Career Pivot for Experienced Software Programmers (50s)
A software programmer in their 50s, recently laid off, is seeking career change advice. Rather than a complete career change, the best strategy is often to modernize and leverage existing technical expertise within the tech industry or related fields, which are still in high demand for experienced professionals. Focus on upskilling in current tech trends (cloud, containerization, modern frameworks), exploring specialized consulting or contract roles, or transitioning to leadership/architectural positions that value experience over raw coding speed. Mentoring or teaching roles are also viable.
Origin Reddit Post
r/careerguidance
Partner in 50s Laid off from Software Programming. Any Advise/wisdom on Changing Careers?
Posted by u/Beneficial-Motor6497•08/09/2025
This is my first post on reddit - I have been reading quite a few posts about changing careers/starting a new job when someone is in their 50s, and I would really appreciate the community of
Top Comments
u/UntrustedProcess
Arborist? That might be something he'd enjoy, and the market for it is expanding.