Need some help with a career move with a job offer

WRXSTi04

So, I figured I would post this question because its been really bothering me

I've been working in a Help Desk position with an IT company for over an year and recently interviewed for a Network Engineer position a month ago (Same company different departments). I was told a few days back that they wanted me to start in a week. I was never given an offer letter nor discussion was brought up regarding salary. It is me or is not a proper way for management to handle a move?

Anyhow I don't feel that this position is a lateral move from Analyst to Engineer. I am currently getting paid by the hour, don't work weekends and have a very nice 8 hour shift with the helpdesk.

The new position requires me to travel every 3-4 weeks to help configure and setup networks world wide. The new position requires to stay afloat with constant studying and working on stating ahead with networking terminology etc. Even during the interview I was told that someone at a CCNA level will have to work hard in this new position.

So my dilemma is should I take this position if they don't offer me a raise? What can I use for leverage to make them offer me a raise etc?
I am trying to way my options because the I feel the knowledge I gain in the new position will help my future career but at the same time I don't want to put in hours of work and be away from loved ones to get paid the same crummy salary I could be working my current 8 hour a day job.

Any feedback is appreciated

royal

There's so many IT people who spend months trying to find a job only to find that they end up taking a help desk position. If you're single, young, and working on your career, i'd definitely take it. Heck, even if they pay you the same salary, you're at lest getting the experience which, like you said, will benefit your career long term wise. Good luck with your choice. Let us know the outcome.

borumas

I really don't see how they could not pay the engineer job more than the help desk one, that is crazy. I would point out the pros and cons like you have told us, about the benefits of where you are now and how the only benefit offered by the job you are applying for is the experience- for that kind of work you should definitely be getting a raise compared to where you are now.

RavenSpawn

I too don't see how you wouldn't get a salary increase with the new job. If you're young and don't mind the travelling and studying to keep on top on new stuff, go for it. It will only help you in the long run depending on what you'd like to do in the future. Also ask questions about how expenses would be dealt with when travelling, company credit card or do you pay and be reimbursed?

As far as no formal letter or salary discussion, I would wait a little since they are probably busy and haven't got around to making a formal offer, unless you've already started the new job then I would discuss it with them. I've seen some people that were promised things by word of mouth but never received them because it was never written down. Management in the case simply deny ever mentioning or agreeing to such things.

elover_jm

Regardless if your pay ends being the same or more....

i definitely think you should take that position, there's a wealth of practical experience and knowledge that you will gain and that my fren will take you a far way.

I think you consider consider how marketable you'll be in this IT world after a year or two at tht position.........besides if you do well........i bet they'll pay to keep you there.

WRXSTi04

Thanks for all the feedback
Its real depressing to me since I've been with the company for over an year busted my butt moved into some level 2 applications and got my CCNA, never got a single raise, praise or thank you. Then I get this new position and they won't even call or discuss this with me. My boss keeps telling me that another manager is supposed to call me to discuss, he said he was sick as of Monday of this week, I figured he'd called me by now.
Oh well, I'll keep you guys posted

blargoe

I would take it, but you should have asked that question to them once they offered it and before you accepted it. They don't have to pay you any more, it really depends on the way IT positions are classified at your company. The last company i worked for classifed all desktop, server, helpdesk, and network engineers as either technical support analyst or same title with sr. in front of it to get around making our salary right.

WRXSTi04

I guess it worked out for me in the end. I got the job and a decent raise. Boss also said i'd get another raise after a few months

elover_jm

WRXSTi04 wrote:

I guess it worked out for me in the end. I got the job and a decent raise. Boss also said i'd get another raise after a few months

congrats man!

all the best in ur new post