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> Currently, I'm almost 40, and I seek only for remote work (family issues). I have been paid for programming for the last 14 years. I had different jobs like sysadmin, dba, programmer; using over 10 different languages. And despite all that searching for work is really hard.

Unfortunately this isn't really unexpected. Between inexperienced kids with nothing to lose, ambitious graduates with strong short term experience, and experienced programmers specializing in one area it's hard to be competitive solely based on experience. The programming profession is very "free", but that also means you have to manage your own career and make sure that you're "selling" something that is relevant for the "buyer".

From an industry perspective the blondy is right. When you're in your mid-thirties you're expected to either to progress in your career to a role with greater responsibility, have an established career at larger companies or sell your services on the open market as a consultant/freelancer. Basically something that is using your experience. Anything else might not only not be competitive, but also a red flag.

This doesn't mean you aren't eligible for a job, just that it will be harder to find one.

(And I know that all this might sound arrogant which is why people won't really tell people how it is)


But my career progresses... but not in the management way. Just imagine a surgeon (who loves cutting people :)) and a hospital looking for one. Do you think it's OK to fail a great candidate just because she doesn't lead people?

Btw. going this way it looks like everybody in their thirties should be a leader. Who are they going to lead then? If we have a team of 10 great programmers, one will be a manager or a team leader... does it mean the rest will never find a new job because of that?

And side projects... a family, kids, jobs, and side projects - choose three of them unless you forget about sleeping.

"Hey, I'm a great surgeon, I love my job, in my free time I make operations on other people for free, I don't sleep, but here you have documentation of my free work. And no, I'm not going to work for you for free. And yes, I'm going to work for free after work. Oh, you ask about my kids. Who cares, I have my free work to do".

Yea


A surgeon will have something like four years of undergraduate school, four years of medical school and five years of relevant experience. People with an equivalent profile in software generally don't have a problems finding work.


> Basically something that is using your experience.

Why can't you use your experience to actually be a GOOD developper? Why do you have to manage or consult something?

Would you say the same thing to e.g. a surgeon?


Because the folks staying at a single company for decades or just moving around various "Programmer 1" and "Programmer 2" jobs are not good developers. In my experience socially and professionally, the best developers are very quick to move to another position at another firm. Whether it's for the money, the better title, fewer working hours in the week, or whatever I'm not sure is the point, but that they're not sticking around waiting for their current circumstances to change.

And most companies only have 3-4 levels of developer before you start leading teams, mentoring, etc. Even those that specifically have architecture tracks where you can do more senior-level technical work without any management or teaching overhead will only have a few of those positions as well.

Stagnation is death, and maintaining the same position for a decade is a pretty good definition of stagnation.


Why do the current circumstances have to change? What's bad about having a job that you actually have experience with.

That's like saying that you should divorce every few years because otherwise you seem like a bad husband... Rich people and prominents do it all the time, after all.


It's sad tho', interviewing is a pain in the backside, I would love to stay with and grow with an organisation for a solid chunk of time, 10+ years. But it seems impossible - far easier to get a promotion/raise/transfer whatever by moving. And this makes no sense for companies either!


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