Older Adults Considering New Careers Must Not Be Afraid of Technology

Older adults considering high-tech careers must not be discouraged by self-doubt or employer skepticism, reports the New York Times . Some older adults are debunking stereotypical perceptions in certain professions — often-part time or done remotely, with flexible schedules — that do not demand an advanced degree in computer science or years of experience, but do involve some digital competence. "That's an important distinction," notes FlexJobs CEO Sara Sutton Fell. "These are really viable professional opportunities, especially for retirees." One example of this is William Jones, 55, who began by working in mainframes for a credit card company in the U.K. in the 1980s. In 2005, Jones and his wife purchased a 76-acre farm in rural Virginia, where they raised free-range pigs. When his children grew older, Jones decided to return to the tech world, and took an online Web development course at the Flatiron School in New York City. "I thought technically I could pick it up," he says. "But I didn't think many employers would be interested in someone in their mid-50s." After completing the course last year, Jones landed a job in Web development for the D'Artagnan food company. Regardless of experience, Jones believes many older adults can acquire the skills needed for his job. "Intellectually, there's no reason someone my age couldn't be doing this," he contends.