Brief: In this guide, we explore reasons why you should consider a career in Linux in 2024 and beyond.

Linux turned 31 last year, as you can imagine it’s been an eventful journey. It grew from a pet project under the stewardship of Linus Torvalds, who became known as the Father of Linux, to become one of the most widely adopted operating systems by IT professionals, small and medium businesses, and large enterprises.

Nowadays, Linux is everywhere. Chances are you own a device running a Linux or Linux-based OS. Android OS, the system that primarily runs in most smartphones, tablets, and other smart devices is based on Linux. In fact, Android leads with 71.9% in the mobile OS market share followed by iOS with 27.4%.

According to Canonical, more than 96.4% of server applications are on Linux. In Public clouds such as AWS and Azure, 90% of the workloads are powered by Linux, with Ubuntu being the most widely used Linux distribution.

It also powers about 40% of all the websites whose operating systems are known. The percentage of professional developers running Linux as their preferred OS stands at 47%. These are just a few usage statistics that highlight the importance of Linux not only in the tech industry but also in our daily lives.

So, Should you consider taking up a career? A big YES.

There is a massive demand for Linux talent and it shows no signs of slowing down. IT professionals with Linux skills are among the most sought-after candidates today. And it doesn’t stop there. Being a Linux professional will open doors for you in some of the fastest-growing and in-demand IT careers such as Cloud computing, Data Science, DevOps, CyberSecurity, and software engineering, to name a few.

According to the 2021 9th Annual opensource jobs report by Linux Foundation and EdX, Linux came second as the most in-demand skills, preceded only by Cloud skills.

In addition, a vast majority of AWS, Azure, and GCP instances run Linux, which makes it clear why you cannot fully understand the foundations of the Cloud without having strong Linux knowledge.

There are countless examples of other technologies such as IoT, AI, and networking that rely on Linux. The point here is that if you intend to build a career in modern technology, you will definitely need a solid understanding of Linux skills.

How to Go About a Career in Linux System Administration?

With these revealing statistics showing how widespread Linux is as you progress up the IT career ladder, it's evident that earning a Linux certification should be a top priority as you plan for your future.

So how do you get started with Linux? Let’s find out.

Part I: Getting Linux Certified

If you're looking to kick start your career as a Linux Administrator, getting certified by a reputable Professional Institute is what will give you the competitive edge. A Linux certification course is comprehensive and equips you with both theoretical and hands-on experience in Linux.

There are Linux certification exams for all skill levels – from beginners to Engineers. As a beginner, there are many options available. Here are some of the certifications you should consider.

LPI (Linux Professional Institute)

LPI (Linux Professional Institute) is a global certification standard and career support organization for open-source IT professionals. It offers the following Linux courses starting from Junior to Senior level.

• LPIC-1: Junior-Level Linux Administration
• LPIC-2: Pro-Level Linux Administration
• LPIC-3: Senior Linux Administration

Linux Foundation Certifications

Linux Foundation is a non-profit consortium aimed at promoting and growing Linux while accelerating its commercial adoption. The foundation was formed through a merger between Open Source Development Labs and the Free Standards Group.

For IT professionals seeking to get started with Linux, here are a few courses that will come in handy:

• Linux Foundation Certified IT Associate (LFCA)
• Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS)

Red Hat Linux Certifications

Earning Red Hat certifications is another way to boost your IT career and make yourself more attractive in a dynamic and competitive job market.

At a beginner level, you can start with the following Red Hat Linux certifications.

• Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA)
• Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE)

Afterward, you can advance your skills by taking the following courses which range from intermediate to advanced levels.

• Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA)
• Red Hat Certified Engineer in Red Hat OpenStack
• Red Hat Certified Enterprise Microservices Developer
• Red Hat Certified Specialist in Security: Linux
• Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Automation
• Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift Administration

We’ve written the certification preparation guides on RHCSA and RHCE.

Part II: Getting Acquainted with Interview Questions

After acquiring the right set of skills and getting certified, the next step would be to start applying for a Linux job. Admittedly, a candidate with a Linux certification has a better chance of landing a job, even in technical roles.

This is because they have gained additional expertise and are certified in managing and administrating an operating system that dominates the IT industry.

Interviews are typically the gateway to any job, and a Linux job is no different. When it comes to technical roles, hiring managers will usually assess both the theoretical and practical knowledge of the potential candidate.

With that in mind, here are some of the most commonly asked questions in Linux interviews that will give you a heads-up on what to expect during the interview.

Part III. Job Responsibilities

As a Linux Administrator or in whatever career path you've chosen within Linux, you will be responsible for diagnosing, troubleshooting, and resolving various hardware and OS-related issues. Additionally, you'll often collaborate with other professionals such as network and database administrators.

Conclusion

Demand for Linux remains exceptionally high and is expected to grow further in the coming years due to the increasing number of technologies requiring Linux expertise. If you're considering a career in Linux, then obtaining a Linux certification is the first step toward launching your career.

We have provided a roadmap of the Linux beginner courses and certification authorities that will help you get certified and offer guidance as you climb the IT career ladder.

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