IT Pros and Career Longevity

Will you be in IT long enough to start withdrawing from your 401k? Matt Heusser in his Uncharted Waters blog at IT Knowledge Exchange makes a not very scientific observation when he interviewed for a job at Google, that there seemed to be an absence of employees older than 30. His observations came with obvious caveats -- that Google was expanding quickly, it tended to hire the best and brightest right out of the most prestigious schools, and so on. Naturally, those new hires would be young, bright eyed and idealistic.

The pat theory, if you can call it that, is that tech workers tend not to last that long in the profession -- about 15 years -- with many either moving on outside of tech to management or to something non-tech-related at some point by their late 30's/early 40's. I'm sure some of them get burned out by all the quickly changing tech and being in constant learning mode as well as the politics. His theory, of course, applies to just about any white collar profession.

Do you feel you could remain in this career well into your retirement years or do you have a plan to get out before your golden years? Agree or disagree here.

Posted by Michael Domingo on 12/08/2011 at 6:51 PM


Reader Comments:

Fri, Dec 9, 2011 Charles Santa Barbara, CA

I am 56 and I've been doing IT related work since 1982. My first job out of college (after 4 years in the Navy) had me doing data entry and database management tasks. Now I am a Network Specialist and I plan on retiring as a Network Specialist.

Fri, Dec 9, 2011 Alan Dallas

I am 54 years old. Been in computers since 1980 selling CPM machines. I am getting more technical as the days go on. Stressful and highly political situations are my bread and butter. Hope to retire doing this.

Fri, Dec 9, 2011 Clark Chicago USA

I've been a programmer / DBA since 1975. Changed jobs to avoid spending the rest of my career in meetings and remain technical. Plan to work into my late 60s if things work out.

Fri, Dec 9, 2011

I've been in a highly technical position for about 25 and have necessarily moved into a not so technical management position, for the simple fact that I want career and salary advancement. It was a difficult transition but a necessary one. I can image others have done the same for the same reasons. I will always be a dyed-in-the-wool computer geek, but it doesn't always pay the best.

Fri, Dec 9, 2011 Joe Denver Colorado

IT has paid me well enough that I can look for something else to do; I’m tired of the “can’t live without it” fire-drills. I'm 50 and plan to start another career before retirement, something self-employed!

Thu, Dec 8, 2011 Mike Tsykin Australia

I'm 60, in IT for 35 years or so and plan to remain for AT LEAST another 10 years. I'm having lots of fun and they pay me for it, too - why would I want to retire?

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