let's discuss a more general topic in the tech labor market. a lot of commenters who said they were laid off, took VRBP, or chose to leave have commented on the ageism in tech. it's very difficult for those of us beyond a certain age to "start over" so some undoubtedly hang on. of course demand for various language and other skills ebbs, but older workers have many other skills imho. in the age of "ok boomer", young hiring managers may have a hard time understanding how to use those skills or feel uncomfortable hiring people older than them, perceive a younger cohort as having lower salary demands or being more "moldable", etc. somewhat understandable. what are your strategies for dealing with the ageism? do you start over with other languages, pivot to other careers, choose or find yourself in "semi retirement", do consulting, teaching, start your small business, do day trading or investing, all of the above, something else?
6 replies (most recent on top)
"Look towards DC. The DC area is serviced by many small IT shops, staffed with folks 50 and over. You may find something there."
Or, you know, start your own company. It's not hard to hang out your shingle, and it beats working for the man if you can't respect the man.
You are not alone in your experience. They come up with loads of lame excuses. Those places are looking for kids who aren't capable of spotting and handling their special brand of BS.
Look towards DC. The DC area is serviced by many small IT shops, staffed with folks 50 and over. You may find something there.
Wow, I certainly experienced this over and over after leaving SAS. I would get really positive remarks after phone interviews but as soon as they saw me somehow I just "wasn't a good fit" (a phrase I heard over and over). It didn't matter how well I did in the in person interview. One time at a local financial services company the best they could offer was that I didn't have experience using their IDE (a software tool used by developers). For you nontechnical folks that's telling a ditch digger he doesn't know how to use a different brand of shovel.
I was old when I left SAS a few years ago. This was during the pandemic stimulus, when even old folks could get hired. The tech job market is much tougher now.
I also was treated respectfully and professionally by my younger colleagues. Getting a job in most fields is tougher after age 50. But once you are in, most people are decent and will treat you right.
The right job will come and it will be mutual. It’s not age, but fitting with the current culture at a specific company. The word “culture is so yuck”. Basically people either like you or not. Nothing you can do but be you and wait to find others like you. Each interview is a 50/50 chance. You will find your fit. It’s a numbers game just keep going.
In my experience those 15+ years younger often don't see older workers as part of their cohort. Even if you have kept up your skills and can communicate/respond with lucidity there is still a perceived "gap". It is quite challenging keeping up with the energy level and current knowledge of the best/brightest 30 to 40-year-olds who dominate much of the programming world.
That said, in my post-SAS tech career I have been treated with respect by most of my younger colleagues.