[svlug] (no subject)

[Ian Kluft]

>From: Gordon Vrololjak <gvrdolja at nature.Berkeley.EDU>
>The school I work at has a paid career development program for this year
>and I was considering what classes to take.  I've heard of the RHCE
>program and was wondering if it would be worth my time.  I setup and
>install linux on small servers for labs doing firewalling, web serving,
>email, but I've only trained myself and have had no formal classes.
>
>What classes or programs do you think would be worthwhile to take in the
>bay area?  I'm interested in computer science, particularly programming,
>but I've only trained myself.  I have a bachelor's in Chemistry and
>Geology.
>
>Any recommendations or personal experiences will be greatly appreciated.

The "best" advice is to get such a certification only if you want it.

But then there are some things you might want to consider...  If you
intend to get a job as a programmer or sysadmin on Linux systems, you
may have to show an employer some indication that you know something.
If they have your resume in hand and someone else's, the certification
may keep you in the running long enough to get an interview.  So this
could help beef up a resume if it's lacking for other evidence of your
training in the area.

However, since you seem to be located at UC Berkeley, perhaps you have
other choices in the university's Computer Science Dept which would have
the same effect.

In general, I think these certifications may be useful for someone who
doesn't already have a Computer Science degree or comparable work experience.
It's an indicator that links you to a Linux-related effort.  And hopefully
it's useful as actual training too.  (But the MCSE program has proven that
training can't be taken for granted.  The RHCE program so far seems to
stand apart by requiring a lab exam in addition to the written exam.
So you have to do more than plain memorization to pass.)

Then again, there might be stuff in the curriculum you just want to
learn.  If anything I said conflicts with a want to get the certification,
I won't press the issue.  Go pursue your interests.