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You’re How Old? We’ll Be in Touch

nytimes.com

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Re: You’re How Old? We’ll Be in Touch

#111

Post by baby »

DougN7 wrote: post #79
baby wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's complete bullshit, I work for one of those company that happens to have video games around. Not everyone play, but after work, we sometimes get around and play for a couple of hours and we just have so much fun that we end up going home late. What's wrong with that?

Absolutely nothing wrong with it. But people with families, kids that need help with homework, etc won't be able to do that often if ever. Being young very often also means having fewer commitments.

If you can't play video games with your friend/coworkers from times to times, then your life suck, kids or not.

Re: You’re How Old? We’ll Be in Touch

#112

Post by baby »

hiram112 wrote: post #97
baby wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's complete bullshit, I work for one of those company that happens to have video games around. Not everyone play, but after work, we sometimes get around and play for a couple of hours and we just have so much fun that we end up going home late. What's wrong with that?

Nothing wrong with it at all. But realize that companies do not give you these 'perks' like free food, games, laundry, etc. as a bonus. It is to keep you at work for more and more hours. Honestly, I don't think it is a bad thing if you do enjoy this sort of thing and are young without kids, wife, etc. The problem is that it creates the 'bro' culture that turns off anyone who isn't in the same demographic. When most o…

> But realize that companies do not give you these 'perks' like free food, games, laundry, etc. as a bonus. It is to keep you at work for more and more hours.

It's give and take, nothing is for free, and this deal is a pretty good one imo :)

> The problem is that it creates the 'bro' culture that turns off anyone who isn't in the same demographic. When most of the team is staying late, bonding with COD, those that don't - the 40 year old who needs to pick up his kid, or the 25 year old woman who doesn't play XBox - tend to be excluded as time goes on.

So we shouldn't bond and have fun because of these people :D?

Re: You’re How Old? We’ll Be in Touch

#113

Post by laurieg »

jlarocco wrote: post #38
RottenHuman wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

how do you work for someone without them knowing your age? Do you keep that out of your CV? How about credentials and signing your contact? Seems very strange to me.

Your age or birth date probably shouldn't be on your CV. Unless you think it's relevant to the job somehow, but it probably isn't. Not only should it not matter, but it's illegal for employers to ask about it or consider it in their hiring decision, so having it right there on your CV puts them in a bit of a tight spot. I think some recruiters will actually remove that type of thing before forwarding it on to the int…

That depends on what country you're in. In Japan it's very standard to include date of birth, gender and a photograph on CV's.

On the whole I hate the practice, but you have to consider cultural norms when doing the job-hunting dance.

Re: You’re How Old? We’ll Be in Touch

#114

Post by protomyth »

bbcbasic wrote: post #74
hirundo wrote: post #8

I'm a grey beard who applied to a company specifically advertising for young developers. Got the job without mentioning my vintage. That was six years ago and they still haven't seen my face. I waited a while to gently break the news to them. If you're a technological senior citizen remote work is your friend.

Plastic surgery is another option for onsite jobs.

Sadly, there was an article a while back specifically about tech workers doing just that. Might want to lighten up on down voting given the truth of the statement.

Re: You’re How Old? We’ll Be in Touch

#116

Post by bbcbasic »

hiram112 wrote: post #87
ishbits wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This probably only applies to various pockets like Silicon Valley or New York. For the most part, developer salaries aren't that great. I'd be much better off had I become an accountant, or perhaps even a plumber running my own business.

Spot on. A majority of the HN crowd is in their 20's. They're making around 6 figures (albeit in a very high COL area) while their peers are still in grad school, slinging it out in the gig economy for peanuts, or even living at home still searching for a decent job. Software seems like it was a good choice. By mid 30's, though, their intelligent friends will be doing well in their fields, too - making partner in the…

With such high salaries what if you sleep on a couch, live off the proverbial ramen for a 5-10 years, pump it all into investments, then go retire somewhere cheaper?

Re: You’re How Old? We’ll Be in Touch

#117

Post by mdadm »

ourmandave wrote: post #34
hirundo wrote: post #8

I'm a grey beard who applied to a company specifically advertising for young developers. Got the job without mentioning my vintage. That was six years ago and they still haven't seen my face. I waited a while to gently break the news to them. If you're a technological senior citizen remote work is your friend.

Ah, "Grey beard". The term Microsoft used to separate the old from the young at a conference when they first introduced the .NET framework. Classic "old bad, good new" sales. As in, "you Grey Breads remember using C++ and MFC, etc." Yes I remember. Because it was yesterday just before I came to your conference! I still went home and started learning what the hell XML was though. =(

>As in, "you Grey Breads remember using C++ and MFC, etc."

As one who is neither "Grey" nor "Bread," you may wish to check your spelling :)

But yes, it's kind of sad that this is the way things are now :(

Re: You’re How Old? We’ll Be in Touch

#118

Post by gozur88 »

hirundo wrote: post #8

I'm a grey beard who applied to a company specifically advertising for young developers. Got the job without mentioning my vintage. That was six years ago and they still haven't seen my face. I waited a while to gently break the news to them. If you're a technological senior citizen remote work is your friend.

They gave you a job without ever seeing you in person? That seems kind of rare.

Re: You’re How Old? We’ll Be in Touch

#119

Post by hiram112 »

baby wrote: post #112
hiram112 wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nothing wrong with it at all. But realize that companies do not give you these 'perks' like free food, games, laundry, etc. as a bonus. It is to keep you at work for more and more hours. Honestly, I don't think it is a bad thing if you do enjoy this sort of thing and are young without kids, wife, etc. The problem is that it creates the 'bro' culture that turns off anyone who isn't in the same demographic. When most o…

> But realize that companies do not give you these 'perks' like free food, games, laundry, etc. as a bonus. It is to keep you at work for more and more hours. It's give and take, nothing is for free, and this deal is a pretty good one imo :) > The problem is that it creates the 'bro' culture that turns off anyone who isn't in the same demographic. When most of the team is staying late, bonding with COD, those that do…

No I think you should do what you want; it certainly isn't the job of young male engineers to make sure everyone else is included in their environment. God knows that other groups were never especially inclusive to many of 'us' growing up.

Re: You’re How Old? We’ll Be in Touch

#120

Post by ido »

laurieg wrote: post #113
jlarocco wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your age or birth date probably shouldn't be on your CV. Unless you think it's relevant to the job somehow, but it probably isn't. Not only should it not matter, but it's illegal for employers to ask about it or consider it in their hiring decision, so having it right there on your CV puts them in a bit of a tight spot. I think some recruiters will actually remove that type of thing before forwarding it on to the int…

That depends on what country you're in. In Japan it's very standard to include date of birth, gender and a photograph on CV's. On the whole I hate the practice, but you have to consider cultural norms when doing the job-hunting dance.

It's also customary in Germany, although I've never had a problem getting a job and I've never attached a photo to my resume.
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