My background as a nuclear engineer has provided me many opportunities to interact with computing. I have now decided to make the career change into the wonderful world of UNIX since my industry continues to die a slow death. Can my vague college experience (beginner at best) using UNIX suffice to get my foot in the door of a programming company while I quickly come up to speed using the books both of you (PxT and Neo) recommended? I mean you have to start somewhere in the computing industry.
I am looking at an offer to do quality assurance work using UNIX and Oracle for a company. The work would require me to work by myself writing code to test new products. I am very good at developing tests as a quality assurance engineer in the nuclear industry, but I don't know enough of the commands in UNIX to work with the language. I have not written any scripts, although I do know what they are. I am willing to learn through the discipline way both of you recommend (i.e. no shortcuts). My question now becomes, is it possible to learn as you go on the job and still keep the job? Or should I decline the offer, read and study more until I get more comfortable programming, and then re-apply later? Both of you gentleman say the only way to learn is trial by fire, but I cannot afford to accept a job and then lose it because of incompetance. (Family, etc.)
Please give me your recommendation for a humble beginning of someone who wants to get their foot in the door. I really appreciated your recent threads on your humble beginnings.
Treading Water