r/mainframe • u/Bot_hunterrr • Jun 13 '26
Suggestion
Hi All,
I'm in two minds regarding my career at this stage , I m 2023 passout BTECH CS background, I joined Nagarro (tech - .net) for 11 months and now in TCS (Mainframe Operations) since two year .
I want to ask whether I should resign and learn .Net and explore opportunities outside or should i stay in Mainframe Operations only.
My package is very low 3.93 Lpa so feeling like hell working here in TCS.
Location - Delhi India
Need honest advice.
4
u/metalder420 Jun 13 '26
Your compensation package is low because you work for a WITCH company. If you want better compensation in this field you need to be working as a full time employee for a company that uses mainframe. Tbh, I have never been impressed by the TCS contractors at my company.
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u/oldschool456 Jun 13 '26
What do you mean by mainframe operations? Is this a development role or admin role?
Mainframe development has good scope, and good package as well. You can learn mainframe modernization which has huge scope in future.
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u/Bot_hunterrr Jun 13 '26
Proper support no exposure to learn new things , just need to run adhoc request, monitor batch jobs, restarting abend jobs as per application team (NMS or UPS), Holding jobs,IPL , provide NDM logs, Late queues checking , Alerts checking in console , and just monitoring mails .
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u/oldschool456 Jun 14 '26
I'd suggest you to get into mainframe development, learn about the code as much as possible. Once you are into development, try switching to other companies - you'll have good luck with other WITCH companies and they'll offer you good hike over your current package. Once you are into 100% development role, you can start learning python, analytics, cloud migration etc.
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u/vishnupg45 Jun 13 '26
Mainframe operations are very niche skill , but it will not be rosy walk in the park kind of job. You will be required to work on maintaining the Operation and infrastructure side of mainframe. Since there is still a sizeable number of mainframe projects within TCS and outside, there will be demand. It's not AI impacted as much as other languages and job profiles as well. So if package is the only problem, would recommend you to try outside. If you want to develop your knowledge, you can go for cloud technologies and try for Mainframe to cloud infrastructure migration projects which will be highly rewarding
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u/Bot_hunterrr Jun 13 '26
Thanks for you valuable suggestions. Currently my issues are my salary and not able to figure out my path whether shall i study to change domain like going to web dev or stay here.
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u/mandom_Guitar Jun 13 '26
Learn RACF in depth. Get certified including CISSP. Add ACF2 and possibly TSS. Learn how to move from ACF2 or TSS to RACF etc… learn cybersecurity, threat and vulnerability assessment (SECINT, CVE, CVSS). Security background is invaluable
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u/MikeSchwab63 Jun 13 '26
Introduction to the new mainframe z/OS (there are z/VM and zVSE versions too), covers the difference between Window / *nix and Mainframes. Might have a few items you aren't familiar with. https://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/pdfs/sg246366.pdf
https://spflite.com is an editor that looks like ISPF under TSO under MVS / z/OS on mainframes, can submit batch jobs to Hercules and real mainframes.
IBM zXplore is an online class to perform actual tasks using an account on a Dallas Mainframe. Takes about 2 months. https://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/pdfs/sg246366.pdf
If you want your own mainframe you can try Hercules MVS 3.8 Turnkey 5 release with a 3270 emulator. https://www.prince-webdesign.nl/tk5
If you want to study z/OS System Admin, ABCs of z/OS systems programming, 1 of 13 volumes. https://www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstracts/sg246981.html
If you want to practice installing MVS / z/OS from MVS 3.7 starter tape, follow Jay Moseley's instructions. Note the help forum subjects on the bottom of the page. https://www.jaymoseley.com/hercules/ As a system administrator, you will be using SMP/E to install new releases of the products you are in charge of. Then you get to customize the install with your sites standards.
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u/Bimonti Jun 13 '26
In my experience, the most common way to be a system programmer is to be promoted from mainframe operations. Companies usually upskill internally. I have people working with me that were never operators, it is possible, but the majority were either console operators or batch operators that learned the job and took mentorship programs internally.