Have a Judgement Call to Make, Need Some Advice

Hey all,

I had an interview tonight for a position that I am considering. As far as I can tell they really liked me, I have not gotten an offer yet but this company is looking to move fast and as soon as I get an offer I am going to be expected to put in my notice at my current job ASAP.

To start I will give you some background on what I am looking for and what my goals are, long story short, I want to be a network engineer. I want to be on a dedicated network team in a large environment and I want to make the big IT bucks. There, I said it.

I got my current job just over a year ago, I was shooting for an open network admin position but they felt that I wasn't qualified for it just yet but there was room to grow in to the position. I spent the last year and change doing help desk but my manager has given me opportunities when available to get some Cisco experience, small stuff, putting configs on switches, wiping them, patching down drops. I noticed not long after I started that the network admin position was pulled and they are no longer actively searching, the optimist in me says that this is because they plan to offer me the position when I am ready, but my inner optimist is the only indication that I have of that thus far.

The new position would be with a smaller company in a NOC, for the most part the environments are comprised of Dell network equipment and very little Cisco. There is also likely going to be very little WAN experience to be had. BUT, they will have me primarily working with networking equipment, my days of desktop support would be pretty darn close to being over aside from a few random calls here and there for internal issues. They are offering 25% more than what I make now and at the moment I could really use the bump because I am hurting for cash.

**As I was writing this I got the offer for the position, so it is now officially on the table

My problem is, I know that if I were given the position at my current job it would be a much better opportunity, I really do want to stay in the enterprise realm, and it is a good company to work for. I guess my question is, should I just have a blunt conversation with my boss and ask if I am going to get the promotion, and what kind of pay increase that will bring? I know that will seem like I am giving an ultimatum, and I guess in a way I am, but it really is circumstantial. Thoughts?

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Comments

TacoRocket

Rule of thumb is always to think you first. Lots of times if your current job is to counter it's just for retention. They should look internally before outside for promotion so if they aren't giving it to you now then think about that.

ypark

So you've been at your job for over a year. If your boss hasn't approached you yet and done a performance review and discuss pay increase, you should request one. And seeing that your boss has been giving you opportunities to work on some networking stuff, I'd say definitely have a talk with him. I probably won't mention the new job opportunity you are considering at first, but eventually bring it up if promotion doesn't seem to be in the agenda.

Dojiscalper

If the network admin position was pulled I'd ask what they are planning and remind them you are wanting the position. They might take you up on it.

Christian.

I would consider which job will give you more opportunities in the future to become a network engineer. You didn't specify if the new place has the possibility to grow into a more advanced/senior role. They must have more knowledge people there, but are they doing what you want? It seems that based on your response, you will most likely end up leaving in a near future for a better position as you won't be involved in cisco or wan technology. I wouldn't rush leaving if the new scope of work you will have isn't something you are really eager to get into.

Now, with that said, I wouldn't put all my money into staying either. I would definitely have a talk with your boss about options to move forward in your career and inside your company. It seems there is a possibility for that there, so I would try for that. In parallel, I would keep looking and see if there is another place that has exactly what you are looking for. I'm not really sold in that new place. If you are excited to start there, go for it, but you don't sound really happy about that place except for the fact that you will earn more. Earning a little more will only be good in the beginning, if the job is a dead end they can keep raising your salary but you will never be happy.

Sooner or later you will be earning what you want, but think carefully how your job will contribute to your overall goal. If I were you, I'd focus more now on career progression, opportunities and technologies they are using.

GreaterNinja

Don't talk about a new job until you have a new job offer in writing.
Period.
Keep that to yourself or your management may try and look for replacement for you (contingency plan/plan b/plan c).

Now as far as your job...be patient until you actually get the job offer in writing. Then start kicking trash cans over like Dave Chapelle "Ding Ding Ding! I Quit!"

Oh and yeah talk is talk. Boss can promise you a promotion, a nice 6 figure pay salary but until you see it in writing or delivered...its just talk to delay you. So make sure you have a backup plan before you even talk about it.

CSCOnoob

I'd say take the new job and get the money that you need now. Use the new job as a stepping stone to a better one after a year, two, or three.

iBrokeIT

It's simple, take the new job because it's career advancement and more money.

You may be sitting around waiting for an opportunity that may never come at your current job and you will be loaded with regret if that ever comes true. Be bold and get outside of your current comfort zone, GO FOR IT!

TheFORCE

Get the job! Will further your career.

totallyjaded

bugzy3188 wrote: »

I got my current job just over a year ago, I was shooting for an open network admin position but they felt that I wasn't qualified for it just yet but there was room to grow in to the position. I spent the last year and change doing help desk but my manager has given me opportunities when available to get some Cisco experience, small stuff, putting configs on switches, wiping them, patching down drops. I noticed not long after I started that the network admin position was pulled and they are no longer actively searching, the optimist in me says that this is because they plan to offer me the position when I am ready, but my inner optimist is the only indication that I have of that thus far.

