[lug] Greetings

Quentin Hartman qhartman at gmail.com
Tue Sep 10 13:00:21 MDT 2013


I have mixed feelings about certs. In your position, I think they make some
sense because they can be door openers and you're just starting out, but I
don't think they should be viewed as a requirement. I have a list of
(mostly expired) certs as long as my arm that I got early on in my career,
and I'm not convinced any of them ever helped me get a job. Every now and
then I feel like I should renew my existing certs or pick up some of the
other current ones, but once I do a cost/benefit analysis on them, it never
seems like a good investment.

I totally with the need for networking and make real connections with
people. With the exceptions of my first tech job and my current job, every
upward career move I've made has been because of some connection I had, not
because I dropped a resume in the right box at the right time.

QH


On Tue, Sep 10, 2013 at 12:52 PM, David L. Willson <DLWillson at thegeek.nu>wrote:

> I do recommend certification. Absolutely, I do. I've worked very hard to
> help sysadmins get certified.
>
> I was recommending volunteering in addition to getting certified, not
> instead.
>
> And, I think you're doing great.
>
> Would you be interested in leading/teaching a one-day workshop on building
> deb's?
>
> Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Smartphone
>
>
>
> -------- Original message --------
> From: Dominique <dominique.ingoglia at gmail.com>
> Date: 09/10/2013 12:27 PM (GMT-07:00)
> To: "Boulder (Colorado) Linux Users Group -- General Mailing List" <
> lug at lug.boulder.co.us>
> Subject: Re: [lug] Greetings
>
>
> David,
>    Well, I have a little over a year practice with networking (mostly with
> Microsoft but a little with Linux (the phone system)) which was fun,
> particularly troubleshooting and dealing with configuration issues.  I've
> started working with the Debian Science Packaging team over the past month
> or so, figuring out git hub and package building which is really exciting,
> I love working on math and science related projects.  I guess problem
> solving is the major draw for me.... so maybe that's best suited to a
> certain specialization?  analyst? I'm not sure.  My dream job would
> probably be to work on math or science related projects or networks,
> problem solving or creating algorithms... if that makes any sense.
>        At this point though, I have a few more months at the job I am with
> now and would really like to find some kind of position that allows me
> hands on experience in the field... really doing anything at this point.
> So you wouldn't recommend certification really?   I kind of thought that
> would be the case... plus, it would be so much better if I could learn
> while I am helping someone work on their project, somehow feels a bit more
> meaningful...
> Thank you
> Dominique
>
> Sent from my ASUS Pad
>
> "David L. Willson" <DLWillson at TheGeek.NU> wrote:
>
> >Linux needs system administrators (the people that manage servers) and
> programmers (the people that make software) and analysts (the people that
> use software).
> >It probably also needs teachers, documenters, business leaders, and
> therapists. And, many other things. But, I suppose it needs the first three
> most. Maybe in that order.
> >What do you most enjoy doing with Linux, even after several hours? What
> do you think you might like to do with Linux, as a Linux professional?
> >
> >And I'll give you the same old advice I give everyone: Volunteer. You can
> practice and study and get certified all by yourself, but volunteering is
> critical for a relative newbie. It connects you to the REAL social network,
> gives you REAL experience, and REAL people become familiar with your REAL
> work.
> >
> >Nothing on-ramps a free software specialist geek like volunteer work.
> >
> >--
> >David L. Willson
> >Teacher, Engineer, Evangelist
> >RHCE+Satellite CCAH Network+ A+ Linux+ LPIC-1 UbuntuCP NovellCLA
> >Mobile 720-333-LANS(5267)
> >
> >This is a good time for a r3VOLution.
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >> Well hello,
> >>     I'm new to the Boulder Linux community, though I am hoping to get
> >> more involved.  Sadly,  I am unable to attend meetings at this time
> >> since I work during the meet up hours. =(  I've been using Linux for
> >> some time now and have decided that I would like to pursue it more
> >> seriously as a profession... but I don't know where to start!  Every
> >> position that I find seems to require lots of experience, or a degree
> >> in
> >> CS, neither of which I have... So what am I to do?  I figured I might
> >> see if someone here has some advice for me.  I'm not sure if I'm in
> >> the
> >> right place, but I figured I'll ask.  Either way, I am excited to
> >> join
> >> in the conversations!
> >>
> >> Dominique
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >>
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