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Mainframe programming jobs? - have been out of industry for a while.

  • 22-04-2014 9:30pm
    #1
    Obelisk29
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 175 ✭✭


    Hi all,
    I've been working in IT sales for the last 10 years but am being made redundant in a couple of weeks.

    I was thinking of returning to programming - I had 15 years experience of IBM mainframe programming - PL/1, Cobol, IMS, DB2 etc but obviously it's not current. Have been looking at some manuals online and I know I'd pick it up again pretty quickly.

    What's the market like these days for mainframe jobs - I realise it's fairly niche but could that be to my advantage? (Don't suppose anybody under 40 knows PL/1 :o).

    o29


Comments

  • #2
    Ray Palmer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,513 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer


    There is still a demand for these skills. It is mostly with older organisations and involves dealing with their legacy systems to an extent. There is still development on mainframe systems.

    The problem is do you have enough experience from before that people will hire you and overlook you have been out of the market for a long time.

    To an extent you would have to start as a junior again and work up to being a full developer. That means low wages.

    You could be lucky and get back in a full developer but you will have to prove yourself one way or the other. Hard but not impossible.

    Keep an eye out for jobs and see what people are looking for in this area. I know Dunnes use the As/400 (now called iSeries) and insurance companies often still rely on similar. I'd be looking around there. Even in saying that many companies are dumping mainframes. Maybe specialising in migration to newer systems would be a better move. Learn a new skill and rely on your old knowledge to be able to integrate into modern systems. This would be a little rare skill and therefore paying better and possibly better for your future.


  • #3
    Obelisk29
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 175 ✭✭Obelisk29


    Thanks Ray.

    I've probably contracted in a couple of those places before!

    I was even thinking of offering a free month just to prove that I still have the skills.


  • #4
    Ray Palmer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,513 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer


    Obelisk29 wrote: »
    Thanks Ray.

    I've probably contracted in a couple of those places before!

    I was even thinking of offering a free month just to prove that I still have the skills.
    Companies don't generally like bringing people in for free like that. There is security and data concerns. It also cheapens your experience so I wouldn't recommend it.


  • #5
    seablue
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 150 ✭✭seablue


    AIB have several mainframes and are advertising for Mainframe-related roles on IrishJobs.ie at the moment.


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