↵

Ageism in Tech: Why Older Designers Are Better Than Younger Designers(medium.com)

over 4 years ago from Christina Wu, Product Designer

  • Ken Em, over 4 years ago

    Understood, but I'm not even talking startups. Many established companies shun older workers.

    Last year I interviewed with a long-running monthly publication run by a veteran newspaper man. In fact, most of the staff are older than me. My background is in the media industry, so we hit it off wonderfully and I was all but assured I would be getting the position. The publisher even inquired about what I was looking for pay-wise, and I told him. He responded that would work. But in the end, they went with a young person who they wouldn't have to pay as much.

    This is what plagues the design industry as a whole. Be it a client or an employer, they both want the work to be done, but neither are willing to pay what it is worth.

    4 points
    • Dragos Gavrila, over 4 years ago

      Then my man, you'll have to re-invent yourself, start thinking more about educating others and less doing actual 9-5 work at a full-time job.

      Start a blog, write some ebooks/online courses, start doing workshops, stuff like that - you will be more successful as an educator than as a full-time worker in your older years. Start showing all that experience you must have in many fields!

      But also good luck with finding a full-time job too if that's still needed! Keep applying, there are still lots of companies that value experience more. You just gotta find a good one.

      -3 points
    • Max PotvinMax Potvin, over 4 years ago

      "But in the end, they went with a young person who they wouldn't have to pay as much." Is it what they told you?

      0 points