A conversation with a CS professor who doesn't want his son to be a programmer

This is the first podcast I heard, and I liked it, it was interesting to listen to.

I think that in many professions, engineering included, age could be a disadvantage. I'll give you the same example you always like to give. There is a laid off electronics engineer, 55 years old. He is a good professional, but his start-up closed down. Now he is seeking for a new job. An employer interviewing him, and some 35 year old candidate might think that: "This 55 year old engineer is very experienced, but I prefer to take the 35 year old candidate. The 35 year old professional has less experience, but he got his degree later on, and his formal education is more relevant (also, he has ~10 years of experience which might be good enough). Moreover, most chances are that he is healthier, and has more energy". So age plays a role in other engineering professions also, not only CS.

Regarding CS as a profession, its not a bad one. It has the advantage that the starting salaries are relatively high, so you can live well in young age, which is definitely a plus. Your monthly salary is better divided along your life, you have a good salary when you need it most - when you're young, and want to build a family. (I also think that it can be very interesting, but that's a matter of personal taste and preference)

All in all, you didn't ask this professor what he does want his child to be. A medical doctor? an accountant? a lawyer maybe? - all of these professions do treat age more nicely, so the pinch of truth is out there.

Anna, do you speak any languages other than English?

Yes I do (my English is not good enough, eh? Its the second time this week that I get a comment saying 'it shows that a non-native-speaker wrote that' :-). Oh well. Practice leads to perfection).

I speak Hebrew, English and Russian.

No, your English is very good. Since you understand Russian, you may be interested in listening to my podcasts in Russian too (my nickname there is budam): http://budam.rpod.ru