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A comment on Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B (2009). Parent comment

Re:Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B (2009) by MCRed on Sunday April 12, 2015 @02:14AM (#9362345)
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.)

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Re:Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B (2009) by aikah on Sunday April 12, 2015 @03:51AM (#9362549)
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 ...

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Re:Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B (2009) by wyclif on Sunday April 12, 2015 @04:51AM (#9362676)
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-i...

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Re:Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B (2009) by tim333 on Sunday April 12, 2015 @09:13AM (#9363230)
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-Ad...

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Re:Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B (2009) by wyclif on Sunday April 12, 2015 @05:34AM (#9362761)
Original discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4838215
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Re:Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B (2009) by zo1 on Sunday April 12, 2015 @04:51AM (#9362675)
>"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.

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Re:Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B (2009) by tajen on Sunday April 12, 2015 @03:11AM (#9362456)
> 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.

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Re:Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B (2009) by MCRed on Sunday April 12, 2015 @03:38AM (#9362527)
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.
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Re:Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B (2009) by monkeyshelli on Sunday April 12, 2015 @04:03AM (#9362575)
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.

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Re:Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B (2009) by danmaz74 on Sunday April 12, 2015 @04:33AM (#9362637)
Very often these biases work at an unconscious level in people who are otherwise perfectly fine. Don't discount this effect.
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Re:Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B (2009) by jacquesm on Sunday April 12, 2015 @03:39AM (#9362528)
If that's what would land a job you can keep it.
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