I just got let go from my job today as a front-end web developer, working for a retail ecommerce company.
I can’t say I didn’t see the signs coming-- the company used to be a great place to work under the former owner, but has been run poorly under new ownership for the last couple years, making constant changes to try to squeeze out maximum profits while not really trying to understand what made the company perform well before. About six months ago the new ownership farmed out a major redesign of the website, and most of the other developers I started with have left since then. I knew I should have been looking more actively as well, but I was still optimistic I could learn the framework of the new website (React/Redux) and be a useful contributor.
I’m older (early 50s) and my technical skills have gotten somewhat outdated in the last few years (I was hired years ago as a web designer/developer who was skilled on the creative side, but understood code well enough to work closely with programmers). In addition to creative skills and the associated software (Adobe CS) I’m strong in HTML/CSS, but my Javascript was weak/rusty. So for the last several months I’ve been working hard to get skilled in JS fundamentals, especially ES6 and how it relates to React frameworks (and made good progress I think, though I’m hardly an expert yet). But I can design and build a damn fine website, even if I’m not quite there with the latest and greatest frameworks.
So I’m trying to figure out where I go from here. If I try to compete for front-end web dev jobs, I’ll be going up against mid-level or even starting devs who are 30 years younger, will be willing to work for less money and know more about the new web tech. I’m thinking, and have gotten advice already, to try to talk my way into some type of dept. head or project/product manager position. I do have IT management experience from my former job, but that’s going back almost a decade now.
So any advice you guys can give, or any similar experiences you can share, I’d greatly appreciate. Thanks!