INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Jobs, Jobs in INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - InformationTechnologyCrossing.comJob Aggregators - InformationTechnologyCrossing.com

     

Forgot Your Password?    Remember Me

TRY IT NOW!

Job Seekers  Employers
How We Help You  |  Why We're Not Free
The Most Information Technology Jobs Anywhere — InformationTechnologyCrossing
Search Thousands of Jobs in Our Database
What Where


Search in Job Title Only

Select Country:


+ Browse Jobs    + Advanced Search    + Search Tips
InformationTechnology Career Feature

Giving New Life to the Mainframe
By Kristine Harper
Most people don't know what a mainframe is, and lately, even fewer are making it their life's work. Understandably, I get a lot of questions about how I chose the mainframe as a career — and I think the fact that I am a 24-year-old female has a lot to do with it.

Act Now! Activate a FREE three days trial to InformationTechnologyCrossing.com, because you know how important it is to know about all the jobs.
Activate My Risk Free Trial
Giving New Life to the Mainframe
Giving New Life to the Mainframe
+ Enlarge
''NEON is working closely with local colleges and IBM to create mainframe programs and host career fairs at colleges across the country in order to educate students about this industry and its promising future.''
While the call to develop code in Assembler language was very strong (wink wink), it all started much before that. Both of my parents are Assembler mainframe developers, and I attended my first SHARE conference while in utero.

Fast forward 18 years: I was an eager freshman at the University of Arizona (UA), and whether from genes or osmosis, I knew I wanted to work in the mainframe industry. Preparing for that career would be easier said than done. My college classmates told me I was nuts for choosing a career on a ''dead'' platform, and my professors weren’t much more optimistic. I found only one Assembler language class to prepare me for the job I would take upon graduation.

While at college, I surveyed all the computer science (CS) students at UA. In this survey, I asked questions like:
  • ''If you had to describe the mainframe in one word, what would it be?''

  • ''Do you think the mainframe is still useful/important today? In the future?''

  • ''Would you say you know a lot, some, a little, or nothing about mainframes?''

  • ''Have any of your professors ever mentioned the mainframe?''

  • And similar questions for Assembler.
The results of the survey were what I expected, just not what I was hoping:
  • 91% of the students that responded had little of no knowledge of the mainframe

  • 95% said no CS professor had even mentioned mainframes to them!!!

  • The most common ''one word'' description of the mainframe in the replies was ''old''! Old! Yes, of course they are old, but only a few replies mentioned that they are an important part of our daily computing world!

  • Most students were pretty confident that mainframes are a dying breed — that their end is near and few companies use them today.

  • 97% said they hadn’t/wouldn’t consider a career on the mainframe.
From my professors, I heard, ''Well, that’s not where the money is'' or ''That’s an odd area of CS to pursue.''

Don’t get me wrong — my years in school were some of the best of my life, but my professional education and development really took place during the internships I completed each summer with NEON Enterprise Software, where I am currently a developer. Each summer, I was fortunate enough to attend SHARE conferences, work with seasoned professionals (the best in the field), and absorb real-life applications of what I was learning in school.

Now, with just over two years of full-time work under my belt, I’m learning more about the mainframe and Assembler programming, and I’ve seen that there will always be something new to learn to better my career. I’ve also noticed that there are not a lot of young professionals joining the ranks at my company, and I don’t see many people my age at industry tradeshows or conferences.

As is true with many technology industries, the mainframe industry is experiencing a serious shortage of skilled workers. My struggles finding proper training to work as a developer on the mainframe weren’t the cause of that problem, but rather, one of the results.

With the graying of the workforce that we are seeing now, by 2010, there will be no one to support the mainframe. Considering that 95% of Fortune 5000 companies continue to operate on the mainframe, the job security in this industry is quite compelling.

