[mikebenfield]

This seems like a pretty extreme point of view. Not that ageism doesn't exist... but I entered the tech industry at age 38 and have gotten offers from two FAANG companies. I do think I'm a good programmer (obviously if you suck you'll have trouble getting a FAANG offer) but not God's gift.

[trashface]

Once you get a job at a FAANG that's your golden ticket. You will never be out of work. If I were you I would take one of those offers, even if the job itself sucks.

Its different for most of us and I'm sorry to say you just don't know how bad it is. Many people I formerly worked with are currently severely underemployed. Its not that we are bad (I shipped a couple Xbox games, so I'm not an idiot), we are simply unfashionable.