The Drupal IXP program officially launched a couple of months ago, marking a significant step in our community's effort to build future talent. Modeled after traditional apprenticeship approaches (with the Drupal-y twist of 250 contribution credits,) the program aims to connect newcomers at the beginning of their Drupal journey with organizations willing to hire and mentor them. While the initiative is poised to address a critical talent gap, its launch occurs during a challenging period for the Drupal community, prompting a reflection on the timing and rationale.
A challenge, and an opportunity
The primary challenge is the current landscape where many experienced Drupal developers are suddenly seeking employment. It is not unreasonable to assume that some percentage of these people will find non-Drupal jobs. Combine this potentiality with the fact that the Drupal developer community is getting older and that fewer and fewer new Drupal developers have been joining us suggests a long-term need for new talent. The single goal of the IXP program is to cultivate new Drupal developers so that we can maintain a community hearty enough to carry Drupal Core and Drupal CMS into the future.
Despite the external market conditions, the decision to launch the IXP program now was driven by the significant volunteer effort and organizational support from the Drupal Association. It just didn't make sense to not launch the program with the pending need so great, and while it had momentum. The program has reached a stage where it is ready to provide tangible opportunities for newcomers and benefits for participating organizations.
Advantages for new developers and businesses
The IXP program focuses on individuals with less than three months of paid Drupal experience, specifically targeting that crucial transition point between learning and professional practice to bridge the gap between learning Drupal and securing the first professional role. It serves as a structured pathway and a "safe learning environment" to help new developers navigate this complexity and build their skills under the guidance of experienced mentors. By providing paid experience in real-life use cases with structured mentorship (at least one hour of mentorship for every ten hours worked,) the program directly addresses the difficulty newcomers face in gaining practical experience.
IXP developers are expected to have knowledge about Drupal (either gained on their own or via courses like Drupal Career Online or Professional Module Development) - the program isn't asking hiring organizations to provide basic Drupal knowledge.
For businesses, hiring new Drupal developers through the IXP program presents potential advantages including the fact that they are not entering the workforce with the same level of expertise or salary expectations as seasoned developers. The program allows organizations to shape talent according to their specific practices and needs, representing a strategic investment in future talent. IXPs gain paid work experience and build a portfolio, while organizations benefit from fresh perspectives and enthusiasm.
IXPs can also be a low-cost way for organizations to invest in learning about and leveraging new developments in the Drupal community, including Drupal CMS as well as Drupal AI modules and techniques. Other potential tasks that IXPs can perform for hiring organizations include Drupal core and module updates, Drupal site-building, and quality assurance. These tasks can be foundational for various projects, including those potentially for smaller clients.
Make the choice
Yes, launching the Drupal IXP program now comes at a time with challenges. However, we really can’t afford putting off such a sound solution to address the long-term health of the community by creating structured pathways for new talent. Supported by a dedicated community of volunteers as well as the Drupal Association, we reached a point where launching was the necessary step to start building the future talent pipeline, offering paid experience and mentorship to new developers while rewarding organizations for their investment in the ecosystem.
If you're a hiring organization and want to get involved, start here.
AI was used for the initial outline of this blog post.
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