Thinking about contracting - lots of questions

[castoff101]

Old fart ....

In contract as a Notes developer and fifty years of age!

No problems so far ...

[bobhope]

I think just lay off the stories about punch cards and you'll be fine.

[richard-af]

I think just lay off the stories about punch cards and you'll be fine.

Yep. I worked with a nice, more mature, coder about 2 years ago. He was aways blabbing on about punch cards, big old flexi-disk media, and all that. He really did talk himself out of a job in the end, I'm certain of it. Shame, as he was quite capable.

[Troll]

I knew a tester in his 60's at RBS last year... just met 2 more (females 1 perm 1 contract) on this gig & working for a 3rd party supplier - both must be late 50's or 60 & very very good- having been through t'mill a few times - they know what I want (Oh err) and without fail to date have delivered.
Only negative (or positive if you like) is that I don't spend all my time in meetings staring at their chests!

Testing is an area where age is a bonus IMHO

[DramaQueen]

Thanks for all your replies, I'm feeling a lot more enthusiastic now! Bobhope, I know to lay off the punch card stories ... I've even learnt a whole generation of kids programmes from the 80's to allow me to "pass" for 10 years younger or so. The kind or people who want to talk about Muffin the Mule these days are usually a bit umm... strange


DramaQueen

[robnjc]

IMO there is no such thing a "security" for permies anymore. I've worked all my life in the financial mkt, mostly insurance of one sort or another. I've worked with permies who have been outsourced, insourced and outsourced again. Usually with the associated degradation of benefits associated with such moves.

I'm currently contracting for a large insurance company and what IT they have not outsourced they are now "consolidating" in fewer locations. Guys with 20 & 30 years loyalty and experience and business & system knowledge are being made redundant, and whilst the balance sheet benefits in the dhort term the business suffers later.

Companies no longer deserve loyalty from their staff as they give none back. The only company I ever felt any loyalty for ended up making me redundant.

btw, I'm 47, returned to contracting 3 years ago after being forced out the last time during the Y2K code freezes. Best thing I ever did.

[TheFaQQer]

The kind or people who want to talk about Muffin the Mule these days are usually a bit umm... strange

Muffin the Mule has been redone for CBeebies now - it's a sign of having young children. If you throw in lines like "my parents / grandparents say it's nowhere near as good as it was in black and white..." then you may pass for even younger.

The same applies to Bill and Ben, if that helps.

[kingshuk]

In my experience end clients couldn't give a damn about age; they're more interested in getting somebody who knows their stuff.

I will second that. In my current contract the testing and business analyst team has quite a few people of that age group. Majority are contractors and are quite good. Never heard the hiring manager (or the permies here) talking about age being an issue.