Re: Working with Linux

Hi Wolfgang,

First thing to do is get your LinkedIn updated. Within the summary section
you should project your passion and interest for working with linux.
Recruiters searching linkedin are doing so with keywords so try and ram as
much in there as possible. Just be careful that when you do get approached
about a job that you're not getting sold a dud as recruiters are simply
looking to fill a position, whilst you're looking to follow a passion.

The biggest challenge you face is persuading a company to take a chance on
you as opposed to somebody with relevant
certifications/degree/masters/experience. Springboard courses are good and
I know people who have come through them to get employment, though they
were not looking to work with linux. A quick search on the springboard site
for linux returns no matching courses. A blank search of the IT conversion
does show up some courses for "cloud computing" (Cork IT has two Fetac
level 8 courses) and these could be a good gateway to working with linux.

There's a Humble Bundle on sale at the moment which should provide a lot of
valuable knowledge if you manage to work your way through them:
https://www.humblebundle.com/books/unix-book-bundle Some stuff is possibly
dated but there will be a good grounding on a lot of *nix areas.

What Padraig says about certification is true, they can become irrelevant
after a while. As you're coming from zero IT background though, they could
be an option if a 2 year conversion course is too much of a time
investment. They'll show an employer that you have an interest and aptitude
in a certain area. I've done various certifications (Cisco, Juniper, Linux,
AWS - I've let some expire as they're not relevant to my current
interests/job) and while they won't make your career, they will certainly
help you along the way. I'd recommend www.linuxacademy.com if you're
interested in *nix certification or other areas of cloud computing like
AWS/Azure, they've a free trial which is worth exploring.

Best of luck and if you've any questions, just shout.

On Sat, Nov 26, 2016 at 2:03 AM, Pádraig Brady <[email protected]> wrote:

> On 25/11/16 18:33, [email protected] wrote:
> > Hey lads,
> >
> >
> > Not sure if this kind of thing is allowed in the ILUG, but I'm a recent
> enough convert to GNU/Linux - currently running a community spin of Manjaro
> on two machines and Tahrpup on a netbook. I also have a Pi3 running
> Raspbian.
> > I spend a lot of my free time tinkering with my installs or messing
> about on the terminal and so far I've really enjoyed the experience. Though
> there's way more to learn, I know more about my Linux system and my
> hardware now than I ever did as a Windows user. Not to go full Stallman;
> but it has felt liberating.
> >
> > I've been thinking of transitioning into IT for some time, possibly by
> returning to college to do a conversion course, BA or a Springboard course.
> >
> >
> > I understand that for many of you, Linux is part of the every day at
> this stage, so I can also understand if you find yourself scoffing at my
> new-found infatuation with all things Linux: but I'm wondering if perhaps
> the 'grey-beards' of the group (not discriminating against the beardless)
> can offer me some advice or insight into working with Linux as a
> professional - as a systems admin or otherwise.
> >
> > One question I have is probably the most frequently asked one: how
> important is certification? Would being Linux certified give me a head
> start over somebody with a general CS/IT qualification? Or is a combination
> of both the best bet?
> >
> > How common are entry-level positions or internships in the Linux world?
> I haven't seen too many on the various job sites.
> >
> > What other IT related fields would you get to involve yourself in Linux,
> besides working as a sys admin? I'm thinking web design or applications
> development might have some overlap.
> >
> >
> > How big of a barrier is it not coming from a tech background?
> >
> > Some context context on my work/education history: I have a MA in
> Writing and have worked for several years as a freelance writer,
> specifically writing about the arts and doing PR for various cultural
> institutions. I also have some teaching experience and more or less
> bilingual. Not sure how much of my experience would count as 'transferable'
> or if there's a niche in the IT world that somebody like myself would fit
> in better than others. Another obstacle is that besides having taken
> courses in Python and Java Script through websites like Code Academy, I am
> not well versed in any programming language - hence me wanting to return to
> education.
> >
> >
> > And if I can ask a personal question, for those of you that started off
> dabbling in Linux as a hobby and later transitioned to working with Linux
> as professionals, how has your experience affected how you feel about
> Linux? Do you feel 'burnt out' at all, or have you been able to maintain
> some level of enthusiasm?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I've done solo research into the topic, so I don't want the ILUG to feel
> like I'm using you instead of Google. It's just that it all still feels
> fairly vague to me and I think personal insights would help resolve that.
> >
> > Many online resources are also quite US centric. I will be Cork based
> for the next few years, so if anybody has an specific advice about working
> in IT in Cork, that would be brilliant.
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks for your time and patience,
> >
> > -Wolfgang
>
> Hey Wolfgang,
>
> Thanks for documenting your enthusiasm.
> It's great to see, and the secret sauce to success IMHO.
> If you're enthusiastic about this field you'll do well.
> It's just a matter of which route is the fastest.
>
> It's quite subjective how one best learns.
> Some prefer study, while others are more practical.
> Personally I don't have, nor was ever inclined to get,
> any certifications, as I feel they go out of relevance
> quite quickly, and can be too specific and commercial.
> Some prefer formal education, while others getting
> their hands dirty, like on some open source project for e.g.
> I was lucky in that I had a technical degree before
> I got interested in open source, but a conversion course
> to an IT degree would both ease your progress in the field,
> and also provide some broader info before you specialize.
>
> Specialization is necessary really for navigating this
> now vast field. Having a particular area of expertise,
> be it a language, or service, or whatever, will both
> give better satisfaction that you're working at a level
> that is really beneficial, and is a good focus point
> in a CV or interview.
>
> An often overlooked aspect in a technical career is effective
> communication, both personal and especially written.
> Having an MA in writing is a huge advantage over the
> common or garden software engineer, and combined with
> enthusiasm in a particular technical area (which most
> do not have), you can't go wrong.
>
> Good luck.
> Pádraig.
>
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>

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