You really have to look at the companies point of view. When they have a position to fill it costs them plenty to fill it. (both money (posting ads, etc.) and man-hours to interview) They do not want to waste their time on someone who might not cut it. It would end up costing the company money in the long run. They want someone the first time. That's why education isn't very useful. It doesn't represent the real-world. Experience does. But how do you get experience? Usually you need to start at the bottom. Yep, that's right, HELPDESK!!! Answering phones, rebooting NT, etc. Once you are in at a company it usually is pretty easy to 'show your stuff' and move into other positions. Then just move up the ladder until you have enough experience to go for the job you really want. There also is the old saying: "It's not what you know, but who you know." Companies are more willing to hire someone if a current employee refers them. Get to know other members of the TCLUG or other local groups. Go to the TCLUG meetings. Go to the beer meetings. Build up your rollodex. Once you do that it will make finding a great job that much easier. Jamie Ostrowski wrote: > > Chris, > > Hi, I have been struggling to find entry level Unix/Linux work for a > couple of months now. I recently graduated (in Sept) with a two year AAS > degree in Info Systems Management. When I graduated I knew I wanted to be a > Unix admin. I went to the U of M's tech training center and got my Unix and > C programming certification which was 40 hrs a week for 2 months. With those > qualifications in hand plus about 2 yrs experience working personally with > FreeBSD and Red Hat, I went job hunting. I sent out tons of resumes. I had a > lot of calls from headhunters but as soon as I mentioned that I had no > FORMAL experience...'click'. I have found one possible path to try. I hope > it works. I am currently working for a contracting company but my first > contract is a 3 month customer service deal that kind of sucks, but they are > saying they can get me Unix work eventually if I am willing to stick with > them. What am I going to do? The work sucks but I have no other routes. I > have to hope that they are being upright and will eventually get me in once > I prove I am a good worker. In the meantime I keep working with my Linux > server to ensure I am on top of things. > > Try to look around, but I have been told by EVERYONE that the education > doesn't count for much. They all want experience. Unfortunatly that is a > ridiculous catch 22 situation for you and I. > > I am trying to put up a website that will help others like us in this > situation. I have met a lot of people in this dilemma and I thought it would > be good to help others in the same boat I am in. Good luck with your search. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Chris Opp" <cop7586 at hotmail.com> > To: <tclug-list at mn-linux.org> > Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2001 8:48 AM > Subject: [TCLUG] Entry Level *nix > > > > > > > > > If someone was interested in getting an entry level position with *nix, > how > > does someone who doesnt have a.) experience, and b.) the appropriate > > certifications or education to get the job? Let's take myself for example. > I > > have a B.A. and no certs as of yet. I plan on doing the CCNA within the > next > > 6-12 months from now. I currently use Linux. So, should I got back to > > school and try to get a Masters degree in computer science, or go to a > tech > > school and get a 2 year degree in Unix? Any ideas? > > > > > > Thanks, > > > > Chris > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > > tclug-list mailing list > > tclug-list at mn-linux.org > > https://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list > > _______________________________________________ > tclug-list mailing list > tclug-list at mn-linux.org > https://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list