Linux fan from Manchester seeks advice

Jon maddog Hall maddog at li.org
Thu Feb 24 08:12:01 EST 2005


James,

jim.sheldon at gmail.com said:
> I don't have any friends or family in the business, and my professors that I
> had for my UNIX courses in school won't respond to my emails.

As a graduate of the University of Massachusetts you should still have access
to the graduate placement office.  While the professors that taught you Unix
at the school may or may not have ready knowledge of companies looking for
UNIX-trained people, the graduate placement office should.  A lot of
universities keep this open to alumni.  Companies go to the office and are
looking for graduates, who by very definition may have a lot of knowledge in
something, but not much experience.  Your experience in windows, in contracting
and on the help desk will put you ahead of most of the graduates, even if
your knowledge of Unix has been learned mostly on your own with little "real
world" experience.

Since this is approaching the time of year that most companies start thinking
about hiring college graduates, the graduate offices should be getting "fresh
meat" into their files.  You have another advantage in that you are available
immediately, instead of having to wait until June.

You should go down to the offices in Lowell and ask to speak to a counselor,
then see if they will give you access to the files for people looking for
CS/CE degree students, and particularly those that ask for skills in Unix and
Linux.  Then send in some resumes to these companies along with a cover letter
explaining your history and career goals.

The University may also be planning, or know of, job fairs (multiple companies
looking for graduates) in the near future.

Since you live in Manchester, I would also stop in to some of the more local
Universities and look at the bulletin boards outside the job placement offices
and the computer science offices.  Technically speaking their alumni offices
won't offer you any help since you are not a graduate of their school, but
job postings on publically available bulletin boards are fair game in my book.

Finally, be aware that a lot of companies may treat you as a "new graduate"
with respect to salary.  They may low-ball you for the first six to nine
months, with a review and salary adjustment after that time.  If you are good
and aggressive (you go after and get your LPICs, for example), you will be
where you should be in salery at the end of a year.

>I don't have any friends or family in the business

Sure you do, you just haven't met us yet.

Warmest regards,

maddog
-- 
Jon "maddog" Hall
Executive Director           Linux International(R)
email: maddog at li.org         80 Amherst St. 
Voice: +1.603.672.4557       Amherst, N.H. 03031-3032 U.S.A.
WWW: http://www.li.org

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