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Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B (2009)

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Re: Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B (2009)

#21

Post by isomorphic »

bikamonki wrote: post #2

More options: - Go solo. At 40 you should be experienced enough to handle up to mid-sized projects, alone and on a reasonable time-frame. Try to pick projects that your clients will actually use, with new features and support contracts you will have steady income for the long-term. - Go startup. Stop thinking you need to come up with the next über-for-x. There are plenty of opportunities for small sass shops that cat…

I'm over 40 and I've always worked as a consultant. Until recently I was the sole developer on a site doing eight figures in revenue (now I'm team lead). Without being arrogant here, if my skills match but someone doesn't want my level of experience, it's not a good sign for the someone.

On the flip side, I would love to throw out all of the languages and frameworks I've been using for the past few years and learn entirely new tech. That's part of the point of being in this business!

If you're a startup and have a bias against us greybeards, you're only hurting yourself. We'll learn your framework-du-jour and tell you how it bears an uncanny resemblance to something that didn't work so well in the past. Or maybe we've never seen anything like it, in which case we'll be delighted to cast aside all that old crap.

Re: Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B (2009)

#22

Post by jmspring »

danieltillett wrote: post #20
bikamonki wrote: post #2

More options: - Go solo. At 40 you should be experienced enough to handle up to mid-sized projects, alone and on a reasonable time-frame. Try to pick projects that your clients will actually use, with new features and support contracts you will have steady income for the long-term. - Go startup. Stop thinking you need to come up with the next über-for-x. There are plenty of opportunities for small sass shops that cat…

The problem with age is you become less flexible. If your have a business where you know what you will be doing in 6 months time then experience is great - when your plans change weekly then the flexibility of youth is what you want.

Define "less flexible", someone doing consulting has flexibility to pick and choose clients. Someone who continually learns is capable of picking and choosing technologies. I would think even someone in their twenties would have issues with "plans changing weekly".

Re: Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B (2009)

#23

Post by tptacek »

Don't specialize in things that depreciate as rapidly as programming languages! C++ experience is quickly getting less relevant over time, but stochastic calculus, digital signal processing, machine learning, and distributed systems aren't. Some of those specialties get more valuable; in fact, sometimes, the forces that make things like C++ less valuable actually clear the way for things like distributed systems to become more valuable.

I was allowed to offer only a single bit of career advice, that'd be what I'd say: don't specialize in programming languages. They're a trap!

(But then, I'm not quite 40 yet, so I could be wrong).

Re: Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B (2009)

#24

Post by isomorphic »

raldi wrote: post #16
comp1927 wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Latex's author already prove it wrong http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Knuth

Prove what wrong?

I think comp1927 means Knuth proves that one can get better with age. Which is a fine point, but Donald Knuth is a difficult lead to follow.

Re: Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B (2009)

#25

Post by jarsin »

Lets see every 20-30 year old we have brought in the past 3 years:

A) Is so arrogant they think they know it all. Then when they turn in the code it's barely passable and it become clear they are going to be difficult to work with.

B) Are overly emotional and they all take things way too seriously.

Now every 35+ person we have brought in for a project is:

A) Professional. Gets the job done and very well.

B) Sees the bigger picture and goes with the flow.

That's my personal experience but hey if I was management I would go with the 20 year old's all day long. As long as I did not know what they did or had to deal with them...Oh wait....

Re: Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B (2009)

#26

Post by brianwawok »

therealwill wrote: post #8

Or plan C. For younger engineers start thinking about financial independence. Software Engineers enjoy a high starting salary and an even higher mid career salary so it is entirely possible to achieve financial independence in your 30s-40s with a frugal lifestyle and smart investing.

Mr Money Mustache for the win!

Re: Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B (2009)

#27

Post by gamegoblin »

comp1927 wrote: post #15
bikamonki wrote: post #2

More options: - Go solo. At 40 you should be experienced enough to handle up to mid-sized projects, alone and on a reasonable time-frame. Try to pick projects that your clients will actually use, with new features and support contracts you will have steady income for the long-term. - Go startup. Stop thinking you need to come up with the next über-for-x. There are plenty of opportunities for small sass shops that cat…

Latex's author already prove it wrong http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Knuth

Knuth did TeX. LaTeX was Leslie Lamport. LaTex is short for Lamport TeX.

Re: Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B (2009)

#29

Post by sterl »

jarsin wrote: post #25

Lets see every 20-30 year old we have brought in the past 3 years: A) Is so arrogant they think they know it all. Then when they turn in the code it's barely passable and it become clear they are going to be difficult to work with. B) Are overly emotional and they all take things way too seriously. Now every 35+ person we have brought in for a project is: A) Professional. Gets the job done and very well. B) Sees the…

I've found I almost exclusively prefer working with 30+ year old engineers. There's a huge difference and it shows.

Re: Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B (2009)

#30

Post by chx »

isomorphic wrote: post #21
bikamonki wrote: post #2

More options: - Go solo. At 40 you should be experienced enough to handle up to mid-sized projects, alone and on a reasonable time-frame. Try to pick projects that your clients will actually use, with new features and support contracts you will have steady income for the long-term. - Go startup. Stop thinking you need to come up with the next über-for-x. There are plenty of opportunities for small sass shops that cat…

I'm over 40 and I've always worked as a consultant. Until recently I was the sole developer on a site doing eight figures in revenue (now I'm team lead). Without being arrogant here, if my skills match but someone doesn't want my level of experience, it's not a good sign for the someone. On the flip side, I would love to throw out all of the languages and frameworks I've been using for the past few years and learn en…

I usually summarize this thusly: "I have already made the mistake you are about to make". It should be obvious the time savings would worth it to "rent" me. And I am months away from my 40th birthday.
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