So, you want a top-notch technology job? You should be polishing up your open-source software skills.
Dice and The Linux Foundation have found that open-source jobs are hot.
Dice, a leading tech career company and the Linux Foundation have just published the 2016 Open Source Jobs Report. They found that 65 percent of HR managers say open-source hiring will increase more than any other part of their business over the next six months. At the same time, 79 percent of hiring managers have increased incentives to hold on to their current open- source employees.
They're right. I have been to numerous technology trade shows this year. At every one -- from CES to the OpenStack Summit -- I've seen companies looking for open-source talent. Indeed, I've seen more companies searching for new employees than I have businesses standing pat.
It's not just companies outside the Linux world that are looking for open-source pros. The Linux distributor SUSE, for example. is currently seeking to fill 102 new job openings. They're looking for OpenStack developers; distributed storage software engineers, Docker specialists, and senior Linux developers. Other businesses that rely on Linux, such as Canonical. Red Hat, IBM, and Oracle, are also looking outside for Linux and open-source experts.
Dice and the Linux Foundation state, "Recruiting open-source talent is a top priority for hiring managers focused on recruiting technology talent, and recruiters are increasingly looking for more professional training credentials from their candidates."
That's a big reason groups, such as The OpenStack Foundation, are now offering certifications like Certified OpenStack Administrator (COA). Even Microsoft -- yes Microsoft -- is getting into the act with its own Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) Linux on Azure.
Other key findings from the 2016 Open Source Jobs Survey and Report include:
That's not to say that open-source pros don't get paid. They do.
"Demand for open source talent is growing and companies struggle to find experienced professionals to fill open roles," said Bob Melk, Dice's president in a statement. "Rising salaries for open-source professionals indicate companies recognize the need to attract, recruit and retain qualified open source professionals on a global scale."
"It's a seller's market," added Jim Zemlin, the Linux Foundation's executive director. "As more and more open source projects are developed, open source professionals will need to update their skill-sets with knowledge and experience including DevOps and networking. Ongoing training and certifications will be the key to growing their expertise and keeping a competitive edge."
So, if you want a high-tech job, look to Linux, open-source software, and the cloud. You'll find your future career there.
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