Need guidelines switching to Mainframe Field

Nimbus · New User Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 18

Hi friends,

Abt me : I am a MCA with 3 years experience in desktop and web applications using Visual Basic 6, ASP and Oracle 8i.

I am seriously considering a change of platform for my career. I am in doldrums regarding upgrading my skills in the DOT NET, XML platform or to take a u-turn

and go for Mainframe AS/400 platform. In both cases (DOT NET or mainframe) I plan to join a training institute with good placement options. I prefer mainframe more but I have a few nagging doubts. I request the kindhearted techie fellow members to give me their valuable advise.

(1) My expertise being in (VB, ASP, Oracle), is switching over to mainframe a good decision ? I am aware it would be like starting from a scratch and I am willing to give it my best shot. But I need to be sure that it is a good decision.

(2) Before MCA, I did my graduation in arts. Will my arts background prove to be a hinderance. ?

(3) What kind of salary package can I expect in the beginning after doing mainframe training.

(4) Would doing IBM certification be a big boost ?

Lastly, Which institute is better for me ? (fee/location/duration : no issue)

Kindly Guide me.
Thanks

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@ forum moderator : if my thread is not in the appropriate section, kindly move it accordingly.

SHIVAREDDY · New User Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 20

Hi Iam into Mainframes..These are my views regarding your questions in
the order You posed

(1) Really serious thing which you should think about when you need to
answer for this in any interview

(2) I suppose if it would be a hindrance,,,,,it might have been the same
to you even in ur present career.......but i think you overcame that.....
so no probs

(3) Since you have already 3 yrs exp (irrespective of field)..you can
expect minimum of 3.2 Lkh per annum

(4) Damn sure

Maples Chennai would be the best choice....

Check out with other guys also regarding the above points...

ALL THE BEST FOR YOUR CAREER

CHEERS

Nimbus · New User Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 18

Thanks a lot SHIVAREDDY bhai

for your detailed reply. I really appreciate your kind help. I have sent a mail to Maples as you have suggested.

**************************************

I am really astonished at the difference in fee structure of various institutes for mainframe training. It leaves me unsure as to which institute to go for. Im sure many new fellows face this dialemma.

I feel confused when I observe that one institute charges a hefty 1.5 lacs and another merely 32 thousand. I live in Jaipur, Rajasthan and there is an institute named STG in my city itself offering 3 months As/400 training for Rs. 32000.

There are some good Institutes in Delhi as well. I, being from Jaipur, would prefer a reputed institute from north india which offers good placement opportunity. . . . . but if it comes to good **value for money**, I have no hassles in coming to Chennai for the training.

So friends, kindly suggest me, in your opinion, which institute offers best value for money. If the institute is really good I will gladly

to any part of India.

************

**value for money** : I can afford a higher fee amount but would love to get the same/better quality at a reasonable fee.

Nimbus · New User Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 18

Yes I did try the aforementioned site and its a nice place to begin my quest. But I was more interested in opinion arising from personal experience . . . . . like you said you preferred ER & DCI / CDAC from Trivandrum. My sincere thanks for your valuable time and advise.

Right now I jave just one dilemma : Can I get good training in Delhi (which institute ?) or do I have to come to south India. This is my only consideration right now.

Would love to hear more from senior members on this issue.

priya · Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 8:14 am

In Delhi, Maintec is ok.

Nimbus · New User Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 18

Thanks a whole bunch for helping me. Will follow up with Maintec.

SHIVAREDDY · New User Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 20

hey go ahead with that institute and good luck...
hope u get a job on mainframes soon.......
bye
cheers

shanbalz · New User Joined: 13 Oct 2005 Posts: 5

hi,
i'm shanthi from singapore.. I'm a B.E(ECE) graduate [ studied in chennai] ..immediately after my studies i got married & settled in singapore. so i didnt have an oppurtunity to work either in india or in singapore.. i completed my graduation in 2002.. its already 3yrs+..now i plan to go for a job.. its impossible to find a job with my degree alone ..

so i planned to study some software course in india and then come back to singapore to work...some of my friends suggested MAINFRAMES.. some said SAP. i prefer to study mainframes..

i sincerely need ur advice and help at this point, since u all r already in this field.. i'm abit scared to get into mainframes coz, i donno abt the job scope for it in singapore.. recently i went to singapore jobstreet website , juz to know abt the openings in mainframes in spore..they all asking for minimum of 3 yrs experience..

if i do a mainframe course in chennai, is it possible for me to get a job immediately as a fresher.. coz i plan to finish my course and work here atleast for 6 months.. so that i can gain some experience and go back to singapore and job hunt will be easier for me..

