IT jobs dilemma

nice343

I am currently working as an IT technician making 50K a year. I have a CCNP, MCSA, A+, CCNA, Network+, currently working my CCVP

I went to a Gov job interview for network engineer that pays 80K. After the interview I found out that this job is nothing more than a glorified PC/Voice tech. I am not allowed to touch the cisco callmanager, not allowed to touch the DC's. My job is 100% end user stuff. Helping out with outlook, changing hard drives. Installing new OS , imaging, pluging in phones and installing network printers

My current job interms of what I do daily is miles ahead of this job as far as being an IT person is concerned. I am in charge of the cisco voip and data network. (1 domain controller, 1 exchange server and 3 servers)

Is it wise to leave a job that gives me freedom to learn new technologies for a job that is a glorified PC tech just for money?

30K increase salary is not easy to pass up

jryantech

Yeah 30k more a year is huge... that alone is about what the average American makes per year.

I say take the Government job, make the best of it... You can always work there for a year while getting other certifications, then start shooting off resumes with this as experience too... then you can take that extra 30k to relocate or go on a nice big vacation!!!

LarryDaMan

Take the money. You may be able to get more involved with other tasks as times goes on. Worse case senario, your asking price went way up... so when you find your next position in a year or two, negotiations will start at 80k+.

TechBoy22

Id say, ask yourself...is it about money or is it about loving what you do? What is going to make you happy? In my situation, I only hope to make 50K a year. My goal is to make that within a years time while obtaining my certs. Im starting at the bottom, gettin my A+ then shooting for Cisco. A 30K jump is definately a big move, but with experience, comes rewards. If you think your current job will reward you more in the future, then I would say wait for a better opportunity and stay where you are. Lifes a gamble. Which side weighs more that you "Need" to be happy in your life right now? Maybe in a years time your newly added experience will land you a job payin 90 or 100K.. Also, would you take pride in yourself being in a government organization? Is that something you ever thought about doing? Does working for the government have any impact on yourself? If it does, then maybe you could take the job, take the time to continue your certs and think of it as a vacation job. Sometimes a job that may be more relaxed can benefit you in your personal life. If it gives you more time to gain certifications and knowledge, then maybe that is more valuable to you while at the same time making 80K a year. Either way, its a you thing and opinions of others are just outside tools.

Its really what you feel happy and secure with in the end. Good luck on your decision and your job.

oo_snoopy

Don't take it, you will get bored and I think you know that. I think you should keep looking and try to find something else, also, from my experience, government and military people are not good at thinking outside the box, and can be a real pain to work with.

Young Grasshopper

take the job. once they see how skilled you are they will take advantage of it and start giving you more important tasks. and if a 'pc tech' can make 80k there just image how much the engineers make

human151

Take the GOV job. It could grow over time.

AND most importantly....we only work for one thing(well most of us anyway), and thats money. If you didnt need money wouldnt we all rather just sit @ home and play xbox all day? Well atleast I would. And A guy with a CCNP and some experience under his belt only making 50k is selling himself short. I dont have a CCNP but I know others that do and they are making about as much as the Government is willing to pay you. Best case scenario you put in a 2 week notice and they give you a raise to keep you.

empc4000xl

oo_snoopy wrote:

Don't take it, you will get bored and I think you know that. I think you should keep looking and try to find something else, also, from my experience, government and military people are not good at thinking outside the box, and can be a real pain to work with.

I take offense to this statement. . J/K I know what working with Military IT is like. You only get freedom to make drastic changes when it hits the fan. But once again, its all up to the leadership who trained the people. If they are taught to IOA, they are easy to work with.

zen master

Sounds like your current job needs to raise your pay. Let them know that you're looking at other options, and if they don't step up to the table, make the move. 80k is a HECK of a lot more than 50k.

famosbrown

Welcome to the Government...high pay and too many people for a little bit of tasks...Federal Government that is. There are people where I work that make 90K just making cables or just installing network printers...it's the Federal GS Pay scale system.

There are always opportunity in the Government to get your hands on stuff if you have the right leadership over you.

Good luck!

TechJunky

Wow, 80k for a glorified PC tech.... If you dont take it PM me the info so I can apply.. :P

learningtofly22

Take it. Once you get into the government, you can pretty much apply for any job in there if you don't like your 80k/year glorified pc tech job. Once you're "in" with the feds, you have a whole new world of high paying jobs available. If I don't get the raise I'm looking for come January, that's exactly where I'm going.

LarryDaMan

Actually, the GS pay scale is modest compared to what contractors are getting paid. I am sure this is a government contractor position.

80K on the GS scale depending on your location equates to a fairly senior mid-level position. Put it this way, my wife is a GS scaled federal employee and I am a government contractor and she is not the main breadwinner.

famosbrown

LarryDaMan wrote:

Actually, the GS pay scale is modest compared to what contractors are getting paid. I am sure this is a government contractor position.

