I agree.

Like I posted before...certification is a supplement to your qualifications.

-C

Why it will shows a bad methodology? If the person wanted to learn Linux by studying RHCE? What is the matter with that?

By passing the cert test you demonstrated that you have the ability to "learn". As stated in the messages, experience counts because you have to deal with unexpected (and usually) critical problems. If your lucky you're on a team, if not you are or will be good at searching for the answers. The cert shows that you know more than an average college grad about enterprise Linux administration, and that is what employers want. Don't expect to get hired as a top level admin, but the cert should "get you in the shop" and then you can gain experience and ponder the question you've submitted with the other folks here.
I started out with an engineer cert for "the other OS" and some how became a upper tiered admin that deals with all of the candy, From MS to Oracle to Sun to RH, not to mention the network stuff (ADC's, F5's, Cisco's, and others). So my opinion is your cert will get you started, but your attitude will get you what you are after, just don't quit trying to get.


A smart man is not a man that knows everything, a smart man knows that he doesn't.

I have met alot of linux experts without rhce. In melbourne, alot of senior and xperienced sys admins don't even have a basic linux cert. Words of mouth is more convincing than anything. It is who you put in as referee in your resume that will rock the employer.

I took rhce for the sake of personal challenge and never as a job requirement. I dont think we can equate rhce == good sys admin. It just shows that a person has basic knowledge. The trust between me and my boss is worth more than a certificate.

I am not saying rhce isnt worth anything. I know many government sys admin job requires rhce and min 5 yrs of xperience as pre-requisites. On the other hand, I have seen xperienced sys admin struggled with rhce... i would think the rhce syllabus is broad and shallow.

I like that :-)

That is VERY true. My current boss is THE BEST admin that I've ever encountered. His knowledge of Linux/Unix administration is the best that I've encountered among anyone that I have worked with. What does he have? Nothing...not a cert...not even a college degree...nothing. Just 20 years of Sys Admin experence



I also took the RHCE for my own personal reasons. It wasn't a requirement for the job (I already had the job )

Did I learn a thing or two when I took the test? Of course! But it isn't a substitute for experience...

-C

The bottom line is that in today's world you need to have a cert to get the call for a job. Without experience and cert you will not get a job but without experience and a cert you will get the job.

My

A cert will get you past HR

Knowledge will get you the job

Experience will keep your job

-C

Thanks custangro. If you know you stuff, you can pass the interview.

One advise for new Linux want to be......... visited Linux forums and help other resolve their technical problems and also spend time reading errors & solutions.

I think that varies from country and culture? I believe it could be true in united states. It is exactly the opposite in australia. I had been thru tonnes of interviews and never been asked to show my certs and grades before.

It's not true in the US either, I know very few admins with an rhce and those that have them had already been doing admin for 10 years plus before they ever got them. It's neither a make or break thing.

So Linux GURUS what do you recommend........?

The people who said the certification will not get you a job are selfish and wrong. RHCE will proof that you have hand experience with Linux because in order to pass RHCE you need to do alot of labs. I know many people with out experience whom found jobs only with a certification.