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20 Mainframe Programmer Interview Questions (With Example Answers)

It's important to prepare for an interview in order to improve your chances of getting the job. Researching questions beforehand can help you give better answers during the interview. Most interviews will include questions about your personality, qualifications, experience and how well you would fit the job. In this article, we review examples of various mainframe programmer interview questions and sample answers to some of the most common questions.

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Common Mainframe Programmer Interview Questions

What is your experience working with Mainframe systems?

An interviewer would ask "What is your experience working with Mainframe systems?" to a/an Mainframe Programmer to better understand the programmer's experience and expertise working with Mainframe systems. This is important because it allows the interviewer to gauge whether or not the programmer is qualified to work on a particular project.

Example: “I have worked with Mainframe systems for over 10 years. I have experience working with various Mainframe software, including z/OS, z/VM, z/VSE, and z/TPF. I have also worked with Mainframe hardware, including IBM System z servers and storage systems. I have a strong understanding of Mainframe architecture and how Mainframe systems work. I am able to troubleshoot Mainframe problems and resolve them in a timely manner.”

What Mainframe systems are you familiar with?

The interviewer is trying to gauge the level of experience the Mainframe Programmer has with different Mainframe systems. This is important because it will help the interviewer determine whether the Mainframe Programmer is a good fit for the company and the position.

Example: “I am familiar with the IBM z/OS, VSE/ESA, and z/VM operating systems, as well as the CICS, IMS, and DB2 transaction processing and database management systems.”

What programming languages are you experienced with?

There are a few reasons why an interviewer might ask a Mainframe Programmer about their experience with different programming languages. Firstly, the interviewer may be trying to gauge the Mainframe Programmer's level of experience and expertise. Secondly, the interviewer may be trying to identify which languages the Mainframe Programmer is most comfortable working with, in order to determine whether they would be a good fit for a particular project or role. Finally, the interviewer may be trying to assess the Mainframe Programmer's ability to learn new languages, as this can be an important skill for Mainframe Programmers who need to work with a variety of languages in their day-to-day work.

Example: “I am experienced with a variety of programming languages, including COBOL, CICS, JCL, DB2, and VSAM.”

What is your experience with COBOL?

COBOL is a programming language that is commonly used on mainframe computers. Therefore, an interviewer would ask this question to determine if the programmer has the necessary skills to work on a mainframe computer.

Example: “I have worked with COBOL for over 10 years. I have experience with various COBOL compilers and am familiar with the COBOL programming language. I have also worked with other languages such as C, C++, and Java.”

What is your experience with JCL?

JCL is an important scripting language for mainframe systems, so an interviewer might ask about a potential employee's experience with the language to gauge their mainframe skills. JCL is used to control the execution of mainframe programs, and so familiarity with the language is essential for anyone working on such systems.

Example: “I have worked with JCL for over 10 years. I am very familiar with the syntax and usage of JCL. I have also written many JCL scripts to automate various tasks.”

What is your experience with DB2?

An interviewer would ask "What is your experience with DB2?" to a/an Mainframe Programmer because DB2 is a database management system for the mainframe environment. It is important to know if the programmer has experience working with DB2 in order to gauge their ability to work with the mainframe environment.

Example: “I have worked with DB2 for over 10 years. I have experience with setting up and administering DB2 databases, as well as writing SQL queries and stored procedures. I am also familiar with the various DB2 tools and utilities.”

What is your experience with IMS/DB?

IMS/DB is a database management system for mainframe computers. It is important to know if the programmer has experience with this system because it will affect how they write the code for the project.

Example: “I have worked with IMS/DB for over 10 years. I have experience with all aspects of IMS/DB, including installation, configuration, administration, monitoring, and performance tuning. I am also experienced in developing applications using IMS/DB.”

What is your experience with CICS?

CICS is a transaction processing system that runs on IBM mainframe systems. It is important to ask this question to a mainframe programmer because CICS is a key component of mainframe systems, and it is important to know how well the programmer knows how to use it.

Example: “I have worked with CICS for over 10 years. I have experience in developing and supporting CICS applications. I have in-depth knowledge of CICS architecture, internals, and programming. I am also familiar with CICS tools and products.”

What is your experience with VSAM?

An interviewer might ask "What is your experience with VSAM?" to a/an Mainframe Programmer to get a sense of whether the programmer is familiar with a key piece of software used on mainframes. VSAM is a file storage system that allows for quick access to data stored in files on mainframes. It is important for mainframe programmers to be familiar with VSAM because it is a key part of how mainframes operate.

Example: “I have worked with VSAM for over 10 years. I have experience with creating, managing and administering VSAM files. I am also experienced in using the various utilities associated with VSAM, such as IDCAMS, IEBGENER and IEBCOPY.”

What is your experience with REXX?

REXX is a high-level programming language that was developed specifically for use on IBM mainframe operating systems. It is designed to be easy to learn and use, and it is therefore a popular choice for mainframe programmers. The interviewer is likely asking this question in order to gauge the candidate's level of experience with the language, as well as their ability to use it effectively on mainframe systems.

Example: “I have been working with REXX for the past few years and have found it to be an extremely powerful and versatile scripting language. I have used it for a variety of tasks, ranging from simple string manipulation to complex file processing and data manipulation. In addition, REXX's integration with other mainframe software, such as TSO/ISPF and SDSF, makes it an ideal choice for automating mainframe-based processes.”

