you hit the nail on the head. I suspect the angst I read in your post is due to the fact that you're "comfortable" in that sleepy little burg. Perhaps it scares you that you may actually be good at programming on the mainframe. Or that you may enjoy working there. Tinker with COBOL if that is on your plate. Personally, Natural is a bit more fun. Open it up, turn it upside down. Why does it work the way it does?
Programming on big iron may not appear sexy now, but one can learn to admire it. Plus the experience you learn can lead to lucrative contract jobs (In Natural or Cobol) in the future.
Don't be so quick to throw that away.
Also, don't be so shocked that you were asked to sink or swim. The womb of college protects you (especially there). But college life isn't reality. Plus, why should they train you when they know that you'll be gone soon.
The challenge is to learn the language, any language, well. Pick up the manual and start tinkering.
People here aren't concerned with keeping their skillset up to date, they're more concerned with getting their kids to little league practice. People here don't see programming as a passion, but that thing they do until they go home.
I don't mean this in a negative way, but perhaps you should open your eyes a little. There's a lot to be said for spending as little time as necessary at work. Time spent with ones family is a noble pursuit.
Slashdot Mirror
classic scenario.
you hit the nail on the head. I suspect the angst I read in your post is due to the fact that you're "comfortable" in that sleepy little burg. Perhaps it scares you that you may actually be good at programming on the mainframe. Or that you may enjoy working there. Tinker with COBOL if that is on your plate. Personally, Natural is a bit more fun. Open it up, turn it upside down. Why does it work the way it does?
Programming on big iron may not appear sexy now, but one can learn to admire it. Plus the experience you learn can lead to lucrative contract jobs (In Natural or Cobol) in the future.
Don't be so quick to throw that away.
Also, don't be so shocked that you were asked to sink or swim. The womb of college protects you (especially there). But college life isn't reality. Plus, why should they train you when they know that you'll be gone soon.
The challenge is to learn the language, any language, well. Pick up the manual and start tinkering.
People here aren't concerned with keeping their skillset up to date, they're more concerned with getting their kids to little league practice.
People here don't see programming as a passion, but that thing they do until they go home.
I don't mean this in a negative way, but perhaps you should open your eyes a little. There's a lot to be said for spending as little time as necessary at work. Time spent with ones family is a noble pursuit.
good luck.