It seems I have touch a sensitive subject, with a hammer instead of my
little finger. Let me say again, Title System Operator, is not difficult and
can readily be filled with anyone who is interested in learning and wants to
think about other things!!! What all those who responded to me are, are not
simple System Operators, but either Full System Managers, or borderline
System Managers.
If a company can hire me for a small $ salary, then get me to do big $
salary work for same pay, then I as of great value to them. Don't let the
title fool you. If you are doing System Managment work then you are a System
Manager.
Now for the question raised that this position does not exist for the
HP-3000 anymore all depends whether you have a centralized computer room
with many demands for tapes and special forms for the system printer, or
whether your shop is decentralized with everyone having their own laserjet
next to their PC. There is no problem keeping a System Operator busy in a
central, many special forms, tapes, and the like HP-3000 shop, and that will
most like all he/she will do. But if you have a diversified shop, then you
are most likely will be hired for much more then mentioned above and more
with each of you are stating.
Tell the recruiter that that job is not a System Operator job but a System
Manager job and ask/demand a higher salary.

I did not want to belittle any work Operators are doing and will continue to
do, but let us call things by their right names. As Donna mentioned small
shops may only be able to hire one person for their 24x7 shop, which means
they wear many hats. And the HP-3000 is a great workhorse for small shops,
and I am glad it is as easy as it is to watch. Manage is another area which
can be good or bad.

James

P.S. Wayne Brown did just what I did. Use the position of operator to learn
the system and become a better operator and programmer and manager. And as I
said before, the more you do beyond your job description the more value you
are to the company. But I have met many operators, who did not want to be
operators, use the position to get the bills paid and study some other field
(not computers).

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