What is a mainframe systems administrator and how to become one

Key steps to become a mainframe systems administrator

1. Explore mainframe systems administrator education requirements

   Most common mainframe systems administrator degrees

   Bachelor's

   73.5 %

   Associate

   17.6 %

   High School Diploma

   5.9 %

   Show more

2. Start to develop specific mainframe systems administrator skills

   Skills	Percentages
   JCL	8.27%
   CICS	7.76%
   FTP	7.01%
   REXX	6.60%
   DB2	6.22%

   Show more

3. Complete relevant mainframe systems administrator training and internships

   Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New mainframe systems administrators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a mainframe systems administrator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real mainframe systems administrator resumes.

4. Research mainframe systems administrator duties and responsibilities

   • Perform a wide variety of administrative tasks including managing daily schedules and interconnecting with other medical facilities and patients.
   • Create TSO and CICS accounts, and grant access to various internal systems and applications.
   • Develop new as well as updated older software using the REXX and JCL programming languages to ensure maximum system efficiency.
   • Utilize FTP for data transfer to domain administrators.

5. Apply for mainframe systems administrator jobs

   Now it's time to start searching for a mainframe systems administrator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

   1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
   2. Consult your professional network
   3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
   4. Watch out for job scams