5 ms·

I'm approaching 50, am employed, though I've found that the job search is a bit harder now-- particularly with bay area startups I saw a %100 correlation: If th

by MCRed 12y ago

I'm approaching 50, am employed, though I've found that the job search is a bit harder now-- particularly with bay area startups I saw a %100 correlation: If the interview as on video (eg: they could see the white in my beard) I didn't get a second interview. If by phone (no video) I'd get offers. Also, last year in Austin I made exactly %20 more than I did in Seattle in 2000. Kinda sad-- up %20 in 15 years-- that doesn't even cover the inflation over that time period. (and I was making more than everyone else there, including some senior people.) I've decided I need to switch to management, as it's time. In fact it's past time, but I have found that too many companies-- particularly startups-- don't promote managers from engineers, they want "biz guys" who don't understand software to be the "managers" way too often. (at least outside of silly valley.)

tajen 12y ago
> white in my beard What about tinting ("dieing?" sorry for not knowing the word in English) your hair? It's superficial, but if it lands a job, it's fair.
- MCRed 12y ago
  Thought about that, but found a situation before trying it. I think I will do that next time... which is kinda sad, cause really, my experience makes me really valuable.
  - monkeyshelli 12y ago
    But in the end, would you really want to go work for a shop like that? If they don't want you based on the color of your beard, then I wonder what "other" surprises lurk around the corner.. I'm in my mid-thirties, so please take that into an account. Also I know that these are the questions that I have to ponder in the coming years, so your insights are highly valued.
    - danmaz74 12y ago
      Very often these biases work at an unconscious level in people who are otherwise perfectly fine. Don't discount this effect.
- jacquesm 12y ago
  If that's what would land a job you can keep it.
aikah 12y ago
there was a news once about a 40/50 y.o. guy ( I think he was from UK ) who couldn't get a job as a manager in US because he was semi-bald. So he shaved his head entirely and found a good position in a flash. I need to find the link , this was an interesting story. Look is important,unfortunately, but it isn't always about age, sometimes you're too fat, or not white enough ...
- zo1 12y ago
  >"sometimes you're too fat, or not white enough ..." Or black enough... Or female enough... Or Non-foreign enough (yes I got this one before)... All sorts of stuff, to be honest.
- wyclif 12y ago
  I remember that story, it was on the front page of HN back in 2012. The guy shaved his head, did a fashion makeover, bought the latest iPhone or whatever, and then on top of that had eyelid surgery with the goal of making his appearance more youthful: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/27/us-valley-ageism-idUSBRE8AQ0JK20121127 http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/27/us-valley-ageism-i...
  - wyclif 12y ago
    Original discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4838215 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4838215
  - tim333 12y ago
    Before and after photos of Randy Adams (60) who I think was the one with the eye lift: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2239277/CEO-Randy-Adams-60-shaves-head-wears-Converse-job-youth-obsessed-Silicon-Valley.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2239277/CEO-Randy-Ad...

by MCRed 12y ago

tajen 12y ago

> white in my beard What about tinting ("dieing?" sorry for not knowing the word in English) your hair? It's superficial, but if it lands a job, it's fair.

MCRed 12y ago
Thought about that, but found a situation before trying it. I think I will do that next time... which is kinda sad, cause really, my experience makes me really valuable.
- monkeyshelli 12y ago
  But in the end, would you really want to go work for a shop like that? If they don't want you based on the color of your beard, then I wonder what "other" surprises lurk around the corner.. I'm in my mid-thirties, so please take that into an account. Also I know that these are the questions that I have to ponder in the coming years, so your insights are highly valued.
  - danmaz74 12y ago
    Very often these biases work at an unconscious level in people who are otherwise perfectly fine. Don't discount this effect.
jacquesm 12y ago
If that's what would land a job you can keep it.

aikah 12y ago

there was a news once about a 40/50 y.o. guy ( I think he was from UK ) who couldn't get a job as a manager in US because he was semi-bald. So he shaved his head entirely and found a good position in a flash. I need to find the link , this was an interesting story. Look is important,unfortunately, but it isn't always about age, sometimes you're too fat, or not white enough ...

zo1 12y ago
>"sometimes you're too fat, or not white enough ..." Or black enough... Or female enough... Or Non-foreign enough (yes I got this one before)... All sorts of stuff, to be honest.
wyclif 12y ago
I remember that story, it was on the front page of HN back in 2012. The guy shaved his head, did a fashion makeover, bought the latest iPhone or whatever, and then on top of that had eyelid surgery with the goal of making his appearance more youthful: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/27/us-valley-ageism-idUSBRE8AQ0JK20121127 http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/27/us-valley-ageism-i...
- wyclif 12y ago
  Original discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4838215 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4838215
- tim333 12y ago
  Before and after photos of Randy Adams (60) who I think was the one with the eye lift: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2239277/CEO-Randy-Adams-60-shaves-head-wears-Converse-job-youth-obsessed-Silicon-Valley.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2239277/CEO-Randy-Ad...