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how to break into the mainframe industry

  • 23-01-2008 11:26pm
    #1
    jon1981
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,359 ✭✭✭


    hey,

    was reading sky news, and there was a comment about mainframes and how there will be huge demand for people with mainframe skills going forward, mainly due to the fact that most people working on them are in their 50s, so there will be a skills shortage. Also mainframes are very green and still serve a purpose. any thoughts?


Comments

  • #2
    leeroybrown
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,563 ✭✭✭leeroybrown


    I don't think that mainframe users worry too much about them being 'green' even if it is in vogue. What they want is high reliability, availability and fault tolerance coupled with backwards compatibility and high throughput for i/o intensive work. For someone with the right combination of these a mainframe system can be very cost effective. The things that spring instantly to mind are System Z, COBOL and DB2.

    Unfortunately mainframes are the direct opposite to my area of expertise so I can't suggest how you'd go about getting into these areas.


  • #3
    loyatemu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,332 ✭✭✭✭loyatemu


    get a job with a bank?

    there was a report in the irish times recently that AIB are going to replace their existing mainframe system (parts of which are 30 years old) with a new system designed by an Indian company - apparently one of the first european banks to do this. As you point out, the number of techs with the required skills to manage old mainframes is declining all the time.


  • #4
    AARRRGH
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,382 ✭✭✭✭AARRRGH


    I know a lad with AS/400 skills. He was on about 50k with two years experience.

    Looked into this area myself, but there's very little reading material out there.

    He said it's fairly easy stuff though.


  • #5
    JJJJNR
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,791 ✭✭✭JJJJNR


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AS/400


  • #6
    MIN2511
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,398 ✭✭✭MIN2511


    It's not easy, i know a few people that are mainframe programmers and they are sourced from America, Canada and Australia. Most people get into mainframe programming by luck and stick to it because they are "highly skilled" and get a lot of money for it. Check with the banks as someone suggested or IBM...

    Do you have any programming experience? What language, how many years? If you do then i would say it would be easy to train you as long as you are interested.


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  • #7
    BostonB
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,056 ✭✭✭✭BostonB


    I know a few older guys who are mainframe programmers. Cobol etc. It never occurred to me to go and learn that stuff though.


  • #8
    TestTransmission
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,106 ✭✭✭✭TestTransmission


    i studied cobol and rpg iv in college actually.All to do with the as/400.
    Have been looking to get into that line of work but very hard to do as they require some type of mainframe programming experience


  • #9
    MIN2511
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,398 ✭✭✭MIN2511


    jackncoke wrote: »
    i studied cobol and rpg iv in college actually.All to do with the as/400.
    Have been looking to get into that line of work but very hard to do as they require some type of mainframe programming experience
    No they don't... They know there is no training out there and you need the experience and the only way you can gain experience is if you WORK... As long as you are a programmer first, and you are interested in Mainframes I would say they would be pretty eager to employ you.....


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