This post is NOT related to Perl or even programming but it is my belief that I will get best professional help not anywhere else.
Before I begin, I just graduated in computer science and engineering from quite a good college in India. During my undergraduate I dabbled with C and Perl (mostly C) under UNIX/Linux environment. My area of interest lies in systems and systems programming... to put it broadly, back-end development. I have quite-more-than-average-engineering-undergraduate knowledge about Linux kernel and systems programming in C. I have coded several novice level kernel drivers (I made a Loadable Kernel Module root-kit :-D, and no, I did not use it to create havoc, just for learning purposes only), a debugger for a.out executable file format, a small toy general purpose OS kernel etc. You get the idea where my area of interest lies.
Now, one month out of college, I'm looking for a job and I got one at some company (the name is not important). The technical interview is still due on Monday and herein lies my problem.
I'm a (budding?) back-end developer and most of my skills are based on my knowledge in C and UNIX/Linux. But this company (many others that I submitted my CV to) primarily focus on front-end development using Java or .Net and/or content management systems using Joomla or Drupal etc. The job profiles that do focus on back-end development in C/Linux/UNIX ask for a professional experience of at least 2-3 years.
My question is, not necessarily targeted towards the interview on Monday, will it, in any way, hinder me, given that I have near negligible experience of Java or .Net and that I'm a fresher, in getting a job? If some company does focus on front-end development and uses Microsoft Windows as its base, will I be "considered" knowing that my knowledge and skills lie in some other (niche-r) area? Also, if I do have to learn something out of the way, should I go for Java or .Net? I have demonstrable skills Perl.
To tell the truth, I really am interested in core stuff such as developing a cool new device driver/kernel hack for Linux or designing a kernel for a particular purpose and a particular architecture or code some awesome system software for UNIX etc. I mean, I like R&D and creating new things.