HACKER Q&A
📣 micheal1047

Advice for newly laid-off dev over 50


So, I was laid off last Friday after management discontinued a software product I had worked on since inception (8 years ago). While I was getting a feeling that this was going to happen - the axe fell sooner than expected so I’m unprepared. I spent the weekend dealing with the surprise and plotting a course forward.

From what I’ve been reading, apparently I’m screwed because I’m in my 50s, the job market is weak, and my network is almost non-existent (focus has been on family).

Among things In my favor is that I have a very strong technical background (full-stack developer - primarily Microsoft). I’ve made sure to keep myself current and incorporate new technology in recent releases of the (now retired) product. I was also getting up to speed with react/Next.js in anticipation for a proposed project (before funding ran out). My employment history is solid with several well-known companies in the mix. I also live in the New York metro area.

Among things that are going against me (in addition to what I wrote above) is lack of any recent job hunting experience and also technical interviewing skills.

I’m curious as to what advice HN could offer to someone in a position like mine?

  👤 dtagames Accepted Answer ✓
I would recommend hiring a professional career counselor for a few sessions to help kick start your job hunt. There are definitely strategies on how to approach LinkedIn and Indeed. I'm a dev over 50 and it helped me last year when I was in a similar position.

The service I used was Placement.com.

👤 pphdez76
First, I would recommend to do scenario planning: What happen if I get a job on the first month after being laid off? ... after 2 months? ... after 6 six months? ... after a year?

All of theme are true possibilities. So you have to anticipate your plan, and prepare for them.

Second, I think you will get another job, I don know if as good as the Microsoft. Don't blame yourself for this. It is the current situation of the market.

And third, ask yourself what is the real urgency of getting a job. Maybe you can wait a time and do some experiments.

Good look friend...