SAS with Mainframes

srilatha uriti · New User Joined: 09 Jan 2012 Posts: 3 Location: india

Can anybody tell me the career opportunities in SAS?

Robert Sample · Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 8:03 pm

If you are talking about career opportunities working for SAS Institute, you would need to contact them directly to find out.

If you are talking about career opportunities using SAS software, there is a large base of people using SAS on mainframes as well as many other platforms. While many SAS programmers never advance past simple report writing using PROC PRINT, PROC REPORT and the DATA step, advanced users of SAS frequently need a thorough background in statistics to take full advantage of the software. Over the last few years, SAS Institute has tended to focus more on the non-mainframe platforms although that is not to say they are neglecting the mainframe; SAS continues to support and enhance the z/OS product.

srilatha uriti · New User Joined: 09 Jan 2012 Posts: 3 Location: india

Thanks for ur reply. I am talking about SAS with Mainframe platform. I am having 4.6yrs of Mainframe exp. I am in maternity break so thinking off to have certification in SAS. Is it worthy learning SAS at this stage or shall i continue whatever i am doing now?

FYR...i worked on Maintenance projects.

Robert Sample · Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 8:36 pm

Asking for career guidance on a forum is a hit-or-miss proposition to start with; you'd be much better off talking to individuals you know and trust to get their opinions. Especially since this forum includes people from around the world, and the SAS job market in India, for example, may be completely different that the SAS job market in the US.

Most US SAS jobs require some familiarity with statistical procedures and there is little focus on certification (which holds for all software positions, pretty much, in the US). US positions for SAS programmers tend to be in health care, financial systems, and consulting companies which is why the statistical background is important. There are some positions for programmers using SAS for reporting but even those positions often are asked to do some data analysis.

srilatha uriti · New User Joined: 09 Jan 2012 Posts: 3 Location: india

Thanks a lot Robert for ur information.

enrico-sorichetti · Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 10:03 pm

Phrzby Phil · Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 5:44 am

My opinion of certification is that it shows that one knows what the pieces are and how they individually work (easy enough to learn thru use), but says nothing about the more important qualifications such as how to write quality programs that are easy for humans to read and robust in their processing.

The latter require personal care and pride in one's work, developed thru experience and sometimes also good mentoring.

Having seen sample SAS certification tests, i am amazed that the developers think that mixing syntax error problems in with logic construct considerations in any way mirrors real world programming.

If the employers in your city typically require certification , however, then you evidetnly have no choice, if for no other reason tht to show taht you care deeply about getting a good job and will do what is required.

Good luck.

(I've luckilly avoided certification in anything for over 45 years.)