Contractors over 40

[Francko]

None of that description above is my experience. I report directly to the IT Director and regard my staff as equals. I also stay quite hands on. Mind you I'm not really doing IT but business analytics. Moneywise I think I'm vastly overpaid for what I do, i.e. it's an excellent money to stress ratio
The politics comes in when you're fighting for budget to fund your pet projects.

That's good but you must admit that it's not really the norm. I am quite open to be permanent (well, I am now) if the salary is good and the environment is decent but then again, there are few positions like that and plus the situation tends to change quite often. Switching from one permie job to another one doesn't really make much of a difference with contracting (oh, well only less money in the pocket).

[Francko]

By 40 you should be retired.

Or at least have the option to retire if you would like to.

I can retire tomorrow if I want. But to do what? To go the park and feed the birds?

Plus, if you have children you can never really retire (unless you don't care about their future).

How old are you tazman anyway?

[shaunbhoy]

I get depressed thinking that I have to spend the next 15 years as a muppet.

Doesn't seem to have deterred you for the last 40 Francko!!

[~Craig~]

It depends on the customer's organisation. If there is a right mix and balance of ages then getting hired is not a problem. I refer you to the dot con boom era. You had start ups with 20 year olds as directors and decision makers. They would never hire anybody older than themselves and we all know what happened there.

Young people tend to look at older people as "past it" and dinosaurs. Unable to learn new tricks, etc. Not saying it's right or wrong. The hirer could either see you as a voice of experience (which is what you're trying to show) or as a relic of the punch card days.

It's how you sell yourself.
Also I agree with the others. You don't see many old coders because by that time you'll hate it

Not 100% true. I'm 24 and don't think people over 40 are past it; in fact quite the opposite, particularly when it comes to client-facing non-technical roles. How can someone with 2 years experience compare to someone else with 20................................

Makes more sense to learn from these peoples experience.......then pension them off

[Francko]

How can someone with 2 years experience compare to someone else with 20................................

Oh well, I know some permies who have never done any work for 20 years. Surely you know more than them with your 2 years experience.

[~Craig~]

Oh well, I know some permies who have never done any work for 20 years. Surely you know more than them with your 2 years experience.

well i'm sure there are a few exceptions.........

[darmstadt]

Well I'm over 40, just, but in my field thats a bonus as nearly everyone one is retiring or is getting on. When I go to sites I'm normally the youngest and because its now getting a rarity to find younger people in my field I can command better rates.

[sasguru]

Another factor to take into account is that the dot.com bust caused a huge dip in students taking IT, so there will be a demographic effect in the future. Plus the new graduates coming out are not a patch in quality on those from 20 years ago, wot was taught proper.

Personally I welcome the dumbing down of society. It makes people who still keep high standards an obvious elite.

[Jabberwocky]

The problem with the obvious elite is that they are obvious but not elite. They just think they are.

Give me young supple pliable flesh, over the rotting stench that emanates from most over 40s. They fart, they belch, they sweat in buckets. Their appearance is old-fashioned, their minds are closed.
They smell, they think they are funny, they make no effort. They are old tired flesh and they think experience is king. Experience of what ? Doing nothing for the last 20 years.

Everyone over 40 should die - that is the way the human body was designed.
After that it is just not worth keeping the old banger going.

[sasguru]

The problem with the obvious elite is that they are obvious but not elite. They just think they are.

Give me young supple pliable flesh, over the rotting stench that emanates from most over 40s. They fart, they belch, they sweat in buckets. Their appearance is old-fashioned, their minds are closed.
They smell, they think they are funny, they make no effort. They are old tired flesh and they think experience is king. Experience of what ? Doing nothing for the last 20 years.

Everyone over 40 should die - that is the way the human body was designed.
After that it is just not worth keeping the old banger going.

And you my friend, will forever be a turd to be trodden underfoot.