Fortunately, several industry leaders have joined together to ensure that I won’t be working alone in ten years. Through the Academic Initiative, NEON is working closely with local colleges and IBM to create mainframe programs and host career fairs at colleges across the country in order to educate students about this industry and its promising future. Schools participating in the Academic Initiative teach a set of courses on the mainframe, and participating companies provide internships to give students real-world applications for what they learn in the classroom.

I am very invested in doing my part to ensure that more students have the opportunity to choose the mainframe — in 2005, I became the project manager for zNextGen, a user-driven community that aims to connect peers and facilitate shared experiences among emerging mainframe professionals.

Fortunately, I found a company that is just as committed as I am to increasing the flow of new expertise to our industry. When you are making the decision about which technology path you want to follow, consider the mainframe. After all, job security, good pay, and challenging work are not a guarantee in every field.

About the Author

Kristine Harper is a developer for NEON Enterprise Software and works as an Assembler programmer in the area of research and development on IMS projects. NEON is the technology leader in enterprise data management software and services. As the rules of business change, our solutions let you efficiently control, protect, and manage your data with confidence. Founded in 1995, NEON Enterprise Software is headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, and serves customers worldwide with its dedicated team of industry experts. For more information about NEON Enterprise Software, visit www.neonesoft.com.


Popular Tags
 Fast forward  codes  developers  lots  applications  internships  industry  research and development

  • Share this story:
  • BlinkList
  • blogmarks
  • del.icio.us
  • Digg
  • Facebook
  • Google
  • Sphinn
  • MySpace
  • NewsVine
  • Simpy
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • E-mail this story to a friend!
  • Print this article!
  • Faves
  • Furl
  • Netvouz
  • Slashdot
  • Spurl
  • Yahoo! Buzz

Facts

InformationTechnologyCrossing Fact #84: Those who use InformationTechnologyCrossing always know about available industry opportunities, which makes finding a job easier.

Comments

Article ID: 370160    www.informationtechnologycrossing.com

Article Title: Giving New Life to the Mainframe

Comment not found for this article.

Comment Comment
Rate This Article
Related Article

Printable Version    Printable Version PDF Version    PDF Version Email to a Friend    Email to a Friend
Comment    Comment View Comment    View Comment

What Members are Saying
Danielle , Hartford
InformationTechnologyCrossing has a huge quantity of jobs. Amazing website!

Mary , Philadelphia, PA
InformationTechnologyCrossing has a great number of jobs and that too at one place. Good work!

Gregg , Tampa, FL
I was greatly surprised at the number of postings I found for my profession. It gave me the possibility to search in other cities, as I was considering a move to other locations in the country. I was very happy with the service and will recommend to everyone I know looking for employment prospects.

Barry , Reno, NV
My friend told me about EmploymentCrossing. I was able to locate several job positions that I may not have found other wise. This was well worth the one-month membership fee. I tell everyone I know about the possibilities of this site.

Julie , Chicago, IL
EmploymentCrossing is too good and very user friendly. The best feature is the submission of the resume and cover letter online. The search engines are also very fast.


To compare InformationTechnologyCrossing with other job sites Click here


Bring Order and Structure to Your IT Job Search

You have perseverance and can accomplish anything you put your mind to and finding the ideal IT job is no exception. We have a tradition of helping our members accomplish anything they set their mind to. With complete information about every IT job in the market at your fingertips you are going to go far.

You have very high standards for the sort of employer you are working for and also for yourself. You are not afraid to work hard to fulfill your duties because you value security and peaceful living. We give you the tools to pursue your dreams for you and your family.

Become part of a tradition of research excellence that has elevated the careers of countless IT professionals just like you.

Complete the sign up process today and become part of our site today.

Tell us where to send your access instructions:

Your Email


Total Jobs on InformationTechnologyCrossing
262,358
New Information Technology Jobs This Week
72,511
Jobs on EmploymentCrossing Network
Available to Our Members
2,349,188
  INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY JOBS NEAR YOU

  + International Jobs + Work At Home Jobs
  + UK Jobs + Canada Jobs

New search feature using US map. + click here
Looking for a new information technology job in your city? + click here
  TOP 5 JOB SEARCHES
  TODAY'S FEATURED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY JOB
Web Designer
United States-OR-Merlin
The company is strongly committed to its web presence.
Attractive graphics and a satisfying user experience are
important parts of that goal. The ...

