David Andrews wrote:
On Thu, 2005-07-14 at 07:56 -0500, Timothy Sipples wrote:
I'm 37
I wonder how your post would have been worded if you'd instead written:
"I'm 52". I'll bet it wouldn't have contained quite so much of this:
...
(b) Be mobile.
...
If your employer will not [...] see (b).
...
See (b)
...
If you can't, see (b)
It's hard to move around with roots, kids in college, parents in nursing
homes. I don't feel as mobile now as I did at 37, and I think I'm close
to the median age of ibm-mainers.
Just going by group demographics, it's more difficult for us to find
work. All other things being equal, if you and I were to interview for
the same position... I'd likely be walking and you'd be talking. It's
how things are.
But [job] security is an illusion. So is loyalty from
company to employee. Look around.
Even if you don't feel as mobile as before, you might be
mobile-ized by surprise. So you gotta' keep your skills
as current and marketable as possible.
Sure, the younger person might get the job two of you
are interviewing for. But suppose you're competing against
another 52-year old? Now we're talking about who has the
skills needed by your prospective employer.
Life can be a little dicey sometimes. It helps to prepare
before you need to draw on your resources.
In this business, especially, you can never stop learning
and never stop pushing out of your comfort level. But you
know this. Everyone on this list knows this. But we don't
always do what has to get done. Sometimes we luck out,
sometimes we don't.
I'm with Tim (except I'm 61): let's get some fun, some
fire, some enthusiasm back. Fight fear with fun.
Kind regards,
-Steve Comstock
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