Maybe you know this, but finding a good job is very different skillset than programming. And it's one that many talented programmers are incredibly bad at. Based purely on anecdotal evidence, the older are often worse because the self-promotional approach rubs them the wrong way.

They resist the self-promotion to their own peril.

Do you have a portfolio site, sample open source projects, a blog? None of those are golden tickets and can hurt you if done poorly, but they are examples of what I've seen missing when I talk to unemployed (or under-employed) programmers.

Time spent learning how to get a job is probably better spent at this point than learning your craft better. Just short term.

Ageism can lower the odds, but you probably wouldn't be happy in those places anyway.