IBM, a worldwide leader in worldwide computing and technology, is hosting its 11th annual Master the Mainframe Contest.

What is it? Master the Mainframe is a contest that has been held every year for the past ten years. According to the FAQ section on IBM’s webpage, “no experience with mainframes is necessary. In fact, the contest is designed for students with little or no mainframe experience, increasing with difficulty as the contest progresses. Students just need to bring drive and competitive spirit and be ready to compete!”

Why should I participate? If you are even remotely interested in mainframe technology, you should consider signing up! Over the next decade, it is predicted that over 150,000+ mainframe professions will open up as current workers retire. Careers focused on mainframe technology start out at roughly double the average salary of other college majors. As was mentioned earlier, even if you have little to no mainframe experience, it wouldn’t hurt to register for the competition to see if you truly enjoy the material and possibly even win some prizes!

How do I sign up? Registration began on September 1st. The contest begins on October 1st and runs until December  31st. Registration can take place any time before the December 31st cutoff date!  Here is the link:

http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/z/education/academic/masterthemainframe/contest/usca.html

One of the most important outcomes that can be attained through the contest is experience. As IBM states on their website, “Today’s mainframes are growing in popularity and require a new generation of mainframe experts. This contest is designed to equip students with basic skills to make them more competitive for jobs in the enterprise computing industry. Participation in the Master the Mainframe Contest could give you the edge you need.”

Good luck!