Aging out of tech

[Anonymous]

I’m a female approaching 50 who has been working in tech for years, but I have not made it to management and honestly I don’t want to work in that area.

Our industry hit a tough patch. Last year I was laid off twice, but I did manage to get a few offers and took up a new job. I have been there for a year and now the company sold the tech part to investors. They started restructuring and I worry about layoffs.

I’m the only woman in several dev teams and I’m older by like almost twenty years than the guys on my team.

It’s getting harder and harder to find a job as I’m aging.

I don’t know what to do. Are there other avenues I should be exploring? Teaching? I don’t know.

I want to work for ten more years at least.

[Anonymous]

Good luck! I left tech at 46 out of fear for what is ahead (but not in dev). Hope others have more specific advice but meanwhile - and unfortunately - I would make sure to keep hair colored and stay current-ish on trends etc to ensure you are still a “cultural fit”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good luck! I left tech at 46 out of fear for what is ahead (but not in dev). Hope others have more specific advice but meanwhile - and unfortunately - I would make sure to keep hair colored and stay current-ish on trends etc to ensure you are still a “cultural fit”

where did you go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a female approaching 50 who has been working in tech for years, but I have not made it to management and honestly I don’t want to work in that area.

Our industry hit a tough patch. Last year I was laid off twice, but I did manage to get a few offers and took up a new job. I have been there for a year and now the company sold the tech part to investors. They started restructuring and I worry about layoffs.

I’m the only woman in several dev teams and I’m older by like almost twenty years than the guys on my team.

It’s getting harder and harder to find a job as I’m aging.

I don’t know what to do. Are there other avenues I should be exploring? Teaching? I don’t know.

I want to work for ten more years at least.

To be honest you can keep working true tech but you will need to hustle, relocate, join crazy startups. And prepared lots of lay offs.

Why not just do tech at a boring bank or credit union where 50 is a common age? Will not be exiting but a job

[Anonymous]

You aren't laid off until you are laid off. You have a job. Keep the job, until you no longer have the job.

You being a woman may save you. You being an outliner, a woman and older is unique. It may save you, it could.

[Anonymous]

What is your career progression, you should be a principle or architect by now. If you want more stability join govt contracting or even the government directly.

[Anonymous]

Do 50 year old men also have this problem or is it just women? In my line of work a 50 year old gets more respect than a 20 something!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is your career progression, you should be a principle or architect by now. If you want more stability join govt contracting or even the government directly.

OP here. I haven’t made to architect yet, but I’m on that track and am close to it in this company.

I’ve truly been working in this role for maybe 10 years.

I started my career late, in mid thirties, I had to self teach a lot.

Then I had to take off a few years when DC was born.

And I was always the only one or one of two women anywhere. I have to be twice as competent just be on the same level with the guys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do 50 year old men also have this problem or is it just women? In my line of work a 50 year old gets more respect than a 20 something!

And what is that? Lawyer, Big 4 Partner, Doctor, Professor?

In tech older knowledge is useless. Imagine me telling kids at work I did Y2K work in 1998 or even better we hired ex college football players to work in tech in early 1980s as the data center equipment was so heavy. They laugh

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do 50 year old men also have this problem or is it just women? In my line of work a 50 year old gets more respect than a 20 something!

And what is that? Lawyer, Big 4 Partner, Doctor, Professor?

In tech older knowledge is useless. Imagine me telling kids at work I did Y2K work in 1998 or even better we hired ex college football players to work in tech in early 1980s as the data center equipment was so heavy. They laugh

COBOL begs to disagree.

https://www.devx.com/news/cobol-at-65-still-a-powerhouse-in-the-tech-industry/
(Irony: COBOL was invented by Adm. Grace Hopper)

[Anonymous]

OP, what are your tech skills? Do you have a security clearance?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do 50 year old men also have this problem or is it just women? In my line of work a 50 year old gets more respect than a 20 something!

And what is that? Lawyer, Big 4 Partner, Doctor, Professor?

In tech older knowledge is useless. Imagine me telling kids at work I did Y2K work in 1998 or even better we hired ex college football players to work in tech in early 1980s as the data center equipment was so heavy. They laugh

Older knowledge isn’t useless but you have to target your job at industries that need it. Brand new startup? No, they’ll be using all the shiny latest technology. But an risk-averse industry like gov, defense, industrial robotics, finance, space, etc? Yeah, they want people who are confident in the old stuff and ideally have a track record of transitioning older tech to newer tech in a very safe and stable way.

OP, what is your skillset in tech? Maybe we can suggest directions or industries that might be a good fit.

[Anonymous]

That's tough, I'm at the age where I worry about losing my job because I really don't want to start over.

How about joining a test team? Probably doesn't pay as well as a developer but if you don't want to do management that could be an option.

Contact all of the local woman owned companies and get on their lists of potential hires if they win a contract.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do 50 year old men also have this problem or is it just women? In my line of work a 50 year old gets more respect than a 20 something!

And what is that? Lawyer, Big 4 Partner, Doctor, Professor?

In tech older knowledge is useless. Imagine me telling kids at work I did Y2K work in 1998 or even better we hired ex college football players to work in tech in early 1980s as the data center equipment was so heavy. They laugh

Or that maintain COBOL-based systems is your jam!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do 50 year old men also have this problem or is it just women? In my line of work a 50 year old gets more respect than a 20 something!

And what is that? Lawyer, Big 4 Partner, Doctor, Professor?

In tech older knowledge is useless. Imagine me telling kids at work I did Y2K work in 1998 or even better we hired ex college football players to work in tech in early 1980s as the data center equipment was so heavy. They laugh

COBOL begs to disagree.

https://www.devx.com/news/cobol-at-65-still-a-powerhouse-in-the-tech-industry/
(Irony: COBOL was invented by Adm. Grace Hopper)

This. Just because no one learns older tech doesn't mean that there aren't businesses and governments reliant on it.