Click to Apply for - InformationTechnologyCrossing.com
Most Recent Articles
A Google Job Search Can Get You Recruited By Google
A Google job search may not be a preferred alternative, as all Google job descriptions are available at the Google website, and one can apply for jobs directly through Google. However, actual experiences suggest that most candidates called for interview at Google were directly contacted by a Google recruiter, and quite unexpectedly, without having ...
Recent Articles:

Search All Articles

   GO 
FREE NEWSLETTER
+
A CHANCE TO WIN A NEW BMW
BMW - InformationTechnologyCrossing.com
"The Job Researcher" is a weekly newsletter that's absolutely jam packed with jobs, career advice, stories, webinars and more. PLUS, a chance to win a new 2010 BMW 328i sedan in Employment Research Institute's annual car giveaway.
 SIGN UP NOW
*Your Email:  
Sign Up on - InformationTechnologyCrossing.com
Only InformationTechnologyCrossing researches and consolidates every information technology job opening it can find and puts all of the job openings it locates in one place.

  • We research and collect information technology job openings from tens of thousands of employer, association, newspaper classified, government, public interest, job board and other websites and post them on our site.
  • InformationTechnologyCrossing has vastly more information technology job openings than any other job board because we actually go out and research jobs instead of just posting jobs employers pay us to post.
  CAREER CONNECT  (From Our Career Blogs)
People like you for who you are.
Submit GET FREE
JOB ALERTS
BE THE FIRST TO KNOW
Learn about jobs before everyone else does. Studies prove the first people to apply to jobs are the most likely to get them. Sign up for job alerts today BMW - InformationTechnologyCrossing.comand be entered to win a new BMW!
What is InformationTechnologyCrossing?
Who Else Is Ready to Never Have to Worry About Recessions and the Information Technology Job Market Again?
Why Job Boards Are Evil!
Blow Away Your Competition with InformationTechnologyCrossing
Get More Employers to Respond to Your Applications and Hire You
Why You Are Not Aware of 95% of the Information Technology Jobs Out There
Why InformationTechnologyCrossing's Marketing Problem is Good For You
Why It is Important to See Every Job Site There is
Private Versus Public Job Boards
Why You Need to Manage Your Job Search in One Place
Who Else Wants Their Phone Ringing Off the Hook With Quality Job Interviews?
Do Not Use Another Job Board Until You Read This
UNCENSORED REVIEWS!

Maribeth , Mason, MI

The best thing about EmploymentCrossing is that some of its job listings just cannot be found on any other job site. Incredible performance!

Linda , Brownsvelle, TX

On InformationTechnologyCrossing it's easy to access the vast variety of jobs on offer. The search engines are superb!

Pamela , Chicago, IL

InformationTechnologyCrossing has more jobs on its pages, than any other similar websites. Amazing!

+ More success stories
+ Share your success story with us
HOW WE WORK

Watch Our Latest Video!

HOW WE WORK - InformationTechnologyCrossing.com
See Every Information Technology Job We Can Find on the Internet!
Unlike other sites, InformationTechnologyCrossing works for you and does not charge employers to post jobs and actually goes out and researches jobs for you. The jobs you see are the jobs we find for you and not the ones employers are paying us to post.
To compare InformationTechnologyCrossing with other job sites
Click here on - InformationTechnologyCrossing.com
USEFUL LINKS

