Mainframe interview questions give a prospective employer an idea of an applicant’s knowledge of mainframe computer system operation, programming, maintenance, and testing. A mainframe is a large digital computer that can serve hundreds of users and perform large-scale computations. Mainframes require specialized personnel to oversee their proper operation due to their unique characteristics. Common mainframe interview questions will ensure that a potential employee has a thorough understanding of both mainframe fundamentals and, depending on the job, more advanced knowledge of the system. Mainframe operators, mainframe systems analysts, mainframe software developers, mainframe testers, and quality assurance specialists are all jobs in this field.
An applicant should think about all aspects of the position when preparing for a job interview in the field of mainframe operation. An employer will want to know if the candidate is familiar with the many intricate aspects of mainframe computers. Questions about languages like COBOL and JCL are likely to come up during the mainframe interview. The interviewer may also inquire about and test an applicant’s knowledge of CICS, the IBM mainframe disk file storage access method, and DB2. In addition to defining these terms, the candidate will most likely be asked to explain how they work and how they relate to the mainframe’s overall operation.
“What are the divisions in the COBOL program?” “How do you properly sort files in the COBOL program?” “What is a DD statement in JCL?” and “What is a SOC4 error in JCL?” are some examples of mainframe interview questions. Questions about the proper table set-up for a CICS, the different types of VSAM files, and the identification of DB2’s aggregate functions may be asked in the future. The answers to these questions in an interview allow a job seeker to elaborate on his or her understanding of the system and present his or her skill set to the employer.
Troubleshooting will be another set of frequently asked mainframe interview questions. The interviewee may be asked to explain how to fix problems like an 805 error, how to effectively eliminate duplicate files, or how to fix errors in the Security Operation Center on a mainframe (SOC). These types of IT job interview questions give a prospective employer a clear picture of how well an applicant will be able to deal with the numerous complex issues that can arise when working with mainframe computers.