Teksystems

nygs82

Hey guys I have no experience with help desk I'm trying to get my foot in the door and recruiter from teksystems called me today to set me up with a possible full time job my question to you guys may share your experiences with teksystems . I already have a job that not IT related and offers benefits to me and my family . I'm feeling kind of hesitant to take this job being that it's a contract , please share your thoughts.

beads

Tek systems. Depends. You'll have to decide for yourself but as a budding help/support desk analyst your likely to be trod upon a bit while you gain some experience. Tek is a mixed bag but tends to be viewed more favorably the higher up the food chain one ascends (*ahem*). Many lower level folks will complain about Tek, Judge, Collabra, etc. as being what they are: body shops.

Don't get me wrong I am working for a body shop right now getting paid a sick amount of money to do R&S instead of security. Your going to get out of it what you put into it, kind of thing.

YMMV

- b/eads

Verities

Not to sound harsh, but do some searching on the forums since the topic of contracting comes up all the time and plenty of people have carpel tunnel from answering these types of threads so often.

Chitownjedi

nygs82 wrote: »

Hey guys I have no experience with help desk I'm trying to get my foot in the door and recruiter from teksystems called me today to set me up with a possible full time job my question to you guys may share your experiences with teksystems . I already have a job that not IT related and offers benefits to me and my family . I'm feeling kind of hesitant to take this job being that it's a contract , please share your thoughts.

Hesitant to take the job do to it being contract? Why exactly? Have you done any research into the IT market and the avenues of how employment are presented? Contracting is just as viable as FTE, and even more so for someone looking for dynamic and fast experience to grow. Before asking questions about specific recruiting companies and people opinions on them, I would suggest understanding the market in IT and the pro's and con's of Contracting vs FTE. You need to build a foundation of understanding first.

Determine what you are looking to do in your career short,medium and long term. It may very well end up being that your goals are more aligned with Full Time Employment, or they may be very well aligned with contracting and getting Project experience. However that is something that should be carefully evaluated and understood beforehand.

Being hesitant because of lack of information is easily resolved. Use Google and search on how Contracting Works, more specifically in IT. Pros and Cons, etc. Once you have a basic grasp you can provide a more focused question based on what you are looking to do, and guidance can be presented.

danny069

Since you will be paid by Teksystems (the consulting company) they may or may not offer benefits to you. Being that you have a family, benefits are very important, so I would ask what kind of benefits they have (just out of curiousity) What kind of job do you have now? Is it a full time position directly with that company? Do you have any certs? Degree? If you want to break into IT you have to do what you have to do to gain some experience and only you can decide if the risk outweighs the reward and vice versa.

Pmorgan2

nygs82 wrote: »

Hey guys I have no experience with help desk I'm trying to get my foot in the door and recruiter from teksystems called me today to set me up with a possible full time job my question to you guys may share your experiences with teksystems . I already have a job that not IT related and offers benefits to me and my family . I'm feeling kind of hesitant to take this job being that it's a contract , please share your thoughts.

I never worked for Tek Systems, but did get an appealing looking contract offer from them once. I would believe that your experience would easily differ from anyone else's anecdotal experience with Tek Systems based on the nature of how IT contracts work.

Contracts don't mean that you job will go away when they expire. In IT, it typically means that the contracting company (Tek Systems) will have to re-compete the for contract. If they don't win, you have a very good chance of being signed on with the new contracting company that does win. Many IT professionals move on to a new job after 3 years anyhow - perhaps faster in the beginning of their career. You also don't really work for Tek Systems. They just handle placement and HR functions.

You have to make a decision on how much of a pay or benefits decrease you're willing to take in order to make more later. I went from $2,700/mo in the service industry to $1,400/mo for my first IT job. Boy did that first job have it's disadvantages. But all the tribulation was worth it two years later when I was back to $2,700/mo and had a much brighter and happier future ahead of me. I did not have a wife and children though, so I only had to ask myself to sacrifice.

The key is to get your foot in the door, then work tirelessly to improve. Learn everything you can at that first job; start formal education and/or certification tracks. If the job sucks and/or doesn't offer progression, then look for a new one after a year or two. Every year of IT experience you have opens new door, especially that first year. Even more doors open if you have an IT degree or certifications to accompany the experience.

