(Sorry for cross-posting...)
I'm writing an article for CA about baby-boom mainframers (that's me
too, my first job out of college in 1968 was with IBM in Poughkeepsie)
about what we're all doing and seeing and facing in our careers.
Do people plan to work as long as they're able? Because of enjoyable
jobs? From necessity? For other reasons?
Are folks being downsized/outsourced?
Retiring voluntarily or otherwise? When projects finish or ... certain
ages are reached? Or companies migrate off the mainframe? Or youngsters
are available for lower salaries?
Regarding "dump the mainframe projects" -- have you stayed with a
company after migrating to another platform? How has that worked out?
Have you seen "dump" projects fail or simply continue forever with
mainframes chugging along productively?
Has the skill set required for mainframe work changed during your
career? How have tools evolved to support skills required?
What are boomer mainframers doing in retirement? Are you taking new jobs
and "double dipping"? Becoming consultants? Trainers? Writers? With
former employers? In locations you've worked or moving?
Or starting new careers in other fields?
With decades of experience and perspective -- and considering
contradictory trends of organizations migrating to other platforms AND
the general resurgence of the mainframe -- what recommendations are
offered for the mainframe's future?
Are younger-generation mainframe staffers joining your companies? Have
you helped recruit any (including family members!)? How are they
integrated into your data centers? Are there inter-generational issues
(training, collaboration, communication, work habits, whatever)? What
should employers do to smooth the process?
Have you worked for younger bosses/managers? What's that been like? Are
there challenges communicating mainframe benefits, mindset, practices to
them?
For reference, Wikipedia defines baby boomers as being born between 1946
and 1964. So if you served in WW I or had your first legal drink
celebrating Y2K, someone else will have to document your life.
People who've REALLY left the mainframe arena may not be on these lists
-- so feel free to forward this with colleagues you've stayed in touch with!
Please reply to me directly as well as to the list, so I see responses
separate from the daily digest. Relatively brief comments are best so I
can ask follow-up questions if necessary.
The two articles -- for z/Journal and Mainframe Executive -- about which
I queried the lists about mainframe education are nearly done, will
appear early next year, I think.
Thanks to people who responded for those, and who respond now!
--
Gabriel Goldberg, Computers and Publishing, Inc. (703) 204-0433
3401 Silver Maple Place, Falls Church, VA 22042 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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