Older contractors

[mattster]

I worried about the same when I got back into contracting in the middle of last year, after over 10 years out of the game (and 15 years since I had to interview for a role..). One thing that has really struck me in my current role (pretty staid commercial bank) is just how old everyone is. I'll be 50 by the end of this week, and I don't feel old at all there - there is a lot of grey hair around my floor, average perhaps a little younger than me (mid 40's) but also plenty older. Not sure what this is due to - I remember contracting in teams where everyone was around my age (late 20s, early 30s) earlier in my career, so are we just seeing the same cohort (aged) now? Is it because I am doing relative dinosaur tech (.NET) and all the yoots are elsewhere? Or is it partly because the workforce was unnaturally young 20-30 years ago when you simply didn't have that many older people in dev roles with 20+ years experience because the field was relatively new back then? Probably some of all of that and more. But TLDR, especially as a project manager, is that I wouldn't worry about it.

[ResistanceFighter]

Just stick a backwards cap on during the interview and you will be fine

Seriously though - age is just a number - All about the right attitude, willingness, drive etc.

If a client passes on you because of age, I'd see that as a bullet dodged.

[Fraidycat]

Not sure what this is due to

Probably because the managers and senior techies who do the hiring are over 50 themselves, then i think there tends to be less or no age discrimination.

If they are are in their 30's themselves it is going to be a different story.

[northernladuk]

Seriously though - age is just a number - All about the right attitude, willingness, drive etc.
If a client passes on you because of age, I'd see that as a bullet dodged.

Sadly, as we see time and time again, this is simply not true. And I don't see one idiot recruiting being a reflection on the whole client.

There are exceptions to both comments, someimes those attitudes can help but no denying age discrimiation is a thing and yeah, if the client is a wizzy young start up with an average age of 24 then yes, probably not a good fit but not so in large big name clients.

[TwoWolves]

If you have hot tech on your CV and can still work hard you will always be in demand.

I'm getting close to 60 but have no problem getting contracts as I keep up with the latest trends and have a business-centric attitude that younger developers lack. Always end-up being asked to take tech lead within a few months.

Helps to work out, dress slick and dye your hair though. Don't want to look like an oap on the job.

[sadkingbilly]

Helps to work out, dress slick and dye your hair though. Don't want to look like an oap on the job.

[TheDude]

Large companies have launched major diversity initiatives and most of them will celebrate black history month, LGBTQ pride events and will have all sorts of internal affinity groups and events. Walking around the bank where I am currently gigging there are posters in all common areas and diversity is championed on internal and external websites.

When was the last time you saw a firm embracing and celebrating age diversity - it just doesn't happen and yet one thing that unites us all is that we get older.

[DoctorStrangelove]

What is this "hair" of which you speak?

[BlasterBates]

Age is no barrier, whether it ever was is open to debate. Our team recently engaged a contractor in his 60's. He had the best CV and knowhow.

[KinooOrKinog]

I always assumed age discrimination in the workplace was because employers don't want to take someone close to retirement age as they'll just need to repeat the hiring process again in a short time. Similar to why they don't want women of child bearing age.

For contractors though, retirement isn't really a factor the same way it is for a permie role so I would have though an older person would be a more attractive prospect as they've usually got more experience. That's how I would see it if I was a hiring manager. Depends on the industry though I suppose.