[ale] Credentials (wuz: [Semi-OT] Networking Equipment)

[Lightner, Jeff]

RedHat certification seems to actually mean something.   You do NOT pass the tests without being able to troubleshoot.

I can't tell you the number of "certified" UNIX Admins I've met that couldn't figure out which way is out in a dark room with sunlight shining in a doorway.  In my UNIX career experience has always outweighed degrees and certifications.   I suspect that may change for Linux over time.  However, the speaker AUUG regularly has from TekSystems has said that most employers still view that as a "nice to have" rather than a necessity when looking for Linux folks.





-----Original Message-----
From: ale-bounces at ale.org [mailto:ale-bounces at ale.org] On Behalf Of Leam Hall
Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2011 4:09 PM
To: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts
Subject: [ale] Credentials (wuz: [Semi-OT] Networking Equipment)

On 11/30/2011 03:49 PM, Michael B. Trausch wrote:
> On 11/30/2011 03:46 PM, Leam Hall wrote:
>> To tie this back to the original topic, it behooves the poster to think
>> through what they want to learn networking for. If it's to deepen their
>> knowledge then there's one path. For resume building, it's another.
>
> Understandable.  I just (well, for the most part) ignore the latter.  I
> probably shouldn't, but frankly I don't have the money to add tons of
> sets of acronyms to my "credentials".  I know what I know, I know how to
> learn, and I know my way around most any computer system I can get my
> hands on.
>
> After all, nobody needs me to have a hundred obsolete certifications in
> order to actually get things done...
>
>       --- Mike

A slightly funny and relevant story, though it's a bit old. I'm up at
Linux World many years ago, before it became infested with suits. I'm
scoping out the NetBSD table and trying to get a little SWAG. Guy comes
up and asks "What's the difference between working on this and doing
Microsoft?"

"Twelve thousand dollars." Was my answer. Never let the peanut gallery
hang around without giving them swag.

His eyes got wide. "It costs that much?"

"No." I relied. "This is free. However, the average person who works on
Solaris/BSD/Linux earns about twelve thousand dollars more per year than
the same person working on Microsoft products."

Given the rise of Ubuntu I'm at the point of thinking that the LPIC
certs are worth about 30% - 50% of an RHCE. I can assure you that those
four cute Red Hat letters on my resume get attention and have materially
affected my hires and salary. They have gotten me the attention I needed
to show how good I am in person at the console.

Whether or not someone has the creds doesn't affect their skill. It can
significantly affect their life, though. If I were starting over I'd do
the same thing, but sooner.

Leam

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