job search strategies & resumes

[Robert <http://dummy.us.eu.org/robert>]

Re: catching up.  I have no idea.

But, (1) this particular position said at the bottom that UNIX would be nice
(which strikes me as an optional skill) and (2) I always just apply anyway in
the hopes that I get past the gatekeepers.  (#2 works a surprisingly large
amount of the time.  And once you get to talk to a human being, you have a new
contact!, even if you don't get past the phone screen.)

--- Roy Asercion <http://www.yahoo.com/~raser2k3> wrote:
> Robert,
>  
> Thanks for the leads.  I don't have a really strong UNIX/Linux background as
> you.  I have a stronger Cisco background with routers and switches. 
> Unfortunately I'm seeing more positions that ask for strong experience in all
> of the following:  Cisco, UNIX/Linux and Microsoft 2000 and Active directory.
>  How do you catch up with all this in time for a technical interview?  Have
> you had success with your search?  I see lots of contract positions out there
> asking for UNIX/Linux background and even some fulltime positions.  Seems as
> more opportunities are opening up in that area of systems administration.
>  
> Roy A

I don't think there are more UNIX sys admin jobs than before.  I've been
finding that the number of jobs would be growing, except that every time I
call a place, I find that the sys admin dept has been outsourced to
somewhere in the mid-west or India or Hong Kong or somewhere.  I have more
faith in the programming side of things since outsourcing that is more
tricky.  (And, in fact, discovered last week (after sending in my resume
which did _not_ meet the requirements for the position!) that Bank of the
West is anti-outsourcing their jobs -- bringing them back to the U.S.  The
job in question was a UNIX sys admin job.)