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Linux Jobs on the Rise
Jan Stafford writes "Looking for a job at LinuxWorld and everywhere else? IT recruiting expert Scot Melland says you have more grounds for optimism than in recent years. In this Q&A, he describes where the jobs are and how much they're paying."
They're referring to set-up and maintenance of Linux workstations, networks, clusters, etc. Unless you're one of Red Hat or the like, yeah, it's pretty difficult to make money developing Linux =P
LinuxWorld preview: Linux jobs on the rise, so do your homework
By Jan Stafford
30 Jul 2004 | SearchEnterpriseLinux.com
IT pros heading to LinuxWorld next week with resumes in hand, or just looking for a job in their hometowns, have more grounds for optimism than in recent years, according to Scot Melland, CEO and president of Dice Inc., a New York City-based firm that provides online recruiting services for technology professionals. If you're doing some last minute homework before hitting the IT street, read on. Just before he headed out to LinuxWorld, Melland shared Dice's research on the current job market and advised how to stand out from the crowd.
Has the job market for IT pros, in general, improved in 2004? What's ahead for the next year?
Scot Melland: The improvement in the IT job market over the past year has been quite dramatic. On Dice.com alone, the number of job postings has more than doubled to approximately 50,000 positions. Hot areas include the defense and financial services industries, as well as the Washington D.C. and New York metropolitan areas. Given the increase in technology spending by corporations during 2004, we expect a steady improvement in the tech job market for at least the next 12-18 months.
Linux skills haven't been in great demand in corporate IT shops in the near past. Is that changing? If so, why?
Melland: It's definitely changing. The number of job postings on Dice.com that required some type of Linux expertise increased 190% over the past year to over 2,200 positions. That's a significant increase. With the support of IBM and Novell, Linux is becoming more mainstream, which is leading to increasing demand from the Fortune 1000.
Where are the hot spots for Linux jobs, in terms of business sectors and geographies?
Melland: From a geographic perspective, California is the clear leader based on our postings. Thirty-two percent of Linux jobs on Dice.com are located in California, followed by New York and New Jersey with 14% and 6%, respectively. The hot spot in terms of function is clearly programming. More than half of the Linux postings on Dice.com are for programming or developer positions.
How much clout does a Linux certification have? Do employers value certifications?
Melland: I wish that I could say that Linux certification carries a lot of clout, but so far it has not taken off the way people expected. Certification doesn't hurt, but what employers are really looking for today is experience. This is true across most technology disciplines. Candidates need to demonstrate that they have "been there, done that" rather than just proving their skills.
How much can IT pros expect to earn in various Linux IT positions?
Melland: So far in 2004, respondents to the Dice Salary Survey who have Linux skills reported earning an average salary of $67,000 (6% higher than the overall average). Contractors and consultants do even better, earning an average salary of $87,000.
Don't IT pros have to have experience in multiple operating systems to be marketable today?
Melland: Not necessarily. It really depends on the level of the job, industry and size of the company. However, the reality is that most companies, and certainly most consulting firms, will find you much more attractive if you have experience with multiple operating systems.
Could you offer some dos and don'ts for Linux experts seeking jobs today?
Melland: I would offer the same advice to Linux professionals as I would other candidates looking to land a great position:
* Make sure your resume demonstrates your experience -- experience sells.
* Be flexible with geography -- the opportunities are out there, but they might not be next door.
* Put as much energy into your job search as you do into your job. If you do, your professionalism will show.
Well, RTFA dude. The article states that the largest number of jobs are for programmers. The point is that having a system adminstrator position is one thing, but most companies using Linux also need some people to write custom applications or to port applications from Windows/Unix/Whatever (TM).
If my answers frighten you, stop asking scary questions.
As a college graduate one year out of school with some minor sys admin experience and a couple years of web dev experience, I haven't exactly been getting many interviews. I've been searching monster, dice, career matrix, michworks, mlive and several other sites, and haven't had much luck.
I guess what I'm trying to say is there aren't many junior linux admin positions open.
it's a real bummer to be unemployed right now.
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You're comparing apples and oranges. Contractors are usually paid by the hour or by the job, so there's is no real "salary" since they get paid more when they work long hours, but don't get paid when they're sick or on vacation, ymmv. Also in USA, if they're contracting through a body shop, they might still get some health insurance and other benefits above their rate.
"Consultant" can mean anything: an hourly contractor who calls themself consultant to look more sexy, a salaried employee of a contract shop who's called a consultant so the shop can charge more, or a real consultant who gets paid by the hour or job just like real contractors.
This being Dice, I'm guessing most contractors and consultants are hourly contractors working through body shops. These folks will convert their hourly rate to "salaries" using formulas that makes them look richer, so they can feel good about their choice of career path.
FTR, I worked as an hourly contractor for most of my career and was happy about it. I used the formula 1600*hourly-rate to convert to annual salary. This accounted for extra health insurance costs, lower taxes, sick days, planned and instant vacations, and retirement fund.
Really. So what exactly did Bill Gates mean when he wrote this:
An Open Letter to Hobbyists
Time makes more converts than reason
And that firewall is usually running...ding, ding, ding...Linux.
Click here or here.
from http://imdb.com/title/tt0093779/quotes: [Vizzini has just cut the rope The Dread Pirate Roberts is climbing up] Vizzini: HE DIDN'T FALL? INCONCEIVABLE. Inigo Montoya: You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
Yes, the contracting rate is a lot better than the salary rate. The catch is that you have to be good. Plan on it being at least double. If you've done impressive work and have good clients, you'd better be making a lot more.
Salary benefits and what not adds up to about $10-15K per year tops. That's with a 2 week vacation.
So yes, the contracting rate is far, far better than what you can do with just a piddling salary. Anyone who tells you otherwise isn't at the top of their field.