[TriLUG] Red Hat System Admin class

[Scott Lambdin]

So you have a night free once a week?  ^_^

--Scott


On 11/7/07, Matthew Lavigne <lavigne at thosebastards.net> wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
> > The contents of the exam are in the public domain by definition. The
> > methods by which the exam is administered and evaluated are not. So if I
> > wanted to comment on how to set up automount or some such thing I am
> free to
> > do so but I am silenced when it relates to commenting on the methods
> stated
> > earlier.
>
>
> Completely true, as another one of the people that have taken the RHCE
> track
> and am looking to renew it, I don't care for the NDA but I abide by it
> when
> discussing the exam itself but I have worked with study groups to prepare
> for the test, and the funny thing is that what I preach the most is
> something that has nothing to do with the content of the test but the
> strategy to taking the test which is by far more important.  Teaching
> someone how to setup automount based on the fact that redhat has it as a
> possible on their exam is nothing, getting people to understand the scope
> of
> what they are asking you to do in the RHCT/RHCE section of the exam in 3
> hours is infinitely more difficult because as the saying goes "the devil
> is
> in the details"
>
>
>
>
> So let me posit this: In an industry based on Open Source Software, how
> can
> > I as a hiring manager rely on a closed test that I cannot verify sans
> pass
> > or fail?
> >
> > It appears that I'd be better off interviewing and possibly testing my
> own
> > candidates.
> >
> >
> I agree with you completely here, but someone that shows a valid RHCE/RCHT
> number that checks out will move to the top of my list to be tested, why?
> because I myself know that the first time is the killer and after that is
> gets easier(I hope that is still the case as I prep for my 2nd update).  I
> would expect a candidate with an RHCE to be able to completely and easily
> complete the task that I used to set to my interview candidates; to
> install
> the binary nvidia driver from the command line, including editing and
> configuring the XFree86Config file (or Xorg.conf now).  In the 4 yrs that
> I
> used that as a measure of linux skill/capability I only had 1 person ever
> manage it correctly (and this included a complete setup system, the
> driver,
> and the readme).  That is out of more then about 20 candidates.  That guy
> didn't get hired because of his attitude about the position but his skill
> set was up to snuff.
>
> IF you are interviewing the certification is only an indication, now with
> the RHCE, if you have yours or have had someone explain to you what it
> takes
> to get it, then you are likely to not worry about the basics, because if
> and  RHCE got their certification without knowing the basics thent they
> should have been playing the lottery.
>
>
>
> BTW, the last group that I worked with when studying had only 2 people get
> their RHCE out of 12 in the study group, and the comment that they all
> made
> was that they should have paid closer attention when I was talking about
> the
> strategy of taking the test.
>
> Matthew
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