Comment SysAdmin Credentials (Score 2) 112
Basically, you can get by without any official credentials or training, but you need to be good. Knowing unix, you can get a low-end tape monkey job or helpdesk, or other low-end job that requires limited knowledge.
Having a degree or some other paper that says you know what you are doing does help in getting the job, but you can get by in general if you can demonstrate you really do know it. Of course, that depends on the company, too - some companies really want the paper, some are willing to trust your experience, sometimes at lesser pay.
It does make it harder if you don't have previous job experience that indicates you know what you are doing, but again - companies differ in what they are looking for. While it may not be a dream job, a company may just be willing to take that person willing to do the extra work, for a little less pay, to get the experience and then move on.
In my case, I support Solaris and NT mostly, have worked with BSDI, as well as good knowledge of linux, but I had absolutely no official training prior to coming to this job. My current employer has paid to send me to a couple of NT classes, but that's the extant of my training still, and now I'm doing rather well.
The key really is how much you know, how fast you can add to that, how well you can demonstrate it, and whether a company is willing to go with someone who is 'unproven'
In my case, I had the experience, but couldn't really prove it without college training or degrees. (I hadn't even taken a single unix class) What really helped me get around that hurdle, was opting for contract work - a contract agency may take people who are less qualified, or unproven, because they get all sorts of job openings - and that can be a chance to prove yourself. Additionally, a company that might shy away from the 'committment' of hiring an untested person permanent might take them as a contractor. If you work out, the company may then hire you on as fulltime - you've now been proven.
Essentially, it can be done, but companies ARE hesitant to hire someone who hasn't been proven already.
-- Chirik
Unix/NT System Administrator
Having a degree or some other paper that says you know what you are doing does help in getting the job, but you can get by in general if you can demonstrate you really do know it. Of course, that depends on the company, too - some companies really want the paper, some are willing to trust your experience, sometimes at lesser pay.
It does make it harder if you don't have previous job experience that indicates you know what you are doing, but again - companies differ in what they are looking for. While it may not be a dream job, a company may just be willing to take that person willing to do the extra work, for a little less pay, to get the experience and then move on.
In my case, I support Solaris and NT mostly, have worked with BSDI, as well as good knowledge of linux, but I had absolutely no official training prior to coming to this job. My current employer has paid to send me to a couple of NT classes, but that's the extant of my training still, and now I'm doing rather well.
The key really is how much you know, how fast you can add to that, how well you can demonstrate it, and whether a company is willing to go with someone who is 'unproven'
In my case, I had the experience, but couldn't really prove it without college training or degrees. (I hadn't even taken a single unix class) What really helped me get around that hurdle, was opting for contract work - a contract agency may take people who are less qualified, or unproven, because they get all sorts of job openings - and that can be a chance to prove yourself. Additionally, a company that might shy away from the 'committment' of hiring an untested person permanent might take them as a contractor. If you work out, the company may then hire you on as fulltime - you've now been proven.
Essentially, it can be done, but companies ARE hesitant to hire someone who hasn't been proven already.
-- Chirik
Unix/NT System Administrator
