Software Development - Ageist Industry?

Firstly, apologies if this is not the correct section of the site...if not, please move it.

I would like to get the opinions of guys already in the industry regarding ageism?

i am currently at University studying programming focusing on C++ and Java, and will be 34 when I graduate. Various reports I have read indicate that ageism is rife and as such I am quite worried about finding that initial job straight out of Uni. I should add that I will be hoping to obtain a years industrial placement as well next year.

Thanks for your help and again, apologies if this is not in the correct section.

Thanks,


Darren.

This should get moved to general discussion.

I haven't seen ageism in my experience. The programmers where I work range in age of 25 - 50+, and I don't see preferential treatment going one way or the other.

You just need to make sure you are applying for an entry level position, and then do what you can to make yourself stand out from the other applicants (In a good way).

P.S. 34 isn't old at all :)

The biggest problem will be the economy, not your age.
Namely, there will still be a lot of people with a lot more skills than you still chasing fewer jobs.

I'd start looking now for your IP.

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Originally Posted by Salem

Namely, there will still be a lot of people with a lot more skills than you still chasing fewer jobs.

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Or with much lower rates.

It would help if you named your country and region. These things tend to vary from place to place. In Portugal you'll find ageism as being a big problem. 34 isn't still a bad age, but is borderline and you may experience some difficulties already. The reason in Portugal is strictly to do with the business decision to employ younger (they feel more energetic) people and pay lower wages. The government also actively supports this ridiculous idea in the shape of tax reductions to employers.

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The government also actively supports this ridiculous idea in the shape of tax reductions to employers.

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So companies get a tax break for hiring younger workers? Wow.

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Originally Posted by Mario F.

It would help if you named your country and region. These things tend to vary from place to place. In Portugal you'll find ageism as being a big problem. 34 isn't still a bad age, but is borderline and you may experience some difficulties already. The reason in Portugal is strictly to do with the business decision to employ younger (they feel more energetic) people and pay lower wages. The government also actively supports this ridiculous idea in the shape of tax reductions to employers.

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I'm from England - I should have mentioned that in my original post!

Thank's for all the responses so far.

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Originally Posted by bithub

So companies get a tax break for hiring younger workers? Wow.

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Actually no. I was discussing that with a colleague shortly after I replied. And I'm sort of wrong.

In an effort to reduce young unemployment numbers, they do offer tax reductions on those companies willing to hire young workers under unemployed status. A higher reduction than that offered when hiring older workers with more than 1 year of unemployment. The situation is a more complex because in addition companies do prefer to hire young workers since they work for less pay. On top of that you have a a developed sense that young workers are more technology-able. This is particularly visible on the local IT job market in which companies go to the point of posting job ads requesting workers to be less than 35 years old(!).

I did suffer through this. When at the beginning of this year I filled bankruptcy on my bookstore business, I started hunting for jobs in an effort to restore my old career. I couldn't get a job. My age got in the way even while job-hunting in the newspapers (although I did reply to many regardless). It took a friend and her contact to finally get me a job, 5 months later, on a known pharmaceutical doing Oracle DB maintenance. I'm not seeing many ways out. So C++ stopped being an hobby and I'm now taking seriously its apprenticeship in an effort to use this has my way out back into a career with any future.

(well that and a pet project with a 3 friends to start a company... but we'll see...)

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Originally Posted by darren78

I would like to get the opinions of guys already in the industry regarding ageism?

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When I interview for new coders I don't care what age you are.

I only care that you can pass a simple code test, will fit into my team personality wise and I think I can keep you motivated.

I find older people have more life experience and responsibilities, which tends to make them easier to keep motivated.