NEED U ADVISE REGARDING THIS....

In chennai which is the best institute to study Mainframes???and how much wold be the fees?
thanks in advance..

SHIVAREDDY · New User Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 20

Hi,

Regarding the experince in MF u said there they are asking for 3yrs experience but even if you took
up SAP you require minimum of 2-3 years experience.

I think in any field you took up,,,you have to show up some fake experience........coz doing no work for 3 years would be definitely
negative point when you go to interviews.Hope you understand my
point in a positive way.

If you are really interested in MF,,,go to Maples Chennai (Fees 27000Rs) and ask them if they could help you by giving some experience certificate.....

If you want to do SAP,,,,,RelianceGlobalServices(Chennai,Hyderabad....
prefer Hyd coz incidentally I learned SAP there... even though Iam working in MF) would be the better choice for you...and there is one more institute called NetJsee in Hyd(this costs more I suppose).RGS would ask for 20,000 Rs fees and they would definitely show placement with in 6 months you joined there.Lab facility is also good there.

So,,,finally it depends on you to choose the field you like.I can't say one
field bcoz both are promising and earn you lot of money.

All the Best......Mail to me if you have any doubts....

CHEERS

shanbalz · New User Joined: 13 Oct 2005 Posts: 5

THANKS alot for ur advise and information. i checked out maplesesm website...they have 'diploma in mainframe applicaion programming , diploma in MF systems programming'.. whts the differnce between them..and can u suggest me which one to choose...

i also went thro' this page, ibmmainframetraining.com .. where they have rated top 10 ibm training institutes.. i found out this institute "ibmmainframes" who ask for only 10,000+ Rs.. do u've any idea abt this..

And finally one more thing..whts ur opinion abt pentasoft and maintec,chennai..

sorry that i dont know ur email id..mine is ***EMail ID REMOVED... Use CODE tag to include mail id***

mcmillan · Site Admin Joined: 18 May 2003 Posts: 1210 Location: India

The information provided in ibmmainframetraining.com is very old and we are not providing any training for students now.

Pentasoft also not proving any training classes now. ER & DCI is the best and Maintec, Bangalore is also doing well.

SHIVAREDDY · New User Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 20

U r welcome...
hey i think diploma in application programming is better for you.....
system programming mainly deals with administrative and maintenance
part ..... where as appln prgrming deals with developing programs which
you may be familiar with in other languages.......
so cool .......take up the appln programming.....
and regarding the other institutes you mentioned....iam sorry......
i don't know about them coz iam not a localite of chennai.....
any ways go ahead and find out about these institutes with
people living in there if possible.......
all the best cheers

don't worry much....
bye.......i will be in contact with you thru your yahoo id
if any issues reply to this.....i will be visiting this site regularily.......

shanbalz · New User Joined: 13 Oct 2005 Posts: 5

Finally,i got a complete idea abt MF. now i'd like to know more abt SAP, in which there r many modules ..if i take SAP which module would be better for me, as i'm a electronics student.. u said RGS costs 20,000RS. is it for one module or how?

Is it enough to study juz one module or do i need to study few others also for a better job opportunity..i'm asking u this coz i donno anything abt it . . sorry for disturbing u again.. As this is a mainframe forum, u can even send ur reply to my mail id..

SHIVAREDDY · New User Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 20

Hi,
About SAP,,,yeah there are many modules,,,,,,,,
but for B-Tech people ABAP module will be better.....
Fees is 20,000 Rs for one module.........
There are other modules like SAP Basis and SAP HR,FINANCE and
so on but finance is for MBA people....
So,take up ABAP module if you want to take up SAP.
Getting proficient in one module is better than putting your leg in multiple
modules.Hey don't be sorry.Its okay.
CHEERS

BYE

shanbalz · New User Joined: 13 Oct 2005 Posts: 5

thanks again,
i'm in a dilemma whether to choose mainframes or SAP.. in singapore there r more openings for SAP than MF (until 2day according to jobstreet).. For 1 month MF got only 4 or 5 openings but SAP(including HR/basis/mm/pp/pm/fico etc) got 100+.. only few for ABAP.. but all 3yrs+ experience.. i planned to come to india in JAn 06.

i'm abit confused and not able to choose the rite one... pls can u guide me since u know abt both the fields.....
would u like to share ur personal experience here... AS u said u studied SAP first but now working on MF.. it may help me..

