Date: Fri, 2 Jul 2004 19:24:25 -0400 From: Bill Vermillion <bv@wjv.com> To: Nicole <nicole@unixgirl.com> Cc: freebsd-jobs@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Resourceful BSD/Linux Network Administrator Message-ID: <20040702232425.GB11501@wjv.com> In-Reply-To: <XFMail.040702105654.nicole@unixgirl.com> References: <200407020926.31217@cmav> <XFMail.040702105654.nicole@unixgirl.com>
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Ashes to ashes, and DOS to DOS Nicole was heard to say on or about Fri, Jul 02, 2004 at 10:56 : > On 02-Jul-04 My Homeland Security Spies reported that Lee Crites > said: > > On Friday July 2 2004 04:12, Paul Robinson wrote: > >> Translation: we're going to work you like a dog and not > >> apologise for it or even thank you for dealing with the > >> chaotic sh**hole that is our company. Also, note the lack of > >> details relating to remuneration. So they're going to pay you > >> close to nothing to boot. And it requires you to move to New > >> Jersey! [deletia ...] > I see it as someone who is trying to fill a position and is > perhaps using the "are you up for a challenge" approach. Are you > good enough? That sort of thing. Yes this may scare off a few > people who will not read it that way but it sounds like he's a > bit frustrated. The last time I had to hire someone out of 300 > applications NONE ran a BSD or any other Nix box at home. As far > as they were concerned if it wasn't in their colleges lab, or at > their last employer it didn't exist. Many said or implied "If > the company expects me to learn something then they will teach > me or send me to school or at the very least buy my books or > training manuals." Ask them if they read up on things and yes > many will say, "well I read slash dot." (see above) I've worked with some HW support companies at places were I do sometimes admin work. Several of the techs have said "I'm going to have spend a few hours and learn Unix". They seem to think it's like learning some of the MS products that have books like "Learn xxx in 24 hours". And the term 'training manuals' to me implies the approach that trade-schools use. It's the subtle difference between being taught and being educated. The former tells you what to do step by step - and woe be unto you the day you come across something that you've not been taught the keystrokes for. The latter means understanding so that no matter what the problem you can figure out how to solve it and make things work again. I've been an outside consultant where a company hired a new grad and sent them off to a school to learn what they needed. None of them seemed to understand the system - just how to do certain things. I think it's a symptom of the modern education systems where people are taught to pass tests and are not educated in the field of their choice. Sorry for being cynical but I've seen too many who just can't cut it. And if you know how to read and understand things - then there is almost nothing you can't do. My biggest challenge was when I had less than 1/2 hour of being inside a Cisco 2501 - the people I was working for got a contract that required a DS3 and not the T1. I was given a 150 pound 7513 and had 8 days to get it up and running, migrate from one provider to another, and handle the big system remotely. After I was done they picked it up in a truck, moved it 20 miles, and plugged it in. I was able to get in via a fresh T1 but the DS3 wouldn't come up. This was the very first time I had configured FR and I missed one sub-parameter on the interface. Once that was done it worked. You don't learn things like that in books - you understand what has to be done - and do it. As I get older I'm getting more cynical. :-) > No we are Admins. Most managers could not give a crap what we > run as long as it works. BSD admins are a special breed however > I will give you that. We're picky. -- Bill Vermillion - bv @ wjv . com
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