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If you want long career in programming you should really do serious career planing during your 20s to make sure you check all important boxes: correct technolog

by dejv 10y ago

If you want long career in programming you should really do serious career planing during your 20s to make sure you check all important boxes: correct technologies, mix of different kind of companies, team sizes and roles. Otherwise you might get into complicated position down the road. I am in the early 30s and on top of my ability, but I don't see my future too bright from here. 10 years ago I make decision to do freelancing and work strictly alone. It was blast, but once my stream dry out I don't think I will ever find actual job: guy in late 30s/early 40s with string of trivial or dead end projects for unknown companies, no experience working in team and such. I am ok with it and I am having awesome time (and always had). Everybody just have to know on what career path they are and have plan B in their pocket.

dvirsky 10y ago
What makes you think your stream will dry out? Why wouldn't you be still doing this 10-20 years from now?
- dejv 10y ago
  Who knows, my main income streams are developing Delphi 5 applications (dead market), iPhone apps (market is changing and I see much less new gigs for solo developers) and Rails apps. Low hanging fruits seems to be picked and each new app needs to be much better, which require bigger teams.
  - dvirsky 10y ago
    You should definitely invest in your skill set then, and learn new technologies if you want to stay in the game - but age is not the critical factor here. Perhaps you've lost your passion? I'm about a decade older than you and I'm still continuously working on evolving my skills and learning new languages and technologies. I do it primarily because it excites me, and as an added bonus it keeps me ahead in the game :) Actually, the career path of a consultant is from I'm seeing around me, a very solid path for older guys who love programming. I know a couple of 50+ year old guys who still get tons of work, and it seems like since they are consultants, no one cares about their "cultural fit" etc.
    - dejv 10y ago
      Well, that was mostly point for others to consider better planing of their career. Personally, I am not going to be developer for much longer (unless some catastrophe happens). Income from my winery, various projects, rental properties and other businesses will soon replace my income from computer programming.
      - dvirsky 10y ago
        Oh, I read it as "plan you career as programmers" :) Good to hear you're finding other passions. Software is my second career BTW, I only started professionally at 29 (I've been programming since age 10). I know what being trapped in a job you lost your passion for, and can't get out of, feels like. And I feel very blessed that I found my professional path. I do know that it's not for everyone.
        dejv 10y ago
        I do like programming as a hobby and a business and I am surely going to continue doing it in next decades. Doing programming as a job with viable long term career is another topic with quite a few landmines. I am glad I am not into this race anymore.
amorphid 10y ago
I'm 41, 42 next month, and working as a software engineer. At age 39 I was a technical recruiter who decided to become a developer. I've never felt my age has been a significant factor in getting work. What has been a lot tougher is learning how to get a job I really want. It turns out there's no substitute for being good at something that makes other people money. If you don't focus on making yourself marketable, your going to have a hard time finding not-crappy development work at age 22 or 82. From late 2013 to late 2016, I burned through several dev jobs that drove me bonkers, or I drove them bonkers. Then I got better at figuring out what kind of job I want, what work I'd have to do to get that job, and which jobs to avoid. In February I found a job opportunity I actually like, actually got the job, and now I'm super happy. My teammates are in their 20s, 30s, and 50s. Age differences are never an issue. If anything, they are an asset.
smrtinsert 10y ago
"correct technologies". hah, good luck. if any of us had a crystal ball we would be billionaires, not still coding.
- dejv 10y ago
  It is very simple if you want to be employable person, just stick to trendiest and coolest stuff and switch when there is market demand for new tech. For past decade thats like Java/PHP -> Rails -> Objective C -> Node.js (or whatever). The point was that you should plan in advance if you want to be employeable and make sure to not stick in dead-end job/project. If your last ten years were spent writing ActionScript for unknown company, then good luck finding new job.

by dejv 10y ago

dvirsky 10y ago

What makes you think your stream will dry out? Why wouldn't you be still doing this 10-20 years from now?

dejv 10y ago
Who knows, my main income streams are developing Delphi 5 applications (dead market), iPhone apps (market is changing and I see much less new gigs for solo developers) and Rails apps. Low hanging fruits seems to be picked and each new app needs to be much better, which require bigger teams.
- dvirsky 10y ago
  You should definitely invest in your skill set then, and learn new technologies if you want to stay in the game - but age is not the critical factor here. Perhaps you've lost your passion? I'm about a decade older than you and I'm still continuously working on evolving my skills and learning new languages and technologies. I do it primarily because it excites me, and as an added bonus it keeps me ahead in the game :) Actually, the career path of a consultant is from I'm seeing around me, a very solid path for older guys who love programming. I know a couple of 50+ year old guys who still get tons of work, and it seems like since they are consultants, no one cares about their "cultural fit" etc.
  - dejv 10y ago
    Well, that was mostly point for others to consider better planing of their career. Personally, I am not going to be developer for much longer (unless some catastrophe happens). Income from my winery, various projects, rental properties and other businesses will soon replace my income from computer programming.
    - dvirsky 10y ago
      Oh, I read it as "plan you career as programmers" :) Good to hear you're finding other passions. Software is my second career BTW, I only started professionally at 29 (I've been programming since age 10). I know what being trapped in a job you lost your passion for, and can't get out of, feels like. And I feel very blessed that I found my professional path. I do know that it's not for everyone.
      - dejv 10y ago
        I do like programming as a hobby and a business and I am surely going to continue doing it in next decades. Doing programming as a job with viable long term career is another topic with quite a few landmines. I am glad I am not into this race anymore.

amorphid 10y ago

I'm 41, 42 next month, and working as a software engineer. At age 39 I was a technical recruiter who decided to become a developer. I've never felt my age has been a significant factor in getting work. What has been a lot tougher is learning how to get a job I really want. It turns out there's no substitute for being good at something that makes other people money. If you don't focus on making yourself marketable, your going to have a hard time finding not-crappy development work at age 22 or 82. From late 2013 to late 2016, I burned through several dev jobs that drove me bonkers, or I drove them bonkers. Then I got better at figuring out what kind of job I want, what work I'd have to do to get that job, and which jobs to avoid. In February I found a job opportunity I actually like, actually got the job, and now I'm super happy. My teammates are in their 20s, 30s, and 50s. Age differences are never an issue. If anything, they are an asset.

smrtinsert 10y ago

"correct technologies". hah, good luck. if any of us had a crystal ball we would be billionaires, not still coding.

dejv 10y ago
It is very simple if you want to be employable person, just stick to trendiest and coolest stuff and switch when there is market demand for new tech. For past decade thats like Java/PHP -> Rails -> Objective C -> Node.js (or whatever). The point was that you should plan in advance if you want to be employeable and make sure to not stick in dead-end job/project. If your last ten years were spent writing ActionScript for unknown company, then good luck finding new job.