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I've been thinking about job searching lately, maybe a bit too much. I'm employed, so it is not any immediate concern for me, but one has to think ahead. Betwe

I've been thinking about job searching lately, maybe a bit too much. I'm employed, so it is not any immediate concern for me, but one has to think ahead. Between age discrimination that starts after 50, and how difficult the job search seemingly is...some people will have to work at least until they're 70. That's a solid 15-20 years more, after the job hunting is an uphill battle. If the work search is hard while you're at your peak, professionally speaking, how are you supposed to be stay positive after that? Me and my partner are doing everything we can to achieve some minimum level of FIRE, just in case. I've also accepted that sooner or later, probably the next 10-15 years or so, I'll have to accept the fact that I'm going to end up in a lifer position. If FIRE can't save my ass, I simply can't afford to hop around.

jackcosgrove 1y ago
It was always my understanding that software careers are shorter than other technical careers, and the higher wages compensate for this. More than compensate, if you invest early. If by FIRE you mean retire in your 50s, I don't think that's an aspiration. That should be an expectation. You might be able to work a full career in this industry, but I wouldn't plan on it.
- deleted 1y ago
  [deleted]
- icedchai 1y ago
  Most people don't have the temperament for FIRE. You have to live below your means, save a double digit percentage consistently, and invest. And you have to do it for decades. You need to be able to tough it out through the worst of times (like the dot-com bubble, financial crisis, covid, and random political chaos like tariffs.) You have to tune out the noise and always remember that on a long enough timeline, the market only goes up. And if you think it's "different" this time, it won't be for long.
  - monkeyelite 1y ago
    And all of that is made easier by having more income.
    - icedchai 1y ago
      Yes, if you can avoid the traps of life style inflation. That's easier said than done.
      - monkeyelite 1y ago
        Yes, it’s just very clear who the responsibility to succeed is on. And the only one to blame for failure is yourself.
raffael_de 1y ago
> If the work search is hard while you're at your peak, professionally speaking, how are you supposed to be stay positive after that? Life never gets easier with age. I guess that's just something we all have to come to terms with eventually.
- pmg101 1y ago
  I wouldn't say that at all. When I think back to all the store I set by ephemeral status things like worrying what was cool or if girls liked me in my twenties .. life is definitely a lot easier now I get to just be myself.
  - formerphotoj 1y ago
    I don't mean to rain on your parade...just want to say enjoy it now, and remember it later. Good luck.
  - mythrwy 1y ago
    100% I love middle age (54). It's not that things get easier, they don't and I realize I can't do what I could at 28 but my attitude about life has changed. Less chasing sex, less impulsive actions, less neuroticism. More contentment and acceptance. Also I have seen a lot of ways to be screwed over by now and zillion personality types and I can smell potential problems a mile away. On the downside I took what would have been a very minor fall in my 20's a few weeks ago and my shoulder still hurts. I'm not "old" like fallen and broke a hip but I would have been fully recovered after a few days 20 years ago I think. One piece of advice for young whippersnappers: Age comes up on you a lot faster than you think when you are young. Take good care of your body, your teeth, your gut and your mind and don't put off eating and sleeping right and losing those extra pounds. Solid, lasting relationships are worth more than possessions and status too in my opinion. Those are easier to build when you are young.
- fn-mote 1y ago
