Even in the face of economic disruptions, companies are still looking to beef up their workforce. A recent survey shows that 44% planned to expand their staffing this year, primarily focusing on tech experts like developers and IT managers.
However, when suitable candidates can’t be found, 58% of organizations are opting to train existing employees rather than hire outside consultants. Upskilling has become a higher priority, with an overwhelming 91% of respondents saying it is more important than even a university education.
Upskilling is particularly crucial for an open-source operating system like Linux. Modern enterprise is dominated by open source, with at least 37% of organizations contributing to open source projects or organizations such as code – a 5% jump from last year. And with some of the world’s largest companies like Google, Dell, and Samsung being known to use Linux, improving your skills can up your chances of career mobility – or give you an edge over the thousands of other candidates vying for high-demand tech roles.
What it means to upskill
Upskilling is the learning process needed for professionals to thrive in tech, whether that entails learning a new language, earning a new certificate, and more.
In 2024 and beyond, upskilling in tech capabilities – particularly with data analytics, software engineering, UX design, data science, front-end web development, and product management – will allow you to match your skills to job market demand. With training led by experts from diverse experiences and backgrounds and expansive campus networks, perpetual learners can take advantage of a global learning experience to advance their careers.
This process is incredibly valuable in the programming environment of the Linux system, where rapid advancements are shrinking the half-life of newly learned skills, necessitating continuous upskilling to not be left behind.
Upskilling and gaining a competitive edge
Despite an uptick in plans to expand manpower, the hard truth is that tech companies laid off over 400,000 workers in 2022 and 2023, creating large swaths of competition for the jobs that do remain – and a downward trend for entry-level workers.
In a bid to make hiring more efficient and teams leaner and more agile, companies are now looking for experienced employees who can push the envelope in innovation-conducive platforms such as Linux. Whether your area of expertise is DevOps, cloud, or cybersecurity, candidates looking to differentiate themselves should participate in online forums, attend industry conferences, and look to experts for best practices on managing Linux systems, troubleshooting issues, and optimizing server performance.
Upskilling and job security
In a previous post, we discussed the importance of mastering the Linux command line interface, as it is the backbone of the operating system, allowing users greater control over their workflow.
It will help to consider earning relevant certifications, such as Linux Professional Institute Certification (LPIC) or the Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE). Because it’s one of the most popular platforms for web servers, chances are the organization you’re working or planning to work for has already implemented Linux integrations. Hence, a fundamental understanding of Linux can provide a solid foundation for versatility, allowing you to maximize its capabilities to meet your employer’s business goals best.
The more you upskill, the more value-adding your work is, reducing the chances of getting laid off and needing to rejoin an incredibly tight job market.
Those in the tech industry understand that while obsolescence doesn’t happen overnight, you may not realize your skills have aged out until it is too late. Quality upskilling takes effort and may require you to work outside of your regular hours, which is why the earlier you start upskilling, the more time you can allot to learning well.
And when tech professionals continuously enhance their hireability by focusing on a widely-used system like Linux, the collective expertise brought to the table propels the entire industry forward, forging career trajectories that are as stable and reliable as the software itself.
