One thing to note is that "front door" recruitment is generally more youth oriented than back channels.
Most people apply for jobs out of college. As they age (a) they tend to switch jobs less often and (b) they have accumulated former colleagues, clients and such that can open back-channels.
Work back channels if you can. Otherwise, just keep in mind that the youth bias you experience at the front door is worse than the actual bias.
For practical advice, I suggest you search outside of the software industry... companies that make their money mostly from software. Most jobs are actually in other industries, and I think they're less youth biased.
An "app factory" probably hires very young, mostly
Most people apply for jobs out of college. As they age (a) they tend to switch jobs less often and (b) they have accumulated former colleagues, clients and such that can open back-channels.
Work back channels if you can. Otherwise, just keep in mind that the youth bias you experience at the front door is worse than the actual bias.
For practical advice, I suggest you search outside of the software industry... companies that make their money mostly from software. Most jobs are actually in other industries, and I think they're less youth biased.
An "app factory" probably hires very young, mostly