set: Adding OutSystems to your skill set not only diversifies your capabilities but also positions you to be able to tackle the evolving demands of the industry, now and in the future.
- Innovation at your fingertips: With OutSystems, developers become the drivers of innovation, delivering impactful solutions and contributing to the success of their teams organizations.
Conclusion: Elevate your career with OutSystems
In a world where adaptability is key, mastering OutSystems offers developers the invaluable opportunity to future-proof their careers. Not only does it open the door to a dynamic and rewarding career, but it also empowers developers to be at the forefront of technological innovation.
Are you ready to dive into the world of OutSystems development? Start exploring the training we offer! The journey promises not only a job but also a career marked by growth, innovation, and global impact.
I look forward to seeing you there!
