5 ms·

Let's not lump all "tech workers" together. I worked at Google in my mid 40s, and I think the median age in my work group was 40s, and in my division was 30s.

Let's not lump all "tech workers" together. I worked at Google in my mid 40s, and I think the median age in my work group was 40s, and in my division was 30s. But we'd see lots of younger folks when we'd go to lunch the next building over. It is the same in my group at Netflix. In my late 40s, I'm close to the median age. In the cafeteria, we're some of the oldest. I guess the best advice for staying relevant is to find a niche that still has some future where you're an expert in your field. And get lucky, very lucky. There are a bunch of us in our late 40s / early 50s that were heavy BSD/Linux kernel contributors who are still relevant, even though we code in C like its 1995. I think this is similar to some folks from an older generation who wrote the COBOL that a lot of enterprises still run on. BTW: Isn't the cutoff for greygler was 50? I seem to remember being too young to join when I was in my mid 40s.

dejv 9y ago
It seems like core technology groups have always higher median age. I remember working in small aerospace company and all the programmers were 40+ with leader in his 60s and I was single person in my 20s. Same working in another instrumentation company (average age in around 50, with lead dev approaching 70). Maybe working on web stuff is still too culture dependent or even just young space to have enough of old people as changing industries is always hard when you are well in your career.
- gozur88 9y ago
  A relative of mine worked with a guy who was seduced from retirement by a company desperate for his particular skill set. One of those guys who does something I don't even have the context to understand. Skill set is key. What you don't want to be is the old guy with the same skill set as people who are expecting to make half what you expect to make.
  - drewg123 9y ago
    Well said. That's exactly what I was trying to say, but much more clearly stated.
- qq66 9y ago
  Core technology is usually built on older technology (C, C++) to avoid platform risk. The flashy product stuff is built on the latest bits for execution speed. The best C++ architects/leads are in their 60s and the best React Native architects/leads are in their 20s or 30s.
philsnow 9y ago
re greygler cutoff, the group membership is pretty much signing yourself up for a mailing list IIRC. I had signed up when I worked there because one of the things they were advocating for (improving the vision insurance plan) was relevant to me. As an aside, my optometrist told me that the company with the best vision coverage that she was aware of was not any of the big four, but Oracle.
- megaman22 9y ago
  Oracle does have fantastic health benefits, at least according to the gf who is in sales.
Overtonwindow 9y ago
I caution for you to be careful not to look at this through rose colored, king of the hill glasses. Mid 40s, so I would assume your salary to be well over six figures? Maybe approaching the 3/4 of a million mark? That's a very easy place to sit and say things look great. By corporate standards at some point you'll max out your usefulness due to old age, health issues, and it will make sense to replace you with someone who is younger, costs less, works longer hours, and fits more with the culture. I genuinely hope this never happens, as it would be both unethical, and illegal, but that's the Silicon Valley of today.
- mixmastamyk 9y ago
  Who is making 3/4 million? ((polishing resume))
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
- KirinDave 9y ago
  My friend, a salary of 180k is in the top 20% of salaries in the bay area for engineering positions. Exceptional principal engineers may hit 250-300k/yr but there are very few such positions to compete for. With stock grants? Maybe that's taxable. But uh, wow. It's not "well beyond 6 figures."
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
ourmandave 9y ago
I guess the best advice for staying relevant is to find a niche that still has some future where you're an expert in your field. Angular 1 and 2?
- sfg 9y ago
  Everywhere is different, but generally front-ends/clients are less scary to rip up, replace, and completely re-write. If you're going for the unsackable by dint of arcane knowledge in the long lost technology from another age you want to be right in the guts of things. Something close to the core where everyone is worried that one mistake will cause problems that'll ripple out in all directions. Just like those kernel hackers mentioned above, or the people writing business operation code in Cobol on a main-frame.
gunsandnachos 9y ago
I'm 49 and find that ageism is alive and well. I've been a *nix admin since the late 90s, and my last couple of interviews it was obvious they were shocked I wasn't in management. I will never be in management. To be honest, I don't like working with people. I prefer and have always preferred being in the data center basement or in the data center proper. My age, coupled with with the fact that I prefer machines over people doesn't endear me to this newer generation of techs. I have been asked at my last several jobs why I don't use Facebook, LinkedIn, or any other social media. I'm a greybeard and I like it that way. I'll gladly ride out the terminal windows job and light programming until they show me the door. Meetings and budgets are for others...
- ringaroundthetx 9y ago
  > I have been asked at my last several jobs why I don't use Facebook, LinkedIn, or any other social media. You are isolating yourself as well though. One study I read is that biases appear in full force after two stereotypes are validated. Maybe make a linkedin, since that has nothing to do with your age, just so you have an answer that doesn't alienate you, and people might ignore your age for longer.
- bradknowles 9y ago
  I’m 50 and I have also been asked why I don’t use Facebook or LinkedIn. Then I tell people that I did use them years ago, until I learned about the problem where I was the product being sold, and that anyone who still uses those services is just voluntarily making themselves one of the herd of cattle to be bought, sold, culled, or whatever. That usually shuts them up.
- ronhav3 9y ago
  I have been in hiring meetings where lack of social media presence in a candidate was a disqualifier for the HR types.

