#AgeBias #SoftwareDeveloper #CareerStruggles #JobSearch #AIinTech
The Frustrating Reality of Age Bias in the Tech Industry
Are you a seasoned software developer hitting a certain age where it seems like nobody gives a damn about your skills and experience anymore? You’re not alone. As someone with over two decades of experience in the field, I’ve been facing this harsh reality for the past few years.
The Problem: Ignored Expertise
Despite my extensive background in web/software development and a proven track record of successful projects, recruiters and companies seem to overlook my capabilities. I’ve helped generate millions of dollars for businesses, yet my achievements go unnoticed.
- No Response to Applications
- Rejected After Interviews
- Dismissed AI Productivity
Solutions: Embracing Resilience
1. Showcase Value: Highlight specific accomplishments and results on your resume that demonstrate the impact of your work. Quantify your contributions to make them impossible to ignore.
2. Network Effectively: Attend industry events, connect with professionals on LinkedIn, and leverage your contacts to uncover hidden job opportunities. Personal referrals can make a significant difference in the hiring process.
3. Keep Learning: Stay updated on the latest technologies and trends in software development. Continuous learning not only enhances your skills but also showcases your commitment to growth and adaptability.
4. Consider Entrepreneurship: If traditional job search methods are proving futile, explore the possibility of starting your own software business. Your expertise and experience can be valuable assets in building a successful venture.
5. Seek Mentorship: Connect with other seasoned developers who have navigated similar challenges in their careers. Their guidance and advice can provide valuable insights and support during your job search journey.
Remember, age is just a number, and your passion for coding should not be hindered by societal biases. Stay resilient, continue pursuing your goals, and believe that the right opportunity is out there waiting for someone with your skills and experience. Don’t give up on your passion, keep coding, and show the world that age is no barrier to success in the tech industry!
yes, the ideal employe is between 20-35
Welcome to age discrimination.
How do they know your age though? Make sure you remove dates from your resume.
Mid 40s here. Yes, you’re absolutely correct.
I completely gave up and started claiming benefits from Feb 24. I’d rather be unemployed than work full time for peanuts and treated like garbage at my age now.
I’m just not interested anymore lol
It’s not over for you as a developer. I have not witnessed age discrimination, and have seen plenty of developers getting hired well into their 50’s.
However, what can give the illusion of age discrimination is skill stagnation. It’s very easy to do. You start your career, get comfortable with a stack and technologies, and soon enough, you realize that you haven’t learned anything new.
In many instances of those claiming age discrimination, you ask what languages and frameworks they’re working with and they’re like 20 years old. Gee, I wonder why you can’t find a job?
As long as you’re keeping up with tech, you’re good. You don’t even have to go overboard. Even if you learn a new framework each year, that’s more than enough.
Where are you applying (both geography and industry)?
What salary are you looking for?
Would you accept a lower salary?
With your experience you may as well do freelance work. I did some SEO freelance work and I made ok money from it. Or potentially SaaS. I know next to nothing about coding so I was fairly restricted in the SaaS field but I was still able to make money from SEO
Consider leaving off all education dates if it can determine your age. Although if you did get a degree part way through your career definitely leave that on the resume because it could make you look younger.
My general rule for work history nowadays is to only include the last decade because it seems to me like nobody pays you more for more than a decade of experience.
I also think that one of the reasons for age discrimination against older people is because it’s a lot easier to overwork and under pay a 25-year-old and then it is somebody with decades of experience.
The issue is people don’t need the experience anymore. I have worked with university leavers that know java inside out, coding standards, git, Jenkins, DevOps and project management and their first job paying 40k a year is amazing for them.
Design patterns have already been made for the majority of issues. Automation has helped in the same way.
Have you considered being a QA guy? Sideways move but you will be better than any QA guy. Plus QA is not cool or snazzy so university leavers won’t want that role.
In the US, Principal Software Engineer roles ask for 10-15 years experience. I don’t know about Europe, but i’d encourage you to keep applying. Make sure you’re applying for roles that match your experience level. Make sure your LinkedIn is optimized (it should contain everything on your CV if you can manage it) and add relevant skills. You should be getting overwhelmed by recruiters about now.
I’m 35 and I’m starting to feel the age discrimination.
“Eww, you’re ***40***. Doesn’t mean that you’re, like, going to retire in a month?”
or
“Eww, you’re ***40*** and you’re still looking for a job? Shouldn’t you be, like, the CEO or something already?”
