InsideTech

Conventional wisdom is that mainframes are dinosaurs. Schools don't teach Mainframe, and young people avoid learning about them. But having worked for a large company, I think that mainframes will be around for years. Large companies just don't move that fast.

Mainframe developers, however, will not be around for long. Most are in the "experienced" category, either extremely entrenched in positions they've held for years, or moving up through the ranks out of programming and into management. In a very few years, the vast majority will be retiring, and there is not a new generation in the wings.

What is your thoughts on the future of IT - Mainframe? Anyone having problems sorting through thousands of job leads for a "software developer", only to find two or three that are not looking for web developers, Java, C++, or .NET? If there's anyone out there who is now, or has recently been in a hunt for Mainframe jobs, what advice can you share with the room?

teach under the Bachelors program or the masters program...COBOL? Not sure. I went to college when the Dead Sea was merely the Sick Sea, and never actually got to see "the" University computer. Years later, my vocational degree was with only RPG II. Never used it in a job situation. I learned COBOL the same way I learned to swim--someone threw me in, and I didn't sink.

Now I'm taking online classes in Java. But to go back and get a BS would require basically starting from scratch. I'd love to do that, but as my family's sole support, don't have the time, nor the money. Why I'm unemployed now: That's a whole 'nuther story, as they say. Was not because of my work performance, nor was it a layoff.

To all of you looking for entry-level jobs, hang in there. I started in IT in 1985 with $12 in my pocket, two small children, no income, and no degree. I "accidentally" got my first IT job, a temp data-entry job for $5 an hour. Hired permanent, and promoted my way to a $100k job in about 20 years. OTJ learning (and a lot of hard work) to become a key associate and subject matter expert.

I'm willing to start there again. After 7 months unemployed, I'm just about back to the $12 in my pocket, and still no degree. And still have a small child. No "like" jobs are forthcoming, so I'm going to start substitute teaching, tuitoring, cashiering, and waiting for that opportunity. And I'll be ready, and I'll get back where I was. Better. Stronger. Just maybe not in Mainframe COBOL programming.