80K on the GS scale depending on your location equates to a fairly senior mid-level position. Put it this way, my wife is a GS scaled federal employee and I am a government contractor and she is not the main breadwinner.

What occupation series is she? Is she a 2210? GS 7-11 2210's are on Special Pay Rate Table. What grade is she? In the DOD, you will find many GS-15's who have no management responsibilities at all!! As a matter of fact, there are many executive assistants to SES's who are GS-15's. They are administrative assistants for Executives...

GS 12 Step 1 starts out at 65K. And maxes out at 85K for Step 10.

The network printer installers, GFE PC techs, and cable guys I'm referring to are all GS-12's and above...

Rather than waiting for the step increase intervals, you can compete through DEU and negotiate a Step Level when you get a Grade or just negotiate when coming in off of the street. You do not have to start at Step 1...I didn't.

I do agree...contractors are paid well and we have a bunch making well over 100K in the I.T. area. But we do have contractors only making $20-25 bucks an hour doing the same work another GS12 counterpart is doing, i.e. PC Tech work. When I contracted, I loved it because I knew how much my contractor was getting for me, and I used it to negotiate my own salary. They might be paying a contractor $25 an hour, but they are getting $125 an hour for his/her services. I wish I had access to the contractor pay rate scale that the Federal Government uses to pay contractors for specific positions/services...I've only seen it once. Below is a link to the GS pay Scale...click the city that you are in to see how much you would make at each level. 2210 I.T. personnel can check the Special Wage Table and find their city there. GS-12 on up is the same for all. GS-12 on up is the norm in I.T. from personal and other friends/relatives experience.

http://www.fedjobs.com/pay/pay.html



EDIT: I see that you are in the DC area. I was going to use the DC/VA area as an example. DC is one of the main areas that many positions are paying at the GS13 and above due to the Cost of Living. There is a known fact through the FEderal Government that it is easy to transfer to DC to make higher grades, but it is tough to leave and keep your grade since many other places don't have as many 13,14,15 slots. I just had a co-worker move to D.C. for a transfer to make GS13...he is doing the same exact stuff he did here as an 11. The position is a 12 slide 13. They just flat out pay more in that area!!! I'm speaking strictly I.T.

LarryDaMan

Right, you seem excited about this. My wife works in HR, not sure of her occupation number. She is in the State Department.

Don't get me wrong, a federal position can be nice. The stability is great and the pay is not bad. BUT, on average, federal government contractors get paid more in my area.

If you have the qualifications to get hired on as a GS-12 for around 60k-70K... those same qualifications will earn you 80-90k as a contractor. Check out the IT qualifications needed for an average GS-12-13 position, we're talking about someone with decent skills.

I have an opportunity to get into a GS-13 spot in March, it would be a small pay decrease but I am considering it because of the stability and the fact that I can use my 10 years in the military towards retirement. Keep in mind for D.C, I would get a 21% location increase on top of the base salary in the scale.

It is all about location and personal preference. In a less populated area, a federal GS position is like gold! In the D.C area, the contractors make more.

Browse GS positions

www.usajobs.com

LarryDaMan

famosbrown wrote:

EDIT: I see that you are in the DC area. I was going to use the DC/VA area as an example. DC is one of the main areas that many positions are paying at the GS13 and above due to the Cost of Living. There is a known fact through the FEderal Government that it is easy to transfer to DC to make higher grades, but it is tough to leave and keep your grade since many other places don't have as many 13,14,15 slots. I just had a co-worker move to D.C. for a transfer to make GS13...he is doing the same exact stuff he did here as an 11. The position is a 12 slide 13. They just flat out pay more in that area!!! I'm speaking strictly I.T.

Yep, people get stuck here... both contractors and feds. The sad sad fact is that I probably couldn't make half of my current salary in Podunk, Wyoming or wherever. Granted, the cost of living is higher here, but people get used to the higher lifestyle. This is especially true for people like myself with a high level security clearance, not too many people care about that outside of D.C.

famosbrown

LarryDaMan wrote:

Right, you seem excited about this. My wife works in HR, not sure of her occupation number. She is in the State Department.

Don't get me wrong, a federal position can be nice. The stability is great and the pay is not bad. BUT, on average, federal government contractors get paid more in my area.

If you have the qualifications to get hired on as a GS-12 for around 60k-70K... those same qualifications will earn you 80-90k as a contractor. Check out the IT qualifications needed for an average GS-12-13 position, we're talking about someone with decent skills.

I have an opportunity to get into a GS-13 spot in March, it would be a small pay decrease but I am considering it because of the stability and the fact that I can use my 10 years in the military towards retirement. Keep in mind for D.C, I would get a 21% location increase on top of the base salary in the scale.

It is all about location and personal preference. In a less populated area, a federal GS position is like gold! In the D.C area, the contractors make more.

