layoffs of AS/400 programmers

My friend Alex forwarded these posts.He is 43 and an AS/400 enthusiast
and wants to start to learn RPG.He is an electronics engineer by
trade.How do you rate his chances of even getting an interview for a 
jnr programmers job --see these posts:-
          
Hi, David
 
Here are two posts to AS newsgroup and one article
 
Alex    
 
=============================================================
From: Richard Knechtel <abuse@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Negotiting salary
Date: Tuesday, 28 July 1998 03:30
 
Bradley V. Stone wrote:
> 
> The IT upper management, in my views, has created a monster they
> cannot control any longer.  They realize how vital we are to everyday
> operations (but have yet to openly admit it), and are getting
> frightened, maybe just a little.  This will only get worse, and maybe
> taper off at Y2K.  (But then theres 2040, where it will all happen
> again for 75% of the shops).
> 
 
I got a feeling after the Y2K projects wind down somtime into Y2K we'll
see layoffs of programmers and the salaries will dip low and trying to
find a programming job with the salaries you were used to will be hard.
 

-- 
 
Richard Knechtel
email(richard dot knechtel at centrobe dot com)
Centrobe
==============================================================
 
From: joe <cgm@lconn.com>
Subject: Re: H-1B, When the House voted on H.R. 3736 H-1B there was a
clerical error.!  THEY VOTED ON THE
WRONG BILL!!!!!!
Date: Friday, 9 October 1998 17:08
 

...the AS400 will soon fall into the hands of  "cheap programmers",
leaving expensive  programmers to compete with cheap labor,  like it
or not, period. If you dont understand, read it again.
 
Currently most "cheap programmers" cant touch the 400 due to the fact
it uses that old style RPG stuff. But wait! IBM is pushing Java onto
the AS400.....   (IBM knows they can sell more AS400 if
they could only find a way to introduce cheap programmers)
 
If Java takes off on the AS400, cheap programmers will be
a dime a dozen. I hope I dont have to explain what that means.
A persons thinking will be reduced to that of the cheap programmer.
i.e. can I buy that, nope, can I buy this, nope. can I save this
week, nope. Boy thats a nice car wish I could afford it. Wow
I sure would love to live there!!...oh well, cheap programmers are
nice people.
 

If you want to learn Java, learn it as a hobby not as a career!
Heck, if you want to program do it as a hobby not as a career!
 
Me, im a 44 year old contractor on the AS/400. Started out on the 
System-3 . Yep I do all that stuff Client Access, HTML, ILE, VB6,
RPG IV, Java, BSC, SNA, Prism, JDE... I can go on. Yea I love it,
sleep & eat programs. Now, I keep current for the fun of it, I already
made my money, IRA's,401K, CD's savings, savings. Nice house,
nice carsss, bikes...I was lucky, very lucky. 
 
 I've seen my share of "cheap programmers".  I dont care though, you
see im getting the heck out and cashing in my savings. Yep I made a
lot  of money when programming was perceived as elegant and exciting.
For some reason I saved my money, Im glad I did.
 
But I know it wont last much longer I give it about 5 more years.
 
Im cashing in on the Y2K. Then after that, I'll be working
on all the projects that were put on hold to fix the Y2K. Yep
Im cashing in & getting out. 
 
My advice to you young kids: SAVE your money! but then again
it may be to late to save...your wont be making any money to save!!!
Yea,  you sleep & eat programs. But this time around there is no
money...
 
For all those that currently support rolling out the red carpet for
cheap  AS400 programmers   ... you have know idea.
 
$$$$$$
gary
+---
| This is the Midrange System Mailing List!
| To submit a new message, send your mail to MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com.
| To subscribe to this list send email to MIDRANGE-L-SUB@midrange.com.
| To unsubscribe from this list send email to MIDRANGE-L-UNSUB@midrange.com.
| Questions should be directed to the list owner/operator: david@midrange.com
+---