What is your experience with CLIST?

CLIST is a programming language used on IBM mainframe operating systems. It is a command-line scripting language that can be used to automate tasks, create utilities, and perform other functions on a mainframe system.

Example: “I have worked with CLIST for over 10 years. I have used it extensively to develop tools for system administration, application development, and database management. I have also used it to develop custom solutions for specific business needs.”

What is your experience with ISPF?

The interviewer is likely trying to gauge the candidate's familiarity and comfort level with ISPF, which is a software application that runs on IBM mainframe operating systems. This is important because it can help the interviewer determine whether or not the candidate would be able to hit the ground running if hired for the position.

Example: “I have been working with ISPF for over 10 years now. I have used it extensively for developing and managing mainframe applications. I have also used it for debugging purposes.”

What is your experience with SDSF?

SDSF is an important tool for mainframe programmers because it allows them to view and manage system resources, including active jobs, datasets, and storage devices. It is also possible to submit and monitor jobs from within SDSF.

Example: “I have worked with SDSF for over 5 years now. I find it to be a very user-friendly and powerful tool for managing mainframe systems. It provides a great deal of flexibility and customization options, which allows me to tailor it to fit my specific needs. Additionally, the support staff is always quick to respond to any questions or concerns I have.”

What is your experience with Endevor?

Endevor is a software tool that helps manage the changes made to software code. It is important to ask this question to a Mainframe Programmer because it helps gauge their experience with managing code changes. Endevor can help track who made changes to code, when the changes were made, and what effect the changes had on the code. This information can be helpful in troubleshooting code issues and in managing code changes over time.

Example: “I have worked with Endevor for over 5 years now and absolutely love it! It has helped me streamline my workflows and keep track of my code changes easily. Overall, it is a great tool that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a way to manage their code changes.”

What is your experience with File-AID?

File-AID is a software tool that is used for editing, viewing, and analyzing data files on mainframe systems. Mainframe programmers typically use File-AID to work with large data sets that are too big to be easily managed in a text editor. File-AID can also be used to convert data from one format to another, or to generate reports based on data in a file.

Example: “I have worked with File-AID for over 5 years now and have found it to be an invaluable tool for managing and manipulating data files. It is a very user-friendly tool and has a wide range of features that make it suitable for use in a variety of different environments. I have used it extensively for both batch and online processing, and it has always performed well.”

What is your experience with Xpediter/Debugger?

An interviewer would ask "What is your experience with Xpediter/Debugger?" to a Mainframe Programmer in order to gauge the level of experience and expertise that the programmer has with using this specific software. This is important because it can help the interviewer determine if the programmer is a good fit for the position they are interviewing for.

Example: “I have worked with Xpediter/Debugger for about 2 years now. I find it to be a very powerful tool when debugging programs. It allows me to see exactly what is going on in the program and to step through the code line by line. This makes it much easier to find errors and to understand how the program works.”

What is your experience with InterTest/Debugger?

There are a few reasons an interviewer might ask about an applicant's experience with InterTest/Debugger. First, the interviewer may be trying to gauge the applicant's level of experience with mainframe programming. Second, the interviewer may be interested in how the applicant uses InterTest/Debugger specifically, and whether they are familiar with its features and capabilities. Finally, the interviewer may be looking for insights into the applicant's debugging process and methodology. Ultimately, it is important for the interviewer to understand the applicant's level of experience and comfort with InterTest/Debugger in order to make an informed hiring decision.

Example: “I have worked with InterTest/Debugger for over 5 years now and have found it to be an invaluable tool for debugging mainframe applications. It allows me to see the data that is being processed by the application as well as the code that is being executed, which makes it much easier to identify and fix errors.”

What is your experience with Abend-Aid?

An interviewer would ask "What is your experience with Abend-Aid?" to a/an Mainframe Programmer because it is a common tool used for debugging on the mainframe platform. It is important to know how to use this tool because it can help identify and resolve errors in code.

Example: “I have worked with Abend-Aid for over 5 years now and have found it to be an invaluable tool in debugging and troubleshooting Mainframe applications. It has helped me quickly identify and resolve issues with my code, and has also been useful in identifying potential problem areas in other people's code. I would highly recommend it to anyone working on Mainframe applications.”

What is your experience working on z/OS?

The interviewer is asking about the candidate's experience working on z/OS because it is an important skill for a mainframe programmer. z/OS is a mainframe operating system that is used to run large enterprise systems. It is important for a mainframe programmer to have experience working on z/OS because they need to be able to understand how the operating system works and how to program for it.

Example: “I have worked on z/OS for over 5 years now. I have experience in programming, debugging, and troubleshooting on this platform. I am also familiar with the JCL and TSO/ISPF environments.”

What is your experience working in an MVS environment?

MVS is a mainframe operating system that is used to manage large-scale enterprise systems. It is important to know if a programmer has experience working in this type of environment because it can be very different from working in a traditional server environment. MVS systems are typically much larger and more complex, so it requires a different set of skills to be able to work effectively in this type of system.

Example: “I have worked in an MVS environment for over 10 years. I have experience working with various MVS tools and utilities, including JCL, TSO/ISPF, SDSF, and Endevor. I have also worked with z/OS and z/VM.”

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