Looking for some career advice (small vs big company)

Hi all!
It seems several opportunities have become available at the same time, and I'm a little confused as to what I should do.

I started to get into IT with 2 years at a vocational school studying networking,servers etc. After finishing school (including a CCNA cert.), I got a part-time job as a system admin/general IT/networking “guy” at a very small web development company. Since I needed a full-time job to support myself, I kept looking, and got a first line desktop support job at a large company. I figured the experience would be useful, and they would see my potential. Unfortunately, they viewed their employees as expendable robots, with no personal goals or wishes. So they kept me in the same position for 3 years and then got rid of me.

I thought that with 3 years of experience I would easily find a better job. However after quite a bit of searching, all I got was another desktop support job at a large IT company. I started working there earlier this year and it's OK, though I feel very under stimulated doing the same things I've done for nearly 4 years now.

However, I just got a job offer from the first, small company I worked part-time at before. They've grown to the point where they need someone to work full-time on the network, servers etc. When I brought this up with my current manager, he really wanted me to stay, and promised that if I only pay my dues as a first line support technician, they would be able to offer many career paths. My issue is that IMO I've already paid my dues at desktop support and I want to move up now.

So now I'm not sure what my best option is – Move to a better job right now, with more responsibilities, but with fewer opportunities for specialization and perhaps less security (due to the company still being small at <30 employees). OR – stick with first line desktop support for another year and hold my current manager to his word that they will offer me some career paths (most likely 2^nd or 3^rd line support, or as a NOC technician)?

TL;DR:
-2 years vocational IT school
-6 months part-time sysadmin at Small Company A
-3 years desktop support at Large Company B
-6 months desktop support at Large Company C
-Company A called and want to hire me full time as a sysadmin responsible for most of their IT – Company C want me to stay and promised me career paths at some unspecified later time.

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Comments

kohr-ah

id stick with where you are at or keep looking. Why? Because your description of the first company right here

"Unfortunately, they viewed their employees as expendable robots, with no personal goals or wishes. So they kept me in the same position for 3 years and then got rid of me."

thomas130

JimSwe wrote: »

Hi all!
It seems several opportunities have become available at the same time, and I'm a little confused as to what I should do.

I started to get into IT with 2 years at a vocational school studying networking,servers etc. After finishing school (including a CCNA cert.), I got a part-time job as a system admin/general IT/networking “guy” at a very small web development company. Since I needed a full-time job to support myself, I kept looking, and got a first line desktop support job at a large company. I figured the experience would be useful, and they would see my potential. Unfortunately, they viewed their employees as expendable robots, with no personal goals or wishes. So they kept me in the same position for 3 years and then got rid of me.

I thought that with 3 years of experience I would easily find a better job. However after quite a bit of searching, all I got was another desktop support job at a large IT company. I started working there earlier this year and it's OK, though I feel very under stimulated doing the same things I've done for nearly 4 years now.

However, I just got a job offer from the first, small company I worked part-time at before. They've grown to the point where they need someone to work full-time on the network, servers etc. When I brought this up with my current manager, he really wanted me to stay, and promised that if I only pay my dues as a first line support technician, they would be able to offer many career paths. My issue is that IMO I've already paid my dues at desktop support and I want to move up now.

So now I'm not sure what my best option is – Move to a better job right now, with more responsibilities, but with fewer opportunities for specialization and perhaps less security (due to the company still being small at <30 employees). OR – stick with first line desktop support for another year and hold my current manager to his word that they will offer me some career paths (most likely 2^nd or 3^rd line support, or as a NOC technician)?

TL;DR:
-2 years vocational IT school
-6 months part-time sysadmin at Small Company A
-3 years desktop support at Large Company B
-6 months desktop support at Large Company C
-Company A called and want to hire me full time as a sysadmin responsible for most of their IT – Company C want me to stay and promised me career paths at some unspecified later time.

I would take the Company A option.

The reason for that is simple, I have been in the position where company have promise things in the future then fail to live up to them. I would take the job and get a year or two experience then move back in large company if you make you feel happier

techfiend

Which role is a step closer to your goal? Can you be happy in this role/company? Will it support your financial needs?

Being asked to come back and accepting usually works well. Problem with smaller companies is the lack of growth potential otherwise I think they are a great stepping stone.

TechGuru80

Small companies mean jack of all trades, possibly hard to get time off since you might be one of maybe a few on the team. Big companies let you specialize but everything can be quite silo'd.

If you weren't happy the first time with a company why would you go back? There are other companies outside of those few...

scaredoftests

I have been in very small companies (like in someone's house..her boyfriend would come out in his robe! ugh) to big companies. Now I am in a medium sized company and it seems to be alright. It's all in the perspective and attitude.

nelson8403

Have you thought about staying at your current company and completing a degree? I see you have 2 years of IT school, why not take a look at WGU or some local school and try to finish your bachelor degree.

Larger companies tend to have some sort of tuition reimbursement you may be able to use to your advantage and in a year or two when you complete it you'll be ahead of schedule for your promotion or movement into a new field you may be interested enough to study in.

LeBroke

I'd go with company A.

A) they already like you, and you like it too

more chance to put things on your resume
C) potentially wider experience.
D) actually sound like decent people, unlike Generic Big Company #47 with Expandable Support Department.

Sure, the large company might give you a few extra benefits, but IMO you're losing out on quick career growth by staying in support.

Mide

Go with company that will give you opportunity to move up and learn new things. If you remain stagnant your skills will as well which is not good for your IT future. I stayed with one company for 3 years and learned nothing there...it's a big regret of mine to not be more assertive to hunt for something different.

JimSwe

Thanks for the replies. I've made up my mind and decided to change to the smaller company.

kohr-ah wrote: »

id stick with where you are at or keep looking. Why? Because your description of the first company right here

"Unfortunately, they viewed their employees as expendable robots, with no personal goals or wishes. So they kept me in the same position for 3 years and then got rid of me."

That was the second company ("Company B"). I have cut all contact with them, and it feels like I wasted 3 years of my life there due to the total lack of career progression. But I suppose it was useful in some way and at least I got to put it on my resume.

The reason I left the first company ("A"), which now want to hire me again, was because they weren't able to offer a full-time job at the time. But due to growth over the past 4-5 years, they now need someone (me) to work full time in IT operations (networking, web servers, exchange, SQL-server, AD, general IT housekeeping, backups etc.).

thomas130 wrote: »

I would take the Company A option.

The reason for that is simple, I have been in the position where company have promise things in the future then fail to live up to them. I would take the job and get a year or two experience then move back in large company if you make you feel happier

That's something I've been thinking about too. It's easy for my current manager to promise things in exchange for having me stay with them, but there's no guarantee that things will actually change for me. What if I end up stuck in desktop support for another 1-2 years....

LeBroke wrote: »

I'd go with company A.

A) they already like you, and you like it too
more chance to put things on your resume
C) potentially wider experience.
D) actually sound like decent people, unlike Generic Big Company #47 with Expandable Support Department.

Sure, the large company might give you a few extra benefits, but IMO you're losing out on quick career growth by staying in support.

True, sys admin is a huge step up from 1st line desktop support and something I've been trying to achieve for a long time. The pay raise from switching companies isn't huge, just +$240/month (small company, they just can't afford more at this time), but I think the job will be a lot more interesting and less monotonous than pure desktop support.

kohr-ah

Ohhhh. That case I would say if it would help your career I'd give it a great considering