[ILUG] Linux/UNIX certification

[Gareth Eason]

	   Hi,

	I think there is some over-optimism on channel regarding this. My 
attitude would be that if you can get some certification, get it. It 
almost doesn't matter what it is, provided it's from a reasonably well 
recognised body.

	I would politely suggest that anyone who claims that certification 
(bits of paper) doesn't matter when looking for a job clearly has not 
gone looking for a job recently (in the past 3 years, say.) I totally 
agree that when on the job, it's experience that counts, not the paper. 
However, to get to the interview where you're talking to people who 
realise this, and can evaluate your experience in some useful / relevant 
fashion, you first have to get past HR - and possibly past an  agency.

	As one personal example (I've heard many more similar examples from 
other people) I was completely refused an interview for a mixed 
win32/*NIX environment job because I didn't have an MSCE! Despite me 
pointing out that I had been using MS products extensively since DOS 
2.10, and having written training courses and trained people who do have 
MSCEs (and other qualifications which I regard as actually meaningful), 
the HR Drone was adament that having an MSCE was a requirement for the 
job. As it turns out, I almost certainly didn't want the job - but 
hopefully this illustrates the point that 'bits-of-paper'(tm) do have 
their uses... granted, only because of the lack of understanding in HR 
and recruitment agencies (or the poor specifications given to 
HR/agencies by the technical managers regarding employee requirements!)

	I'm currently working through the material to do an RHCE - not because 
I don't know about RedHat Linux (and/or many other flavours) - but 
because it's about a billion times easier to just say to some HR drone, 
"Yes - I must know Linux because I have an RHCE. Next inane question 
please..." ;-)

	Best regards,
	-->Gar


Thomas Bridge wrote:
> On Thu, Feb 17, 2005 at 11:04:44AM +0000, thomas thumb wrote:
> 
> 
>>Looking for a few opinions on Linux/UNIX certification.
>>Firstly. If I apply for a system admin job in your company, would a
>>cert influence you in any way? Are they a waste of time? Is experience
>>all that counts?
> 
> 
> Unless the company has a requirement for a particular certification (I don't
> know about Linux, but Cisco partners must have a certain number of CCNAs,
> CCNPs and CCIEs) certification might get you the interview but would probably
> not get you the job unless you could back it up with real life experience.
> 
> 
>>Secondly, Which would influence you more, a red hat or a solaris
>>qualification? I know people are going to say red hat for a linux job,
>>solaris cert for a solaris job but if I had a solaris cert and went
>>for a linux job would it help and vice-versa?
> 
> 
> Either - I'd expect Unix/Linux skills to be reasonably portable accross
> the variations.
> 
> 
>>And thirdly if I went for a unix development job in your company would
>>a unix admin cert help my application? Would I be more likely to get
>>an interview?
> 
> 
> Development is different - if you mean writing code.    I wouldn't pay
> much attention to system admin abilities in that situation, though having
> some awareness of systems practices is still an asset,
> 
> Thomas
>