Job offer that involves a move?

I currently work as a Help Desk Specialist and I make about the mid 30k range. I work Help Desk, but I also help out the other techs with building new systems, installing images, troubleshooting software, and going from office to office to work on printers and minor network issues. So, sort of a combination between Help Desk and Field Tech.

A nearby company has contacted me for an interview. The job they are interviewing me for has these responsibilities:

Provide an excellent user experience by providing solutions to applications, networking, telephones and other IT related issues.
Lead ‘New Hire Computer Orientations’, following the installation and updating of applications and workstations.
Set up, update and apply images to new and existing workstations.
Document all inventory and keep track of computer, server, switches and router information.
Keep a documented instruction log of solutions to troubleshooting common problems.
Create and administer new and existing users in Active Directory and Exchange.
Perform routine server related tasks.
Assure that backups are occurring and, through regular testing, verify they can be restored..
Solve network printing issues and replace maintenance related parts as needed.
Perform other tasks as assigned by our IT Administrator.

Basically, all things that I currently do... except this will introduce me to Active Directory and Exchange, as well as being allowed to work with servers and backups. Another nice little thing they do is actively push and pay for training. This position pays between 38k and 42k. So, not the biggest pay increase, but still an increase. It seems to be a good step up for me, introducing me to technologies that seem to be a bit hard to get involved with. All I am allowed to do here is reset AD passwords and there is no other room for advancement.

At the same time, I will have to commute for an hour and a half for about a month, and then make a move. This will be the first time I have ever moved such a distance. Basically, I'll have to be a big boy and get a moving truck instead of having my dad help me with it all.

Worth it? Some part of me is saying I should try to hold out for a bigger and better position that gives more, but then the other part of me says it is still an increase AND new technology, AND they get me trained. The location I will move to also has a much better IT job economy.

Thoughts? This would be my second position in this career, but it seems like a pretty big step.

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Comments

jamthat

Sounds like a step in the right direction, and it'll get you out of your comfort zone - which I personally believe is very important. Get out and try something new! I'd go for it if I were you, especially since it'll also place you in a better job market. Good luck with whatever you decide!

tkerber

kbowen0188 wrote: »

I currently work as a Help Desk Specialist and I make about the mid 30k range. I work Help Desk, but I also help out the other techs with building new systems, installing images, troubleshooting software, and going from office to office to work on printers and minor network issues. So, sort of a combination between Help Desk and Field Tech.

A nearby company has contacted me for an interview. The job they are interviewing me for has these responsibilities:

Provide an excellent user experience by providing solutions to applications, networking, telephones and other IT related issues.
Lead ‘New Hire Computer Orientations’, following the installation and updating of applications and workstations.
Set up, update and apply images to new and existing workstations.
Document all inventory and keep track of computer, server, switches and router information.
Keep a documented instruction log of solutions to troubleshooting common problems.
Create and administer new and existing users in Active Directory and Exchange.
Perform routine server related tasks.
Assure that backups are occurring and, through regular testing, verify they can be restored..
Solve network printing issues and replace maintenance related parts as needed.
Perform other tasks as assigned by our IT Administrator.

Basically, all things that I currently do... except this will introduce me to Active Directory and Exchange, as well as being allowed to work with servers and backups. Another nice little thing they do is actively push and pay for training. This position pays between 38k and 42k. So, not the biggest pay increase, but still an increase. It seems to be a good step up for me, introducing me to technologies that seem to be a bit hard to get involved with. All I am allowed to do here is reset AD passwords and there is no other room for advancement.

At the same time, I will have to commute for an hour and a half for about a month, and then make a move. This will be the first time I have ever moved such a distance. Basically, I'll have to be a big boy and get a moving truck instead of having my dad help me with it all.

Worth it? Some part of me is saying I should try to hold out for a bigger and better position that gives more, but then the other part of me says it is still an increase AND new technology, AND they get me trained. The location I will move to also has a much better IT job economy.

Thoughts? This would be my second position in this career, but it seems like a pretty big step.

I think you need more information still. Mid 30's to upper 30's / low 40's is not too big of a pay increase. But beyond that this still sounds like more of a Help Desk position in its responsibilities. I just want to play devils advocate and see what else you can find out. Although it may initially seem like a raise, it may not be.

What kind of benefits do you have now? What kind does the new employer provide? Believe me benefits make all the difference. You could get a 5K a year raise and still have a smaller paycheck if this new company has more expensive medical, dental, etc..

I'm assuming they won't reimburse you for relocation so there's also that

Is this contract-to-hire or permanent placement? If contract, will you have benefits during that period? What will the contract wages be?

How big is the company and what kind of internal growth opportunities are there?

What sector is the company in? For ex: Finance, Medical, Tech, etc. Does this sector of work interest you?

What kind of reviews does the company have? Google them and see what people say. Obviously take them with a grain of salt but if there are 100 reviews and 90 of them are bad than maybe you should start to ask questions.

Once again I'm not trying to be pessimistic but take it from someone who has job hopped a few times--You want to be absolutely sure this will be a good fit because the grass isn't always greener and there may be way better opportunities that are closer to you as well.

kbowen0188

Jamthat;

I appreciate the good wishes! I do think you are right when it comes to my comfort zone, and I actually didn't really consider that. This is a big scary step for little ol' me, so it might be worth it just to get out there.

