I agree with the cross training focus. It is no longer sufficient to know one OS. The trend is towards integration of different OSes (ex. USS on z/OS, and zLINUX). I have had to learn UNIX (and LINUX) in order to be able to support z/OS. In the future it will be imperative to have knowledge of all of the major OSes since applications span them all and problem resolution will require the ability to sort out which one of them is the real culprit.
Jon L. Veilleux [EMAIL PROTECTED] (860) 636-2683 -----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Timothy Sipples Sent: Friday, November 14, 2008 12:42 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Mainframe Jobs Considered Recession Proof Scott Ford writes: >A lot of 'younger' guys and gals don't want to learn z/OS or any of >it's components. A lot do. [And, it should be noted, the mountain has moved. If you're a J2EE programmer, for example, learning WebSphere Application Server for z/OS is literally zero effort.(*)] Those that don't will have lower odds of finding and keeping employment -- and maintaining desired salaries -- ceteris paribus, if the expert forecasters are correct. Overall IT employment in the U.S. has fallen quite a bit since its dot-com peak already.? Also if the experts are correct, one would think there should be an increase in ab initio and cross training needs. Programs like the Academic Initiative and "Master the Mainframe" contest are manifestations of the former, but I wonder if the latter category has been fully mined yet. Maybe there should be more training that takes someone with skill set "X" and cross-trains them to acquire additional skills "Y." Some companies do this internally already. (*) Although some developers do experience the cultural shock of being expected to produce *quality*, not just quantity. Mainframes measure things and tell you exactly where you got it wrong. Some developers get offended by that. :-) - - - - - Timothy Sipples IBM Consulting Enterprise Software Architect Based in Tokyo, Serving IBM Japan / Asia-Pacific E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 This e-mail may contain confidential or privileged information. If you think you have received this e-mail in error, please advise the sender by reply e-mail and then delete this e-mail immediately. Thank you. Aetna ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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
