Hey everyone! I'm in a bit of a conundrum and could really use some advice from anyone with experience in DevOps or similar fields. My ultimate goal is to transition into DevOps, but I've recently received an offer for a Linux Admin internship/apprenticeship. I'm unsure whether to take it or continue my search for a more direct DevOps position.
Here's some context:
- I have three years of experience in IT support, so I've gained quite a bit of hands-on troubleshooting and system management experience.
- Currently, I'm pursuing a master's in computer science, focusing on practical projects involving Linux, Docker, CI/CD, and automation.
- This Linux Admin role was recommended to me, making it quite accessible, and it includes some DevOps-related tasks like:
- Writing Bash/Python/Ansible scripts
- Automating recurring tasks
- Managing Docker containers
- Utilizing monitoring tools such as Grafana and Telegraf.
I would love to hear your thoughts. Would accepting this Linux Admin position be a good step toward my DevOps aspirations, or would it be better to hold out for a role that's more centered on DevOps?
6 Answers
All these roles—DevOps, Linux Admin, Cloud Engineer—they’re intertwined. Gaining Linux Admin experience will only make you more competent for future DevOps positions.
Take the role! Linux Admin skills are fundamental in DevOps work, and you’ll learn a lot that directly applies to your career goals.
To me, this sounds more like an SRE role, which is also in high demand. So, it’s a fantastic opportunity to build relevant skills.
Accept it! Real Linux skills are rare compared to the coding skills out there, and it’s much easier for an experienced Linux pro to pick up DevOps tools than the other way around.
Definitely take the job! Experience with Linux is crucial in the cloud space, and having that on your resume will open doors for you. As a hiring manager, I can tell you it’s a huge plus.
I appreciate your perspective! I think gaining that professional experience would be a big boost. Although my current projects are Linux-heavy, I worry they're not enough since they aren't in a corporate setting.
I say go for it! The tasks involved sound quite DevOps-related, and it won't hinder your career path. Plus, it's a solid way to build skills that will be valuable down the road.
Thanks for the input! I get worried because I see many peers jumping straight to software or DevOps roles. I want to ensure my next step builds a strong foundation toward DevOps since I've already left my last job to switch careers.
What specific Linux skills do you mean? I feel confident in my Bash skills, but I'm still unsure about more complex internal workings of Linux.