Skills to Gauge When Looking for COBOL Programmers

1. Skills to Gauge When Looking for COBOL Programmers? Are you planning to hire COBOL programmers to modernize your legacy software applications? Companies and organizations are hesitant to replace software that is still functional but age-old. However, finding IT experts and programmers to maintain and upgrade it has become increasingly difficult. Common Business-Oriented Language, also known as COBOL, was developed in 1959 and widely used in the 1970s and 1980s. COBOL’s popularity has waned, yet it is still vital to institutions and organizations all over the world. COBOL was taught in programming classes less frequently as computer programming migrated to object-oriented languages like Java and other emerging computer languages. It seems COBOL is being phased out gradually (which is not at all true). However, several US corporations, including IBM, continue to employ COBOL programming. Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of what you should be looking for before hiring COBOL programmers. What Is the Role of COBOL Programmers? A COBOL programmer is someone who develops and maintains software program applications in COBOL. This is their core responsibility, and they are largely associated with business data processing. COBOL developers design, build and implement code for new

2. projects, test those programs to ensure they run on the chosen operating system, and make any necessary improvements. Therefore, if you want to hire COBOL programmers of the new generation, make sure they have the requisite qualifications and expertise to match your company’s expectations. Important abilities required for a COBOL programmer’s profession include the following: •Strong interpersonal and communication capabilities to deal with the management of technology as well as business •Comprehensive knowledge of the software development model and project management •A broad understanding of business operations in the medical, finance, banking, and governmental organizations •Advanced debugging skills COBOL programmers must also be knowledgeable and skilled in the following technical skills: •Databases such as Oracle RDB, Microsoft SQL Server, and DB2 •Programming languages including COBOL, TSO, Java, JCSL, and CICS •Platforms or operating systems including Linux, UNIX, z/OS, Windows, and the IBM System •Using advanced tools such as Micro Focus, Endevor, Xpediter, Abend-aid, and Rational Aside from extensive technical abilities, COBOL programmers are also expected to acquire certain soft skills that are much required in their profession. The following soft skills that you must look for before you hire COBOL programmers include: •Analytical abilities required to comprehend detailed instructions in order to write programming code. •Concentration required to work at a computer for extended periods of time, writing lines of code. •Must be detail-oriented in order to thoroughly analyze the program they write, as a minor error can have a large impact on the entire computer program. •Troubleshooting and debugging abilities are required to check the code for faults and correct any that are discovered. •Establish valuable and effective connections within a team or alone with relationship management. Read More: https://www.integrativesystems.com/skills-to-gauge-when-looking-for-cobol- programmers/