Browse GS positions

www.usajobs.com

No...not excited. Just did some homework before going GS myself, lol. I would like to add that it depends on what agency you work for and their budget. There are some Federal Agencies who have GS9's doing the same work a GS-14 is doing at another agency. I agree that some contractors make more, but it all depends on the job you are doing. If you are thinking about coming in as a GS-13, I'm sure you can negotiate a Step that would be at or above what you are making now, unless you are already making above 107K per year. I too came back to Federal Service so I can use some of my Active Duty time (Reservist) as time in service.

There are a lot of differences from being GS versus Contractor (depending on your contracting company). Tuition Assistance, Student Loan Repayment, military time calculation, awesome benefits including vaction and sick time separately, opportunities move to other agencies and not lose any money or time, etc., etc.

famosbrown

LarryDaMan wrote:

famosbrown wrote:

EDIT: I see that you are in the DC area. I was going to use the DC/VA area as an example. DC is one of the main areas that many positions are paying at the GS13 and above due to the Cost of Living. There is a known fact through the FEderal Government that it is easy to transfer to DC to make higher grades, but it is tough to leave and keep your grade since many other places don't have as many 13,14,15 slots. I just had a co-worker move to D.C. for a transfer to make GS13...he is doing the same exact stuff he did here as an 11. The position is a 12 slide 13. They just flat out pay more in that area!!! I'm speaking strictly I.T.

Yep, people get stuck here... both contractors and feds. The sad sad fact is that I probably couldn't make half of my current salary in Podunk, Wyoming or wherever. Granted, the cost of living is higher here, but people get used to the higher lifestyle. This is especially true for people like myself with a high level security clearance, not too many people care about that outside of D.C.

Well...D.C. is where most of the government jobs are, but I wouldn't say that you couldn't make good money elsewhere. Federal Government is international and you just have to find the position paying what you want. I'm in Indiana and we have workers as described above making 80K+ a year. In Indiana, 45K is VERY good living compared to other states cost of living!!

LarryDaMan

famosbrown wrote:

LarryDaMan wrote:

Right, you seem excited about this. My wife works in HR, not sure of her occupation number. She is in the State Department.

Don't get me wrong, a federal position can be nice. The stability is great and the pay is not bad. BUT, on average, federal government contractors get paid more in my area.

If you have the qualifications to get hired on as a GS-12 for around 60k-70K... those same qualifications will earn you 80-90k as a contractor. Check out the IT qualifications needed for an average GS-12-13 position, we're talking about someone with decent skills.

I have an opportunity to get into a GS-13 spot in March, it would be a small pay decrease but I am considering it because of the stability and the fact that I can use my 10 years in the military towards retirement. Keep in mind for D.C, I would get a 21% location increase on top of the base salary in the scale.

It is all about location and personal preference. In a less populated area, a federal GS position is like gold! In the D.C area, the contractors make more.

Browse GS positions

www.usajobs.com

No...not excited. Just did some homework before going GS myself, lol. I would like to add that it depends on what agency you work for and their budget. There are some Federal Agencies who have GS9's doing the same work a GS-14 is doing at another agency. I agree that some contractors make more, but it all depends on the job you are doing. If you are thinking about coming in as a GS-13, I'm sure you can negotiate a Step that would be at or above what you are making now, unless you are already making above 107K per year. I too came back to Federal Service so I can use some of my Active Duty time (Reservist) as time in service.

There are a lot of differences from being GS versus Contractor (depending on your contracting company). Tuition Assistance, Student Loan Repayment, military time calculation, awesome benefits including vaction and sick time separately, opportunities move to other agencies and not lose any money or time, etc., etc.

Good points. I am thinking about it real hard. I can't go much higher in my current contractor slot (except for annual bumps), so I am going to do something within the next 6 months or so. They are tempting me with this GS-13 offer and you are right about the step entrance. They normally will not make someone transfer in at a lower rate if a step adjustment can make up the difference.

Good luck with you. I am leaning towards taking the fed position, your positive spin on it may have made me lean a little more.

famosbrown

LarryDaMan wrote:

Good points. I am thinking about it real hard. I can't go much higher in my current contractor slot (except for annual bumps), so I am going to do something within the next 6 months or so. They are tempting me with this GS-13 offer and you are right about the step entrance. They normally will not make someone transfer in at a lower rate if a step adjustment can make up the difference.

Good luck with you. I am leaning towards taking the fed position, your positive spin on it may have made me lean a little more.

Thank you! Good luck to you too! I think it is a win-win for you if you go GS-13...especially with 10 years military. I can't remember, but I think you would go in getting a full 8 hours of annual leave per pay period for over 10 years of government service. It is either 10 or 15 years. Either way, you can add 10 more years toward retirement calculation walking in the door. I have a few relatives in the Baltimore/D.C. area and they all converted from contractor to G.S. and actually made a little to a lot more due to the Step level increases. It's all how you negotiate and if they are offering, I'm sure they would be more than happy to negotiate. No matter how much they bring you in at, they will definitely be saving money if they have you on board versus what they pay your contractor company per hour for your services.

Good luck and if I ever decide to move back to the East Coast and find myself at your agency, don't forget about me, LOL. You'll probably be GS-15 or SES by then .