  > Life never gets easier with age. HAHAHA. I have so much more "fu" money now, it really takes a lot of pressure off. Something goes wrong? I can solve it with money. Stranded somewhere? Just pay. Friend in trouble? Help out.
3D30497420 1y ago
This is one of my main concerns. A lot of countries are talking about raising their retirement age, and I just think to myself, which tech company is going to hire a 68-year-old? Sure, I could transition into management, but my company just laid off a number of middle-managers and the ones left are expected to do more than just manage (code, design, etc.). So I'm not sure that's all that safe either. I like learning new things, and I hope to continue that into my 60s (and beyond), but I have to imagine picking up new skills will get harder as I age.
- Traubenfuchs 1y ago
  > A lot of countries are talking about raising their retirement age This is solely done to reduce/delay pension payments by pushing the old unemployed into lower social security / forcing them to live off of their savings. No one in any industry is looking for geratric 70 year olds.
  - mythrwy 1y ago
    The politician industry seems to love 70+ year olds! (But I think you have to get in at a younger age).
    - dmoy 1y ago
      Oh you mean for literally being a politician. Lol yea, just a very small industry. And the interview loop really sucks.
yepitwas 1y ago
It's been such an obvious self-own for tech workers not to capitalize on any of the multiple booms they've seen, and unionize.
- apwell23 1y ago
  employers preempted that option long time ago. h1b visa workers cannot be in an union.
  - vkou 1y ago
    Less than 17% of tech workers are on H1Bs. They can't exactly scab for the other 83%.
    - mixmastamyk 1y ago
      Wow, is it really ~15%? No wonder unemployment is so high.
      - vkou 1y ago
        Tech unemployment was also low with similar #s of H1Bs. Pretty sure that short term trends drive it more than long-term visa holder counts.
        apwell23 1y ago
        curious how is a 'tech worker' being defined here ?
  - triceratops 1y ago
    > h1b visa workers cannot be in an union There's a law that says this?
- moduspol 1y ago
  Unionizing may help some things, but it won't make it easier for the unemployed to get employed.
kstrauser 1y ago
I didn't have problems with age discrimination — I don't think — but I think because I countered it with energy and eagerness. "I'm ready to hit the ground running. Availability? Leave a laptop on my desk and I'll be there tomorrow. I'm not yet an expert in your line of business, but I've worked through 8 different industries and succeeded in each, and learning as I go is my favorite thing in the world. Let's go!" I feel like the underlying issue is less with age and more with ossification. If you're a world expert in Visual Basic but don't want to learn that "fad" TypeScript, well, get used to being unemployed.
- dymk 1y ago
  That’s the thing about age discrimination, they don’t care that you’re eager, they care that you’re over 50. How are you supposed to demonstrate you’re not just another ossified old fart if your résumé goes straight in the bin?
  - ryandrake 1y ago
    Don't put anything on your resume that allows them to guess your age. Don't include dates on your education. Leave out everything except your last 10 years of work experience. Leave out your COBOL skills. And so on...
    - kstrauser 1y ago
      Hard agree. I used to be really good at Perl, but you won't find that on my LinkedIn anymore. Old certs for obsolete skills? Gone. The job I had 18 years ago? I'd be happy to tell you about it if it comes up, but you'll have to hear about it in person because I'm not advertising it on my resume.
    - azemetre 1y ago
      The second they see and talk to you, they know your age...
      - kstrauser 1y ago
monkeyelite 1y ago
> next 10-15 years or so That’s a long enough tech career to retire. I don’t know you, but I know that even 65 year olds with 6 million in the bank are nervous to retire.

