I originally studied Mathematics to become a High School Math teacher. When I graduated University, there weren’t many teaching jobs available. I then pivoted and started to work for a computer vendor, first as a statistical clerk working with Lotus 123 where I analyzed leasing payments. I was working for one of the competitors of IBM and we built smaller computers and laptops. I was luckily able to get into a class that taught us how to code in COBOL and Assembler. At the time, the IBM Mainframe wasn’t on my radar (as they were the ‘enemy’).
I first learned about Mainframe because the company that I worked for did have a mainframe and one of the applications that I supported used the mainframe to process customer invoices. I learned how GDGs, datasets and JCL worked by working on the Invoicing application. I learned to not bother the mainframe System Programmers when you are a lowly Software Engineer (haha). I learned that the mainframe performed processing very well and there were a lot of tools to help create reports.
My first steps into Mainframe involved mentorship, self-learning, and on-the-job experience, and I quickly realized that it’s not just about technology — it’s about people. The support from [mentors, teammates, community, user groups] helped me grow and gain confidence.
Today, I work as a Sr. Development Manager for a software vendor, and I’m proud to be part of the Mainframe ecosystem. What excites me most is the future of Mainframe and how IBM continues to innovate the hardware and software. I believe that the world truly runs on a mainframe and there is definitely career growth still available if you want it. There are many different positions available as a mainframer for example: Software Engineer, z/OS System Programmer, Security Analyst, CICS Administrator, DBA, VTAM/Communication specialist.
If you’re considering Mainframe, my advice is simple: take the first step. There’s no single path into this space — and sometimes the most rewarding journeys are the ones you don’t plan.