THANKS.

SHIVAREDDY · New User Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 20

Hey I think you should plan according to your convenience.Since you
are staying in Singapore,,,,,and as per you information SAP may
be better for you.And what ever institute you choose...choose according
to your convenience and information with you.
Regarding my experince,,,,I learned and worked on SAP for almost
6 months and I left it there because I got job in good company and
they trained me on MainFrames(we have no choice there...we learnt
what they taught us that's it )ofcourse Iam happy with MF.
So,nothing bad with SAP.....I was shifted to MF..that's it ....
Since you are coming in January....from now start visiting websites
on SAP-ABAP and try to learn something through self study.You can
easily get all websites regarding SAP......just use google site okay
cool then bye
cheers

shanbalz · New User Joined: 13 Oct 2005 Posts: 5

thanks alot..

sanya9 · New User Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Posts: 13

Hi,
friend,
It's better to join in SAP.cos, now a days Market is for SAP only.so,take advices from all ur friends & other IT professionals.if u do SAP technical.u have to work hard.cos,uc an't get jobs as a fresher.so,think well & decide.but,coming to mainframes,some limited companies are there.mainframes also having good market until money will fall down.bit not that much compare SAP.so,my advice is to take SAP only.u can get so many sap sites.just search vth patience.
ok see u..all the best
urs..
one of this member

muneeb · New User Joined: 27 Dec 2005 Posts: 1

hey , since u r planning to go in for mainframes course, i would like u reconsider ur decision coz, open systems like .net, asp etc . are equally oppurtune at present.
however if mainframes is ur choice, than dont do ur training from, delhi specially , GET , DELHI N JAIPUR AND MAINTEC. both these are a strict no, maples pune , chennai is a gud option.

small_world · New User Joined: 22 Jul 2005 Posts: 24 Location: pune

Hi nimbus,

If you want to study mainframes the best institute which i would prefer is CDAC,trivandrum.Even i got placed through this prestigious institute.

There are many advantage as well as disadvantages in doing a course in CDAC..

Adv...

1) No need to roam about searching for an interview..companies come to CDAC for recruitment.
2) Staff having 20+ years of experience..The first institute to have a mainframe..You can see 3 series of manframes if you get enrolled ...
3)Study materials with the licence of IBM and sessions like how to face interviews(personality development).
4)Lab hours and class hours are in the ratio 2:5.
5)Lab techies are also having 12+ experience.

Dis...

1)Most of the companies prefer freshers.Dont give up your current job...

khamarutheen · Active Member Joined: 23 Aug 2005 Posts: 677 Location: NJ

Hi nimbus,

Can u plz put up the exact address of that institution so that not only shanbalz many other freshers also will be benifited.

ssenthil_kumar19 · New User Joined: 02 May 2006 Posts: 2

Hi friends,

Iam senthil from madurai ,going to finish my B.E graduation on may 2006.actually iam ECE student with 68.5%,and i finished my CCNA
course now ,after next 2 week,iam going to take CCNA exam.is it enough to get a good job?.my parents are advised to take a MAINFRAME
training . as a fresher ,is it very useful for me to get a job.i dont know abt MAINFRAME ,plz give some idea abt mf and training institute in CHENNAI.and the cost for mf training ,duration.is it possible to get a job
after completing mf ,immediately.

plz experienced people, give suggestion to me.it is very helpful for my future planning.my mail I:Mail ID REMOVED

khamarutheen · Active Member Joined: 23 Aug 2005 Posts: 677 Location: NJ

Hi senthil,
Plz read forum rules .....

The idea which ur parents had given is the right one. U can c the various ratings of the institution which teach mainframes in our forum . Plz have a look and go ahead.. All the best...