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Ask HN: Is ageism in tech still a problem?

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Re: Ask HN: Is ageism in tech still a problem?

#151

Post by carlosjobim »

OutOfHere wrote: post #148
carlosjobim wrote: post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What kind of "automated contingency process" is going to drive down a rural road in a blizzard with a chainsaw to get a tree of the power line? Even the best organizations have emergencies, that's just life. A business which has everything perfectly automated and organized to handle anything that happens is also a business that has no employees, because they won't need anybody working for them.

Huh. There are supposed to be dedicated pre-scheduled staff for it. If a storm is forecasted, the power companies have staff already waiting in trucks, ready to go anywhere in their designated zones. They are getting double or triple pay for it too if it's outside regular hours. Do not make the mistake of confusing it with waking someone up.

I know people who work with this stuff and are home on-call (and paid for that). A forecast is never 100% accurate? Very few people prefer to sit waiting in a truck for nothing to happen, rather than being on-call in their cozy home with their family.

Re: Ask HN: Is ageism in tech still a problem?

#152

Post by giantg2 »

Ageism is a huge problem, especially for some groups. If you have a disability, you might be stuck at non-terminal levels. This causes the hiring managers to question why someone with over 10 years experience, greying hair, and good creds (masters, multiple certs, etc) is applying for a mid-level role. There must be something wrong if you're not a senior. Well, yeah, that's kind of the definition of a disability.

Re: Ask HN: Is ageism in tech still a problem?

#153

Post by zeroCalories »

0xffff2 wrote: post #144
seadan83 wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My impression is dress-culture was (and still is somewhat) different on the US East vs West coast. The tech company I worked for in the mid 2000s on the East coast explicitly forbid jeans in the dress code.

Very much my impression too. I work for an org with sites scattered across the country. My colleagues in Virginia still regularly wear suits, while I in California haven't even owned a suit in many years. For no particular reason I can discern, the gradient seems to be pretty linear. Our Texas people are right in the middle formality wise.

It entirely depends on the industry. Banks, government, defense, etc. will feel very stuffy even on the west coast, while web companies will have greasy unshaven slobs even in Manhattan.

Re: Ask HN: Is ageism in tech still a problem?

#154

Post by ilc »

beng-nl wrote: post #113
goatlover wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't understand what physical appearance has to do with tech.

That’s the exact thing that GP is trying to spell out. They’re not saying that how you look impacts your real ability; or vice versa.

Ironically it DOES. Because part of your ability is your ability to convince others etc.

People think of ability as just technical, or just soft. It is mixing it all together that produces true strength.

If I wear a suit at the wrong time, it shows an inability to read the room, and in some firms may even have gotten my manager to ask if I was looking for a job!

So, understanding how to dress how you want to be seen is critical. I'm not saying it's high fashion time, but at least understand the audience, and the aura you want to put out.

Re: Ask HN: Is ageism in tech still a problem?

#155

Post by segmondy »

Yup, and it's rooted in reality too. Older folks might have more wisdom, but MOST, not all of them are slower, it takes them longer to figure out things, learn new things, they are more closed minded. I say this as an older folk clocking 50, I was very open minded to hiring older folks as a younger person and have done many, and I have been burned the most by older folks that interview great, can talk the talk but can't back it up with walk. Now, I'm not saying ALL, just MOST. ... this unfortunately will always be a problem, I'm seeing it now with LLMs, most older folks are very closed minded about it, and younger folks are embracing it. Tomorrow they will be shocked when no one wants to hire them. Such is life.

If you're older, keep your skills up to date, be chill, be open minded, and keep hope alive.

Re: Ask HN: Is ageism in tech still a problem?

#156

Post by xtracto »

leptons wrote: post #107
ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When the CEO is 28, it is the head where the fishrot starts. In The Days of Old, the folks running the corporation were almost always in their 50s. They might have been prejudiced towards folks my age (60s), but they didn't have issues with hiring what are now considered "older" folks (40s and 50s), with the only issue being cost (they might be ageist, simply for cost reasons). The prejudice from younger folks is cul…

>When the CEO is 28, it is the head where the fishrot starts. I had the misfortune of working for two "30 under 30 CEO" led companies. I was in my 40s at the time. Never again. I can relate to the "college, but being paid" description, but for me it was more like "high school, but being paid".

Oooh I relate so much to this. But I know my boss is an under-35 CEO that browses HN so I can't say too much haha.

Re: Ask HN: Is ageism in tech still a problem?

#157

Post by sameoldhn »

adamredwoods wrote: post #13
tuyguntn wrote: post #3

Yes, when 50 years old applies as a senior engineer, 25 years old senior engineers get uncomfortable. You might not notice it in any public conversation, but there is still a resistance: * will they be on-call? * can they work long hours? * how do I delegate to them? * are they going to resist new tech?

Recently, I've had a co-worker be "okay" with alerts in the middle of the night. I refused because I have to drive my child to school at 7.30am.

do school buses not exist anymore? what in the world?

Re: Ask HN: Is ageism in tech still a problem?

#158

Post by mixmastamyk »

msgodel wrote: post #126
ilc wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I call this "Wearing your uniform." You need to look like you are a person who would be doing the job. You wouldn't hire a gardner with smooth hands, clean shoes, and no dirt under their nails would you? Car mechanics, you can see it in their hands, and the way they act around cars. Every profession has its tells, from what we wear, to our physical traits etc. After a while, you know if someone adds up or not. But pa…

Not an older person but I genuinely don't like wearing jeans and t shirts and I never have. t shirts make me feel like I'm trapped and jeans are stiff and unpleasant (and always feel shaped wrong.) Also wearing what are essentially corporate ads on my body just feels brain dead. Shorts and a Hawaiian shirt are comfortable but I guess that's still not ok in the office even though everyone wants to pretend they don't c…

Khakis and outdoorsy button ups from the likes of Columbia, TNF, Patagonia, Uniqlo work. Also if a tshirt makes you feel trapped, it’s probably too small. There’s a W. Rast brand so soft and comfy I wear to bed.

Re: Ask HN: Is ageism in tech still a problem?

#160

Post by mixmastamyk »

segmondy wrote: post #155

Yup, and it's rooted in reality too. Older folks might have more wisdom, but MOST, not all of them are slower, it takes them longer to figure out things, learn new things, they are more closed minded. I say this as an older folk clocking 50, I was very open minded to hiring older folks as a younger person and have done many, and I have been burned the most by older folks that interview great, can talk the talk but ca…

I chase my tail a lot less (with failed refactorings) these days. Can’t help but be much faster than when I did. Tortoise vs. hare.
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