hi, got a friend age 40 above (45 currently this year) here
his specialty is in programming (mostly on java but not the latest one like with add on hibernate/spring boot etc)
from jan24 this year and still cant find a job and still searching (though many calls for job interview but still can hit any)

want to move on to Dev Ops but don't have skill
want to go to call center for customer service but they don't call back
java skill ? now not so good anymore , memory a bit loss now
must compete with young lings for a job

now searching for java role only or any role that matters
bank call for loan constantly and need repayment , but how to pay , no work no money
even some bank threaten to blacklist him

still hoping for the best although sometimes feel rotten to the core

you guys got some advised?
this old man almost lost it all
i have no more words to advised to him anymore

why not do some startup on something.
previous coding skill less applicable after mco and alot Tech firm have starterd retrench IT related job due to over hire previously.

what about taking less paying jobs? already have family or single? maybe start doing grab or some part time jobs to get by while looking out?
am almost the same with your friend, but started doing frontend stuffs like 4-5 years ago, not solely on java anymore, also doing mostly platform engineering stuffs nowadays

maybe get some certs will help?

45 and have memory problems liao... should oredi know it's time to take on some less competitive and less brain usage jobs... like grabfood, ehailing or working some simple grocery or shopping mall work...

java as a programming language also is getting obsolete... used to be free but since oracle took over i think if company using it, there is a license agreement attached to it. Even my company asking to remove java from our system.

Still wanna stay in IT, then go up skill and take up a new skill, IT people should know every 5-10 years should keep relevant in the market and upskill based on demand or left becoming obsolete like dinosaur.

Looking at his commitments and loans , doubt he is able to spend any money and further bleed his savings taking up course which might/might not yield good results for job prospects. Best course of action is get a simple job asap and pay down the loans... and clear off.. then on the side lines go find a job in peace or once debt paid off can think about reskilling.

Need upskilling maybe to another programming language or just change over to management. Java is just a programming language.

The ability to plan, solve problems, think out of the box, manage a team or project effectively are the more important traits that should have been acquired from work experience. Need to project these traits in cv resume and interviews rather than how many programming languages or lines of codes written.

it is happening as a norm not just like IT industry, it is just the same even for fresh graduate of any industry, I would suggest brush up interview skills & practice on presenting yourself, I notice most IT background having problem on that.

startup required skill and money, as my friend dont have that anymore


at age 45 , nothing is important anymore, recruiter without a finch toss away his application for a new younger workforce

while learning a new skill is good but what skill should be learn anyways , his still bleeding in commitments and loans


has put a lot , but with his memory problem, cant hit much, as in hit in interviews not on jobs

yeah man , a lesson learn to older programmer

That's why our neighbour down south past the Causeway has been harping on about reskilling and upskilling.... it's really hard for midlife career changes at the moment, with AI and IT taking over many jobs that people used to fill.

Nothing to be afraid because many company still hunting for middle age to be fill in IT role! Especially you are full stack developer, devops, sre, cloud and automation engineer plus etc. Why ? They need this group of people because they are more accountability and won't be leaving for short periods if compare to those youngsters

Just keep trying until you hook it up! Never said die just get up and try!!!!

most java job i see now require spring, try to ask him to do some online course see can pickup the skill or not, next try convince employer that what he lack is exposure to master it.

take up new tech skills. new certifications etc. surely can help.

The way I see it, your friend has 2 choices before him:

1. Change with the times: upskill or reskill or train in a non-related but in-demand role, and apply for new job offers
2. Stay put and hope to fight for scraps that may occasionally fall his way, especially since there are fewer and fewer companies that have use for the (outdated) skillset that he possesses.

yes that is true but what else can i do

thanks man for the word up


yeah, most of the time when mention this , the interviewer didnt call back

strange, a lot of jobs in malaysia we cant fill people sampai hire indian for 12-18k.... in my company, serious

well , as my friend said, wait till your 40s and lose a job, then you know

our company is filled with >40 but very few in dev.

alot analyst , architect , product owner manager like that tho, automation specialist, release manager like that

but different skillset than dev

there is some overlap in skills tho

so maybe time for him to move on from dev...

This post has been edited by Grammar Police: Jul 12 2024, 02:53 PM

Maybe ask your friend try join Developer Kaki group in facebook. See anyone can help in there. Quite active the people in that group.

what company is that? can PM me if you dont mind, time to tell my friend about it

pmed

I beg to differ. I was MSS at the age of 44 (2018 @RM20k/mth) due to UK based MNC closes down its KL software development centre and moves all its 200+ positions to Bangalore.

I managed to find a similar pay job within the 2 months notice period. Practically no unemployment between jobs. If you're skilled with right attitude, you will find a job pretty fast and bounce back.