dejv 9y ago

It seems like core technology groups have always higher median age. I remember working in small aerospace company and all the programmers were 40+ with leader in his 60s and I was single person in my 20s. Same working in another instrumentation company (average age in around 50, with lead dev approaching 70). Maybe working on web stuff is still too culture dependent or even just young space to have enough of old people as changing industries is always hard when you are well in your career.

gozur88 9y ago
A relative of mine worked with a guy who was seduced from retirement by a company desperate for his particular skill set. One of those guys who does something I don't even have the context to understand. Skill set is key. What you don't want to be is the old guy with the same skill set as people who are expecting to make half what you expect to make.
- drewg123 9y ago
  Well said. That's exactly what I was trying to say, but much more clearly stated.
qq66 9y ago
Core technology is usually built on older technology (C, C++) to avoid platform risk. The flashy product stuff is built on the latest bits for execution speed. The best C++ architects/leads are in their 60s and the best React Native architects/leads are in their 20s or 30s.

philsnow 9y ago

re greygler cutoff, the group membership is pretty much signing yourself up for a mailing list IIRC. I had signed up when I worked there because one of the things they were advocating for (improving the vision insurance plan) was relevant to me. As an aside, my optometrist told me that the company with the best vision coverage that she was aware of was not any of the big four, but Oracle.

megaman22 9y ago
Oracle does have fantastic health benefits, at least according to the gf who is in sales.

Overtonwindow 9y ago

I caution for you to be careful not to look at this through rose colored, king of the hill glasses. Mid 40s, so I would assume your salary to be well over six figures? Maybe approaching the 3/4 of a million mark? That's a very easy place to sit and say things look great. By corporate standards at some point you'll max out your usefulness due to old age, health issues, and it will make sense to replace you with someone who is younger, costs less, works longer hours, and fits more with the culture. I genuinely hope this never happens, as it would be both unethical, and illegal, but that's the Silicon Valley of today.

mixmastamyk 9y ago
Who is making 3/4 million? ((polishing resume))
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
KirinDave 9y ago
My friend, a salary of 180k is in the top 20% of salaries in the bay area for engineering positions. Exceptional principal engineers may hit 250-300k/yr but there are very few such positions to compete for. With stock grants? Maybe that's taxable. But uh, wow. It's not "well beyond 6 figures."

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

ourmandave 9y ago

I guess the best advice for staying relevant is to find a niche that still has some future where you're an expert in your field. Angular 1 and 2?

sfg 9y ago
Everywhere is different, but generally front-ends/clients are less scary to rip up, replace, and completely re-write. If you're going for the unsackable by dint of arcane knowledge in the long lost technology from another age you want to be right in the guts of things. Something close to the core where everyone is worried that one mistake will cause problems that'll ripple out in all directions. Just like those kernel hackers mentioned above, or the people writing business operation code in Cobol on a main-frame.

gunsandnachos 9y ago

I'm 49 and find that ageism is alive and well. I've been a *nix admin since the late 90s, and my last couple of interviews it was obvious they were shocked I wasn't in management. I will never be in management. To be honest, I don't like working with people. I prefer and have always preferred being in the data center basement or in the data center proper. My age, coupled with with the fact that I prefer machines over people doesn't endear me to this newer generation of techs. I have been asked at my last several jobs why I don't use Facebook, LinkedIn, or any other social media. I'm a greybeard and I like it that way. I'll gladly ride out the terminal windows job and light programming until they show me the door. Meetings and budgets are for others...

ringaroundthetx 9y ago
> I have been asked at my last several jobs why I don't use Facebook, LinkedIn, or any other social media. You are isolating yourself as well though. One study I read is that biases appear in full force after two stereotypes are validated. Maybe make a linkedin, since that has nothing to do with your age, just so you have an answer that doesn't alienate you, and people might ignore your age for longer.
bradknowles 9y ago
I’m 50 and I have also been asked why I don’t use Facebook or LinkedIn. Then I tell people that I did use them years ago, until I learned about the problem where I was the product being sold, and that anyone who still uses those services is just voluntarily making themselves one of the herd of cattle to be bought, sold, culled, or whatever. That usually shuts them up.
ronhav3 9y ago
I have been in hiring meetings where lack of social media presence in a candidate was a disqualifier for the HR types.