Mainframe interview questions test a candidate’s knowledge of operating, programming, maintaining, and testing a mainframe computer system. Questions may include COBOL, JCL, CICS, VSAM, and DB2. Problem-solving questions assess a candidate’s ability to handle complex issues.
Mainframe interview questions give the potential employer an idea of a candidate’s knowledge of operating, programming, maintaining, and testing a mainframe computer system. A mainframe is a large digital computer that can serve hundreds of users and handle large-scale calculations. Due to their unique characteristics, mainframes require specialized personnel to supervise their proper functioning. The most common mainframe interview questions will ensure a prospective employee has a thorough understanding of mainframe basics and, depending on the job, more advanced knowledge of the system. Jobs in this field include mainframe operators, mainframe systems analysts, mainframe software developers, mainframe testers, and quality assurance specialists.
When preparing for a job interview in the field of mainframe operation, a candidate should first consider all aspects of the job. An employer wants to verify that the candidate has the necessary familiarity with the many complex facets of mainframe computers. Mainframe interview questions will likely include queries about languages such as COBOL and JCL. The interviewer can also ask and test a candidate’s knowledge of mainframe transaction server CICS, the IBM mainframe disk file storage access method, and the DB2 data server. In addition to defining these terms, the candidate will be asked to explain how they work and how they fit into the overall operation of the mainframe.
Specific mainframe interview questions might include: “What are the divisions in the COBOL program?”, “How do you correctly classify files in the COBOL program?”, “What is a DD statement in JCL?” and “What is a SOC4 error in JCL? ”. Additional questions might ask about proper table setup for a CICS, the different types of VSAM files, and identifying DB2 aggregate functions. Candidate interview responses to these questions allow a job seeker to expose their understanding of the system and present their defined skills to the employer.
Another set of mainframe interview FAQs revolves around problem solving. The respondent may be asked to explain remedies for situations such as an 805 error, how to effectively eliminate duplicate files, or how to properly correct errors in the mainframe’s Security Operations Center (SOC). These types of IT job interview questions give the potential employer an accurate picture of how well a candidate will be able to handle the many complex issues that can arise when working with mainframe computers.
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