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Where Do All of the Old Programmers Go?

Posted by Cliff on from the wherever-it-is-I-hope-it's-FAR-from-a-cube-farm dept.

full-of-beans asks: "I work as a software developer for a large UK based international organization. Most of my colleagues that program are under 40 years old. Those that are over 40 tend to be in either Management or IT Support! I was wondering were do all the old programmers go? They can't all end up in management. I know we don't get paid enough to take early retirement. Is there some other career that tends to attract 40+ year old programmers, if so I'd like to know, because I'm not that far of 40 myself!"

1 of 799 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Simple. by AHumbleOpinion · · Score: 0, Redundant

    "Actually, as you get older you realize that school habits are not applicable to the real world. Jobs are not like a quiz, you shouldn't be pulling details from memory, that's why we have reference manuals."

    If you think Computer Science degrees are "about" memorization then you either went to a shitty school or don't have a CS degree.

    "Quiz" != "CS Degree"

    CS Degrees are about showing that you may have the potenitial to be a good programmer. If you think it means any more than that come back when you have more experience. People who are good programmers at the time they graduate generally did a lot of programming outside of their assignments.