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Ask HN: Is software engineering really a dead-end job after 35-40?

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Re: Ask HN: Is software engineering really a dead-end job after 35-40?

#31

Post by papaf »

anon284271 wrote: post #9

I believe (vanilla) software development is a young man's/woman's game. I realized this last year at age 38 and I've been rapidly trying to alter my career trajectory. - If you aren't a specialist, you are constantly competing against 20-somethings who will always be more current in their skills and breadth than yourself, because they have more free time than you have (e.g. I have a wife, kid) - I've written GUI widg…

The stereotype, based entirely on truth, is that they are cranky and hard to work with.

That's kind of full on ageism don't you think? I am an older developer and I am easier going than some younger members of my team who are very aggressive and overly emotional when discussing technical problems.

Re: Ask HN: Is software engineering really a dead-end job after 35-40?

#33

Post by Mc_Big_G »

I'm 46 and this question seems a little ridiculous if you're located in a good market. In the bay area there is such demand for developers that you will find a job. It may not be the most amazing, perfect job for you but the pay won't be "bad".

However, I do see a few problems:

1. If you've been out of the algorithm, leetcode, game for a while, passing the bs interviews is going to be a challenge. The truth is that almost no one uses that shit or they just google an implementation. So, you're choice is to dedicate a significant portion of your free-time to studying or use the shotgun approach unless you have a network "in".

2. It's probably going to be difficult for you if you refuse to learn new things. I've been specializing in front-end for a while and the framework I'm an expert in (Ember.js) is basically dead. Time to learn react. Luckily 90% of what I know translates.

3. If you want ever-increasing salaries, you're going to have a hard time. There is a cut-off for even the best senior developers. The only way up is management.

If you can still add value as a developer, someone will hire you.

Re: Ask HN: Is software engineering really a dead-end job after 35-40?

#35

Post by ribble »

anon284271 wrote: post #9

I believe (vanilla) software development is a young man's/woman's game. I realized this last year at age 38 and I've been rapidly trying to alter my career trajectory. - If you aren't a specialist, you are constantly competing against 20-somethings who will always be more current in their skills and breadth than yourself, because they have more free time than you have (e.g. I have a wife, kid) - I've written GUI widg…

in my view, the grays are better at vanilla development, while the upstarts want to spend their time diving into an endless parade of frameworks. freaking annoying.

Re: Ask HN: Is software engineering really a dead-end job after 35-40?

#36

Post by jabberslocku »

I'm 36 and run circles around guys in their early and mid 20's.

Every 2-3 years I reinvent myself with new tech and new challenges.

If you feel you cannot compete at 36 (my age) and are not getting interviews and offers from Amazon, Google, other companies.... then the problem is You and not your nominal age.

The fact that you're seeking out validation for self-victimization is alresdy going to shine through in your insecurities and victim complex. Leading to a self fulfilling prophecy.

Re: Ask HN: Is software engineering really a dead-end job after 35-40?

#37

Post by jabberslocku »

anon284271 wrote: post #9

I believe (vanilla) software development is a young man's/woman's game. I realized this last year at age 38 and I've been rapidly trying to alter my career trajectory. - If you aren't a specialist, you are constantly competing against 20-somethings who will always be more current in their skills and breadth than yourself, because they have more free time than you have (e.g. I have a wife, kid) - I've written GUI widg…

> I believe (vanilla) software development is a young man's/woman's game. I realized this last year at age 38 and I've been rapidly trying to alter my career trajectory.

Whether you think you can, or think you cannot: you're probably right.

How come I came to the opposite conclusion as you with similiar family obligations...where else can you earn 120k USD and work remote to spend time raising your children and banging your wife in between coding sessions throughout the day

> If you aren't a specialist, you are constantly competing against 20-somethings who will always be more current in their skills and breadth than yourself, because they have more free time than you have (e.g. I have a wife, kid)

I'm assuming that your wife is stay at home? In which case you would have more free time, not less.

On the other hand, if she works... then I understand.

Re: Ask HN: Is software engineering really a dead-end job after 35-40?

#38

Post by rossdavidh »

I _started_ working as a developer when in my mid-30's. I am 50 now. I get paid more than I did when I was younger, and I generally have less trouble getting a job. However, two caveats: 1) your age is not necessarily held against you, but it also doesn't buy you anything. Expect to need to learn new skills every year, just like your 20-something coworkers. 2) the older you get, the easier it is to feel snarky about every new technology that comes along, and nobody wants to work with that guy, even when they are sometimes right. Suppress the urge to pour scorn on every new library/framework/language/architecture that comes along. If it is actually that bad, then it will become apparent. In the meantime, see what you can learn from it.

Re: Ask HN: Is software engineering really a dead-end job after 35-40?

#39

Post by slipwalker »

my personal situation is: 45yo, just back to the corporate world after bankrupting my own consultancy company ( i shot myself on the foot with the tax and labor laws ) as a senior java developer. I fly circles around my 20-something teammates, and also around the tech team from our current client... became the de facto tech leader without even trying. Bad thing is, now i have more responsabilities than i bargained for, and dont't have that "workdays are just payed vacations" feeling anymore.

Re: Ask HN: Is software engineering really a dead-end job after 35-40?

#40

Post by andrei_says_ »

rossdavidh wrote: post #38

I _started_ working as a developer when in my mid-30's. I am 50 now. I get paid more than I did when I was younger, and I generally have less trouble getting a job. However, two caveats: 1) your age is not necessarily held against you, but it also doesn't buy you anything. Expect to need to learn new skills every year, just like your 20-something coworkers. 2) the older you get, the easier it is to feel snarky about…

Thank you for number two. Enduring the (perceived, not necessarily objective) idiocy of cargo culting and reinventing shinier but crappier wheels can be tiring.

On the other hand, there are always amazing new ways to think about code, new languages, new perspectives.

It’s an exciting field.

P.S. if you’re over 40 you owe it to yourself to read Dan Lyon’s Disrupted. He’s also the guy behind Fake Steve Jobs blog.

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