Re: Career Change

[Fred Sampson <fred -at- fredsampson -dot- com>]

I wasn't quite as old as Tony when I changed careers to tech writing, but I 
was close enough. And age discrimination is definitely out there. At one 
point a friend recommended that I have my hair dyed to reduce the gray, and 
I actually did that once-- and never again. The company that hired me at 
that point could not have cared less about my age. And, as obvious as it 
may seem, the companies that have hired me despite the gray hair have been 
great places to work.

My unscientific observation is that the employers who care about age want 
employees who will work all night every night for stock options--attributes 
that count for less now than a year or two ago. Those who don't mind hiring 
an older worker have the broader perspective, and look at skills, 
experience, stability, and an interest in learning new things. Just show 
them that you're not a fossil.

Fred