:O'Reilly Network: The Linux Professional - Why Certify?
O'Reilly Network: The Linux Professional - Why Certify? Feb 26, 2000, 01 :19 UTC (3 Talkback[s]) (7312 reads) (Other stories by Jeff Dean)
"Until recently, few resources were available for those interested in the Linux job
market. However, web sites such as jobs.linux.com and jobs.linuxtoday.com,
along with a number of technical jobs databases, are making a Linux job search
much easier. Of course, with wide media coverage, wild stock successes, and
preinstalled Linux systems available from major manufacturers, Linux is no longer
an obscure operating system, and more jobs are sure to follow. Coupling this
with a worldwide shortage of IT talent, we could make a case that the Linux job
market will eventually be a piece of cake for even the most inexperienced
candidates among us. It seems, on the surface at least, that differentiating
yourself from the other candidates for Linux-related positions may not be
necessary...."
"Right now, we can probably say that Linux is also a specialty, but in the future we'll probably see a shift in
that thinking, and Linux will become a commodity product too. I hope that good Linux mentors will be
around to develop future talent. However, we're likely to see a surge in demand for Linux employees and a
complementary increase in the Linux training and certification market. The result may be a job market
similar to the present one for MCSEs. With a bunch of resumes floating around HR departments, each with
a Linux certification proudly displayed, what will become of resumes lacking that stamp of approval?"
"So just what does it mean to be "Linux certified"? Unix certification programs have existed for some time,
mainly provided by Unix vendors. Neutral certifications have been a goal, but are also a hotly debated
topic. The System Administrator's Guild, an arm of the USENIX Association, is laying the groundwork for a
vendor-neutral and OS-neutral certification program, but it's a long way off. Time will tell if such a
certification will serve the needs of commodity Linux deployment."