Press Releases

Add InformationTechnologyCrossing to My Favorites
Top 101 Reasons to Sign Up for InformationTechnologyCrossing
Reason 56: InformationTechnologyCrossing lets you save up to 10 resumes and up to 10 supplementary materials online (even as Word or PDF files) and access them from anywhere there is an Internet connection.
  Click here for 100 more reasons  
InformationTechnologyCrossing has the most advanced job-search engine. Period.
Tell Us What You Think   
InformationTechnologyCrossing answers:
Why can't I just use a free method to look for a job?
+ Click here for answer
Free Webinar by Harrison Barnes
Focus on Doing - and Stop Talking About Those Who Are Doing

Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at 1:00 PM PDT.
Today at InformationTechnologyCrossing

15,723 - Jobs found in last 24 Hours 72,511 - Jobs found in last 7 Days 262,358 - Total Jobs Found
Leading Employers Tell a Friend!
Follow InformationTechnologyCrossing.com on Twitter Be a Fan of InformationTechnologyCrossing on Facebook - InformationTechnologyCrossing.com
Your privacy is guaranteed. We will never give out, lease, or sell your personal information. Whitelist InformationTechnologyCrossing
Sign Up  |   About Us  |   History  |   Our Mission  |   Refer A Friend  |   Terms of Use  |   Privacy  |   Post a Job Opening  |   Job-Opening FAQ  |   Testimonials  |   Career Articles

The InformationTechnologyCrossing Guarantee  |   Crossing Sites  |   Browse Jobs  |   Benefits of Working with InformationTechnologyCrossing  |   Site Map

Career Advice  |   Resume Service  |   Resume Distribution Service  |   Post Resume  |   Job Search Course
In a different but related profession? We can help! Explore our related sites:
100KCrossing | AccountingCrossing | AccountManagementCrossing | ActuarialCrossing | AdminCrossing | AdvertisingCrossing | AerospaceCrossing | AgriculturalCrossing | ArchitectureCrossing | Attorney Resume | AuditorCrossing | AutomotiveCrossing | AviationCrossing | BCG Attorney Search | BilingualCrossing | BiotechCrossing | BlueCollarCrossing | BusinessAnalystCrossing | BusinessDevelopmentCrossing | CallCenterCrossing | ChefCrossing | CivilEngineeringCrossing | CLevelCrossing | ClinicalResearchCrossing | ComplianceCrossing | ComputerAidedDesignCrossing | ConstructionCrossing | ConsultingCrossing | ContractManagementCrossing | CounselingCrossing | CPlusPlusCrossing | CustomerServiceCrossing | DBACrossing | DentalCrossing | DesigningCrossing | DiversityCrossing | DotNetCrossing | ECommerceCrossing | EdFed | EditingCrossing | EducationCrossing | EmploymentAuthority | EmploymentCrossing | EnergyCrossing | EngineeringCrossing | EntryLevelCrossing | EnvironmentalCrossing | EnvironmentalSafetyHealthCrossing | SAPCrossing | ExecCrossing | FacilitiesCrossing | FinancialServicesCrossing | FoodServicesCrossing | FundraisingCrossing | GISCrossing | GovernmentCrossing | Graduate School Loans | HealthcareCrossing | HelpDeskCrossing | HospitalityCrossing | Hound | HRCrossing | HVACCrossing | InsurCrossing | IntellectualPropertyCrossing | InternshipCrossing | J2EECrossing | JD2B | JDJournal | JournalismCrossing | Judged | LawCrossing | Law Firm Staff | Law School Loan Report | Law School Loans | Legal Authority | Legal Authority Financial | LogisticsCrossing | ManagerCrossing | ManufacturingCrossing | MarketingCrossing | MediaJobCrossing | Medical School Loans | MilitaryCrossing | NursingCrossing | OccupationalTherapyCrossing | OperationsCrossing | PartTimeCrossing | PharmaceuticalCrossing | PhysicalSecurityCrossing | PhysicalTherapyCrossing | PlanningCrossing | PostdoctoralFellowCrossing | PRCrossing | ResumeApple | ProcurementCrossing | ProductManagerCrossing | ProjectManagementCrossing | PublicInterestCrossing | PublishingCrossing | PurchasingCrossing | QAQCCrossing | RadioCrossing | RealEstateAndLandCrossing | Recruit Attorney | RecruitingCrossing | ResearchingCrossing | RetailCrossing | SciencesCrossing | ScientistCrossing | SellingCrossing | SQLCrossing | TeenagerCrossing | TelecomCrossing | TradingCrossing | TrainingCrossing | TransportationCrossing | TravelingCrossing | TruckingCrossing | TVCrossing | UnderwritingCrossing | VeterinaryCrossing | VolunteerCrossing | WorkAtHomeCrossing | WritingCrossing



