Decided to pass on an entry-level IT position

jjasso21

I had went on an interview on Tuesday in a nearby Chicago suburb. The position was considered an entry-level Technical Help Desk. The company itself is a small 10 person company that resells used PC parts and accessories.The duties would include cleaning and testing PCs and laptops. I would then break them down and package the individual parts. Document the process and what not. It was a very easy job and I could practically do it in my sleep.

The recruiter who set this up said it was a full-time position and would try to negotiate for $15 an hour. She also mentioned it would be a full 40 hours a week and Mon-Fri 8 am to 4 pm. It sounded good for an entry-level position. I was looking to get replace my current job for this one.

I aced the interview and the hiring manager said he would like to contact me soon. The recruiter contacted me a day later and asked if I would like to have another interview with the hiring manager and the CEO. But there was bad news as well. Instead of a full-time position, it would be a 2-3 month contract with little to no chance for renewal. Instead of the $15 an hour, it would be $12 and insurance would be provided by the recruiting company Staffmark.

I told the recruiter I would have to pass on the position considering the circumstances. I work full-time at a hotel in Chicago earning $15.45 an hour in the F&B Department. I currently get great health and dental benefits. To drop $3.45 an hour would amount to a loss of $480 a month not counting before taxes and I would be out of a job after the contract in 3 months if I had taken the new position.

It just seems like they were trying to low ball be on hourly wages as I am not exactly a newbie in a break/fix environment. I worked on at least 40-50 computers in the past 5-6 years and at least 80-90 computers in my volunteer gig bringing them to working order. I thanked the recruiter as she was very nice herself and had worked quite a bit to get me this far. I was also told they fully expected me to leave and find a new position in 2-3 months. I was hoping to get this job and leverage it into an entry-level Desktop Support position in a few months.

So back to applying for new positions for me. I was actually surprised the recruiter had went this far to help me. I had went to at least 6 recruiting companies in Chicago. But it seemed fruitless as they are interested in only experienced contractors. They would typically never contact you back and seemed to only want to fill a quota for the position in question. If it was 2 years ago when I was unemployed I would have jumped on the offer. But seeing as I have rent, bills, and school loans to pay, it just wasn't the right time. But it's fine though, I'll just keep on trying and not give up hope lol.

blargoe

I would have passed on this one too. In reality, you might have to settle for a contract position, but this one was a sure bet to not have a job in 3 months.

If you're happy with the recruiter that you worked with, stick with him! Recruiters are kinda a pain, but good ones make it worth the hassle.

N2IT

Pass

Getting into IT is obviously important, but certain situation aren't worth it. I think you may have found one of those. I'm familiar with the cost of living in Chicago, I have several friends up that way. I think you are worth at least 17-18 an hour. Maybe not quite 20, but closer to 20 than 10.

Everyone

It always makes me giggle when tiny companies like this say they have a "CEO".

There doesn't seem to be a lot of entry level IT work available in the Chicago area right now. A friend of mine has been trying to find something for months now. There's quite a bit for mid level, and seems like there's even more for senior level. I'm sure given a little time it will shift, as people move up, more entry level jobs will become available.

N2IT

Everyone wrote: »

There's quite a bit for mid level, and seems like there's even more for senior level. I'm sure given a little time it will shift, as people move up, more entry level jobs will become available.

I agree with this completely.

2 of my friends a few years back were floating around as mid level managers for a large hosting company. Their only chance of promotion was to move from St. Louis up to Chicago. One went into a director infrastructure role and the other into a senior level manager role.

I had some co-workers experienced this as well. The company I worked for had several corporate offices one of the offices was in St. Louis and the other was in Chicago. A few of them had to move up there as well to get their promotions.

grayfox587

There are a lot of Help Desk Jobs, a ton of high level jobs, just have to search. Ultimately a job your going to score is $12-15, its tough to get a good paying job.


p.s.

Do you take the train from Chicago to the burbs, I swear I see you on my train, if that pic is you lol

jjasso21

Thanks for all of the kind comments. Also sometimes I do take the Red Line and the Blue Line, so it is possible lol. Either way I have two interviews for tomorrow with two staffing companies for positions I had applied for. They are set early in the afternoon after I take the Security+ test. Talk about having a full day lol.

FloOz

damn thats terrible 12 and hour lol i get that much being an intern! good you passed on it

techinthewoods

Definitely pass. The bait and switch on the pay alone is enough reason to pass.

erpadmin

The fishing analogy works in this situation.

You caught a fish so tiny, you're better off just throwing it back in the water, and then cast your line for something bigger. With patience, you'll get a nice bite.

techdudehere

There have always been IT jobs with terrible pay. The jobs with the worst pay usually include the worst working conditions, too. For your area, unless you can earn 15+/hr then you are better off not taking a position. You only have so many earning years before retirement and you can't spend all of them giving your time away. You'd be better off starting your own business than taking a position that pays 12$/hr. The experience from that job would not be very valuable in any event. There must be a lot of events around the Chicago area, I would try to find ways to meet business owners and other techs. I would think there must be much better opportunities for both pay and learning experience. This would be a career path to becoming an 80 year old, disgruntled Walmart greeter. Shocking that anyone would even offer a wage like that.

grayfox587

You should really stop with the recruiters/staffing companies, you say you have volunteer experience, you should land a job easily on your own.