Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator: Ariel Jolo

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The Linux Foundation offers many resources for developers, users, and administrators of Linux systems. One of the most important offerings is its Linux Certification Program. The program is designed help you differentiate your job skills in a competitive market.

How well does the certification prepare you for the real world? To illustrate that, the Linux Foundation will be featuring some of those who have recently passed the certification examinations. These testimonials may help decide if either the Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator or the Linux Foundation Certified Engineer certification is right for you. In this latest installment of our continuing series, we talk with Ariel Jolo, who recently became a Certified System Administrator.

How did you become interested in Linux and open source?

I have a cousin who’s been a Linux user since the early 1990’s, so I’ve heard of it and its wonders for quite a long time. In 2001, my PC got infected with the Sircam virus so I decided to install Linux (because I heard it was “immune” to viruses), but I didn’t have any idea of what I was doing at that time.

What Linux Foundation course did you achieve certification in? Why did you select that particular course?

I took the LFCS because it was my first certification. I had no idea what to expect regarding preparation and the exam itself.

What are your career goals? How do you see Linux Foundation certification helping you achieve those goals and benefiting your career?

I like learning new things and new technologies. In order to take the certification I had to prepare myself in some areas I haven’t got the chance to study before and that has helped me in my daily tasks ever since I took the exam.

What other hobbies or projects are you involved in? Do you participate in any open source projects at this time?

Since 2009, I have organized AdminFest, the Argentinian chapter of the SysAdmin Appreciation Day, and in 2012 I created sysarmy, the Argentinian SysAdmin Community, which has become the biggest of its kind. We have many projects like our own technical Q&A site (sysarmy –help) or our classifieds site, Chownealo (“Chown it”). We have also created a technical event called nerdear.la, where the idea is for attendees to use it as a co-working environment and ask for (or give) help to other fellow professionals.

Do you plan to take future Linux Foundation courses? If so, which ones?

Yes, I’d like to take the LFCE course.

In what ways do you think the certification will help you as a systems administrator in today’s market?

The market in BA is really hot and lots of companies are hiring aggressively. Having a certification makes it easier for you to show what your skills are when you go to an interview and also helps you to increase your chances as a candidate.

What Linux distribution do you prefer and why?

Slackware. I’ve been using it for over 10 years now, and I have a hard time using any other distribution. It’s really simple and straightforward, it’s robust, and it has everything I need.

Are you currently working as a Linux systems administrator? If so, what role does Linux play?

Yes, I’ve been working at MuleSoft for almost two years now, and Linux is key since all of our infrastructure runs on it.

Where do you see the Linux job market growing the most in the coming years?

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I think the Startup market is growing really fast and they all need people to set up and maintain their infrastructure. It’s cool to see how companies are trying to generate awareness of the importance of our role, because they know there are not enough professionals and they want to help new people to enter the market.

What preparation advice would you give those considering certification?

Try to solve problems without googling or asking online. Nobody knows all the options and switches but they are there, in the –help and the man pages; it’s a good exercise to get used to work offline as a preparation for the exam.