IBM i job title relevance, multi‑role responsibilities of IBM i professionals, title inflation in tech, hiring challenges and succession planning for IBM i developers, modernizing skill sets, and advice on focusing on actual skills over titles.
👨💻 IBM i: Have Job Titles Lost Their Meaning?
In the IBM i market, job titles often fail to capture the full scope of an individual's responsibilities and expertise.
As most of us know, IBM i-ers wear multiple hats, having broad and deep experience across the IBM i platform. In fact, you might be one of them.
Often times, a Sr. Programmer Analyst is:
- a Developer with RPG (all versions)
- a Business Analyst
- an EDI Coordinator
- an IBM i Administrator
- an ERP Administrator
- and now a Web Developer (PHP, Python, Node.js)
On the other hand, it seems like the greater tech industry is Grappling with rampant title inflation. That is what they do, does not always align with their title.
The once-prestigious "senior" designation is really not that senior. Developers now reach senior status faster, often with just 3-4 years of experience. This trend muddles career progression, confuses hiring processes, and erodes the significance of professional milestones. The inflation stems from talent competition, personal branding pressures, and misguided retention strategies, ultimately threatening industry integrity. Read more here.
IBM i hiring and succession planning
When working with our clients in the IBM i space, especially managers that are new to the IBM i, we find there is often a disconnect with the Title and what the individual actually does. It often, has hiring managers spinning their wheels as they try to deal with succession planning and modernization.
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On the flip side, IBM i professionals searching for new roles often face challenges due to misaligned job titles and descriptions. The versatility of IBM i developers, who excel at solving business problems with technology, isn't always reflected in traditional job listings.
This disconnect highlights a unique aspect of the IBM i community: the depth and breadth of skills possessed by its professionals often transcend simple job titles. From legacy systems to modern web development, IBM i developers wear multiple hats, adapting to evolving technology landscapes.
At Talsco we navigate this complex job market, it's crucial for both employers and professionals to look beyond titles. Instead, focus on the actual skills, responsibilities, and problem-solving capabilities that make IBM i developers invaluable assets in today's tech-driven business world.
So, we ask you: Is your job title a true reflection of your skills and responsibilities?
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