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Tech's Dark Secret, It's All About Age
theodp writes "Universities really should tell engineering students what to expect in the long term and how to manage their technical careers. Citing ex-Microsoft CTO David Vaskevitch's belief that younger workers have more energy and are sometimes more creative, Wadwha warns that reports of ageism's death have been greatly exaggerated. While encouraging managers to consider the value of the experience older techies bring, Wadwha also offers some get-real advice to those whose hair is beginning to grey: 1) Move up the ladder into management, architecture, or design; switch to sales or product management; jump ship and become an entrepreneur. 2) If you're going to stay in programming, realize that the deck is stacked against you, so be prepared to earn less as you gain experience. 3) Keep your skills current — to be coding for a living when you're 50, you'll need to be able to out-code the new kids on the block. Wadwha's piece strikes a chord with 50-something Dave Winer, who calls the rampant ageism 'really f***ed up,' adding that, 'It's probably the reason why we keep going around in the same loops over and over, because we chuck our experience, wholesale, every ten years or so.'"
who calls the rampant ageism 'really f***ed up,'
Phhhbbt, sounds like something your average old timer would say ...
'It's probably the reason why we keep going around in the same loops over and over, because we chuck our experience, wholesale, every ten years or so.'
Oh, sure the initial steps in the web's client/server model may have had resembled the dumb terminals and mainframes of the days of yore but with HTML5 my generation is bringing in a new original and fresh way of computing where worker threads and local storage give us the ability to distribute ...
*red LED under the skin of eldavojohn's arm starts flashing*
What's this!? What? Wait, no! Nooo! It can't be!
*eldavojohn stands up to run only to be met by two members of the sunset squad holding stun batons behind him*
No, I just turned 28! You bastards, I was supposed to have more time! It's not my time yet!
*as they drag him away, a young acne faced male takes his place and begins mockingly humming "Circle of Life" from the Lion King while tearing down the X-Files poster and MST3K figurines adorning the cubicle*
My work here is dung.
Hi there.
I'm 42. While concerned about my future in tech, I'm not too worried about long-term employment prospects because I see a looming labor shortage. The oldest Baby Boomers are turning 65. While many of them are not very tech-savvy, they are successful business men and women (e.g. yuppies, DINKs). As this huge generation begins to retire there will be a void to fill at all levels.
Worst-case I'll get a job in a nursing home refilling their Tang and listening to Vietnam stories.
Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.
Forgot one alternative - become the token "old guy" that helps keep the DOJ from breathing down management's necks.
Be prepared to have your red stapler taken away, though.
Troll? Really? Is that what you think it is?
Must have offended some baby tweaker.
By the way, this code would 'translate' 1,234,567,890 to One billion, two hundred thirty four million, five hundred sixty seven thousand eight hundred ninety shillings only.
Sheesh. That seems awfully specific. You might want to consider making a generic function that can do other numbers, too.
I thought he meant there are somewhere between 20 and 30 morons.
Wanna fight ? Bend over, stick your head up your ass, and fight for air.
He has. In fact his team is responsible for maintaining over two billion different functions that do those kinds of currency translations.
Hey - we must be working on the same project.
If libertarians are so opposed to effective government, why don't they all move to Somalia?