jackcosgrove 1y ago

It was always my understanding that software careers are shorter than other technical careers, and the higher wages compensate for this. More than compensate, if you invest early. If by FIRE you mean retire in your 50s, I don't think that's an aspiration. That should be an expectation. You might be able to work a full career in this industry, but I wouldn't plan on it.

deleted 1y ago
[deleted]
icedchai 1y ago
Most people don't have the temperament for FIRE. You have to live below your means, save a double digit percentage consistently, and invest. And you have to do it for decades. You need to be able to tough it out through the worst of times (like the dot-com bubble, financial crisis, covid, and random political chaos like tariffs.) You have to tune out the noise and always remember that on a long enough timeline, the market only goes up. And if you think it's "different" this time, it won't be for long.
- monkeyelite 1y ago
  And all of that is made easier by having more income.
  - icedchai 1y ago
    Yes, if you can avoid the traps of life style inflation. That's easier said than done.
    - monkeyelite 1y ago
      Yes, it’s just very clear who the responsibility to succeed is on. And the only one to blame for failure is yourself.

raffael_de 1y ago

> If the work search is hard while you're at your peak, professionally speaking, how are you supposed to be stay positive after that? Life never gets easier with age. I guess that's just something we all have to come to terms with eventually.

pmg101 1y ago
I wouldn't say that at all. When I think back to all the store I set by ephemeral status things like worrying what was cool or if girls liked me in my twenties .. life is definitely a lot easier now I get to just be myself.
- formerphotoj 1y ago
  I don't mean to rain on your parade...just want to say enjoy it now, and remember it later. Good luck.
- mythrwy 1y ago
  100% I love middle age (54). It's not that things get easier, they don't and I realize I can't do what I could at 28 but my attitude about life has changed. Less chasing sex, less impulsive actions, less neuroticism. More contentment and acceptance. Also I have seen a lot of ways to be screwed over by now and zillion personality types and I can smell potential problems a mile away. On the downside I took what would have been a very minor fall in my 20's a few weeks ago and my shoulder still hurts. I'm not "old" like fallen and broke a hip but I would have been fully recovered after a few days 20 years ago I think. One piece of advice for young whippersnappers: Age comes up on you a lot faster than you think when you are young. Take good care of your body, your teeth, your gut and your mind and don't put off eating and sleeping right and losing those extra pounds. Solid, lasting relationships are worth more than possessions and status too in my opinion. Those are easier to build when you are young.
fn-mote 1y ago
> Life never gets easier with age. HAHAHA. I have so much more "fu" money now, it really takes a lot of pressure off. Something goes wrong? I can solve it with money. Stranded somewhere? Just pay. Friend in trouble? Help out.

3D30497420 1y ago

This is one of my main concerns. A lot of countries are talking about raising their retirement age, and I just think to myself, which tech company is going to hire a 68-year-old? Sure, I could transition into management, but my company just laid off a number of middle-managers and the ones left are expected to do more than just manage (code, design, etc.). So I'm not sure that's all that safe either. I like learning new things, and I hope to continue that into my 60s (and beyond), but I have to imagine picking up new skills will get harder as I age.

Traubenfuchs 1y ago
> A lot of countries are talking about raising their retirement age This is solely done to reduce/delay pension payments by pushing the old unemployed into lower social security / forcing them to live off of their savings. No one in any industry is looking for geratric 70 year olds.
- mythrwy 1y ago
  The politician industry seems to love 70+ year olds! (But I think you have to get in at a younger age).
  - dmoy 1y ago
    Oh you mean for literally being a politician. Lol yea, just a very small industry. And the interview loop really sucks.

yepitwas 1y ago

It's been such an obvious self-own for tech workers not to capitalize on any of the multiple booms they've seen, and unionize.

apwell23 1y ago
employers preempted that option long time ago. h1b visa workers cannot be in an union.
- vkou 1y ago
  Less than 17% of tech workers are on H1Bs. They can't exactly scab for the other 83%.
  - mixmastamyk 1y ago
    Wow, is it really ~15%? No wonder unemployment is so high.
    - vkou 1y ago
      Tech unemployment was also low with similar #s of H1Bs. Pretty sure that short term trends drive it more than long-term visa holder counts.
      - apwell23 1y ago
        curious how is a 'tech worker' being defined here ?
- triceratops 1y ago
  > h1b visa workers cannot be in an union There's a law that says this?
moduspol 1y ago
Unionizing may help some things, but it won't make it easier for the unemployed to get employed.

kstrauser 1y ago

I didn't have problems with age discrimination — I don't think — but I think because I countered it with energy and eagerness. "I'm ready to hit the ground running. Availability? Leave a laptop on my desk and I'll be there tomorrow. I'm not yet an expert in your line of business, but I've worked through 8 different industries and succeeded in each, and learning as I go is my favorite thing in the world. Let's go!" I feel like the underlying issue is less with age and more with ossification. If you're a world expert in Visual Basic but don't want to learn that "fad" TypeScript, well, get used to being unemployed.

dymk 1y ago
That’s the thing about age discrimination, they don’t care that you’re eager, they care that you’re over 50. How are you supposed to demonstrate you’re not just another ossified old fart if your résumé goes straight in the bin?
- ryandrake 1y ago
  Don't put anything on your resume that allows them to guess your age. Don't include dates on your education. Leave out everything except your last 10 years of work experience. Leave out your COBOL skills. And so on...
  - kstrauser 1y ago
    Hard agree. I used to be really good at Perl, but you won't find that on my LinkedIn anymore. Old certs for obsolete skills? Gone. The job I had 18 years ago? I'd be happy to tell you about it if it comes up, but you'll have to hear about it in person because I'm not advertising it on my resume.
  - azemetre 1y ago
    The second they see and talk to you, they know your age...
    - kstrauser 1y ago

monkeyelite 1y ago

> next 10-15 years or so That’s a long enough tech career to retire. I don’t know you, but I know that even 65 year olds with 6 million in the bank are nervous to retire.