10 Skills Needed for a Top Linux Systems Administrator

A Linux administration job is one of the most lucrative job opportunities in the job market these days – with less supply than demand and evolving enterprises looking for IT experts who can manage their Linux systems. In a recent survey titled “The 2013 Linux Jobs Report” by Linux Foundation and Dice, it was revealed that among 2600 Linux professionals, at least 100 said they were receiving job offers while already being on the job, with 35% planning to hop companies within the coming year.

However, the demand is not just for any IT professional, rather Linux-savvy administrators. The reason behind this is that with the introduction of the Cloud Linux and the widespread use of Linux from mobile phones to large enterprises, it was only inevitable that all these systems would need people to manage them. To get on the bandwagon, you need to have at least a few skills related to Linux, 10 of which are listed below. It should be mentioned that these requirements are the most common among hiring managers, and most companies around the world more or less requires the same list of qualifications before you can apply.
The 10 important skills that Linux administrators must possess are:
1. While specific knowledge is a boon, most hiring managers require that you possess basic knowledge about all aspects of Linux. For example, a little knowledge about Solaris, BSD, nginx or various flavors of Linux never hurt anyone!
2. Knowledge in at least one of the upper tier scripting language is a must. You have options before you, for instance, Python, Perl, Ruby or more, but you need to make yourself proficient in at least one of them.
3. Experience is welcome, but you at least need to have some hands-on experience of system management, system setup and managing Linux or Solaris based servers as well as configuring them.
4. Knowledge in shell programming and architecture is valued very much in the job market. If you know Buorne or Korn well, you can even score a high-paying salary with minimal experience.
5. Storage technologies like FC, NFS or iSCSI is great, while knowledge regarding backup technologies is a must for a system administrator.
6. Knowledge in testing methodologies like Subversion or Git is definitely a plus, while knowledge of version control is also an advantage.
7. You need to know the basics of configuration management tools like Puppet and Chef to present yourself with confidence in front of the interviewer.
8. Skills with system and application monitoring tools like SNMP or Nagios are also important, as they show your ability as an administrator in a team setting.
9. Knowing how to operate virtualized VMWare server is also a great skill to boast in your resume.
10. And last but not least, an ITIL Foundation certification will all but secure your employment in any company looking for a capable and qualified Linux system administrator.