I am a 65 years old software engineer who has worked for Apple, Adobe, eBay, Microsoft, VMware, Cisco, File maker, x-o Communications, 2 Wire, and two other startups. I've been fired five times in my career. I always find another job within 3-4 weeks, even during a recession. My work has been outsourced to US or China four times - mostly in the past eight years. However, there is always another job opportunity waiting for later.
I love what I do. I'm still doing it; and I have no immediate plans to stop doing it. Besides, I'm good. It's not so much because I'm a genius, but because I've been in software development for a long time. And I've learned from my mistakes. In fact, there is no generalized computer language in which you cannot program. Also, there is no operating system platform that I am not comfortable working on. And, in addition to the United States, I've also worked overseas at Apple's factories in China and Ireland. In addition to English, I have learned to speak (scarcely) Spanish and Italian, and I can manage about ten sentences in Mandarin.
I managed to do all of this while being successfully married for 40 years, raising two adult children (one a Netflix software engineer) and now I have five grandchildren. According to the latest Social Security report I receive annually from the government, my total lifetime income to date is: dollar 3,042,040; and I'm not done yet.
That said, it is very true that age and outsourcing are rampant in Silicon Valley. Before I was 45, I had a better than average chance of finding a job after just one interview. Now, aged 64, it takes a dozen or so interviews to get the next job. Even then, sometimes I have to work as a contractor without benefits. And I even learned to tolerate that the interviewee of young arrogant and entitled Preppies, most of those who think they are somehow better than me despite not having a tenth of what I have, nor my excellent academic credentials (I have a B.S. in civil engineering and an M.S. in computer science at the University of Texas A & amp ; M, the latter at the top of my class).
So, the answer to your question is: no, the development of the software is certainly not a job without going out! It's a great job. Is it more difficult to get your next job as you get old. And that! If you love him like me, nothing but death or ill health can stop you. All it takes is a determination. I have decided to move into part-time counseling and full-time retirement on November 1, 2019. However, I will continue to plan and possibly attend classes at nearby Texas State University - San Marcos. I do not give up. I'm just entering a new phase. Write by john: Innovative game programmer with over 12 years of experience in gaming field. Helped launch start-up online gaming forum in 2014. Worked on a team that developed top-10 products for three years in a row. Seeking lead game programmer position to utilize knowledge and skills to advance portfolio and potential for increased responsibility.
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