Why Freelancers Should Care About Mainframe Testing

With ever changing technology and rapid growth in innovation, the gig economy has opened its doors to freelancers all over the world to work on diverse projects across industries. Freelancers can now work in every field, be it web development and digital marketing, or cloud solutions and artificial intelligence.

In fact, some ten years ago, the gig economy scenario was not as it is today. It was only during the pandemic that the gig economy really picked up. Most companies started offering remote jobs to their employees, and with unstable economic conditions, there were millions of layoffs. Not only smaller establishments but also big companies prefer hiring freelancers to do their work instead of hiring full-time employees. This would save them a lot of cost.

But despite the gig economy flourishing in recent years in all the fields, there is still one segment that has remained almost untouched – Mainframe Systems. These legacy systems are high-powered systems and have been used by enterprises for decades to perform finance, healthcare, government, and logistics-related functions. Yet, mainframe testing remains an untapped opportunity for freelancers.

So let us delve into why the gig economy and the freelancer, especially those with a testing or general software background, should care about mainframe testing. We will also discuss transitioning into the mainframe testing area, which can significantly boost their career prospects.

Understanding the Gig Economy

So, what exactly is this Gig Economy? Well, Gig economy is a labor market that consists of professionals with varied expertise and short-term contracts or freelance work. So gig economy is a place where you find client and vendor. Client has projects that can be given to vendors with specific expertise. Once the vendor completes project, client pays the vendor for the work done.

The most important point here is that there is nothing permanent. There is no permanent job and there is no permanent employee or employer. Vendors enter the market, scout for projects, bid for them and once secure a project, complete it and get money. Once a specific project closes, vendor is free to scout for another project. The vendor is no tied to the client anymore. Similarly, once the client has gotten the work done and paid the money, the client is no longer concerned about vendor.

So in gig economy, It is a clear give-and-take attitude of the parties involved. In recent years, freelancers have found unprecedented access to job opportunities, thanks to digital platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, and Toptal. As per statistics, in the United States alone, there are 73 million freelancers as of 2023.

Skill Diversification in the Gig Economy

In the gig economy, there is heavy competition, and hence freelancers must continuously polish and even diversify their skill sets. They cannot rely on high-demand and modern skills like web development or mobile app creation for a long time. This is because markets become saturated quickly. There might come a time when there are more freelancers than the number of jobs in a particular field. Thus, upskilling and skill diversification are the need of the hour. Mainframe testing is one such niche that is highly stable and can be seen as a rewarding alternative.

Why Freelancers Should Consider Mainframe Testing

There are various reasons why freelancers should consider mainframe testing as one of the gigs:

• Gig Economy Adaptability:Freelancers need not change their flexible schedule for Mainframe testing projects. It can be easily adapted to the existing arrangements in the gig economy.
• Global Market:Mainframe testing has a vast scope, and there are numerous opportunities available in the global market.
• Opportunity for Growth:Mainframe testing can be regarded as a stepping stone to other specialized roles in enterprise IT. This will help freelancers advance further in their careers.
• Evolving Landscape: The field of mainframe is constantly evolving, and there are continuous innovations in this field, especially with advancements in AI. Freelancers have a great chance to learn new technologies and stay ahead of the curve.

Mainframes: The Sleeping Giants of Enterprise IT

What are Mainframes?

Mainframes are powerful computing systems primarily used by large organizations for mission-critical applications. They can be thought of as the “heavy lifters” of enterprise IT. They can effortlessly process millions of transactions daily with high reliability, availability, and security. Mainframes can handle everything from ATM transactions to airline reservations, payroll processing, and government agencies such as national tax systems. IBM’s z/OS mainframe platform is one of the most prominent in this space.

Here are some defining features of mainframes.

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1. High Processing Power: Mainframes can process millions of transactions per second, which is essential for businesses with high-volume operations.
2. Extreme Reliability (High Availability): Mainframes run 24/7 with minimal downtime. Some systems have been running continuously for decades.
3. Massive Input/Output (I/O) Capability: Mainframes manage large volumes of simultaneous data inputs and outputs, such as thousands of users accessing data at once.
4. Scalability: You can scale up a mainframe without major rework—just add more processing capacity.
5. Security: Mainframes have advanced security and access control systems, which is why they’re trusted to handle sensitive information (like financial data or personal records).

Where are Mainframes Used?

Mainframes are mainly used in:

• Banking and Finance: Perform all banking operations, including handling transactions, managing accounts, and ensuring compliance.
• Insurance: Managing policy data and claims processing.
• Retail: Running large-scale inventory and customer data systems in the retail and e-commerce industries.
• Government: Processing taxes, social security, and other public data.

Mainframes still manage over 70% of global commercial transactions, and many organizations continue to rely on them due to their unmatched processing power and uptime.

What is Mainframe Testing?

Mainframe testing is a process to validate the functionality, performance, and security of mainframe applications. This includes testing batch jobs, online transaction processing (OLTP), data integrity, and integration with third-party systems.

Types of Mainframe Testing

Mainframe testing involves validating the functionality, performance, and security of applications running on mainframes. The key types of mainframe testing include:

• Batch Job Testing: Verify the correctness of scheduled jobs that process large datasets.
• CICS Testing: Ensure Customer Information Control System (CICS) applications handle transactions correctly.
• Database Testing: Validate data integrity in databases like DB2 or IMS.
• Interface Testing: Ensure the mainframe correctly interacts with modern front-end systems.
• Regression Testing: Maintain system reliability when introducing new changes.

