In theory, if the tech hiring was purely about skillsets, one could adjust the interview process to focus only on that. I know some orchestras have shifted to "

In theory, if the tech hiring was purely about skillsets, one could adjust the interview process to focus only on that. I know some orchestras have shifted to "blind auditions" to eliminate bias, for instance, and it has helped out some groups previously left out of orchestras due to bias (female musicians notably). I think it would be possible to shift a technology-oriented hiring process towards those lines if one was most concerned about getting the best people for the job. In practice, to be honest, a lot of the stories I hear about age bias seem to come from the SV "startup culture" scene and a few of the other "new technology" type companies. In some ways, I almost think it's their loss. Passing over a fair bit of good talent just to get that, er, "culture fit" they want doesn't seem very optimal to me.