Hello World:
I am a supervisor in a small mainframe shop. I have three people under me. I create reports using Crystal Reports 8.5. (I am certified in Crystal 8.0). I have also done about two years of writing SQL querying against DB2 database. I have done some light Visual Basic programming. On the mainframe side, I'm decent in reading (not writing) JCL, knowing MVS and JES commands, and other computer operator functions. Also, I have been there for 4 1/2 years. My base pay is $21.50 / hr. - but w/in the last three years, I have worked a lot of OT, so in 2001, I grossed $59,000. In 2002, I grossed $58,000. Then in 2003, I grossed $67,000. The reason why I made so much was that I worked my butt off - sometimes 72 hours in a week (I am an hourly employee). Sounds like I got it made...doesn't it?
The truth is, I am a contractor. I work on the premises of a major auto manufacture that outsorced its mainframe operations department out to IBM. In return, IBM sub-contracted a couple of companies and one of them hired me and other people to do mainframe operations.
The sub-contracting company - lets call them xyz - hired me in December of 1999. I started out as a console operator and I did basic mainframe operations work for them, but when I had free time, I wrote some VB code for them and also did a few Crystal Reports for IBM management. A year later I was promoted to Lead Console Operator. By then, there wasn't any Visual Basic projects to do, even if I tried to think of anything. Then in January of 2003, I was promoted to shift Supervisor. So far, things were going pretty good except they hadn't given me a raise in two years ( they did give me a promotional raise though ).
This past winter, my review was exceptional, but again, they didn't give me a raise because of budget reasons (so now, we're talking three straight years w/out a raise). Also, I found out, that I can not go any further up the business ladder. They told me this is as far as a contractor will go (supervisor). Also, my contracting company told me that I am not allowed to jump over to the auto manufacturing company on whose premises that I work on. OK, fine - no big deal - I still have a job. Two weeks ago, my contracting company sent me a letter saying that they will be cutting my pay 5% because of IBM global services cutting 5% to the contracting companies, and my company was not going to eat it - I was.
Oh, it gets better - remember those OT hours that gave me the big checks? No more OT unless you come in and work for someone ( ex. call in sick, vacation, etc. ). On top of this, I deal with a lot of politics and backstabbing that is going on (people are not happy there). Also, I know there will be no raise for the next year...who knows, I could get another 5% cut. I've had enough.
Anyway, here is the deal. I have almost two years of experience as a Supervisor. I have a couple years of Crystal Reports experience and also SQL. I have very light VB skills. I have 12 years of mainframe experience, but I want to get out of mainframe operations.
There have been companies calling me about Crystal Reports Development positions, but they are only three month projects. I am 36 years old w/ a wife and kid to support. There is no way I am going to take those 3 month contracts.
So, where do I go from here? I thought about applying for other supervision positions outside the mainframe operations field, but the chances of getting that type of supervisor position in which I'm completely new to an industry is slim to none. I basically have to find another supervisor position w/in the mainframe operations world - where there I could move over to something else or move up. But mainframe operations is a declining field, plus, a few data centers from where I live (Columbus, Ohio), is moving to India.
If I get a job as a Crystal Reports Developer (as a non-contractor), they do not pay well. Plus, there are only a few Crystal jobs out there in the first place, and if you do find one, you have to know ASP, XML, VB and who knows what else.
I can go the VB route, but it seems like I don't have a lot of time on my hands to study it. If I was 20 years old and w/out a family, that would be a different.
So, again, what the heck should I do? I feel like giving up and staying where I'm at ( hey, at least I have a job ) and do my best for my employer and focus more on my family. But one thing is for sure, I don't have a future where I'm at now.
Thank you for hearing me whine and cry like a big baby. I just need a little direction and/or some advise. Thanks all.
BigCat
