Another thing you can do is build a Linux From Scratch system. You'll learn a lot about what the various parts and pieces do. If you go beyond and make your own usable system from it, you'll never have to wait for security fixes to propagate through distributions again. And, you'll learn the *nix command line well, including what tools are there and just how much you can get done without a GUI. That last bit is important because servers do not need GUIs, even Microsoft finally admitted that in their latest versions.

This is a very good thread! Slag47 and sundialsvcs both have given great advice; one that appears to be a very detailed technical primer and the other is just great advice for how to humbly enter a new world. I am about to leave 15 years of being a general network and sys admin to become a Linux SA and manage cloud computing. I will definitely refer to this thread as I prep for my own transition.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...8/#post5033506 - Best Answer EVER.

Some great stuff above.
However, when starting out on a new job I recommend concentrating just on what is used at work initially (although of course, familiarity with bash is always handy).
Ideally load up the same version of eg Linux at home if possible.
Later on, if you have the time, then you can expand into the million and one other things ;)