Re: Working with Linux
Wolfgang <[email protected]> Sat, 3 Dec 2016 09:29:49 -0800 (PST)
| Newsgroups | gmane.user-groups.linux.ilug.general |
|---|---|
| Message-ID | <[email protected]> |
Great advice! Picked it up. I will work my way in with the bash-related materials at first and then branch out into the other texts. I should invest in a proper e-reader though! -Wolfgang On Friday, 2 December 2016 09:43:14 UTC, Anders Holm wrote: > > And for your evening reading pleasures, here's an opportunity to expand > your library: > > > https://www.humblebundle.com/books/unix-book-bundle?imm_mid=0eb37f&cmp=em-prog-books-videos-na-promo_humble_bundle_unix_20161201 > > //anders > > On 01/12/2016 09:40, bigbro wrote: > > Hi, > > > > Looks like you've already got some good answers - and thanks for asking > > your question here. Many of us have been using Linux for a long time, > > but we're all still learning! > > > > In case it helps, you might want to consider certification just as a > > method of ensuring you get a broad coverage of topics. While > > certification does go out of date, many of the certifications require a > > broad coverage of Linux and Systems Administration knowledge, and so the > > manuals and course syllabus materials may be a great starting point. > > > > LPIC ( https://www.lpi.org/our-certifications/lpic-1-overview ) and > > RedHat ( https://www.redhat.com/en/services/certification ) are both > > well established, and their training materials are mature and > accessible. > > > > There are also many courses on EdX, Coursera and undoubtedly other > > continuous learning communities. > > > > Best of luck, and enjoy learning about Linux. > > > > Best regards, > > -->Gar > > > > > > 2016-11-26 18:37 GMT+00:00 Wolfgang <[email protected] <javascript:> > > <mailto:[email protected] <javascript:>>>: > > > > Hi Mark! > > > > Thanks for taking the time to reply. Really appreciate it! > > > > Great advice regarding my profile. I have been considering this for > > some time, hence my LinkedIn page has been a bit static of late. My > > predicament has mainly been that I don't want to be seen as > > overselling myself, as I don't have much to offer yet in the way of > > technical expertise. I am a writer however, so that's not a very > > good excuse: I suppose I need to find a way to frame it in the > > context of my ambition to undertake further training and make a > > transition into a new field. I will work on that in the coming week. > > > > Your advice about making sure you don't jump on an offer just to > > fill a position is also very insightful, it's something that I may > > have otherwise overlooked. Keeping an end goal in mind could make > > the difference between finding satisfying career and just finding a > > job in the short term. > > > > I have been looking into my choices for the coming year and it seems > > there quite a number of options in Cork. UCC offers several > > conversion courses, both as MAs and HDips: there's an Applied > > Computing Technologies HDip <http://www.ucc.ie/en/cko08/> that > seems > > to cover quite a lot of bases, including programming (Python, I > > believe), web development, databases and applications development. > > There's also the Interactive Media MSc <http://www.ucc.ie/en/ckr05/> > > > that's open to graduates from other disciplines, though I feel that > > degree may have less overlap with Linux than the HDip. I also know > > several people involved in the nebulous field of Digital Humanities, > > which is also represented by an MA at UCC > > <http://www.ucc.ie/en/ckr05/>, though I'm not really sure how > useful > > it may be on the job-market. > > > > I just saw that CIT also offers a CompTIA Linux+ qualification. > > Looking over the course outline, it does seem like I could probably > > keep up with most of the content considering I run Linux at home on > > my personal machines. Not entirely sure how CompTIA would hold up > > against *nix certifications from www.linuxacademy.com > > <http://www.linuxacademy.com>. I will certainly be checking their > > offerings out though, it would be brilliant to get started ASAP. > > > > The Cork Education and Training Board also offers some introductory > > ICT related courses, from Java Foundation training to web design and > > virtualisation. I got my Microsoft Office Specialist Master cert > > there (always though that bombastic title was pretty funny, > > considering you basically learn how to use an office suite), so > > that's always an option too. > > > > I've already bought a paper copy of 'The Linux Command Line: A > > Complete Introduction' by William E. Shotts Jr. and have been > > working my way through it. I also have been following tutorials on > > Youtube covering basic commands and writing bash scripts, though > > embarrassingly enough the only two I have written are: a basic > > script that compliments my girlfriend if prompted (makes sure she > > doesn't get cross at me working away with Linux) and a script that > > outputs pacman warnings to a text file for file integrity reasons > > (so I can monitor if anything like file sizes or contents have > > changed without me knowing about it). Sometimes the problem with > > tinkering alone like that is to figure out what to try and build. > > Which explains my first script. > > > > > > I'll be sure to pick up the Bundle, had been looking over it > > yesterday. Perhaps I'll get myself a Kindle or similar to make it > > easier on my eyes too, not sure how well I can read them on my > mobile. > > > > > > Once again, thanks for your help! It's given me a lot to think > about. > > > > > > > > Best regards, > > > > -Wolfgang > > > > > > > > On Saturday, 26 November 2016 08:40:34 UTC, Mark Kenny wrote: > > > > 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 > > <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 <http://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. > > > > -- > > Irish Linux Users Group > > --- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the > > Google Groups "ILUG" group. > > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails > > from it, send an email to [email protected]. > > To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. > > Visit this group at > > https://groups.google.com/a/linux.ie/group/ilug/ > > <https://groups.google.com/a/linux.ie/group/ilug/>. > > To view this discussion on the web, visit > > > https://groups.google.com/a/linux.ie/d/msgid/ilug/1205b03e-9e84-96fe-9d8a-943b57b79191%40draigBrady.com > > < > https://groups.google.com/a/linux.ie/d/msgid/ilug/1205b03e-9e84-96fe-9d8a-943b57b79191%40draigBrady.com>. > > > > > > > -- > > Irish Linux Users Group > > --- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > > Groups "ILUG" group. > > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, > > send an email to [email protected] <javascript:> > > <mailto:[email protected] <javascript:>>. > > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] <javascript:> > > <mailto:[email protected] <javascript:>>. > > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/a/linux.ie/group/ilug/ > > <https://groups.google.com/a/linux.ie/group/ilug/>. > > To view this discussion on the web, visit > > > https://groups.google.com/a/linux.ie/d/msgid/ilug/d75b4360-de1b-4942-acf3-7060515775e9%40linux.ie > > < > https://groups.google.com/a/linux.ie/d/msgid/ilug/d75b4360-de1b-4942-acf3-7060515775e9%40linux.ie?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>. > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Gareth 'bigbro' Eason > > > > -- > > Irish Linux Users Group > > --- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > > Groups "ILUG" group. > > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send > > an email to [email protected] <javascript:> <mailto: > [email protected] <javascript:>>. > > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] <javascript:> > <mailto:[email protected] <javascript:>>. > > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/a/linux.ie/group/ilug/. > > To view this discussion on the web, visit > > > https://groups.google.com/a/linux.ie/d/msgid/ilug/CAD4VSdhYQ-1bByrEdfcTdnY5gU3mA2dFgwQ-OBidU%2Bq%2BVVm1JQ%40mail.gmail.com > > < > https://groups.google.com/a/linux.ie/d/msgid/ilug/CAD4VSdhYQ-1bByrEdfcTdnY5gU3mA2dFgwQ-OBidU%2Bq%2BVVm1JQ%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>. > > -- Irish Linux Users Group --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "ILUG" group. 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