I have to agree with bill on some points but there are exceptions. I am 28 and I have been a mainframe operator for about 5 years now and I am looking to get into system programming. I was raised with a strong work ethic and I do all I can to make sure my work is done and done right the first time. I have worked long hours OFF the clock with my previous sys prog to try and learn as much as I can. Unfortunately, just like other data centers I have worked at, this company moved off the mainframe. I was once involved in a conversion of a client from VSE to MVS and I worked several 20 and 30 hour days to help the conversion. I know what it is like to not leave until the system is up and running and not when you want too. I enjoyed every single minute of it, well most of them at least :)
Umm if I have not made everyone to terribly mad does anyone have any advice on what I can do to help get into mainframe system programming? College seems to have some good basic computing classes but nothing for mainframe. Heck I can find AS400 stuff all day even at junior colleges but nothing for mainframes; at least here in Texas. Today's mainframes can do so much more than just batch processing but it seems people are biased towards mainframes. Companies could eliminate so many pc servers and consolidate them on the mainframe but everyone I talked to about it just looked at me like I was stupid or that it was a ridiculous idea or both. I can understand not having everything on your mainframe because if it crashes, well then a lot of stuff would be down. I worked at one shop that had a MP3000, that thing crashed about every six to eight months and IBM never could figure out why. IBM kept replacing parts that they thought might have caused the crash but never really could tell us for sure. My hunch was because the programming manager ipl'ed it by flipping the power switch off. That was before we got down there to set him straight. IBM did tells us that there was 5 or 6 other companies that had the same problem. Well sorry everyone for the long posting. Just had a few things had to get off my chest. Thanks James H. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- There are societal factors that could account for this difference in work ethics or attitudes other than just having to work with expensive computing resources. In the 1960s and 1970s most young adult professionals still had a serious work ethic, and took their work seriously whether it involved computers or not. Today young adult American professionals have zero or negative work ethic. All sweeping generalities, to be sure. There are plenty of exceptions. But my wife, who manages 60 to 70 hospital emergency room nurses, tells me this constantly. Her young nurses would rather go sailing than show up for scheduled work. If the state allows 13 consecutive weeks for compensated medical leave, some nurses take off all 13 weeks even if they only have a minor ailment. Intense on-the-job stress in nursing is to blame for much of this low work ethic, but not all. Society (media, TV, advertising, home training, peer pressure, the whole 19 yards) is producing an entire generation of badly spoiled, impatient brats who demand instant gratification and high-paying entry-level jobs with zero accountability and management that makes them feel good no matter what they do (outcome-oriented instead of results-oriented education has spawned this). Just my humble opinion. And yes, there are exceptions. Like, just, you know, try, you know, to ... uh... listen, you know, to, you know, some of them, like, you know, speak, you know, intelligently. Bill Fairchild ********** Confidentiality Notice ********** This electronic transmission and any attached documents or other writings are confidential and are for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) identified above. This message may contain information that is privileged, confidential or otherwise protected from disclosure under applicable law. If the receiver of this information is not the intended recipient, or the employee, or agent responsible for delivering the information to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, reading, dissemination, distribution, copying or storage of this information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this information in error, please notify the sender by return email and delete the electronic transmission, including all attachments from your system. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
