I am getting back into using linux. I am looking for a different career and I feel that linux is the place to be. I am just looking for help in regards with how to go about starting a career. I know it's a broad question, but I am having a hard time finding a place to start.
I also see the different certifications that are available but I am not sure if employers actually look for them. Again, I don't know. I used to use ubuntu, but i see the big certifications are for red hat. Any help would be great.

Hey, and...welcome back

Ehrm...not to put a damper on things, but "linux as a career" is about as specific as "put the one thingie in the other thingie"...

Career? Okay, networking with Linux as base, or how about database management?
Linux is an OS, a bit like a trailer. You can drive the thing around all day, but...what do you drive around IN the trailer?

Luck

Thor

I should have been a little more specific. Yes - I would like to get into networking with Linux. But it also seems that you have to learn programming as well. I don't know what would be the best thing to learn. Should i go with red hat or stick with ubuntu for business applications?

My advice would be to learn one of them in as much detail as you can. (The command line configs and the background into the settings you use.) I think you will find that will give you a solid base to work with any linux distribution.

Hi,

Certifications are fine but the experience with and use of Gnu/Linux will be the controlling factors. What areas of interest? Reinforce those areas if indeed that is to be your chosen profession. You can target specific areas and gain useful knowledge along with experience to allow one to function. Admin can be a broad arena that can be a gotcha. Do you want hardware/software integration?

Thanks. I will start there. I also have to get a computer that I can mess around with for cheap.

Good thinking, any second-hand outlets where you live? I got mine that way. If you're somewhat "into it", I can suggest Arch Linux. Nice cleanly accessible, and well documented. Or, if you're so inclined, try Free BSD...

Good luck!

Thor

Hi,

In addition to what 'Thor_2.0' stated: I would look at local recycle centers.

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Thanks.

It's pretty much the same under the hood, but Red Hat comes with Enterprise level support, so many corporate clients tend to go with that. I may be wrong.

I would suggest, as a matter of setting a goal, as to make your efforts a little more convergent, you should get the syllabus for the certification exams and start with that as your milestone. I would assume that it would give you credibility. Also, you could join an open source project both to hone your skills and to get a glimpse of how these projects function.

Do you have any open source project to suggest? Also, how much could I help with my limited knowledge? Thanks again.

pick any open source project that interests you, you can find them on sourceforge and freshmeat for starters, it should be something you are interested in as you will have an easier time staying focused on the task at hand instead of feeling like it is a chore, if you are forcing yourself it will show in the quality of your code.

start perhaps by learning the project and contributing to the documentation,

in the mean time, learn to program in the language in which the project is written

once you have a decent understanding of said language, tear into the source code to understand how the program code works, and at the same time start thinking about features you would want to see added in the project

once you have that in mind, attempt to add the feature(s) (one at a time) to the project, and once you feel the features are decently stable, submit them back to the project.

Note you might need permission to submit the features, and they will certainly be in need of review, don't feel bad if they are rejected.

Well, if you want to make a career out of it, you have to be good at what you do. The first thing to do would be to sharpen your coding skills based on your interest and/or industry demand. If you are to be paid to do something, I'd imagine the first pre-requisite would be your ability to actually be able to do it.

As far as a Linux career it appears that there are only positions available for experienced administrators and so on. I assume that Most ,98% or higher of Linux professionals have a MS based formal education and experience before they break the catch 22 and land a Linux job. I have never seen an advertisement for a entry level Linux job. Is this a correct assuption and how do low experienced Linux enthusiasts find an employer that has the capacity for a big administrator staff?

I spoke with a friend of mine who works for Microsoft. He stated the same issue. I am 30. Not old, but in computer years i am at least 10-15 years behind. However, I am figuring while I am working now I can set aside time to learn on my own.