Aging out of tech

[Anonymous]

Ignore the "DEI" trolls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Doubtful, most big tech companies are going to lower the bar to hire semi competent females because of dei quotas

-big tech hiring manager

The bar is a lot higher for women.
I couldn’t believe some of the interview questions that male candidates didn’t answer and were considered.

I had to answer trivia after trivia and answer correctly just to get through initial rounds.

[Anonymous]

I would consider tech at somewhere non-tech: banking, healthcare, university, state government, federal government, even tech support for a school system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would consider tech at somewhere non-tech: banking, healthcare, university, state government, federal government, even tech support for a school system.

You think this is more fulfilling / better paid than big tech?

Banking is absolutely terrible if you enjoy tech. So much red tape. And tech ppl are not well-treated by the bankers.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I don’t make a FAANG salary, but my stable 120-160K salary while living in a low cost area allowed me to pay for private school, live in a nice house and do occasional expensive vacations.

I also work remotely and have a very comfortable life. So I’m very content.

[Anonymous]

This happened to my husband - after a 25 year career he hit a wall, multiple lay offs and restructures and dry spells after never worrying his entire career. It went from people begging him to work for them to struggling to stay relevant almost over night.

He pivoted hard, we bought a small business that aligns to his recreational passions. It is a risk but we don't see a future for him in tech and figure he can take his energy and try to build something on his own.

[Anonymous]

I would look into Fed civil service jobs. Leas age discrimination and more stability. Pay not the best but the benefits are fine. If one can land such a job, probably would have stable employment until choose to retire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I don’t make a FAANG salary, but my stable 120-160K salary while living in a low cost area allowed me to pay for private school, live in a nice house and do occasional expensive vacations.

I also work remotely and have a very comfortable life. So I’m very content.

Federal civil service would not preclude that salary. Most Fed jobs are on-site these days, instead of remote.

[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.

Our profiles sound similar and worries too! All I can say is even though we are much older than the guys in their mid 20's, our experience, intuitions, anticipation far surpass them. Take the advantage of these skills which are developed only over time and stay there as long as you can. Mid 20's guys were born with technology in their hand and that makes them appear extremely confident and also maybe intimidating. But the ones who are able to produce flawless results are only 5% of them.

Keep yourself updated by taking courses on Udemy and if possible, get certifications.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Our profiles sound similar and worries too! All I can say is even though we are much older than the guys in their mid 20's, our experience, intuitions, anticipation far surpass them. Take the advantage of these skills which are developed only over time and stay there as long as you can. Mid 20's guys were born with technology in their hand and that makes them appear extremely confident and also maybe intimidating. But the ones who are able to produce flawless results are only 5% of them.

Keep yourself updated by taking courses on Udemy and if possible, get certifications.

If it makes you feel better , my 22 year old Cornell CS grad does not have a job yet either

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it makes you feel better , my 22 year old Cornell CS grad does not have a job yet either

US citizens who looking for CS jobs should apply to NIST in G'burg, the Army Research Lab in Adelphi, the various Naval Surface Warfare Centers (at Carderock, Indian Head, & Dahlgren), NavAir Systems Command at Pax River, NOAA in Silver Spring, and Naval Research Lab in DC.

Many of these have "direct hire" authority, which means they do not have to post all job openings online. Each has lots of CS related technology work. Even if goal is private sector, civil service can be a good place to start.

Step 1: edit resume to say "US Citizen" explicitly. This totally matters.
Step 2: look at USAjobs.gov and apply for any relevant openings in nearby locations
Step 3: check websites of above organizations to read up on openings and how they hire people. Follow any application instructions very carefully.
Step 4: write a nice 1-page cover letter asking about job opportunities and enclose a resume and send it to HR Dept at each of the above organizations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it makes you feel better , my 22 year old Cornell CS grad does not have a job yet either

US citizens who looking for CS jobs should apply to NIST in G'burg, the Army Research Lab in Adelphi, the various Naval Surface Warfare Centers (at Carderock, Indian Head, & Dahlgren), NavAir Systems Command at Pax River, NOAA in Silver Spring, and Naval Research Lab in DC.

Many of these have "direct hire" authority, which means they do not have to post all job openings online. Each has lots of CS related technology work. Even if goal is private sector, civil service can be a good place to start.

Step 1: edit resume to say "US Citizen" explicitly. This totally matters.
Step 2: look at USAjobs.gov and apply for any relevant openings in nearby locations
Step 3: check websites of above organizations to read up on openings and how they hire people. Follow any application instructions very carefully.
Step 4: write a nice 1-page cover letter asking about job opportunities and enclose a resume and send it to HR Dept at each of the above organizations.

USA JOBS is so hard to use. My recent grad finds very little CS there. Searching 2210 and Pathways

[Anonymous]

I’m an architect (buildings!) and can’t do anything with tech and that is so limiting. If you are a techie and a quick study, you should transition to tech specialist on software like Revit. Another one that planners (land!) planners use is ArcGIS. You would be in high demaand even with no degree in that profession.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it makes you feel better , my 22 year old Cornell CS grad does not have a job yet either

US citizens who looking for CS jobs should apply to NIST in G'burg, the Army Research Lab in Adelphi, the various Naval Surface Warfare Centers (at Carderock, Indian Head, & Dahlgren), NavAir Systems Command at Pax River, NOAA in Silver Spring, and Naval Research Lab in DC.

Many of these have "direct hire" authority, which means they do not have to post all job openings online. Each has lots of CS related technology work. Even if goal is private sector, civil service can be a good place to start.

Step 1: edit resume to say "US Citizen" explicitly. This totally matters.
Step 2: look at USAjobs.gov and apply for any relevant openings in nearby locations
Step 3: check websites of above organizations to read up on openings and how they hire people. Follow any application instructions very carefully.
Step 4: write a nice 1-page cover letter asking about job opportunities and enclose a resume and send it to HR Dept at each of the above organizations.

USA JOBS is so hard to use. My recent grad finds very little CS there. Searching 2210 and Pathways

See Step 3 and Step 4. Many of those tech-heavy government orgs do not post/use USAjobs.gov -- because they have Direct Hire authority from OPM.

Also, consider Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) at Ft Meade.

[Anonymous]

Resume for recent grads should list upper-level coursework related to the technology area (networks, web) where she wants to work.

Also, make sure specific tech skills (OS, programming languages, whatever) are obvious when reading the resume.

US Citizen being explicitly listed on the resume is essential for civil service jobs.