I manage a reasonably large technical team of network engineers (among others), so I can offer you some perspective here.

If I have people making in the neighborhood of $100,000, and there's someone making half as much or less who can do his or her job and offload some of the "busy work", guess who is going to do that work?

And I'm going to look like a hero to my boss, because I just saved the company over a hundred grand.

The new position would be with a smaller company in a NOC, for the most part the environments are comprised of Dell network equipment and very little Cisco. There is also likely going to be very little WAN experience to be had. BUT, they will have me primarily working with networking equipment, my days of desktop support would be pretty darn close to being over aside from a few random calls here and there for internal issues. They are offering 25% more than what I make now and at the moment I could really use the bump because I am hurting for cash.

From a hiring perspective, someone coming from a NOC environment is leaps and bounds more enticing than someone coming from an internal break/fix environment.

Worst case, if you're from a NOC environment, I know I can probably throw Cisco docs at you, and you'll have enough Dell experience to not be mystified by it. From a break/fix environment, I've been burned enough times to wonder if you're puffing up your resume as a Windows desktop guy who had an ancient unloved 3750 in a closet somewhere.

Getting a ton of Dell experience is probably not ideal (relative to Cisco, or even ProCurve), but having any exposure in that kind of environment has a lot of value to employers.

My problem is, I know that if I were given the position at my current job it would be a much better opportunity, I really do want to stay in the enterprise realm, and it is a good company to work for. I guess my question is, should I just have a blunt conversation with my boss and ask if I am going to get the promotion, and what kind of pay increase that will bring? I know that will seem like I am giving an ultimatum, and I guess in a way I am, but it really is circumstantial. Thoughts?

There are some questions that only you can answer:
1) If you're worth promoting and giving a raise to today, why weren't you yesterday?
2) Despite what your manager says, you will be remembered as someone who backed him or her up against a wall for a promotion. What is your plan for the next step?
3) Same goes for getting a raise in the future.
4) If you have valuable institutional knowledge, as your manager, why wouldn't I placate you just long enough for you to transfer that knowledge to someone else?
5) If you didn't have a job today and both positions were new job offers, which would you accept?

bugzy3188

Thanks all! I sent over my acceptance for the offer, here's to moving forward!

bugzy3188

totallyjaded wrote: »

I manage a reasonably large technical team of network engineers (among others), so I can offer you some perspective here.

If I have people making in the neighborhood of $100,000, and there's someone making half as much or less who can do his or her job and offload some of the "busy work", guess who is going to do that work?

And I'm going to look like a hero to my boss, because I just saved the company over a hundred grand.

From a hiring perspective, someone coming from a NOC environment is leaps and bounds more enticing than someone coming from an internal break/fix environment.

Worst case, if you're from a NOC environment, I know I can probably throw Cisco docs at you, and you'll have enough Dell experience to not be mystified by it. From a break/fix environment, I've been burned enough times to wonder if you're puffing up your resume as a Windows desktop guy who had an ancient unloved 3750 in a closet somewhere.

Getting a ton of Dell experience is probably not ideal (relative to Cisco, or even ProCurve), but having any exposure in that kind of environment has a lot of value to employers.

There are some questions that only you can answer:
1) If you're worth promoting and giving a raise to today, why weren't you yesterday?
2) Despite what your manager says, you will be remembered as someone who backed him or her up against a wall for a promotion. What is your plan for the next step?
3) Same goes for getting a raise in the future.
4) If you have valuable institutional knowledge, as your manager, why wouldn't I placate you just long enough for you to transfer that knowledge to someone else?
5) If you didn't have a job today and both positions were new job offers, which would you accept?

Very insightful stuff, much obliged sir

totallyjaded

bugzy3188 wrote: »

Very insightful stuff, much obliged sir

Happy to help.

If you ever have questions about why managers seem to be awful people, let me know.

Dakinggamer87

bugzy3188 wrote: »

Thanks all! I sent over my acceptance for the offer, here's to moving forward!

Awesome here is to new beginnings and advancement!!

Mow

totallyjaded wrote: »

If you ever have questions about why managers seem to be awful people, let me know.

That's hilarious!

Mow

Congratulations on the new position!

iBrokeIT

bugzy3188 wrote: »

Thanks all! I sent over my acceptance for the offer, here's to moving forward!

Cheers and congrats!

totallyjaded

Mow wrote: »

That's hilarious!

I wasn't always a manager. I used to have a soul.