[grmarcil]

With 35 years experience, I expect that you have a pretty wide professional network - consider whether you're using those connections to get warm introductions and pointed to good-fit jobs to the greatest degree possible.

My apologies if this is stating the obvious, but if your applications are starting with just a resume, you're already at a disadvantage at any age. And I suppose that effect only increases with years of experience and seniority of positions applied to.

[88e282102ae2e5b]

Also, consider this from the manager's perspective. They have to ask themselves: if this person has 35 years of experience, they must have a substantial network, so why aren't they just tapping that resource? Not a single person from this applicant's past wants to give them an interview?

[lj3]

Do you know many developers who hang out with management? Most of the engineers I've worked with over my career have not transitioned into management and have no sway as far as the interview process goes.

[TheCoelacanth]

A company where "I worked with this person in the past and they were good" coming from a run-of-the-mill employee isn't enough to get someone an interview is a company with stupid recruiting practices.

Finding good candidates is expensive and time-consuming. If someone is serving up qualified leads to you on a silver platter, you take them.

Referrals from existing employees are the single highest quality source of candidates for most companies. Many companies even incentivize employees to refer candidates by giving them bonuses if they refer someone who ends up being hired.

[ido]

Really? I have on many occasions weld a lot of sway on tech hires as senior and lead developer at several companies. It's generally the tech lead/lead developer who has the most say on hiring programmers from my experience.

[cortesoft]

Yeah, at this point in my career the idea of doing a cold interview is nearly unthinkable. When I am looking for work, I just reach out to the people I have worked with before that I like and let them know I am in the market.

Cold interviews should probably only happen for your first job.

[hinkley]

Doesn’t that break down a bit when you’re trying to stay relevant by branching out?