> He's a 42 year old dude. Looking for a job in software? You gotta be joking.

This is such an odd take. I see lots of older folks around me - and 42 isn't that old.

That said, it's undeniably true that expectations are raised the further along in your career you are. Interviewers will accept mistakes from a fresh college grad that they won't accept from an engineer with 20 years of industry experience who should know better (and is paid more). Not to mention there's just statistically fewer openings for TL positions. All of that definitely makes interviews harder as you're further along in your career.