Mainframe and Youth: A New Wave of Opportunities
When you think of Mainframe, your first association is probably a big machine from some old movies. But did you know that Mainframe still handles more than 90% of all transactions and 70% of the world's IT workloads today? Not only that, but it is becoming increasingly relevant for young people looking for career opportunities in the IT industry.
Mainframe is not just history - it is the present and future of IT. In 2025, with the arrival of the latest generation of the machine, Mainframe promises a transformation from an old-fashioned workhorse into a true rock star of the IT world. Given its importance in processing large amounts of data and transactions in critical industries, expertise in this field can create numerous exciting career opportunities for students.
The Mainframe industry is investing in education and adaptation to attract new generations. Training programs, internships, and certification courses are now available for students who want to dive into the world of this powerful technology. In addition, working with Mainframe offers the opportunity to be involved in globally important projects that change the world.
If you are a student or a young person looking for a challenging and promising career, Mainframe is the perfect opportunity for you. Who knows, maybe you will be part of the team that will define what the Mainframe will look like in the 2030s!
How can young people take advantage of opportunities in the world of Mainframe?
The good news is that Mainframe is not reserved only for the "experienced IT team". With the modernization of the platform, more and more tools and programming languages are adapted to younger generations. Here are some reasons why you should consider a career in this field:
- Demand: Many experienced professionals are retiring, and companies are looking for young talent to take on their roles.
- Learning: The FERIT Mainframe Academy and a range of related activities are an opportunity to dive into the world of this technology.
- Salary: Mainframe specialists are paid more than the average in the IT industry because of the specific knowledge they possess.
Proof of these are the young FERIT members who have chosen a Mainframe career in the last few years, and will be part of the FERIT Mainframe Academy in the future:
Filip Đuričković
Filip Đuričković:
z/OS System Programmer - Mainframe Computer Specialist
"I discovered Mainframe out of boredom, during Corona. I realized that it wasn't that scary and I liked it, so I decided to try it as a summer internship. I showed up at CROZ's virtual job fair and asked if they had a "mainframe internship", which they after my initiative practically designed for me because they saw that I was serious and already relatively versed in Mainframe. The internship was great and I stayed to work at Mainframe. It's been a few years now, and now I'm working on about 20 projects, system maintenance, data migration, and I've traveled a lot for business - from Saudi Arabia to the Philippines, and I've gained great experience, knowledge, and friends."
Luka Kaučić
Luka Kaučić :
Mainframe Technical Sales Specialist
"My first encounter with Mainframe was a few years ago through the recommendation of a friend from CROZ. Until then, I was working on quality control and wanted to move to another field that would offer me more challenges, a stable career, and a better salary. Mainframe has proven to be the best choice for all of this. I did my first Mainframe internship at CROZ, and today I work with top experts at IBM as a specialist for technical sales of Mainframe systems."
Mia Štefanec
Mia Štefanec:
Junior z/OS System Programmer
"I first encountered the mainframe using the Z Xplore platform, where I learned the basic concepts of mainframe and z/OS. After completing the tasks on the Z Xplore platform, I realized that I liked it and that I could see myself in this world, given that it was different from anything we had ever done in college. Since I was in my last year at FERIT, I decided to write my thesis on the topic of z/OS security with the help of a mentor from CROZ. Today, I am part of the CROZ team, where I continue to develop my knowledge of mainframe technology through training and working with experienced mentors."
Filip Forjan
Filip Forjan :
z/OS system engineer and application developer
"I moved from the world of modern technology, where I was a full-stack developer developing mobile applications in Flutter, to a completely different area—Mainframe systems. I was drawn to the technical complexity and deeper understanding of the 'backend' of systems, which led me to the system side while continuing to expand my knowledge of application development in a Mainframe environment."