DF5JT - Slashdot User

Finding Linux freaks for work in Europe 3

Submitted by

DF5JT

on Thursday March 06 2008, @07:45AM

DF5JT writes "I am currently on a retainer from a large, multinational Telco Enterprise based in Germany that is 90% based on Open Source Software in its infrastructure. The company runs a number of data centers with more than 50.000 servers and is in desperate need for competent administrators, security engineers, network engineers, programmers and other tech related jobs.

The job market in Germany is full of people with Microsoft certificates, but those with Linux knowledge are impossible to find, since the demand is way higher than the supply. The company is willing to hire savvy people from overseas and sponsor the visa application, but finding these people is the problem. All the regular job pages do not offer me any competent geeks that are willing to relocate to Europe.

Question: How do I reach my target audience. i.e. Linux guys willing to go for an adventure in Europe, learn a new language, appreciate a new cultural experience and broaden their knowledge by working for a high tech company?"

How would you sell Linux?

Submitted by

DF5JT

on Thursday January 04 2007, @12:55PM

DF5JT writes "Imagine: You have at your hand a fully equipped office, a staff of two telesales agents and 3 months to show that Linux in itself is a product that you can sell. Your goal is to penetrate SMBs that usually run Windows on all their servers and desktops and try to convince them that Linux is a veritable alternative, both from a technical and financial side.

How would you do it, who would you talk to and specifically, what would you try to sell them on the phone?

Would you mention Vista and its downsides? Would you mention terms like vendor-lock-in, proprietary standards and Trojan attacks? Or would you stick to Linux' advantages and emphasize Open Source as a development model, costs of licensing and Open Standards?

Tell me your view, because I'd like to learn about your experience, since I have now at my hand a fully equipped office, a staff of two telesales agents and 3 months to show that Linux in itself is a product that I can sell."