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From Mainframe to ??WHERE??

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by usrmusic

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I've been a mainframe applications guy for 30 years. I am the best in the oldies' world of CICS/IDMS/DB2. Although the mainframe is still "Hangin' in there", I need to try and learn some of the new technology. I am looking for members advice on whatto concentrate my effort on. No, I am in no immediate danger of loosing my mainframe job, but I need to prepare for the possibilty. Which way should I head??

7 replies

by djent

You might want to try the building trades, the IT job market is saturated!

by james r linn

If 20 years or so of using mainframes isn't worth more than some kid who just got his MCSE but has never collected a paycheck, then I should pack it in too.

Of course this person would have some skills that might be transferrable to other systems.

I'd be looking at UNIX/Linux. You can use an old PC and set it up at home, learn quite a bit about them and take it from there.

James

by djent

It wasn't meant to be cruel, just realistic. For many reasons, the economy, H1B visas, outsourcing, clueless HR staff and an oversupply of IT workers from the dot com bubble, the IT job market is very slim. This does not imply that existing skills are of no value, just a hard sell. I had a life before computers and find that those skills now support me. One must pragmatic, if you have a good position I am happy for you but I don't see the IT industry as furtile ground for a career path in the near future. Our whole industry is in the midst of a shakeout, like it or not its reality.

by lordinfidel

Companies Need "good" IT people.

The shakeout is going to come from the people who just got into computing and really don't know anything, and are in admin positions with inflated salaries.

The more diverse your skill set the more marketable you are.

Netwk Engineers, LAN Admins, Security Architects/Admins, Mail Admins are some of the basic core of people that Big companies need to have their networks run.

If you know what you are doing and are very proficient and you need a job. Odds are you will be replacing the person who did'nt know their job.

by djent

I am only proposing an examination other viable opportunities in light of the IT job market. Carreer change can be a good thing and previous experiance only broadens ones perspective to other avenues. If we can keepup with the evolving IT world why not other endevors that offer better reward?

by james r linn

There is still work for people with quality experience and good skills. The kinds of people snapped up in the boom with paper certs and little real world experience are likely to be the first to go.

Someone like the original poster with 30 yearsexperience should not be looking to get out of IT, but should look at taking advantage of 30 years of experience, and applying it to a more in demand area. For example computer problem solving skills can be applied to various different platforms with a little training. Proficient programmers pick up new languages all the time.

James Linn

by thechas

Your best route, would be to survey local firms (or firms where you would like to relocate) that are not using mainframes as to what technologies they are using.

SQL
Intranet (HTML)
MS Access
C++ or C#

Are all fairly common technologies used by firms that have abandoned the mainframe.

If you wish to start out on the new edge, become proficient with dot net.

Chas

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