A few general observations: While there are still opportunities, perhaps fewer in developed and more in developing countries, the QUALITY of opportunities were different back in the days. The SOFTWARE field was still relatively wide open. The barrier-to-entry was being nerdy smart, but otherwise the costs (basic computers, telephone line access, some education) were low, at least in parts of the USA. Simultaneously the potential return was high. Because the information age was just beginning, and the world was hungry for software. People who were smart with software at that right time could literally shape the coming world. Think Microsoft and Google. In comparison, while the hardware side (chipsets, telecom equipment, etc) has grown, it hasn't "exploded", maybe except CPU or GPU, which are hugely capital intensive. You cannot train AI in your garage yet in a way that differentiates your "product" from that of the big players. The demand for pure software is no longer that high. On the hardware side, barriers to "physical" innovations, such as semiconductors, medicine, etc are still high now as ever. The "low" hanging "soft" fruits have been picked. This now feels more like the big mainframe computer era. So while there are still opportunities, they aren't comparable to the past. When science and technology fundamentally changed in the past, from manual labor to machinery to electronics etc, they opened up new fields for human innovation and endeavors. Groundbreaking disruptions are much rarer now, and the only one, AI, opens up a new field more for computers than for people.
Not in HR myself, but maybe they are looking for candidates that would stay with the company for a longer time. It may also be easier to persuade/manage younger minds or groom them for leadership positions.
Why are you job hopping, if you don't mind me asking?
My whole team was laid off two years ago. Last year I did a startup that unfortunately folded when my business partner had a major family tragedy. This year I've been contracting and looking for work. I ran the numbers and I can't retire yet. I'm looking to work another 8-9 years.
If you're not doing it already, I'd highly suggest using every free moment you have during your contract work to network with the client, any other contractors, sales reps, account managers etc. you encounter there. i.e. don't just spend your days heads-down doing the work: get to know everyone you can, and more importantly get them to know you, while you're there. And don't be too busy to take the occasional coffee/water cooler break or group lunch. You can get a surprising number of leads this way.
Could you feasibly retire now? I’m not suggesting you should; rather that it might be something to fold in to your cover letter or resume, that you are seeking work because you want to even though you don’t have to. Some may be thinking you’re biding your time until your 65th birthday.
I was looking for this answer, and sad to see it so far down the bottom.
If a company is hiring for a senior position, then _from an HR perspective_ they want the employee to ideally stay for 2-4 years. You're at the age where not only you could retire soon, if the job gets hard then it's a permanent option on the table that an employer will need to continue to compete against and eventually will lose.
Going for high-pay contracting positions will probably be hugely effective. People will understand where you're coming from, and you might get to work on more interesting things because your resume impressively speaks for itself.
