What's an antiquated programmer to do?

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Is it possible that your skills will be come more valuable now that there are less LINC programmers around? Any contract jobs on monster? Maybe a two pronged approach, LINC, and learn SAP. If you know where they are headed, maybe you can get your skillset up to speed before it's needed.

[Snowflake]

I have no good advice, but my thoughts are with you on your quest for your next move. I must confess, although you're all writing in plain English, I understand almost nothing being said in this thread.

[Brigitte]

Ditto what she said

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by DreadPirateRoberts

Is it possible that your skills will be come more valuable now that there are less LINC programmers around? Any contract jobs on monster? Maybe a two pronged approach, LINC, and learn SAP. If you know where they are headed, maybe you can get your skillset up to speed before it's needed.

This is actually a strategy I am formulating as far as how to approach my client with it. Does my client need an experienced SAP programmer, or do they need someone completely familiar with their current system and business who can learn SAP?

But....I do confess to being burned out on programming. I really have only stayed with it because I make a good contract rate and I get to work from home and set my own hours and coach basketball. Working out of an office building somewhere takes at very least some of that away.

[Scrooge McSam]

Originally Posted by DreadPirateRoberts

If you know where they are headed, maybe you can get your skillset up to speed before it's needed.

I was thinking the same thing. Seems your company wouldn't want to throw away someone with all those years of management, analysis and design experience.

[Capt Jack]

Originally Posted by DreadPirateRoberts

Is it possible that your skills will be come more valuable now that there are less LINC programmers around? Any contract jobs on monster? Maybe a two pronged approach, LINC, and learn SAP. If you know where they are headed, maybe you can get your skillset up to speed before it's needed.

this was my thinking. as a fellow dinosaur (couple decades of cobol programming here) the market early on was wide and varied...now its narrow and vanishing (or so Im often told). However...those who still use it (either by necessity, shallow pockets or fear of progressing to the next level) often go to great lengths to retain those who know the old ways well enough to stem off having to spend the bazillion dollars upgrading to the next level.

get a good head hunter in addition to doing your own searches. do lesser contracts for more money. make the old ways your specialty instead of your liability. a great many companies out there still need us both. while doing so, start taking on some of the SAP stuff.

your skills after that many years far...FAR exceed just the knowledge of a language. "the biz" as my mentor once told me, goes eons beyond simple languages. you could be a IT/user liason. knowing how, where, when and why to work with the end users is a career all to itself. knowing how to translate one to the other is more valuable than gold to the right employer.

a tinkers damn