[TriLUG] hiring linux admins

[Matt Flyer via TriLUG]

Oops, it looks like it did go to the list.  Oh well.

On Fri, 2018-10-12 at 14:34 -0400, Matt Flyer wrote:
> (Not sent to the list).
> 
> Kolanthia,
> 
> As others have said, never underestimate your skills and their value
> to
> a potential employer. I'll give you a personal example.  In the
> position I am in now, my main job is as an electrical engineer.  I
> spent a good portion of my early career doing embedded software
> development and as a hobby and on the side, I have done some web
> programming, primarily in PHP.  I am by no means a web programmer,
> but
> I can kludge together a simple page and even connect to a SQL
> database
> with it.  It may not be graphically elegant like most pages are
> today,
> but it will work.
> 
> My current employer was looking for an electrical engineer, but
> really
> wanted one who could also program PHP, though it wasn't part of the
> official job description.  When asked about it, I gave an honest
> assessment of my skill level. The fact that I could program in it at
> all was a bonus as far as my potential boss was concerned. They
> thought
> they wouldn't be able to find someone with that skill in the pool of
> applicants.
> 
> Also, having XYZ certification is nice, but like most pieces of paper
> it is just a license to start learning.
> 
> Matt 
> 
> 
> 
> On Fri, 2018-10-12 at 13:01 -0400, Kolanthia Gail Edmondson via
> TriLUG
> wrote:
> > 
> > Thanks to everyone for such encouraging and informative words. I
> > really appreciate it.
> > 
> > Kolanthia Gail Edmondson
> > 
> > Sent from my iPhone
> > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > On Oct 12, 2018, at 8:38 AM, John Vaughters via TriLUG <trilug at tr
> > > il
> > > ug.org> wrote:
> > > 
> > > Steve,
> > > That is great advice. I came close to replying as well, but since
> > > I
> > > didn't I will support your statements.
> > > Condensed:
> > > 1) Never let them see you sweat.2) Present your knowledge let
> > > others decide.3) Do not apologize if you do not know you
> > > offended.
> > > I have stories from my career that taught me all these rules as
> > > well. Technical folk often underestimate their skills, and
> > > business
> > > folk often prefer confidence and lack the understanding to sort
> > > through what they perceive lack of confidence.
> > > I will relay one story for item 3. In college I had a professor
> > > that allowed appeal to grades on tests. It had to be in writing
> > > and
> > > it had to present your case for why you felt you should get
> > > additional credit. So I felt wronged on a test and made the
> > > effort.
> > > In the writing I apologized over 10 times for making a mistake.
> > > Technically I had a strong case. My professor felt soooooo
> > > strongly
> > > about my need to apologize, he made a point to share with the
> > > class
> > > why he rejected the plea, but not giving names. He stood in front
> > > of a class of over 100 people and explained if you are trying to
> > > convince somebody that you have a strong case, DO NOT apologize
> > > for
> > > your mistakes in your case. And in this case over 10 times. He
> > > even
> > > read some excerpts while shaking his head. "This is NOT how you
> > > convince", he said. Oh the horror, even though nobody knew but
> > > me.
> > > In fact, I doubt he even knew my face and name as he dealt with
> > > over a thousand students every semester. Maybe he could see me
> > > slinking in my seat, or my eyes wide opened in fear that he may
> > > call my name. It makes you wonder what he thinks as he does these
> > > things. He probably did this on purpose to help technical people
> > > with resolution writing as this is clearly a common issue with
> > > technical folk for the reasons you have outlined.
> > > None the less, it was a great lesson and item 3 got checked. I
> > > never did that again, EVER.
> > > Items 1 & 2 took much more time an experience to understand and
> > > in
> > > item 1 actually build the skill to master.
> > > Thanks for Sharing Steve!
> > > John Vaughters
> > > 
> > > 
> > >    On Friday, October 12, 2018, 1:50:59 AM EDT, Steve Litt via
> > > TriLUG <trilug at trilug.org> wrote:  
> > > 
> > > On Tue, 9 Oct 2018 12:33:33 -0400
> > > Kolanthia Gail Edmondson via TriLUG <trilug at trilug.org> wrote:
> > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > Daniel,
> > > > 
> > > > I am in desperate need of a job. My Unix skills are not as
> > > > strong
> > > > as
> > > > they once were. I have applied. I would like to be in a setting
> > > > like
> > > > this where I can grow. My apologies if this goes to everyone. 
> > > Kolanthia,
> > > 
> > > Please do me 3 favors...
> > > 
> > > 1) Never again say you're desperate for a job. I guarantee you
> > > that
> > >   doesn't make you more desirable. If you're really desperate,
> > > just
> > > be
> > >   accommodating in salary negotiations, but don't tell anyone of
> > > your
> > >   desperation upfront.
> > > 
> > > 2) Never again say you're not strong on any skillset. What you
> > > consider
> > >   "not strong" might be considered "great, knowledgeable
> > > candidate"
> > > by
> > >   an employer. Let the employer make the determination of your
> > >   strength. Don't forget, in the current economy, employers who
> > > really
> > >   want to fill a job cannot insist on 20 years of Javascript with
> > >   Oracle and UMENU.
> > > 
> > > 3) Don't apologize for something and then do it anyway. Truth be
> > > told,
> > >   it would have been fine if it went to everyone, IF you had
> > > shown
> > >   yourself in a better light. That way, hundreds of people would
> > > have
> > >   known you were available.
> > > 
> > > Everyone: If you need a Linux admin, give some consideration to
> > > Kolanthia. She obviously needs to improve her job market
> > > networking
> > > skills and improve her self-confidence, but that in no way means
> > > she
> > > wouldn't be a great Linux admin.
> > > 
> > > By the way, according to
> > > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect ,
> > > it's
> > > entirely possible that she's actually quite skilled but, like
> > > many
> > > skilled people, underestimates her qualifications.
> > > 
> > > 
> > > SteveT
> > > 
> > > Steve Litt 
> > > September 2018 featured book: Quit Joblessness: Start Your Own
> > > Business
> > > http://www.troubleshooters.com/startbiz
> > > -- 
> > > This message was sent to: John Vaughters <jvaughters04 at yahoo.com>
> > > To unsubscribe, send a blank message to trilug-leave at trilug.org
> > > from that address.
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> > > g
> > > Unsubscribe or edit options on the web    : https://www.trilug.or
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