Education / Background:
I studied Computer Science (as an engineering degree!) at Imperial College and was using DCF in VM to format my coursework.  During the summer after my second year, I managed to get a paid internship at a local office of a major corporation, where I got to play with a PDP 11 as well as an IBM Mainframe.  After completing my degree, I ended up with a full-time role as a systems programmer.

How I Discovered the Mainframe:
I was introduced to Mainframe through a summer job experience opportunity, at my local IBM Office, when I was at Secodary School.  The programmer I was assigned to introduced me to the mainframe, and programming in APL.  At first, I thought Mainframe was just another computer, but I quickly learned it was much more powerful than any personal system on the market.

My First Steps:
My journey began by being thrown in at the deep end and reading lots of manuals, which were then supplemented by some good old IBM classroom training, and even watching an IBM SMP/E course on VHS tapes.

Where I Am Today:
40 years later, I’m a Senior Software Engineering Manager working to support several mainframe products running under z/OS, mainly written in Assembler, but with some C, REXX, CLIST, and PLI thrown in for good measure. It still amazes me how robust the mainframe environment is and how code written decades ago is still working flawlessly.

Advice for Others:
If you’re curious about Mainframe, be sure to try the free training challenges on IBM Z Xplore and don’t worry about having the “perfect” background. Skills can be learned, and the community is incredibly supportive. Curiosity, openness, and willingness to learn will take you far.