System 36/38 was obsolete more than 15 years ago. There's not really much to say. I'd recommend your friend trying to leverage any language skills he has into another environment. Hopefully he has at least good Cobol skills and should try AS400, OS/390 or even VMS shops. That's short term, meaning broadening ones search to find an immediate job. In any case your friend simply has to learn new skills all the time or leave this profession. The simple truth is for S36/38 systems the handwriting has been on the wall for many many years.