I need a new job.....
 

Anyone here actually hands on with a Linux machine daily? What does it take to land a gig like that? (You UK folks don't count - you're far ahead of the idiots over on this side of the pond) What do you generally have to know to be able to be effective in a Linux-only position? As more and more corps. are moving to Enterprise linux, one would think they'll need help?

This place in Ann Arbor Michigan is based totally on linux from what I hear...


Check it out:

www.linuxbox.com/ABOUT/map.php

Re: I need a new job.....
 

I was about 1 foot away from actually getting to work hands on with linux on a daily basis. I was invited to join a linux migration project.. My main responsibilty was going to to be AD integration (which I knew not much about.. still dont) and end user applications (i.e. finding replacements for the minor windows counterparts that are used daily such as netmeeting faxing etc...)

I got to attend one meeting and then the project was cilled by the suits... stating legal issues with what type of work we do... I work for a government contractor.. and they have had a past incident with the use of open-source software... So the project was killed.. there is still a chance that it may survive but legal and the suits have to give the go ahead...

I know that does not help you much but you best bet it to find a small company work your way in and try to migrate them over.

My brother-in-law works for a small company and their part-time System Admin just last week made the switch to linux on all their systems. He now does all his work from home via ssh and does not come in any more. I was their previous Sys Admin... I wish I would of been using linux while i was there.. I would of loved to have made that switch.

Good luck.

wow.. that sounds like an awesome company... Free help for home users using linux on sunday afternoons.. Very nice to see that http://www.linuxbox.com/PEOPLE/people.php

Re: I need a new job.....
 

I work daily with Linux. Being a Linux System Administrator does that to one.. but how I landed the job, I moved up from another position. I proved once the position came available that I knew something about Linux. But I can tell you in this day in age, more get their Linux jobs by experience and nothing else. So get smarter, get a job thats technical in some way, either move up or prove yourself. Certifications I think help but not always.

Regards.

ok!

I went to RIT for IT and focused on linux and cisco... It wasn't easy to find a job (2001) but with hard work and being aggressive, and willingness to move (yourself, no more relo pkgs these days) you can find something. Play the number games... click apply campaigns with well formatted resume & cover/pitch, and eventually you'll find something. I was working at NASA as an unix/linux admin and just switched jobs to Ma. to be closer to family... took me 14 months to find a good job. I think edu is key but if no time... you'll need to get certs for proof of what you know... and remember the grass is greener on the other side. I've got a great linux/net job and all i want to do now is be a manger in priv industry. now thats a leap. Also head hunters are used car salesmen but they give you exposer.

I should state here, that I already have the luxury of a cushy NOC Monitoring job, and as you can see in the sig, a few certs as well. I have played the IT job hunting game quite a few times, and am rather versed in it.
What I am asking, is what is it, that you know, that I don't, that I need to focus on learning, to be qualified for these spots. As a linux admin, what do you do during the course of your day, that I may not, admin'ing a couple of home boxes?

Its the global understanding of a functioning environment and the pieces of that environment that create a successful solution for what ever goal that organization may have. It's an solid understanding of both technology and usability, implementation processes, and the management/definition of long and short term goals. Everybody has a computer in there house, that doesn't mean they can all go to work as a windows admin, successfully... You have to understand security, common services management (mail, web, file services, authentication mech), human factors, policy and maintenance. The computing part of System Administration (if thats what your thinking you would like to do) is only a part of the job as a whole...

And once your a CCIE i'm not quite sure why you would be interested in linux admin stuff... you'd be taking a rather large hit financially.

Good luck with your job search... CCIE lab... hopefully I've shed some light.