How to make yourself stand out as a sysadmin

Standing out as a sysadmin in 2025 takes more than a good resume. Scott, a senior Red Hat manager, explains how personal projects, consistent practice, and hands-on learning can make you memorable to hiring managers, even if you have little or no formal IT job experience.

From running your own Linux systems to contributing to open source communities, Scott shares how to turn your hobbies into proof of skill. You will learn why starting small, following through, and being able to explain what you built can make the difference in interviews. He also covers the reality of open source involvement, the importance of trust, and the skills modern sysadmins need to work at scale.

Watch Full Episode: https://youtube.com/live/e_gz4nPINS4

- - - -

Critical Administration Skills for Red Hat Enterprise Linux: Whether you are new to Linux or new to RHEL, join our hosts for a hands-on look into the commands and processes, ask questions, and grow your knowledge.

Get Started with Red Hat Enterprise Linux: https://developers.redhat.com/register
Try it for yourself: https://redhat.com/interactive-labs
Join our Discord: https://red.ht/rhel-discord

00:00 What really makes a sysadmin stand out
00:27 How personal projects turn into real experience
00:48 The interview advice Scott gives interns and beginners
01:19 Using Linux skills to grow your career
02:17 The right way to get started in open source
03:48 Earning trust and responsibility in a project
05:08 The most valuable tools for modern sysadmins
06:03 How sysadmin work has changed at scale