I agree with Jim. I wouldn't so much say that Linux knowledge is what's
in high demand, but more of *nix.
If you have a very comprehensable knowlegde of Linux, especially the
command line ascpect of it, then applying for work where your work
station will be a SunOS machine, or you're doing basic admin work for a
AIX machine. Or admin work on an ISPs FreeBSD server. Those things do
come in very handy.
But if you want a job in Linux, right now the place to look is at a local
university. Universities like to run on a lot of FreeBSD, but they do a
lot of RedHATE and SuSE as well. Our first contract was a university
moving from FreeBSD to RedHAT.
But what I'd suggest doing for "getting in the biz" is start sending your
resume to ISPs in your area. That's how got in the industry just over 3
years ago. Doing tech support for a local ISP. Administrating mail and
DNS servers. Since then I've doubled my salary. Moving to database
work, and now back to Unix administration.
Another angle would be getting into the University helpdesk. Usually
they start out as Windows support, then you'd move over to server ops
where you're creating accounts on the University's servers, making sure
users have their web pages, and are getting IP address for their
machines in the dorm.
But don't expect to be racking in the big time $$$! Just like most
industries, unless you're just a self taught genius who could write your
own Linux, you're going to start out on the bottom floor and work your
way! But, personally I think, it's a less laborious climb up.
I loved doing tech support for that ISP. And if they paid more, I would
have stayed. Database work was really on any fun because I was install
database software like Oracle, Informix, and Sybase on huge AIX and
Solaris boxes that were worth 3 and 4 times my yearly salary.
(Depressing in a way, but the rush ya get from compiling a kernel for all
the databases, and compiling a program at the same on a clustered system!
:0)
Also, depending on how comfortable you are with your knowledged and on
stepping out on your own, try doing some consulting. Find someplace that
needs to have 24 hour remote administration. To install packages, admin
a mail server. Something that's like 15 hours a month or so. You could
easily charge $80 for such work and get your feet wet! Freelance
consulting is very valuable these days! And people are willing to pay
top dollar for it. The hardest part about that is convincing a company
that they a) -- Need/Want you. b) -- You can do it. I was turned down 3
times before I convinced a company I was their man. Next thing I knew
the 3 other companies were coming back trying to hire me.
As far as $$$ is involved. There are contract people working on projects
for various companys that make anywhere from $12 an hour, right on up to
$25 and hour. I know of people that are SysAdmins, don't do a damn thing
and make $80K a year. Then people who know twice as much and work twice
as hard and are making $40K. So it all depends on what you're doing in a
*nix field, and who you're doing it for. Big companies can of course pay
big money!
Hope that helps a little.
tdh
--
T. Holmes
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[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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| The idea that someone with a minimal amount of Linux
| knowledge can easily get a job in the IS industry is
| generally a myth, sort of like being able to go from a job
| working in a gas station to earning $70K a year just for
| attending an MCSE boot camp. (Perhaps before the .com bubble
| burst it was a possibility, if you didn't mind a 80+ hour a
| week job in a Silicon Valey startup with $2000/mo rent for a
| tiny 1 bedroom apartment over an hour commute from work.
| That is assuming the IPO went well and you cashed in your
| stock options before the crash...)
|
| There are jobs for people with Linux experience, but you
| will have to know your stuff and be able to prove it. Even
| so, I haven't seen too many jobs advertised specifically for
| Linux. However Linux experience can be useful when applying
| for a Solaris/HPUX/AIX/SCO/etc. position.
|
| > Ok, so I know linux people (I usually refer to myself as a
| linux geek...)
| > are supposed to be in incredible demand, and all I hear is
| that people are
| > just throwing money at people who can install, configure,
| run etc on the OS.
| > But every time I get into this discussion with someone, I
| don't have even
| > anectdotal evidence with which to debate them. I mean, I
| know apache is the
| > most widely used server on the net, but what else (as if
| that weren't
| > enough)?
| >
| > So, what's the deal? I know more than a few people on the
| list are employed
| > for use of their vast knowledge of the OS. what do ya
| say? how do the
| > linux people work in the biz? what do they do? where do
| they do it? (and
| > with all respect intended) how much do they make???
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