too close to the dirt nap? (Score 1)

The market is way too tight. Anyone who wants to get a job can get one with a few catches: 1) You've got to learn new Web skills THOROUGHLY and get into that market 2) There are stylistic differences - 20-somethings with goatees and earrings aren't going to groove on the Brooks Brothers suit, Chester. 3) Mental rigidity is the least welcome feature of 40-50 year old programmers. Lose it. 4) 10 years ago it was possible to dabble. Forget that stack. Prepare to read constantly for the rest of your career. It's now a professional job. The biggest whine I've heard from older programmers is that they don't want to read the fucking books. I mean, Jesus, then get another job. 5) If you were a shitty or mediocre programmer, then, yeah, you will have a tougher time getting a job - their smarter about sniffing out the wannabes now 6) get certified in a skill - a modern one. No one cares about your COBOL certification, post y2k. Believe me.