03-05-2008
The unix job market is quite different to the windows one in that qualifications are usually treated as a positive point but the actual subject of the qualification is largly irrelevant - it's more of an indication you can study and learn. The windows makret is generally interested in seeing a list of certifications and quals to get your foot in the door.
Unfortunately, this means that it's quite difficult to get into an interview for a good unix job. As well as knowing your stuff, you need to find the opportunity to show it. Without getting lucky or knowing someone, you might well have to work your way up from a lowly sys-admin or operator.
The job markets that put more weight on certs are easier (for those that have the certs) to get to the interview stage where they can sell themselves.
Skills that are sought after in a unix engineer that might help get you onto the interview list:
- Experiance: Ok so that's not going to be much of an option for you but try to get some part time work (even free work) to give you exposure to unix in the 'real world'.
- Understanding that Unix isn't DOS and Linux is not identical to all other Unix'es.
- Hardware: Do you want to get into this? If so, start learning what's what and the various platforms and their architecture. You don't have to know the latest stuff but being in a position to appreciate how something new works will be very vaulable to employers.
- System V vs BSD vs The hybrids - understanding the differences - try and get some time on several different unix's. Irix, Solaris, Digital Unix (AKA Tru64), AIX and HPUX would be a good start.
- A solid understanding of server security: Get the hang of the basic concepts of security under unix - both at the network level and at the filesystem level. Learn how to user the multi-user nature of unix to seperate all the different subsystems from each other to minimise the damage of a security breach.
- Knowing the commands is nice but knowing a wide range of ways to find the syntax for a new or unknown command quickly is better.
- The phrase "No, I'm not familiar with that one but I'm keen to learn about it!"
- Documentaion - Most engineers are crap at it, try not to be like most engineers
![Smilie Smilie](https://www.unix.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
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CAL(1) User Commands CAL(1)
NAME
cal - display a calendar
SYNOPSIS
cal [options] [[[day] month] year]
DESCRIPTION
cal displays a simple calendar. If no arguments are specified, the current month is displayed.
OPTIONS
-1, --one
Display single month output. (This is the default.)
-3, --three
Display prev/current/next month output.
-s, --sunday
Display Sunday as the first day of the week.
-m, --monday
Display Monday as the first day of the week.
-j, --julian
Display Julian dates (days one-based, numbered from January 1).
-y, --year
Display a calendar for the current year.
-V, --version
Display version information and exit.
-h, --help
Display help screen and exit.
PARAMETERS
A single parameter specifies the year (1 - 9999) to be displayed; note the year must be fully specified: cal 89 will not display a calendar
for 1989.
Two parameters denote the month (1 - 12) and year.
Three parameters denote the day (1-31), month and year, and the day will be highlighted if the calendar is displayed on a terminal. If no
parameters are specified, the current month's calendar is displayed.
A year starts on Jan 1. The first day of the week is determined by the locale.
The Gregorian Reformation is assumed to have occurred in 1752 on the 3rd of September. By this time, most countries had recognized the ref-
ormation (although a few did not recognize it until the early 1900's). Ten days following that date were eliminated by the reformation, so
the calendar for that month is a bit unusual.
HISTORY
A cal command appeared in Version 6 AT&T UNIX.
AVAILABILITY
The cal command is part of the util-linux package and is available from ftp://ftp.kernel.org/pub/linux/utils/util-linux/.
util-linux June 2011 CAL(1)