Tkerber;

That is really my main concern, that it seems a lot like a Help Desk position, but with more exposure to the Jr Admin side of things. That is ideally where I would like to go in the future, I just can't for the life of me seem to convince my current company to let me touch any of that sort of stuff beyond simple password resets.

Benefits wise, I have what I think is standard? 401k with a 50% match, health and dental. I am not so sure about the other benefits yet, but I will compare them when I do get them.

Permanent placement.

They are listed as less than 500 employees. The job application states that I will be supporting 90+ employees. I think their only offices are the one I am going to. They are growing at a high speed they say, but I am not so sure where that leaves me in regards to growth. I will be working directly with the CEO, so there is that. They are Search Marketing Experts, Ecommerce focused. They mostly consist of data analysts, and are partnered with Google and Bing (not so sure if that is a big deal or not). I am not particularly interested in Ecommerce, but I do like being associated with a technology-focused company. When it comes to their rating, they are an A+ on the BBB website and a 4.7 on Glassdoor (out of 15 employee reviews).

I actually wonder if one of my problems is the amount I currently make. From what I can gather, 35k on a entry-level Help Desk is pretty high up there. I may be totally wrong. With that in mind though, sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't expect too much of a pay increase for my next position.

Also, this may sound very odd... but I've noticed that practically every single person in this company is in their mid-to-late-twenties and is reasonably attractive. I can't tell if that means that the CEO likes fresh talent or if he just likes people who are nice to look at, haha.

tkerber

kbowen0188 wrote: »

Jamthat;

I appreciate the good wishes! I do think you are right when it comes to my comfort zone, and I actually didn't really consider that. This is a big scary step for little ol' me, so it might be worth it just to get out there.

Tkerber;

That is really my main concern, that it seems a lot like a Help Desk position, but with more exposure to the Jr Admin side of things. That is ideally where I would like to go in the future, I just can't for the life of me seem to convince my current company to let me touch any of that sort of stuff beyond simple password resets.

Benefits wise, I have what I think is standard? 401k with a 50% match, health and dental. I am not so sure about the other benefits yet, but I will compare them when I do get them.

Permanent placement.

They are listed as less than 500 employees. The job application states that I will be supporting 90+ employees. I think their only offices are the one I am going to. They are growing at a high speed they say, but I am not so sure where that leaves me in regards to growth. I will be working directly with the CEO, so there is that. They are Search Marketing Experts, Ecommerce focused. They mostly consist of data analysts, and are partnered with Google and Bing (not so sure if that is a big deal or not). I am not particularly interested in Ecommerce, but I do like being associated with a technology-focused company. When it comes to their rating, they are an A+ on the BBB website and a 4.7 on Glassdoor (out of 15 employee reviews).

I actually wonder if one of my problems is the amount I currently make. From what I can gather, 35k on a entry-level Help Desk is pretty high up there. I may be totally wrong. With that in mind though, sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't expect too much of a pay increase for my next position.

Also, this may sound very odd... but I've noticed that practically every single person in this company is in their mid-to-late-twenties and is reasonably attractive. I can't tell if that means that the CEO likes fresh talent or if he just likes people who are nice to look at, haha.

Well I would definitely see if you can get more information about the benefits without sounding too needy. However, from what you told me so far here are a few of my assumptions and I wouldn't let the benefits alone deter your decision.

500 employees or less would be a small-medium sized company. The fact that you're working directly with the CEO makes me also think this.

They're a new company and probably haven't been around for that long. Maybe most people in the companies are millennials, the atmosphere and culture may be at play with the age and type of people that work for the company.

4.7 is actually the best rating I've seen for a company so far out of 15 reviews. Some of the companies I left were like a 1.5 or solid 2--which was for a reason.

Lastly 35K is really not too high for help desk. It really depends on your location (North Carolina) and the company you work for (industry, size, etc). I can tell you that I was at 40K for help desk at one point and I was bottom of the barrel level 1 resetting passwords. I live and work in the suburbs of Minnesota so cost of living may be slightly different. But I've also met help desk leads and help desk escalation techs that were pulling in 50K or more as well. I would say 35K is low to mid level.

Never be afraid to ask for what you deserve (obviously within reason and research). There are a lot of companies that are cheap and aren't willing to pay, to that I say let them suffer, not you.

You may already know this but a great way to get an idea of what a position pays is indeed.com and payscale.com

Best of luck!

iBrokeIT

I would definitely ask if they would be willing offer some relocation assistance. You'll never find out unless you ask.

kbowen0188

I just had a phone interview. Benefits are excellent and will actually end up saving me $250 a month, so that is a plus. They have arranged a second interview (one that apparently includes a grammar test, analytical test, and technology test) for me. The official title is Desktop Support Specialist, though I was told I would be helping manage Exchange 2010, Server 08/12, and SCCM 12.

Apparently they have been open since 2002, but got certified with Google Adwords and Google Analytics at some point. That really pushed their business forward and they are looking to expand.

42k is a bit higher than the average, according to the sites that I was linked. I will be trying to negotiate for more though, and at least really push for relocation assistance. That would be a huge help and really seal the deal for me.