Tech Jobber Podcast

Mainframe is “dead” right?

Cool story. I brought receipts.

In this episode of the Tech Jobber Podcast, I walk through a real mainframe developer role I’m recruiting for right now:

– 💵 $102/hour (yes, really) 

– 🌎 Remote 

– 🧓 “Legacy” tech everyone told you to avoid

If you’ve been told to only chase software engineer

or FAANG roles, you’re probably sleeping on one of the biggest hidden opportunities in tech: mainframe developer and cobol jobs.

Here’s what we cover:

0:00 – Why everyone says “mainframe is dead”

2:04 – The receipts: real job posting, real pay, real demand

5:17 – Why there’s a critical mainframe skills shortage

9:03 – Who is actually a good fit for mainframe work

12:45 – Step‑by‑step roadmap to get into mainframe in 12–18 months

If you’re:

– Stuck in help desk / support and want a real raise

– A bootcamp grad struggling to land interviews

– A mid-career dev who’s tired of hype cycles

…this might be your fastest path to six figures.

🔔 Subscribe for more high-ROI tech career plays: Chris Schwenk | Tech Jobber Podcast

📌 To Access All My Resume/Linkedin/Interview Prep Templates:

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What do CIOs really look for when they’re hiring — and which tech roles in enterprise retail are secretly paying the most? 💰 

In this Tech Jobber Podcast episode, Ken Widener (CIO at Do it Best) pulls back the curtain on CIO hiring decisions, high‑paying enterprise IT roles, and the hidden‑gem jobs in retail tech that can quietly pay FAANG‑level compensation over time.

If you’re a Software Engineer, Architect, Data/Analytics pro, or IT Leader who wants to move into higher‑pay, higher‑impact roles (and eventually CIO/CTO track), this episode is your playbook.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How CIOs actually review resumes (and the #1 mistake that gets candidates skipped)

• The highest‑paying roles in enterprise retail IT — and why some beat FAANG on stability & upside

• Hidden‑gem retail IT jobs (integration, mainframe modernization, ERP, supply chain) most engineers ignore

• How to position your experience for Director, VP, and CIO‑track roles

• Skills and project types that justify $200K+ total comp in enterprise tech

• How Ken led IT through a massive retail acquisition without breaking the business

• Why mainframe–to–Oracle Fusion ERP and AI/data work are career goldmines right now

• How CIOs think about AI, automation, and the future of software engineering jobs

⏱️ CHAPTERS:

00:00 – Introduction to Ken Widener and Do it Best Group 

08:34 – Tech challenges in the retail space and the role of IT 

15:34 – High‑paying and in‑demand tech roles in retail IT 

23:08 – Implementing AI and working with data engineers 

36:09 – Challenges and opportunities in the tech industry

🎯 WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR 

• Mid–Senior Software Engineers & Architects 

• Data Engineers, Analytics & BI professionals 

• IT Managers, Directors, and aspiring CIOs/CTOs 

• Anyone targeting high‑impact, high‑pay roles in enterprise tech & retail IT

📌 To Access All My Resume/Linkedin/Interview Prep Templates: https://techchris6.gumroad.com/l/xjxkbs 

📱 CONNECT WITH CHRIS (HOST) 

LinkedIn:  / christopherschwenk  

 Twitter/X: 

 / techjobberpod  

 🤝 WORK WITH ME For all of your hiring needs, go to https://www.delostaffing.com

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Software engineering is dead.

In this episode of the Tech Jobber Podcast, I sit down with Staff Software Engineer RJ Robinson to break down what’s actually happening inside engineering teams as AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and coding agents become mainstream.

Is AI replacing software engineers?

Are junior developers in trouble?

What is “vibe coding” — and is it a real threat to professional engineers?

And what skills will actually matter over the next 24 months?

RJ has over a decade of experience in software engineering and tech hiring, and he shares a real-world perspective on:

The rise of coding agents and AI-assisted development

Why rebuilding something like monday.com with AI in an hour is pure hype

What entry-level engineers must learn now

Why fundamentals and systems design matter more than ever

AI security vulnerabilities (40%+ of AI-generated code has issues)

Claude vs ChatGPT vs other AI tools

How AI is changing engineering interviews

The coming surge in AI compliance, ethics, and regulatory roles

Why AI engineers will be needed in every industry

What technologies (Ruby, Python, TypeScript, React) still matter

The real future of AI + software engineering careers

We also discuss:

Coding interviews in the age of AI

How senior engineers are using Claude and AI agents daily

The productivity explosion happening right now

Why cheap tokens and faster feedback loops will change development

Why early-career engineers risk losing core fundamentals

AI ethics, compliance, and SOC 2 demand

Whether small businesses will start hiring “AI engineers”

If you’re:

A software engineer worried about job security

A bootcamp grad wondering what to focus on

A junior developer trying to stand out

A tech professional thinking about pivoting into AI

Or someone asking, “Is software engineering still worth it?”

