Questions about finding a linux job

[jrt77]

Hello everyone, I have a few questions I would like to ask the community about working in a corporate job using linux as an admin etc.

How did you get started with linux?

Did you go any certification routes with linux?

What skills are most important for linux admins?

What do you do to continually improve your linux skills?

What do you recommend to someone who is wanting to become a linux admin?

I would appreciate any advice or information that anyone can share.

Thanks,
Jeff

[Dapper Dan]

How did you get started with linux?

Fear over the insecurity of Windows.

Did you go any certification routes with linux?

No.

What skills are most important for linux admins?

Patience, perserverence and a resonable knowledge of the command line.

What do you do to continually improve your linux skills?

Experimenting and testing new hardware, apps and programs. Also, reading and assisting when possible at Linuxforums.

What do you recommend to someone who is wanting to become a linux admin?

As with any vocation, do it because it's satisfying and rewarding, not because you think it might be a good way to get wealthy.

[jrt77]

Dapper Dan,

Thanks for the advice. I am one of two people at my company who have been tapped to learn linux for a migration on our datacenter server to linux from Windows. When this opportunity came about, I jumped at it. I have always wanted to work with linux and now I have my chance.

I have gotten a lenovo laptop to dual boot 2 versions of Linux, OpenSUSE 10.3 and Ubuntu 8.04. My firm is moving to Suse Enterprise 10 in July, and I have been trying to learn as much as I can. This site has been excellent, and your article link in your signature was awesome.

I am also looking for a Linux Users Group to go to to keep on learning. Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jeff

[ls354]

jrt77 I am no wise man by any means but after talking and spending some time with several people who work in the field (respectable ones) I manage to come up with one conclusion.

"Become a generalist", working in IT will require you to have a wide range of knowledge but in this case you can make Linux your 1st offer. Not long ago we had a guy with an impressive resume (he was a DBA) but lack serious networking skills which would be needed (rarely but still). End of the story we had to say "sorry".

Cruel world.

[jrt77]

ls354,
Thanks for the advice. I have above average networking skills, (CCNA), and I have some strong wireless networking background. I have been performing some Microsoft admin recently, but the bulk of my work has been switch and router config and maintenance.

I don't have a really wide range of knowledge yet, but I keep on learning as much as I can. Since our firm is adding linux, and I am one of two people at the firm who are comfortable working on a command line, I have been tapped to learn linux for their conversion.

What else would you recommend? A friend of mine at CDW keeps saying virtualization is a high demand skill, would you agree?