Want to Focus Your Information Technology Job Search on a Different Geographic Area?
Akron Jobs  |  Albuquerque Jobs  |  Anaheim Jobs  |  Anchorage Jobs  |  Arlington Jobs  |  Atlanta Jobs  |  Aurora Jobs  |  Austin Jobs  |  Babylon Jobs  |  Bakersfield Jobs  |  Baltimore Jobs  |  Baton Rouge Jobs  |  Birmingham Jobs  |  Boston Jobs  |  Buffalo Jobs  |  Chandler Jobs  |  Charlotte Jobs  |  Chesapeake Jobs  |  Chicago Jobs  |  Chula Vista Jobs  |  Cincinnati Jobs  |  Cleveland Jobs  |  Colorado Springs Jobs  |  Columbus Jobs  |  Corpus Christi Jobs  |  Dallas Jobs  |  Denver Jobs  |  Detroit Jobs  |  Durham Jobs  |  El Paso Jobs  |  Fort Wayne Jobs  |  Fort Worth Jobs  |  Fresno Jobs  |  Garland Jobs  |  Greensboro Jobs  |  Henderson Jobs  |  Hialeah Jobs  |  Honolulu Jobs  |  Houston Jobs  |  Indianapolis Jobs  |  Islip Jobs  |  Jacksonville Jobs  |  Jersey City Jobs  |  Kansas City Jobs  |  Laredo Jobs  |  Las Vegas Jobs  |  Lexington Jobs  |  Lincoln Jobs  |  Long Beach Jobs  |  Los Angeles Jobs  |  Louisville Jobs  |  Lubbock Jobs  |  Memphis Jobs  |  Mesa Jobs  |  Miami Jobs  |  Milwaukee Jobs  |  Minneapolis Jobs  |  Nashville Jobs  |  Newark Jobs  |  New Orleans Jobs  |  New York Jobs  |  Norfolk Jobs  |  North Hempstead Jobs  |  Oakland Jobs  |  Oklahoma Jobs  |  Omaha Jobs  |  Orlando Jobs  |  Oyster Bay Jobs  |  Philadelphia Jobs  |  Phoenix Jobs  |  Pittsburgh Jobs  |  Plano Jobs  |  Portland Jobs  |  Raleigh Jobs  |  Reno Jobs  |  Riverside Jobs  |  Rochester Jobs  |  Sacramento Jobs  |  San Antonio Jobs  |  San Diego Jobs  |  San Francisco Jobs  |  San Jose Jobs  |  Santa Ana Jobs  |  Scottsdale Jobs  |  Seattle Jobs  |  Saint Louis Jobs  |  Stockton Jobs  |  Saint Paul Jobs  |  Saint Petersburg Jobs  |  Tampa Jobs  |  Toledo Jobs  |  Tucson Jobs  |  Tulsa Jobs  |  Virginia Beach Jobs  |  Washington DC Jobs  |  Wichita Jobs  |  Winston-Salem Jobs
Employment Research Institute
InformationTechnologyCrossing - #1 Job Aggregation and Private Job-Opening Research Service — The Most Quality Jobs Anywhere
InformationTechnologyCrossing is the first job consolidation service in the employment industry to seek to include every job that exists and not charge employers to post jobs on its site.

InformationTechnologyCrossing uses sophisticated technology and manual work to comb employer websites and other job boards for jobs and bring them all to its site.