Linux

Yes if

• the environment you would work on is Linux based, obviously (which it often is when servers are involved, even with Microsoft due to Azure cloud and containers)
• you master the command line, i.e you know a bit of e.g bash, can write your own scripts that do basic functions
• you understand how the OS works, i.e permissions, services, package managers, etc

but not really if you are mostly clicking through buttons of the window manager and/or would work in a Microsoft environment with its own set of tools, conventions, etc.

Which brings up obvious suggestions :

• do improve your mastery of the command line
• apply to jobs that put Linux forward (but that might bias to a sysadmin position, which might not be what you prefer)

Specifically for a job of Linix sysadmin, probably yes. If you can afford it do a certification, it will help you stand among other candidates with no work experience.

For other IT jobs it's not so relevant. Linux is technically on the servers but the infrastructure is hidden from you by multiple levels of abstraction.

My personal experience: Absolutely!

I've always landed on jobs/projects that involve Linux server. Generally startups with not much expense to spare would go for this route. However, even bigger companies would opt for enterprise Linux.

I wouldn't say that will work on every IT jobs out there, but when it does, you know you're in for a fun ride!

This morning I was still awake, my veines exploding because of all the "anti-sleep medication", having a quick cool-down from the party still going on inside, when I hear someone randomly say: "yeahh rm -rf!". One thing let to another...

Linux skills make you friends as well as get you jobs.

"In IT" could mean anything from first line support worker to software project manager to network engineer. Can you be more specific...?

I had the same question. I have rather good understanding of Linux and command line however at my job where Ubuntu is used other people easily caught up with me. They still don't know much about what exactly a command does but they know when to run it so IMO it doesn't matter how much Linux you know the only knowledge matters which you could use to have your job done quickly and efficiently.

I'm in data engineering and that market is dominated by Microsoft. Understanding an os is essential if you're, say, a sysadmin.

I'd recommend looking into some certifications. Some businesses are very sensitive to those.

When looking for Linux tech jobs to apply to, a lot of them actually have Vim experience as a preferred quality. Can any experts confirm this?

“The Cloud” is mostly Linux—specifically Linux containers. Kubernetes and Docker are Linux specific technologies.

Most “IT” roles these days will be for from Linux knowledge ( not all of course ). It is a good skill to have.

If you do encounter an environment where they do not use Linux, it may be because of a lack of skilled staff. You could be the reason they adopt it.

the point that I could be considered a so-called "power user."

There is no certain point. Power user is a rather vague description. It still includes "user" as opposed to admin or developer or guru etc.

If vague is good enough in your area, go for it. Otherwise look for a more formal qualification.

Good luck.

Put it this way - it doesn't hurt.

Nothing fully replaces real world experience with the exact software and technologies your potential employer uses, but having demonstrable ability to use and understand linux is very transferrable. Ultimately it comes down to the interviewers and what they're looking for, and to the more technical of those, choosing linux as a daily driver shows you're more interested in understanding how computers work and that you have a degree of problem solving ability.

Read some adverts of the jobs you want to get, being realistic that you may need to start low to get that experience, and build ability in what's wanted, especially the bits that are marketable.

Probably not. I guess it depends what you want to do in IT. And the org. Some orgs use a lot of Linux, and Linux is a whole different ball game at the enterprise level. It's not just knowing about Linux, but how to properly manage, secure, and patch it at scale.

It might also depend on if you have previous IT experience. If you've got a ton of previous experience it could help.