Future of Mainframe Technology

DibyojyotiSanyal · New User Joined: 14 Jan 2014 Posts: 1 Location: INDIA

Future for Developers in mainframe Technology:

This question is hovering on my mind for quite a long. I have gone through few similar topic also in this forum but I want to raise the question in my own context.

I am a mainframe developer with already 7 years exp in COBOL, JCL, DB2, REXX, CA7 and few other tools. Generally in India after this a major % of people goes for Management rolls because in India the type of work being outsourced in typical consultancy companies does not need more than 6-7 years of technical experience in mainframe domain.

My question is if I want to grow in technical path what are the possibilities I have?

I have seen some people says: try to learn and work ETL or data-warehousing as its a area where Mainframe knowledge has relevance.
some advice to learn SOA. But I want to know how Mainframe is related to these technologies? will it be a good move? if yes then how to learn and work in these technologies because in India its very hard to change technology by showing one or two certification in other technology. Please advice.

Another aspect is searching jobs in some other countries like US and UK in Mainframe technology itself. Is it a good option , and is it possible?

Few also advice to join IT division of financial institutions like banks, insurance or investment banker those has IT offices in India. I am not sure if in these companies they encourage and work in such areas where a long technical career can be build, if there are opportunities to do so.

So if any one can through some light in these option or can suggest something else that will be really great. I think there are lots of people in 6 to 8 yrs of experience who has these questions.

harithb · New User Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 15 Location: Bangalore

Hi Dibyojyoti,

I can completely understand your question as I too have been a MF developer and have 8 years of exp. However the market is bad outside for MF and I have not seen much of openings for senior MF resources. The max exp most of the companies are looking for is for 6 years. I tried for US but none of the consultancies are ready to process an H1 for MF resource as they say it is risky

Not sure about UK though.

So, its better to shift to non-technical or move into some other stream.

Cheers,
Haritha.

Ed Goodman · Active Member Joined: 08 Jun 2011 Posts: 556 Location: USA

You and I are victims of the same set of large numbers. Millions of MF workers were created in the last decade. Everything that COULD be outsourced WAS outsourced. The savings, real or imagined, were just too good to pass up.

Now that market has consumed itself. There aren't many more systems or projects that need lower level mainframers. All that's left are systems that needs a LOT of experience to keep running, and there aren't a lot of those positions left in the world.

Also, there are a lot more highly experienced mainframers who got laid off when the oursourcing feeding frenzy was in full swing. Those are the people who are doing the work that is left.

The good news is that a person with 7+ years of development is PROBABLY good at development in any field. So you could leverage your COBOL experience into JAVA or VB or C#.

That's assuming there aren't millions of freshly minted Java, VB and C# developers out there standing in the same lines, willing to work for less money.

Pandora-Box · Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 9:24 pm

/Personal experience comment on
Sad part is in certain countries very few Mainframe developers whom I have met are encouraged to get cross skilled.Though person is willing to be cross skilled and due to too many inflow from college.A person doesnt have a real time scenario to add in his resume or any certification he does on the other platforms.So certification is the one which can be showcased or unless the person has some strong business need to be switched over ... Being said that the person is being asked to get cross trained for the business need when he/she works at a client place

or the other case if someone rises to the occation and applies thought and does some tools productive which is showcased that gives a feeling to manager this guy could work in that technology apart from mainframes or also we should be open the bosses to let them know I wanted to be trained in so and so..and also as said earlier since there is lot of man power bosses really dont find time to spend time to each reportees

I have seen places where 1 person had 25 - 30 reportees :'(

Atleast for a few
/Personal experience comment off

TheMFKid · New User Joined: 20 Nov 2013 Posts: 91 Location: India

Dibyojyoti, your question is relevent, true and dwelling in the minds of many Mainframe developers(especially in India). Due to VISA policies, it is very hard to find MF Jobs in The US/UK by your own, unless your current organization is willing to send you across. There is no scarcity of MF Projects in India and with addition of many technologies to Mainframes(like the Z/Linux, Unix etc) the opportunities to survive (without moving into management field) are more. The real question is would your organization support you if you decide to live as a technical person and not move into any other role(like Management, BA, Domain expert etc) after a certain point of time. The concept of "techno-managerial" roles are also evolving around. If you find such an organization, it may be a best place to settle in.

trushant.w · Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 10:27 am

Hi TheMFKid

TheMFKid · New User Joined: 20 Nov 2013 Posts: 91 Location: India

trushant.w · Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 3:50 pm

Ed Goodman · Active Member Joined: 08 Jun 2011 Posts: 556 Location: USA

Anuj Dhawan · Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 11:23 am

anandinmainframe · Active User Joined: 31 May 2007 Posts: 171 Location: India

I am even ready to switch over but my company is not appreciating that due to billing. I am with 6.8 yrs experience and stranded.

Anuj Dhawan · Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 4:47 pm

kris_madras · New User Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 31

kris_madras · New User Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 31

My experience is crossing 11 years.. no openings inside my company and outside.. I need to change my skill set immediately. I could have focussed more on new technologies like ETL, BI at the early beginning stages (some 5 years back..)

Rohit Umarjikar · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 2:27 pm

ETL has a great scope for next 5-10 years, and if you are really good at SQL then just join the coaching class for ETL which would be for 2 months and do a considerable hands on case studies and then you can sell very well in the outside market.

Rohit Umarjikar · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 2:29 pm