This episode will give you clarity.

AI isn’t killing software engineering.

But it is changing it.

And the engineers who adapt will be more valuable than ever.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly deep dives into tech careers, software engineering, cloud, AI, cybersecurity, fintech, and high-paying roles in tech.

📺 Check out RJ’s AI Engineering Brief channel here: [‪@EngInTheLoop‬]

💼 Connect with RJ on LinkedIn: [ 📷 / robert-j-robinson  ]

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What does it actually pay to work on GTA 6? In this video, we break down real Rockstar Games developer salaries, total compensation, and career tradeoffs so you can compare a “dream job” on GTA 6 vs a traditional big tech 9 to 5. If you’ve ever Googled GTA 6 developer salary, Rockstar Games pay, or wondered if game dev is worth the crunch, this is for you.

We’ll look at what Rockstar pays software engineers, gameplay programmers, artists, and other GTA 6 dev roles, then stack that against FAANG / big tech companies like Google, Meta, Apple, Amazon and Microsoft. You’ll see how base salary, bonuses, and stock compare — and what you might be giving up for the chance to work on the most hyped game in the world.

📍 TIMESTAMPS

0:00 – GTA 6 dev salaries: expectation vs reality

1:39 – How much does Rockstar Games actually pay? (real data)

4:02 – Game dev vs big tech: salary & total comp breakdown

6:25 – Crunch culture, hours, and burnout at game studios

8:47 – GTA 6 prestige vs boring but high-paying tech jobs

11:10 – Is working on GTA 6 worth it for your career?

13:05 – Final verdict & who should (and shouldn’t) chase game dev

🎮 IN THIS VIDEO YOU’LL LEARN

• How much GTA 6 developers really make at Rockstar Games

• How Rockstar developer salaries compare to Google, Meta, Apple, etc.

• The truth about crunch culture, work–life balance and burnout in game dev

• Whether a game developer career is good for long-term earnings and promotions

• How to think about passion vs pay when choosing between game dev and other tech jobs

• Software engineers and developers curious about game industry pay

• Students considering a game dev degree or bootcamp

• Tech workers debating Rockstar / game studios vs big tech / fintech / boring enterprise

• Anyone who loves GTA 6 and wonders what the people building it actually earn

Subscribe for deep dives on tech salaries, “boring” high-paying jobs, and realistic career strategy:   

 / @techjobberpod  

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WORK WITH US / JOIN THE COMMUNITY 

Broadus runs Level Up In Tech, and I’m also part of the community helping with career coaching. If you’re serious about breaking into cloud and want structured guidance, check out Level Up In Tech.

https://www.skool.com/luit-academy/about?ref=674cbede79de482fa76b88623c0cf89e

Cloud careers are still some of the highest-paying and most flexible paths in tech — but most people don’t actually understand what a cloud engineer does day-to-day, what to learn first, or how to stand out in the 2026 job market.

In this episode of the Tech Jobber Podcast, I’m joined by Broadus Palmer, founder of Level Up In Tech, who has helped thousands of people break into cloud and level up their careers. We break down cloud roles in plain English, share a real beginner roadmap, and talk about what matters most now: projects, business impact, and the ability to explain what you built — not just collecting certifications. 
 

IN THIS INTERVIEW, WE COVER:

✅ What a cloud engineer actually does (build, deploy, monitor, secure)

✅ The best cloud learning path for beginners (step-by-step progression)

✅ Linux fundamentals: why Linux is still the core skill for cloud careers

✅ AWS vs Azure vs GCP: which cloud provider should you learn first?

✅ Why big companies use multi-cloud (AWS + Azure + GCP)

✅ Cloud Engineer vs Cloud Solutions Architect (key differences)

✅ Cloud Data Engineer vs Data Engineer (what changes, what doesn’t)

✅ Entry-level cloud jobs in 2026: what hiring managers want now

✅ How to talk about projects using the SORT framework

✅ The truth about cloud certifications (what’s worth it and what’s not)

✅ Where cloud careers can lead: DevOps, SRE, Platform, Security, FinOps, Data

If you’re trying to land your first cloud job (or you’re already in IT and want to move into cloud), this episode will help you stop guessing and start following a real roadmap. 
 

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What does it actually take to get hired in FinTech in 2026?

In this episode of the Tech Jobber Podcast, I sit down with Chris Neudecker, Senior Director of AI Engineering at BHG Financial, to break down what’s really happening inside fintech hiring. We cover the hottest skills in fintech right now — including AI engineering, data analytics, data engineering, cybersecurity, and the growing overlap between data and security.

If you’re trying to break into fintech, Chris explains why AI and data skills are becoming non-negotiable. Without clean, structured data, AI can’t function — and companies are aggressively hiring talent who understand both. We also talk about how developers and architects don’t need to be “AI experts,” but must know how to leverage AI tools to improve coding, workflows, and security practices.

