Ask HN: 55 years old and no experience, am I too old to get a job?
I can program in many languages (ruby, python, lisp, clojure, java (no expert), scala,R, javascript ES6, Haskell (level as in rwh, lysh, I must be the yegge exception), prolog, erlang (no expert in otp), elixir (don't know phoenix), mysql (basic sql queries,normalizacion),ruby sinatra (not rails), and a little django. Linux: (bash programming >> tee grep awk). I have a degree and a PhD in math, also a CS degree (90s, 3 year time,from a European University, my final work was about matroids, Edmond's algorithm for the intersection of matroids implemented in prolog, applications to graph theory, NP-complete problems, and heuristics like in Papadimitriu). I have published some papers in complexity theory, physics and abstract math. I have a good grasp of theoretical and applied statistics. I have some knowledge of machine learning (in decreasing order: books like esl; R, ipython and sklean. Some AI knowledge (like in norvig Modern IA). My hackerrank profile is not bad (solving problem there mostly in Lisp).
But I have no experience working with a team, and is very likely I won't be able to cope with frequents tight deadlines. English is my second language. I enjoy programming and learning new skill by myself and I'm able to learn quickly.
I wonder if, at my age, I will be able to get a job as a programmer or data scientists. Any tips?
36 comments
[ 2.1 ms ] story [ 26.2 ms ] threadI'd actually be curious to hear if you succeed because if you don't, then I'm certain is horribly wrong and biased with current hiring practices
And I say this without the implicit prejudice I noticed in your comment, as I'm a web developer myself, I had to learn "the latest web framework" to get a job, and I like it.
Also, I never heard about such a thing as measuding lines of code per hour
I wouldn't apply to immature companies (startups and similar), as I think they are going to be the most prejudiced. I think the opportunities for you will exist in healthcare, banking, govt. or utilities that need skills like yours. I feel there are lots of good paying jobs in these types of companies that would be more open hiring an older worker.
I see you have R and Python along with some SQL, perhaps this along with your PhD in math could be leveraged into a data science job, or jr position in data science.
Take a look at kaggle.com, perhaps you can do something there to get your foot in the door.
1. Data science is often deeper stats knowledge, less programming (ie can sketch something up together using python and libraries, then a programmer can take over to make it production). But you have to understand stats and ideas. I'd expect you to do this or pick it up. Most CS people aren't very deep in stats, so you can do better than them in that area.
2. Regular programming jobs - I think this would be a bit harder to start in. Companies will not know how to evaluate all that various different experience. So you'll have to find something that matches up with a companies needs. a. Maybe some scientific or statistical scientific programming, other than data science? b. Maybe you can find some open source project to contribute to to show you capabilities.
You could take a very short term gig to build up your resume and confidence of what programming is like today.
Interviews - interviews at many companies are unfortunately more about passing a potentially tricky design problem. Try to do one or two problems every day or two at one of the "leet" code type sites. When I interviewed recently at several big-software-cos I was surprised to get multiple leet code problems - and I'm a software engineer with 20 years experience, working on infrastructure.
You should search for data science interview questions to get ready for that. There's huge demand for different kinds of software expertise, but you will have to work and network to get through until you can talk to engineers and interview.
I could boil all this down to:
1. data science looks very promising for you 2. look on linked-in for companies hiring 3. search for data science interview questions on the web 4. interview and get that job!
I came here to say this. It's a big deal. It proves that you can write quality code and work with a team. It's also trendy, which doesn't hurt.
Absolutely. If were a model with a portfolio with no pictures in it; you won't get hired.
So it has to be full; of valid content you can share. People want to see it.
Otherwise you won't be taken as seriously
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17624888
I would think your best bet is data science/machine learning. If you have read and mostly understood ESL i’d think you’re basically qualified. Play around with Tensorflow/PyTorch and modern neural networks so you can say you know about deep learning.
Knowledge of “classical” statistics is a competitive advantage.
Perhaps frame yourself as a consultant or contractor, if you find you face age discrimination. The advantage of having an older person with experience and wisdom might be more apparent, vs competing for entry level jobs.
If you've been working in any type of technical or academic role you'll still be a good candidate. If you haven't worked it will be difficult to land the first one, and I think becoming an expert with common web platforms such as React will help the most. Plenty of small companies are looking for people on contract, and you'll build recent work experience.
If you've been tilling the rice fields in bangladesh and becoming one with nature to start your own religion, own it! You have to be forward with that information otherwise employers will get cold feet.
I recommend putting together the best presentation of you that you can, emphasizing the positive without over-explaining, and starting to contact people to figure out how or where you will fit--it's really the only way to know.
Also, you say you have no experience working with a team. So no collaborations? No co-authors (surely you must have some students working for you)? I see from another comment that you had to go through the tenure process. I'm sure you had some deadlines to meet there and some important requirements to meet.
As far as tips, I have found this article helpful: https://blog.insightdatascience.com/preparing-for-the-transi...
My recollection is that the book What color is your parachute? has some good tips for getting your first job and points out that everyone has a "first job" at some point.
Haskell (biceps emojis here)