Tools Commonly Used

Some widely used mainframe testing tools include:

• testRigor
• IBM Rational Test Workbench
• CA Workload Automation
• Compuware Topaz
• Micro Focus Enterprise Test Server
• JCL (Job Control Language) Scripting

Why Should Freelancers Care about Mainframe Testing?

Mainframe testing is a significant but often overlooked sector within Enterprise IT. It offers significant growth and specialization opportunities for professionals. As the mainframe systems are modernized and integrated with new technologies, the demand for skilled mainframe testing professionals is increasing.

Some of the key reasons for freelancers to consider mainframe testing seriously are:

1. High Demand, Low Competition

There is a high demand for skilled mainframe professionals, especially among younger generations. This demand has been increasing steadily. Freelancers who invest in these skills can command high rates due to growing shortage of mainframe testers.

2. Stable and Long-Term Projects

Enterprise mainframe applications are usually mission-critical and are unlike modern apps that frequently pivot or shut down. Thus, enterprise mainframe projects are often long-term and stable. Freelancers can expect greater project stability, consistent income, and the chance to form lasting client relationships with mainframe testing projects.

3. Complementary to Existing QA Skills

For existing QA and software testing professionals, learning mainframe testing is not a huge challenge. This is because many of the core principles of testing – such as test case development, defect tracking, and automation—remain the same. The major change for mainframe testing professionals only will be to familiarize themselves with different environments and tools.

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4. Remote Work Opportunities

As more companies embrace remote work, they are increasingly open to hiring freelancers for roles traditionally held by full-time employees. This is especially true since the COVID pandemic. As secure VPN and cloud-based interfaces become standard in remote environments, mainframe testing, once considered an on-premises-only role, is now becoming more accessible to remote freelancers.

5. Increased Earnings Potential and Financial Rewards

Due to urgent demand and niche skillset, mainframe testing freelancers often earn higher rates than their peers. Highly skilled mainframe testing freelancers usually charge upwards of $80–$150 per hour.

6. Project Diversity

Mainframe testing offers a wide range of projects, from developing new applications to migrating data to cloud platforms, offering freelancers a variety of work opportunities.

7. Modernization Trends

As organizations modernize their mainframe environments, there’s a greater need for testing professionals who can integrate these systems with newer technologies, including AI.

8. Competitive Advantage

Freelancers with mainframe testing expertise have a competitive advantage over their peers and stand out in the market.

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Challenges for Freelancers in Mainframe Testing

1. Steep Learning Curve

With mainframe tools and languages like COBOL, JCL, and so on, with different environments, initial learning can be daunting, especially for those used to modern programming paradigms.

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2. Limited Training Resources

The learning and training resources related to mainframe testing are really scarce compared to more popular topics like JavaScript or Python. Finding high-quality, beginner-friendly mainframe content is tougher. This means freelancers have to resort to self-driven learning.

3. Client Access and Security Constraints

Freelancers might have to adhere to strict compliance and access restrictions because of the sensitive nature of data handled on mainframes.

How to Get Started as a Freelancer in Mainframe Testing

To start your freelance journey in mainframe testing, follow the steps below.

1. Build Foundational Knowledge

Start with understanding the following concepts/terms:

• z/OS basics
• COBOL programming
• JCL scripting
• Mainframe testing tools

IBM offers free mainframe training via its IBM Z Xplore platform. Other resources include course-providing websites such as Coursera, Udemy, and vendor-specific documentation.

2. Hands-on Practice

It is not enough to read books and online content if you do not practically know about mainframe testing. You can:

• Use mainframe simulators to practice commands.
• Set up a test environment using emulators.
• Participate in open-source COBOL projects.

3. Earn Certifications

Mainframe testing certifications can provide credibility. Consider:

• IBM Certified System Programmer – z/OS
• Micro Focus Enterprise Server certification
• ISTQB Advanced Test Analyst (complementary skill)

4. Market Yourself

Update your freelance profiles and portfolios to highlight your new skill i.e. mainframe testing. Include:

• Certifications
• Test scripts or portfolio examples, and projects
• Case studies or whitepapers

Market yourself by networking with mainframe professionals using apps like LinkedIn, joining relevant forums, and participating in discussions.

5. Look for Mainframe-Specific Freelance Portals

While general freelance platforms provide work, you can also explore:

• Toptal (for high-end enterprise clients)
• Freelancer.com for short projects
• Niche platforms catering to financial and insurance clients that use mainframesFuture of Mainframe Testing in the Freelance World

There are some emerging trends in the mainframe testing that will impact the freelance world:

• AI and Automation IntegrationAI is beginning to positively impact mainframe environments. Nowadays, AI is involved in testing right from test case generation to predictive analytics for defect detection. Freelancers with an understanding of both mainframe systems and AI tools will have a competitive edge.
• Cloud and Mainframe CoexistenceWith hybrid cloud models, mainframe systems are being integrated with cloud-native applications. This is a good opportunity for versatile freelancers who can work on both platforms.
• Rising Demand in Developing EconomiesWith more and more countries embracing digital infrastructure, there is a notable increase in mainframe adoption by banks and governments, especially in developing countries. Hence there is a rising demand for mainframe testing professionals in these regions.

Conclusion

Mainframe testing offers a lucrative and rewarding career path for freelancers in the gig economy. Freelancers can capitalize on this high demand for mainframe testing by acquiring the necessary skills and experience. Mainframe testing may not sound glamorous, but its critical importance to enterprise infrastructure makes it a lucrative and future-proof domain. With mainframe testing, freelancers can unlock a world of opportunity where competition is low, demand is high, and project stability is unmatched.

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