My Journey into Systems Operations
I first discovered my love for technology at the age of two, holding a Super Nintendo controller that my dad placed in my hands. That early spark of curiosity grew as I played more video games, leading me to wonder why some consoles outperformed others. Why couldn’t my PlayStation 2 run the latest PlayStation 3 games? The console was from the same manufacturer, but why didn’t it work? That simple question drove me to dig deeper into the differences in hardware and software, and soon I was comparing device specifications the way car enthusiasts talk about engines.
By the time I reached high school, computing was my favorite subject. What began with doodles in Microsoft Paint and tinkering in Microsoft Office evolved into learning about computer graphics, hardware, and my first exposure to programming through Visual Basic. Coding captured my imagination. Fueled by my passion for gaming, I set my sights on becoming a video game programmer and enrolled in a Computer Science degree program.
Expanding My IT Horizons
At university, my perspective on technology widened dramatically. I explored programming in multiple languages, studied the software engineering lifecycle, learned computer architecture, experimented with basic AI, and tackled cybersecurity and mathematics. Although my original dream of video game development shifted, I saw myself thriving in software engineering or computer design.
What I didn’t see, however, was the mainframe–which never made it into my lectures or labs. Like many computer science students, I mistakenly thought they were relics of the past—until my career search told me otherwise.
Modern Mainframe Intrigue
When I graduated in 2022, the software engineering job market in the UK was bleak. Layoffs were rampant, and most available roles required years of senior-level experience. Then, in 2024, an unexpected opportunity landed in my inbox: a message on LinkedIn about Broadcom’s Mainframe Vitality Program.
Curious, I started researching. The more I learned, the more intrigued I became. Far from being outdated, modern mainframes offered staggering levels of performance, security, and reliability. Realizing mainframes are the backbone of global industries completely changed my outlook. I applied to the program and was fortunate enough to be accepted.
Building a Strong Foundation
To prepare, I began with IBM Z Xplore, getting a taste of mainframe basics before diving into the Vitality Program’s curriculum. The program itself provided structured, progressive training:
- Foundations Course: Covering z/OS, ISPF, JCL, REXX, COBOL, and culminating in a capstone project
- Professional Skills: Focused on communication, presentation, and agile methodology
- OPS/MVS Training: A deep dive into operations over five weeks
- CA7 Scheduler Training: An intensive three-week module
I put this knowledge to the test in a six-month residency at a large UK bank, where I worked as a systems operator. Thanks to the program’s foundation, I wasn’t starting from zero. The Vitality Program’s residency phase allowed me to apply concepts in real-world scenarios, accelerating my growth and confidence.
Completing the residency was just the beginning. I was offered a full-time position at the bank, a milestone I never imagined when I first picked up that Nintendo controller years ago. None of this would have been possible without the Mainframe Vitality Program, and for that, I’m deeply grateful.
A Message to Future Technologists
This leaves me with one final piece of advice for my fellow computer science graduates and tech enthusiasts: Don’t overlook the mainframe. Technology trends come and go: AI today, cloud and social media yesterday, mobile computing before that. But for over half a century, mainframes have been running silently and reliably in the background, powering the systems we all depend on.
For those willing to take a closer look into mainframe careers, they’ll find that they offer not only stability but also the chance to make a real impact in the world of enterprise computing.