[CentOS] Job opportunities for Linux. [OT]

Fri Aug 19 19:16:13 UTC 2005
Bryan J. Smith <b.j.smith at ieee.org>

duffmckagan <mckagan at gmail.com> wrote:
> I am currently into Engineering, and I am working slowly on
> my Knowledge / Know-How of Linux.
> I am eager to know about the Job Opportunities for people
> who have considerably good knowledge in Linux. This thought
> has popped up in my mind, due to the reason that I was
> watching out my Local LUG, and somebody quoted
like..."There
> aren't much Job Opportunities for Linux Knowledge compared
> to the Knowledge based on Microsoft Software. Linux
> won't fetch you those fat salaries that Microsoft would
> offer, so unfortunately, you don't get what you deserve,
> with Linux, as the basic concept lies in Free Stuff."

I guess they haven't seen the salary surveys as well as
number of jobs for qualified Linux people.  But many people
are ignorant of the fact that UNIX existed before Linux, a
UNIX-like system, so they dismiss Linux (because they have
already dismissed/ignored UNIX).

UNIX sysadmins have always led Windows sysadmins in
compensation in ever single salary study I've seen.  In many
cases, Linux admins are lower than UNIX admins, but still
much higher than Windows admins.  I want to say the last one
I saw was IDG, but even the IEEE has started to query IT
professionals too.

Ironically, in the "TCO game," most companies respond that
the ratio of UNIX admins is increasing due to Linux admins. 
But the number of UNIX/Linux admins per system is still lower
(i.e., more systems per UNIX/Linux admin), which ends up
being "cheaper."  I.e., the total aggregate salary for
UNIX/Linux sysadmins for the same number of systems is lower
than Windows sysadmins, but because UNIX/Linux sysadmins can
administer more systems per employee, the higher pay rate is
easily justified.

Personally, regardless of whether I'm coming in as a network
architect, sysadmin, Solaris guru, MCSE, etc..., the #1 thing
that is on the mind of every single employer is my Linux
background because 97% of enterprises are adopting Linux,
over 40% in the datacenter.  It might not be en masse or to
the level of sales of Windows, but in growth of units, that's
what drives hires.

Because companies are suddenly finding out they have Linux,
but they don't have the resources to support not only what
they have -- but what they must adopt in the near future.  I
haven't seen Linux professionals go unhired because of lack
of jobs, only lack of experience.


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