I've never had a Linux job before and I'm having a hell of a time changing that. I've been using Linux since 2003, since the very beginning of my career, but I admit I spent a lot of years being too complacent, taking jobs I didn't really want just to keep a roof over my head.
I have actually gotten Linux+ / LPIC-1 certified earlier this year, and am currently studying for RHCSA + RHCE. I've built a ton of personal desktops and servers in my home over the years. But I haven't used JBOSS, ran a billion VMs on VMWare and so forth. Basically I've tried to learn a lot at home for free, but I can't really say I have experience with major enterprise stuff, and I especially can't say I have 5-10yrs exp with it like every job ad I see seems to want.
I'm working a Windows helpdesk currently and have been for several years now (it used to at least appear like my career was going places until things went downhill). I feel trapped at this point. I want out, and I want specifically in to some sort of Jr Linux Admin job (if there is such a thing as junior). I've enjoyed Linux for the past decade and have long wanted to get paid for it. I feel I' probably more comfortable with it at this point than Windows. In all this time I haven't exactly risen very high on that path either (helpdesk, remember). I'm abundantly qualified for desktop support / helpdesk, but "more of the same" is NOT what I want. But trying to make the leap into Linux feels like I have lead feet and everything I've learned so far, nobody seems to care about.
I've been applying places for a while now. Sometimes they actually get back to me or contact me out of the blue, but it quickly fizzles. It's safe to say, though, that nobody is knocking down my door with offers yet. I try not to get too frustrated and it's great I'm at least not unemployed and desperate this time.
But damn it, I know I've got to be worth something, worth more than what I've been doing. I don't expect some $100k job to land in my lap, but come on. I keep seeing the same jobs posted over and over and over again. They don't seem to be filling the very well, but usually they don't deem me worth talking to either, or if so, not for long. So what if I'm not an expert with every criteria they're looking for. I've never seen any job, in any field, at any level, that didn't need some form of training. It's not like I can't learn the rest along the way.
It still baffles me how anyone ever gets a "first Linux job". I know my resume isn't terrible and I don't completely suck at interviews. I've gotten some certs and plan to get more. I've done the "run a server at home" thing many times. Is there some other step I'm missing? Or maybe it's just my area that's so hostile to noobs? (relocation isn't an option though)
To all of who you did manage to get that first job and have gotten to become even more kickass admins since, you are my inspiration. I just wonder why I'm having such a hard time when you guys often make it sound so easy.
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