TechGromit

Funny you should mention Teksystems, my old arch enemy called me today (well looking at the posting time, yesterday). I asked what he wanted not too nicely, the recruiter said something about overnight Point of Sale support at Walmart, Told him I wasn't interested. He mumbled on about something else, I wasn't listening, said thank you and hung up. I should have told him to remove me from his pool of applicants, but he took me by surprise, I haven't heard from them in so long. They must be pretty desperate looking for warm bodies.

nygs82 wrote: »

I already have a job that not IT related and offers benefits to me and my family . I'm feeling kind of hesitant to take this job being that it's a contract , please share your thoughts.

If you unemployed and really desperate I guess they are better than nothing, but I wouldn't give up a job with benefits to work for them. They offer no benefits (no sick day, vacation, etc) and if you take there health insurance it's a expensive high deductible plan. I honestly think they make a profit on it, since it's a health plan through them, not a health insurance company. Pay sucks too. They are all smiles to get you in a contract position, but once your making money for them, they forget all about you. And you can forget about unemployment when your contract gig is up, they will find an excuse not to give it to you, fighting the state unemployment not to have to pay.

Chitownjedi wrote: »

I would suggest understanding the market in IT and the pro's and con's of Contracting vs FTE. You need to build a foundation of understanding first.

Oh I understand, I worked for them. Anything entry level to mid level your just a warm body to them. I guess if you have specialized experience and can demand a high contract rate it might be worth it, but otherwise not worth it to me.

Pmorgan2 wrote: »

Contracts don't mean that you job will go away when they expire. In IT, it typically means that the contracting company (Tek Systems) will have to re-compete the for contract. If they don't win, you have a very good chance of being signed on with the new contracting company that does win.

This is how it was when I worked as a Government contractor, when one company lost the government contractor usually you were just picked up by the new company that won the contract. But with Teksystems, I had a non-compete clause in my contract. It said if I left Teksystems, I could not work for the client for a period of 6 months or I had to pay them 3 months salary. This would pretty much ensure that if they lost the contract, you be totally screwed.

tmtex

I have used Tek from the Hiring Manager side to begging them to find me a job. I had no problem with them. The company I work for uses them. I don't care for recruiters, doesn't matter where they come from they will drop you and stab you in the back, they are car salesmen. They make money off of you and will use you. Yes you could be a lucky one and they set you up with a perfect Job.
Now you say you have a family which I assume means kids. Does the wife work ? Can she provide benefits ? Tek benefits aren't cheap and most likely you will not be making over 20 per hr doing entry level.
Now you have to do what you have to do. If the wife can support then go for it. Also keep in mind it could be a 6 month CONTRACT and they can drop you at anytime. If its a project that is expected to last 6 months but everything clicks and its done in 3 months, the company could easily let you go. If temp to perm, and you screw up when you leave one evening the recruiter is going to call and say don't go back there.

psaechao

For what it's worth, TekSystems is one of the Fortune 100 best companies to work for. Although I'm assuming this means actually being employed by TekSystems, not a contractor through them.

I've worked with TekSystems before and I still keep in contact with my recruiter. She's very nice and contacts me every now and then to see if I'm interested in a position. I was able to get one interview with them for Delta Dental. I made it to the in-person interview, but did not get the job unfortunately.

sschwieterman

I just recently had some experience with TekSystems. The recruiters were very professional. I was polite to them, they were polite to me. The pay they offered was fair after a bit of negotiating, but that's to be expected.

The reason I declined the job offer in the end was because of the health insurance they offered: high premium, high deductible, high out-of-pocket max. I have a wife and son with one more child on the way. I was looking at a pretty good raise with the new job, but couldn't take the chance when it came to my family.

If the job is appealing enough to you, maybe take a look at getting your own health insurance. The plans were about equal where I live, but they might be better where you are.

markulous

I just had a call with them and I'll be talking to them in person on Wednesday. The recruiter was professional. If I have any feedback I'll let you know.

Dakinggamer87

My experience with Teksystems as a contractor when I was first getting started was great. They were professional and didn't waste my time as many others do. So I would recommend them if you are early in your career. If you have a family etc.. it might be different.

tbgree00

When I was laid off Tek helped get me an enterprise field services job. They don't give paid vacation, their health insurance is awful, etc. They're just a paycheck. My family depends on my benefits so I'm not able to go for a contract. I always felt scared that I would be dismissed without notice and have no job. I've also had interviews set up with them for VMware jobs that were actually for developer gigs. Boy did I feel like an idiot during that phone interview. First and only time I've stopped it saying "I'm sorry for wasting our time, this obviously isn't a job for me."

