Re: Careers in Linux

[mark <mark@extension2.freeserve.co.uk>]

Hi,
    I saw your posting on the debian list regarding careers in
    Linux.Hopefully you should be o.k, 

    Iam finding it very hard to even get looked at by
    empolyeers.Basically i have made a career change 1 1/2 years ago
    from being a factory worker to supporting pc's (sadly win9x/win2k
    for a uk comapany,name withheld to protect my job :-), at least it
    got my foot in the door).

    even though ive been using pc's for about 5 years and linux for 2
    1/2 of those Iam finding it very hard to even get a look in, mainly
    because of no certificates and just because i have a small home
    network (rh 6.2 server, doing mail,nfs,nis,dhcp,dns) for my 3
    machines here they won't even look at me because i cannot prove it
    in writing or practicle experiance (as in i have never had a job in
    linux/unix), so iam stuck with win9x.

    The only advise I can say is never give up and as the others have
    said a good knowledge of basic shell scipting/perl/python (as most
    sys admins, from what i understand are not really interested in
    writing progs, just scripts to get the required jobs done and
    knowing how they are done).

    Try to make friends with any sys admins or linux people over here
    (in the u.k) as at least they could recommend u from what they know
    of your experiance and offer advise, as iam the only person i know
    (apart from the ones on the mailing lists) that runs linux, i havn't
    got any connections and have to rely on myself (being putley self
    taught), so i have to go the hard way.

    Also I would be inclined as Iam to start playing with something like
    Solaris as its more Unix based than say debian/rh/mandrake (if you
    know what I mean) on a server and stick with debian on your personal
    box; also try to avoid the G.U.I's as at the end of the day the
    console is a mans best friend (thats why i administer my server
    purley from ssh, as it gives a better insite to how the programs
    work and also makes u read the man pages, rather than point - click)
    also certificates like R.H.C.E (RedHat Certified Enginneer) will go
    a long way,from what i have seen (flamming expensive).

    Anyway this has probally not helped you much, but at ive vented my
    opinions - LOL :-)

    Its just that I know how hard it is trying to get a job u *really*
    want to do and getting kicked in the face several hundred times, you
    start thinking 'is it worth it, i may as well give up as iam not
    ever going to do what *I* really want), don't end up like me.

    Anyway good luck and do what ive failed to do (so far anyway!, oh
    well ive got another 35 years before i draw my pension, so who knows
    - LOL)

    'These opinions and views are purely mine and not intended to offend
    anyone, i may of got certian information wrong and appologise to
    anyone concerned if I have'

            Regards

                    Mark



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