suggestions on finding experienced sysadmins?

[Ryan Pugatch]

On 06/10/2010 10:59 AM, Bill Bogstad wrote:
> I took a look at the job postings you posted here and on the BBLISA
> list.   Reading between the lines, you have gotten
> some (lots of?) applications; but you haven't found the perfect fit.
> A couple of possible reasons:
>
> 1. It's less and less common that you will find sysadmin/netadmin
> generalists.   There is just too much to know.  You might want to
> consider candidates who is strong in one area and appears like they
> could learn what is required in the other.  My impression is that it
> is only in small shops where this still happens and those kind of
> places often have smaller budgets and
> don't buy Cisco.
>
> 2.  If you aren't already, consider applicants who have extensive
> experience with similar products/software rather then the exact ones
> you are using.  (e.g. Juniper, HP, etc. network hardware rather then
> Cisco)

We've gotten quite a few.  Indeed the largest problem is finding someone 
who is a strong Linux admin but has enough understanding of networking 
concepts to pick up management of Cisco switches and firewalls.  Cisco 
experience aside, it has tough finding a Linux admin with strong enough 
network experience.  Perhaps dropping the word "cisco" from the posting 
may help.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Ryan