It's a pimps and ho's game. They want to get you in as low as possible and get the company to pay as much as possible. You may be making 20/hr but the company may be paying 50/hr. Always seemed like the first line item to cut to me.

byron66

I work for them now as a field tech (I do inventory on systems at clinics ), and I can't complain for an $18hr job as my first gig in IT. I'm 24 with no family so benefits aren't a big deal to me.

joemysterio

I was actually just looking into them right now for a couple of jobs I've found on linkedin through teksystems. I can't get over the bad benefits though. I'm in IT strictly for FTE it seems like... I don't think I can could do contract gigs - at least not yet - until I have more years experience and better skill set.

beads

Suggest that the benefits are bad to discourage you from buying them in the first place. Either that or the person negotiating these contracts really sucks at it and wants to pass the pain on to their consultants. Though it would be interesting to see what FTE staff get for benefits as I have never meet anyone at TEK over 40, least not in Chicago. Always young or aren't there for long, put it that way. Been to a couple of TEK offices in the area over the years in and around the Chicagoland area.

Conversation tip. Ask any fresh out of college recruiter what their major was... Most of the time your going to hear something close to: English.

Wise career training there!

- b/eads

markulous

Well I sat down with them and they seemed pretty cool. They told me they had jobs in mind for me and that they'd contact the hiring managers. They also said I was very marketable and presentable and that they would find me a position quickly.

Fast forward to a week later and I haven't heard anything from them. I even sent them a thank you email and didn't get a reply, so not sure what their deal is.

MeanDrunkR2D2

It's Teksystems. They don't really care about you, just filling whatever open orders that they may come across. Find a smaller recruiting office and they'll do much better for you. Teksystems actually contacted a employer that I was working for and was placed with another recruiting company and asked them why I would be looking for another job and if they were looking to fill my position and that they had some people that they could fill in with them to replace me.

So yea, they don't care about you, only filling positions and making money. When you find a good recruiter you will know it.

markulous

Yeah, recruiters gonna recruit.

I would have appreciated their honesty though if they were like "Hey listen we're recruiters so we really just care about getting paid. I'm not sure that I can really help you but if we think we can put you into a role to make us money, we'll contact you. If not, we won't."

tmtex

markulous wrote: »

Well I sat down with them and they seemed pretty cool. They told me they had jobs in mind for me and that they'd contact the hiring managers. They also said I was very marketable and presentable and that they would find me a position quickly.

Fast forward to a week later and I haven't heard anything from them. I even sent them a thank you email and didn't get a reply, so not sure what their deal is.

Not only with TEK, all or most of them,are used car salesmen they give ZERO sh$t about you. Yes they will say you are great, your the best, oh your resume is the best, I think I have something for you, I will get back with you, when they do its oh they decided not to fill the position. They will put u in a database. They also make big money. Also, no need to send them a thank you note, they deleted that right away. They make money off of you, they use you.
Now, yes they can work but you have to be at the right place and right time kinda thing. If you do get hired, make them take you to lunch because they DO NOT want you to quit. They will or should. Also Tek gives Xmas gifts. When I was in the mgr side they gave my guys cool backpacks. When I used them for ME I got a tablet portfolio with note pad. I have to admit it, I used it for the IPad.

KwIT

Just recently accepted a contracting job through them. Totally different experience here in San Antonio area. The recruiter contacted me 2-3 days out of the week since I sent my resume about a month ago.

I've read different reviews about them (mostly bad) but I think that you should use them as an advantage early in your career. I'm a recent college graduate, still new to IT and I've only work in 2 small companies (50-100 users). Before TEKsystems I've applied at big companies by myself, gets in an interview but could never land the job. After many interviews, I could tell that the reason why I couldn't land those jobs is because I don't have any experience working for big companies (or may be because I did terrible during the interview).

Another reason is that most jobs here in San Antonio uses contractors. USAA for example doesn't post HelpDesk/Desktop Support jobs on their website but TEKsystems posts those positions weekly.

Use them to jumpstart your career and to network with other IT professionals.