Wrinkly software devs - or not?

[boxman]

Hi

Just wondered whether and software devs out there still reckon they'll be contract coders beyond their early 40s?

I've worked with a few devs in their 50s but I'm sure they've been on $hit money and only got the gig because they knew some old language or process.

What with the influx of overseas body shop personnel and not getting any younger I'm wondering whether I should move into PM sooner rather than later?

Thoughts...?

cheers

Rob

[Buffoon]

Hi

Just wondered whether and software devs out there still reckon they'll be contract coders beyond their early 40s?

I've worked with a few devs in their 50s but I'm sure they've been on $hit money and only got the gig because they knew some old language or process.

What with the influx of overseas body shop personnel and not getting any younger I'm wondering whether I should move into PM sooner rather than later?

Thoughts...?

cheers

Rob

I'm well out the contracting game now with my own business, but from what I see in the market the over thirty's should be worried. It looks like there are a few years once you are out of university while you are cheap and hungry when you have a chance, but after that the majority are on the exit path. I’d never advise a youngster to go into the computer business; you will never last long enough to pay off your student loans.

[Diestl]

My plan is spend 10-15 years (30-45) and hopefully pay of my mortgage and save a wad, then either keep contracting or take a cushy permie position or start a business.

[VectraMan]

but from what I see in the market the over thirty's should be worried.

I'm worried. At 35 I'm not sure for how long I'm going to be able to be a developer, or even if I want to be one.

[Diestl]

I've meet a lot of contractors in their 40s doing well but by 50 you need to start thinking of plan B.

[BrilloPad]

My plan is spend 10-15 years (30-45) and hopefully pay of my mortgage and save a wad, then either keep contracting or take a cushy permie position or start a business.

That was my plan. Then I got divorced!

I have tried for plan B but no luck yet. Looks like permie for me. I reckon recession in 2010 so I am looking at 2009 as the peak.

[tim123]

That was my plan. Then I got divorced!

I have tried for plan B but no luck yet. Looks like permie for me. I reckon recession in 2010 so I am looking at 2009 as the peak.

I've seen three downturns in my adult life, 78, 89 and 2001 (the first was before I graduated) so yep, they come along every 10 years. Though, this current upturn seems much smaller than the previous three, probably because of the influence of offshoring.

ISTM that "the good times" going forward from 2005-? is "having a job", and not "rate increase by 20% each year". Of course your technological area may differ, but I'm still only seeing contract offers in the 30-35ph range which is what was on offer during the 2001 downturn (except that then, I had a 1 in 100 chance of geting the job, now it's 1 in 2). In 1999 I was on 42 ph and no sight of getting back there.

And BTW. I am not someone working with legacy skills. I currently working on a C++ GUI for an embedded product. If you don't think that is leading edge, look around you. How many embedded products do you see without a 'windows' like user interface? (most of them!)

tim

[Diestl]

"And BTW. I am not someone working with legacy skills. I currently working on a C++ GUI for an embedded product. If you don't think that is leading edge, look around you. How many embedded products do you see without a 'windows' like user interface? (most of them!)"

.net

[Lockhouse]

I'm 44 and still a developer although I do the occasional team lead role. I find that it's business skills that make all the difference getting decent rates.

[tim123]

"And BTW. I am not someone working with legacy skills. I currently working on a C++ GUI for an embedded product. If you don't think that is leading edge, look around you. How many embedded products do you see without a 'windows' like user interface? (most of them!)"

.net

Since when was .net been an 'embedded device'?

(an embedded device is e.g. a TV/Car/Lift etc). Yes they have HMI's in them and some of then have GUI's, but they don't have 'mouse' controlled GUI's.

tim