Okay, I'll admit it - I'm ambi-system-rous. I can install, tweak, and use both Unix and Windows. So why do all of the jobs suddenly seem to want only one, or a specific picky version on your resume? Haven't people heard of "transferable skills", and RTFM (or learning by doing??) How do they think people learn this stuff in the first place? Not everybody needs to waste their time and money on overpriced "courses" and "certificates".
I've never seen a shop run completely on Unix/Linux (the sales, marketing and finance people become lhopelessly lost if you try) and running file, mail, and web servers on Windows is just plain daft from a security viewpoint.
I learned Windows years ago - I started installing and tweaking Win 3.1 for my colleaugues at an environmental company, where I was an engineer, when they first started using it. I hacked DOS before that, as well as Lotus 123 macros. So why do people insist that you have to have the latest "version" on your resume? Windows configuration has not changed significantly in the ten years since 3.1. If you can set up one Windows (especially 3.x, with all of the driver stuff), you can set them all up.
Then there's the unix variants. Between Solaris, RedHat, Debian, and NetBSD, you pretty much cover all of the oddities that are found in System V and BSD variants. (Add in a little HP-UX and IRIX, and you're more complete). Heck, even Apple OS X is based on a BSD kernel. So why the need for a "specific" version and variant? I didn't know BSD before my last job, but I picked it up fast enough. Why would it be any different with another variant? Every system is a bit different in its setup anyway, depending on what it is supposed to do.
Just once I'd like to see a realistic job ad, written for real people. HR people really need to understand that lifelong learning and adaptability of skills (even in foo, bar, and baz) is far more important than having "current knowledge" of FooX.Y, BarN.MO, and BazAA and a fancy pants degree from an expensive school.
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Posted by ljl at December 27, 2002 11:03 AM | TrackBack