I think this particular problem seems to be reflected, certainly in this country (Ireland) in college work placements.
I am as old as personal computing (22) and am about to finish University. But last summer when I was on work experience with a major telco software house I was given 5 weeks productive work out of 24. The rest of the time I had to amuse myself. I didn't *waste* my time - I worked on some HP-UX ports and got to grips with Debian linux for the first time, installed a nameserver, built my own computer and a coupla other things. But considering I've spent the last 5 or 6 years in system adminsitration it seems unfortunate that I was consigned to a dark corner of the engineering dept and forgotten.
I do think that some start-up companies have the right approach....everyone regarded as a peer, regardless of age. That doesn't mean that older people get less respect, jsut that younger people get the respect they deserve.
However the average age profile of startups is generally mid-20-something so this is hardly surprising.
Slashdot Mirror
I think this particular problem seems to be reflected, certainly in this country (Ireland) in college work placements.
I am as old as personal computing (22) and am about to finish University. But last summer when I was on work experience with a major telco software house I was given 5 weeks productive work out of 24. The rest of the time I had to amuse myself. I didn't *waste* my time - I worked on some HP-UX ports and got to grips with Debian linux for the first time, installed a nameserver, built my own computer and a coupla other things. But considering I've spent the last 5 or 6 years in system adminsitration it seems unfortunate that I was consigned to a dark corner of the engineering dept and forgotten.
I do think that some start-up companies have the right approach....everyone regarded as a peer, regardless of age. That doesn't mean that older people get less respect, jsut that younger people get the respect they deserve.
However the average age profile of startups is generally mid-20-something so this is hardly surprising.