We dive deep into Salesforce careers as well — one of the most underrated and high-paying career paths in tech. Chris shares insight into:

• Salesforce admin vs developer vs architect career paths 

• Why QA and data-focused Salesforce roles are growing 

• How to stand out when 2,000+ applicants apply for one role 

• Why culture fit and curiosity matter more than perfect resumes 

• How managers can help you grow from developer to architect 

We also discuss FinTech vs FAANG careers — including compensation, RSUs, stress levels, work-life balance, and which path might be better depending on your goals. If you’re deciding between big tech and fintech, this segment is especially important.

Whether you’re interested in AI careers, data security jobs, Salesforce roles, fintech engineering, product management in fintech, or understanding what hiring managers are really looking for in 2026, this episode gives you practical insight from someone actively leading teams in the space.

If you’re serious about building a high-paying tech career, this conversation will give you clarity on where to focus next.
 

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Breaking into tech in 2026 isn’t about guessing the right certification — it’s about building the right career roadmap.

In this episode of the Tech Jobber Podcast, I sit down with Vinod Akunuri, founder of Jumpstart to Tech, to break down how people are actually transitioning into high-paying tech careers. We cover the most in-demand tech career paths in 2026, why career switchers often outperform entry-level grads, and how leveraging transferable skills can fast-track your career by years.

We dive into the major tech pathways — including cybersecurity (GRC, SOC), cloud, data, technical sales, and project management — and explain how AI is reshaping these roles. Contrary to the fear headlines, AI isn’t replacing tech jobs; it’s amplifying them, creating new opportunities in areas like prompt engineering, AI-augmented cybersecurity, and technical project management.

Vinod also shares real success stories of professionals transitioning from healthcare, sales, customer service, and other non-technical backgrounds into tech roles by building proof through labs, projects, and public documentation. We explore why technical project management offers some of the highest upside in tech, how the PMP certification can accelerate earnings, and why GovTech and security clearances can act as a “golden ticket” for certain careers.

If you’re trying to break into tech, pivot careers, understand how AI impacts tech jobs, or figure out the smartest tech career path in 2026, this episode gives you a clear framework to stop guessing and start executing.

To connect with Vinod or more information on Jumpstart to Tech:

 http://www.jumpstart2tech.com

 https://www.instagram.com/jumpstart2t...

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So I was watching Single’s Inferno with my fiancée when this guy Samuel walked in and casually dropped that he's a quant trader on Wall Street. The other contestants had NO idea what that meant... but I immediately knew this guy probably makes more than everyone else on the show COMBINED.

I had to pause the show and look him up on LinkedIn. What I found was absolutely insane.

In this video, I break down:

- Who Samuel (Lee Seung Hun) actually is and his career path

- How he went from Google engineer to Jump Trading quant trader

- EXACTLY how much money he's probably making (it's wild)

- Why quant trading pays WAY more than FAANG companies

- What quant traders actually do all day

- How software engineers can break into quant trading roles

Quick Stats:

Education: UC Berkeley Computer Science

Previous: Software Engineer at Amazon, Google, Snowflake

Current: Quant Trader at Jump Trading (one of the most elite prop trading firms)

Estimated Comp: $500K-$750K minimum (potentially mid-7 figures in a good year)

While other contestants are hoping for protein powder sponsorships, this guy is making $500/hour just doing math. If you're a software engineer wondering how to level up your career and earnings, this is the path most people don't talk about.

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DevOps is evolving fast. In this episode, we reveal the Platform Engineering Roadmap for 2026 with industry leader Clint Hill. Discover exactly what is a platform engineer, how this role differs from traditional DevOps, and why it's becoming one of the most critical careers in tech.

We break down the essential skills you need—from software architecture to building internal developer platforms (IDPs)—and discuss the controversial impact of AI in software development on your job security. If you want to know how to future-proof your engineering career, this conversation is mandatory listening.

In this episode, we cover: 

🚀 DevOps vs Platform Engineering: The key differences and career trajectory. 

🗺️ Platform Engineering Roadmap: Step-by-step guide to the skills that matter in 2026. 

🤖 AI & The Future: Will AI replace programmers or make them faster? 

💼 Hiring Insights: Specific advice for landing platform roles at top tech companies.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: Why Platform Engineering is Booming

00:34 - What is a Platform Engineer? (vs Product & DevOps)

02:24 - Will AI Replace Programmers? The Honest Truth

04:33 - Why Human Judgment Still Matters in AI Workflows

07:56 - Software Architecture & System Design Skills

10:20 - The Dangers of AI in Platform Systems

16:49 - DevOps vs Platform Engineering: API Layers Explained

18:19 - Metrics & KPIs: Justifying the Platform Team

24:18 - Who Should Switch to Platform Engineering?

31:16 - JUNIOR ENGINEERS: Focus on These Non-Functional Requirements

Resources & Links:

90.io

Kubernetes

Building AI Agents: YouTube Playlist

CI/CD Best Practices

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