Re: Working with Linux
"Paul O'Malley" <[email protected]> Sat, 3 Dec 2016 18:03:23 +0000
| Newsgroups | gmane.user-groups.linux.ilug.general |
|---|---|
| Message-ID | <CAALCm-qDAigS5eA7W7XhFz5nbL4ajJDesm59UvvYiV+9aofcTA@mail.gmail.com> |
perhaps checking your distro for an ereader might be useful On 3 December 2016 at 17:29, Wolfgang <[email protected]> wrote: > 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 certification does go out of date, many of the certifications require a 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] >> > <mailto:[email protected]>>: >> > >> > 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] >> > <mailto:[email protected]>. >> > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >> > <mailto:[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/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] <mailto:[email protected]>. >> > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >> > <mailto:[email protected]>. >> > 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. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > 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/27612651-6937-4304-9c74-2236b40a1615%40linux.ie. -- Irish Linux Users Group --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "ILUG" group. 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