Urgent, need advice...

hex_omega

I've been working for a company on behalf of a temp agency for about 6 months now making just $10/hr. I just got a job offer from another temp agency for a position at another company making $12.22/hr doing help desk. Very different from what I do now. The only catch is that I would have to re-locate, and I am not satisfied with the rate of pay, considering I have to live off $12.22 an hour. Was hoping for more along the lines of $13-14/hr.

I didn't accept the job on the spot, and they are telling me they need a decision by tomorrow. I want to go into my current workplace tomorrow and tell them I'd like to be hired on perm, but I don't exactly know how to do this. Or how to negotiate my pay rate. I would also definitely need a decision from my current employer tomorrow. I just need to know what exactly they can offer me to justify either staying there or packing up and taking the offer from the other place.

Any thoughts?

blargoe

What are you doing at your current job?

$2.22/hr doesn't seem like enough to relocate, unless you are just looking to relocate.

hex_omega

It's an hour drive. I was seriously thinking of just making the commute every day. The contract is only 6 months to a year, so it might just be a thing where I do it for 6 months for the exp, and then bail.

What I do now is Computer Technician work, very hands on. But not challenging and sort of boring. It's not yoru traditonal Comp Tech job where you're fixing customers PCs. We have a set line of systems we sell and it becomes very monotonous building, configuring, and fixing the systems.

chmorin

The raise in pay will all be going to gas. If the work is the same as your current job, You'd be better off staying there.

hex_omega

I'm not doing help desk right now. I guess my main concern is if I am going to HATE help desk.

chmorin

hex_omega wrote: »

I'm not doing help desk right now. I guess my main concern is if I am going to HATE help desk.

If you think hands on networking is boring, wait till you try the hands off side of customer support! (In other words, if you enjoy being active and not dealing much with end users, help desk is not for you.)

earweed

Sounds like quite a dilemma. Should you leave your temp job that you're not satisfied with and go to one where you're getting new experience.
Any chance they mentioned you getting any kind of raise in the future at the prospective job?
Are you making enough to live on right now, because the raise would mostly go into gas commuting.
Thinking ahead though imo I would probably go for the help desk job as that could possibly lead into either a permanent position or a better help desk job somewhere else. It seems that a lot of people in IT have had to start in help desk in order to advance.

themagicone

What ever you decide to do, make sure you talk to the temp agency you are working for now before you say anything to the current employer. They might have a contract in place and if you bypass the agency they may be not so happy with you. You work for them, not the company you go to everyday. Just some advice, I've been in this position a few times.

hex_omega

earweed wrote: »

Sounds like quite a dilemma. Should you leave your temp job that you're not satisfied with and go to one where you're getting new experience.
Any chance they mentioned you getting any kind of raise in the future at the prospective job?
Are you making enough to live on right now, because the raise would mostly go into gas commuting.
Thinking ahead though imo I would probably go for the help desk job as that could possibly lead into either a permanent position or a better help desk job somewhere else. It seems that a lot of people in IT have had to start in help desk in order to advance.

They said they were hiring many more helpdesk employees. There is no doubt the company is doing well. So there's the possibility I guess of moving upward into a different role. I am 23 and live with my parents, so no rent. Just a car payment, insurance, and cell phone each month.

Monkerz

hex_omega wrote: »

I am 23 and live with my parents, so no rent. Just a car payment, insurance, and cell phone each month.

You know how many times I wish I was able to go back home and pay no bills? Daily!

Enjoy it while it lasts...I sure didn't.

xenodamus

Since you have the stability of living at home I would be more concerned with which position will be better for your career. Where could you be in the next few years at each job?

hex_omega

Well, I am going to bring it up at work tomorrow. I'm going to tell them I have an offer on the table and would like to be hired on perm if they wish to keep me.

Do you think asking for $3 more than the $10 I get paid now is unreasonable? I imagine the company is probably paying the agency more than that for my labor.

earweed

hex_omega wrote: »

They said they were hiring many more helpdesk employees. There is no doubt the company is doing well. So there's the possibility I guess of moving upward into a different role. I am 23 and live with my parents, so no rent. Just a car payment, insurance, and cell phone each month.

Should probably talk it over with your parents too. If the other job is a way for you to advance (and eventually relocate) they may be all for it. Depends on a lot of things like
1) can you ever advance up where you're working now
2) possibility of finding a job nearer to where you currently live if that other job only lasts 6 months to a year
3) How old is your car? Making that drive every day may take a toll on an older car.
4) Would you want to relocate to be nearer that other job if it turns permanent?
5) Most important before taking that other job, how are you at dealing with people? You've been working at something which is way less customer related than help desk.

twodogs62

Make sure you want to do helpdesk. It is not an easy job. If you lose your voice due to cold, it is really hard getting over the cold. I've been there done that.
Are there new skills you will get in job?
Is it just walking people over the phone? Do you get to remote machines?
Do they provide training? How many hours per day do you have to be on phone?
Do they give you bathroom breaks? Believe me, I've heard horror stories, you have to be on the phone so many hours per day or you get docked. And bathroom breaks take time away.

There is good and bad in helpdesk jobs. For me it gave me confidence in talking with people over the phone. Now that I'm a Net Admin, I still find I do help desk type work with our desktop support people and other net admins, etc.... I found that the skill allows me to easily find a way to fix someone's computer or server by not necessarily driving each time to their site.

Is there other opportunities? Remember too if it is temp job, they are doing two things, 1) checking you out to see if they want to hire you for a better job, or 2) just paying you for a job they need done.