-some recruiter’s internal thoughts somewhere
Age discrimination freaks me out the most. At some point you’re just too tired to change fields. And you need money to continue your current lifestyle. You’re no longer a 20yo who can live in small a room with 5 other people.
Change your resume to appear younger.
Welcome to the club. I transferred into a division as a senior manager. Everyone was 20-25 years my junior. They did not give a shit what I had to say. Basically said we are not listening to you and there is nothing you can do about it. We all reported to a V.P. and that position was vacant when I got there. They finally hired someone and I thought “Great. Now this shit gets straightened out.” She shows up and she is the same age as the rest of them. I lasted less than three months until she got rid of me.
Age discimination in tech is real. This is why I never buy products from sub 35 founders. Go F yourself.
I’ve been mistreated and abused also. Left a past role after a few months and during interviews, I get interrogated about why I left…as if I was the problem. Most recruiters are just trash and combined with the recession, it’s even more trash.
I’m 49…currently employed but looking for something else. What I’m finding is that I’m applying and interviewing for jobs where I’m basically checking all of the boxes in regards to what they say are their preferences. I have 20 years of experience and I’ve even been told in some instances that I was a top candidate, but they’re moving in a different direction and feel that they can get somebody with less experience cheaper and train them.
Damn… I hope it gets better, but maybe you can sell your resume and projects more, make it colorful rather than pure technical skills. because people really dont understand about truth they just wanna be happy from what they see. Im sure you deserve a great position. And this post made me fearful, im not in that age but currently have no job and feel like AI will fuk me over
After 40, you’re expected to either be a C Level or to just fuck off and get out of the way.
The levels of discrimination in this job market are criminal.
Never put the year of your graduation date on resume, do not do one way interviews as they discriminate, and cut your resume down to about 5 to 10 yrs of corp experience. They absolutely do discriminate.
Maybe just don’t mention 90% of your experience? Make your resume look ‘less experienced’, see what happens 🙃
Its not over for any of us! No matter the age!
Companies, HM, and Recruiters need to stop with the games and actually interview people as has been done in the past, or take the risk and hire directly from the resume!
I don’t waste time with silly ideologies on how to interview, hire people, creating resumes, or tests! Talking to people directly is my way. Within two weeks my new hire is being onboarded.
All of us want the same thing, a job with a livable wage!
Keep being who you are, doing what you know you need to do, and try your best! Let the rest go!
Easier said than done, I struggle with it and keep working it too!
First of all hats off for a great career and having so many accomplishments under your belt. I feel sorry for you that a talented employee like you has been facing so much age discrimination. I do understand that companies want to invest in youth but goddamnit having experience like yours is key to leading so many projects and you can bring so much value to a company. This tech recession has showed us egotistical tech grads the reality of our worth to a company. I have decided to work for tech only for few years and then to work on a business of my own rather than being employed. I really hope you find work for your caliber. Also fuck US govt and investors, their greedy nature has bought a calamity in society as a whole.
We age out of certain trades faster then others..
Our problem is,, as we age, we become less flexible, less likely to take a chance or think outside the box.
In a word, we settle into a routine and when that routine changes we fight it, rather then adapt and move on.
We in essence become..
THAT OLD GRUMPY GUY that keeps talking about the old days.
Been there, done that
Age 71 now.
We age out of certain trades, earlier then others.
I’m sorry it’s been so rough for you. My husband is in the same boat but over 50 and his resume reads like yours, stellar.
Do you work on apps by chance?
Try a functional resume instead of a chronological one. Remove education dates, and say “15+ years” of whatever you are describing in the summary. Leave off old technology.
Are you actually putting your age / birthdate on your CVs?
You’ve probably done all this already but:
– Take all dates off your resume
– Only list your last 3 jobs
– Don’t go over 3 pages. Try to keep to 2
– Don’t show up to the interview and look like a retiree
– lose weight if necessary and update your wardrobe
I’ll be 49 this year and got laid off last year. I just got hired somewhere last week after about 9 months of trying. I killed phone interviews and then got on video and never heard back. Fortunately, I look young, but my hair is gray af. One recommendation is to limit your resume back only about 10years and leave the graduation date off as that won’t give away your age as quickly. If you can’t sell yourself from your last decade, it’s you.