Today’s episode features a good friend and tech veteran, John Parisi, who is 63 and currently applying for tech jobs. Although he started working at practically the same age as everyone else, he woke up one day wondering, "When did I become the old man at these companies?"



A decade ago, I was THAT person who made fun of him for being the oldest guy in the workplace. Now, I join his ranks as an "old person" in tech. And that is what we call karma. So, now we wonder, “Is there hope for ‘olds’ seeking a tech career?"

Join us as we discuss what it's like to be interviewing for tech jobs as an “old person” and how it feels to get laid off, possibly in part due to your age (which HR and your boss would definitely not admit to). John candidly talks about the time a couple of months back when he got the dreaded calendar invite from his boss…something too many of us in tech can relate to at this time. He will share his recent experience competing in the job market (where the rest of the workers are not over 40) and how it has felt receiving those "Dear John" letters from companies.

He delivers all of this information with a healthy dose of humor and hope and shares his excitement about how older job seekers can leverage the AI landscape to stay relevant in today’s job market. He also delivers a message that tech companies should hear: older people want to give back to their younger colleagues as mentors. John has done just that for decades and has more value to give for a good long time from here on out!

"The skills I have today, they didn't come over a 12-month period. It took 20 - 30 years to learn all these skills."

- John Parisi

In This Episode:

-How life was before there was the Internet or Google 

-John talks about what's it like being an "old guy" in the workplace 

-Why interviews for older workers in tech are painful

-Getting laid off because of age or monetary considerations

-Competing in the job market when you're over 50

-Signs that a company is age-inclusive

-What millennials (the once sought-after workers) who are now approaching middle age think about what's happening in tech

-The value of mentorship and experience in the workplace

-Confidence and mindset among older employees

-Is there hope for older people seeking tech jobs right now?

-How older people can leverage AI tools to stay relevant in the workplace and the job market

-The steep decline of inbound outreach from recruiters when you hit 40 and above

And much more.

Resources:

-HBR Article - Research: How Bias Against Women Persists in Female-Dominated Workplaces: https://hbr.org/2022/03/research-how-bias-against-women-persists-in-female-dominated-workplaces

-Glass Walls by Amy Diehl and Leanne M. Dzubinski: https://www.amazon.com/Glass-Walls-Shattering-Barriers-Holding/dp/1538170965

Connect with John Parisi:

-LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parisijohn/

Connect with Maureen Clough:

-Instagram: @itgetslateearly - https://www.instagram.com/itgetslateearly/

-YouTube: @itgetslateearly - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGrHwk-y7ERaq7bCSjZYf1A?sub_confirmation=1

-Website: itgetslateearly.com - https://www.itgetslateearly.com/

-LinkedIn: maureenwclough - https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenwclough/

-Facebook: It Gets Late Early - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088694515585