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Would being a Linux "power user" increase my chances of getting a job in IT/tech?

I’m trying to get a job in IT that will (hopefully) pay more than a usual 9 to 5. I’m been daily driving Linux exclusively for about 2 1/2 years now and I’m trying to improve my skills to the point that I could be considered a so-called “power user.” My question is this: will this increase my hiring chances significantly or marginally?

possiblylinux127 ,

What is a usual 9 to 5?

MajorHavoc ,

Yes. Yes it does.

Look for job listings that require command line Linux skill.

Three candidate pool who can get around on a Linux command prompt is growing, but it’s still pretty small. It gives you some advantage toward networking, Cybersecurity, systems administration, and cloud deployment.

electricprism ,

Power User is a term invented by Microsoft but we get the idea

originalucifer ,
@originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com avatar

were takin it back .

BodilessGaze ,

It depends on the role. My first job was doing manual QE on Windows, and knowing Linux wasn’t much help at the time, but it did help me transition to a coding role in the same company a year later. I’m now doing platform engineering at a major tech company, but that has a high barrier to entry, which I suspect is the case for most roles that are Linux-focused. If you’re trying to get your foot in the door, I think you should look at job profiles for low barrier to entry roles (e.g. tech support) and try to work your way up.

ByteOnBikes ,

Depends. It/tech is a massive space so not certain if you’re applying to tech support or like server architecture. So some specifics would be nice.

One thing to point out:

I thought I was a freaking wiz kid at Windows because I knew about the registry and how to modify settings. But then I learned a lot of the “hacks” on the internet are bad for the enterprise.

On Linux, it’s even worse, with so many blog posts recommending sudo this, and install this app that. And if you don’t have a background of WHY, you can do a lot of damage. And with AI, it’s even worse. So many bash script kiddies asking AI to write the ugliest code I ever seen.

Now that Im a senior engineer, I realize I know nothing and leave much of the IT space to trained professionals.

scytale ,

This is very good insight and something that no one else touched on. OP if you see this, while being a power user on your personal linux machine does help with skills and getting you jobs, it’s still very different from administering an enterprise linux machine in a corporate environment. One thing you can do is set your own homelab and mini environment at home. This will get you more experience with actual administration and will be a great asset to disclose in interviews.

delirious_owl ,
@delirious_owl@discuss.online avatar

God help me if I ever end up with someone who just copies and pastes commands from chatgpt into a server

adespoton ,

When I got into IT, I had years of experience with Mac OS, UNIX, a bit of IRIX and VMS, BSD and even a bit of Linux.

And then I spent 10 years mostly managing a Windows shop. I still ran OpenBSD on the internal support servers, but had to support a full Microsoft stack for anything customer-facing.

What will increase your hiring chances is being adaptable and having a portfolio of success stories to reference during interviews.

Vinny_93 ,

I’m in data engineering and that market is dominated by Microsoft. Understanding an os is essential if you’re, say, a sysadmin.

I’d recommend looking into some certifications. Some businesses are very sensitive to those.

1984 ,
@1984@lemmy.today avatar

Depends what you mean with a job in tech. If you want to work as technical problem solver or programmer, then it’s very useful, almost required.

wargreymon ,

absolutely… you know servers are mostly linux right?

NeoNachtwaechter ,

the point that I could be considered a so-called “power user.”

There is no certain point. Power user is a rather vague description. It still includes “user” as opposed to admin or developer or guru etc.

If vague is good enough in your area, go for it. Otherwise look for a more formal qualification.

Good luck.

cyberpunk007 ,

Probably not. I guess it depends what you want to do in IT. And the org. Some orgs use a lot of Linux, and Linux is a whole different ball game at the enterprise level. It’s not just knowing about Linux, but how to properly manage, secure, and patch it at scale.

It might also depend on if you have previous IT experience. If you’ve got a ton of previous experience it could help.

utopiah ,

Yes if

  • the environment you would work on is Linux based, obviously (which it often is when servers are involved, even with Microsoft due to Azure cloud and containers)
  • you master the command line, i.e you know a bit of e.g bash, can write your own scripts that do basic functions
  • you understand how the OS works, i.e permissions, services, package managers, etc

but not really if you are mostly clicking through buttons of the window manager and/or would work in a Microsoft environment with its own set of tools, conventions, etc.

Which brings up obvious suggestions :

  • do improve your mastery of the command line
  • apply to jobs that put Linux forward (but that might bias to a sysadmin position, which might not be what you prefer)
massive_bereavement ,

I had a job offered based on the fact that if you know bash, you can translate that to powershell, as translating knowledge is easier than learning from scratch.

utopiah ,

Makes sense to me. I would also assume that if one can program in bash they can program in pretty much anything. Yes it will take some time to adapt but a lot less than somebody who can’t program in any language in any environment.

That being said, I would advise against starting in an environment that is possibly alienating and exclusive. Microsoft does everything it can in order to lock-in users but also developers. They find bridge, like PowerShell or WSL, then IT relies on certifications specific to their ecosystem. So if OP is fine with such practices they could start there but I’d suggest to keep that only if more direct alternatives are not available.

digdilem ,

True. Learning your first programming language (or scripting language) is usually the hardest.

flamingo_pinyata ,

Specifically for a job of Linix sysadmin, probably yes. If you can afford it do a certification, it will help you stand among other candidates with no work experience.

For other IT jobs it’s not so relevant. Linux is technically on the servers but the infrastructure is hidden from you by multiple levels of abstraction.

kionite231 ,

I had the same question. I have rather good understanding of Linux and command line however at my job where Ubuntu is used other people easily caught up with me. They still don’t know much about what exactly a command does but they know when to run it so IMO it doesn’t matter how much Linux you know the only knowledge matters which you could use to have your job done quickly and efficiently.

hawgietonight ,

If your goal is to make yourself more valuable to employers/clients the best path is to specialize in some critical and niche enterprise tech. People that are good at stuff businesses were lured into using get paid very well. In my case it was SharePoint, but that’s just an example.

Knowing your way around the OS is taken for granted in these positions, so you have one piece of the puzzle, which is great, but you need the other pieces.

But be careful, if I have to choose between two experts, one with basic win+linux and the other only linux, I’m choosing the former.

dino ,

Very bad advice, getting your niche might pay off for a certain job in a certain time period and makes you clueless and worthless in any other job other timeframe.

Rather focus on general overview and tools instead. I can imagine how you brain is melting away dealing your whole work day with only sharepoint, rofl.

hawgietonight ,

Well, it was addressing the pay issue, and it is the most secure path to higher paid position fast. Moving on to new stuff comes naturally and the industry will push you to their next hotness, so not really a problem.

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