Low-pay IT Job Dilemna

Hello,

I have been to a few interviews and I just received my first IT job offer in a NOC Tech part-time position. The pay is $12/hr at 30 hours a week and it could "potentially" turn into a full-time position. I have a CCENT, CompTIA A+, a degree in Networking Technology Services, and I have been through the Cisco Networking Academy as well as Internship in the ITS Department at my college.

My question to you is, should I take this offer or continue my hunt? I would be moving 2 hours away and living on my own. Is this a typically starting pay for a recent graduate with certs?

Find more posts tagged with

Free for TechExams community: Cybersecurity salary guide

Compare cert salaries and plan your next career move

Button

Comments

Akaricloud

It's around 11k/year for a single person.

MiikeB

drkat wrote: »

??? 18720?? awesome!

isnt the poverty line something around there?

Yea for a family of 4.

I still don't see why no one is suggesting a second job? Is that really a foreign concept to people here? He is working 30 hours a week, no reason he can't pick up another 25 somewhere else.

ptilsen

Actually, I have a better thought. I was honestly going to recommend not going for it, but I re-thought that a bit.

Take the job, despite the bad -- yes, bad -- pay. Frankly, even for the area, the pay is just not commensurate with your qualifications. I don't care if it's for networking experience and I don't care that you don't have your CCNA. Helpdesk jobs requiring just A+ or less usually start higher than that in comparable regions. You have a decent set of entry-level qualifications and are worth more. When I started with an A+ and no degree in 2006, I probably wouldn't have touched a $12/hr job.

However, if you can truly afford to live, reasonably, on $12/hr 30 hours a week, take it. It's better than what you're doing know, and it gets you out of the house. In your ridiculous spare time, keep studying. Finish CCNA. Start into CCNP, or maybe a four-year degree -- or both. As long as you invest the time well, the money you lose now doesn't matter. The experience will be valuable, and if you can build more qualifications for yourself it will pay off anyway.

That being said... push for $13, even $12.50. If they're really serious about you and filling the position, I think the extra $1 is feasible

onesaint

NetworkVeteran wrote: »

Fair enough. This is what $600/mo buys in Jacksonville, FL--

GREAT POOL HOME

That and there was a 3bdrm for 1100 I saw too. Crazy how expensive things are here in LA and what for? Oh, Hollywood, I forgot.

Iristheangel

NetworkVeteran wrote: »

You can rent a single bedroom for less even in NYC or LA--with a nice kitchen, dining room, and living room--you'd have no trouble bringing girls over to.

Agreed. I used to live in Pasadena and paid $850 for a one bedroom apartment off of old town (near Los Robles). It was a nice area and it was about 550 square feet. I now live in Anaheim in a one bedroom apartment that's about 700 square feet for $795. The neighborhood isn't the best or the worst and I'm saving a ton for my future house. There are always deals around for housing, cars, etc so you can live within your budget while you're building yourself up. You can also rent a room in a nicehouse for $500-800 in the Los Angeles/Inland Empire/Orange County area. The only con to that is that your roommates will be wildcards.

I echo everyone when I say "Go for it." Most of us take a hit pay-wise when we first start out but after that initial hurdle is out of the way, it'll be very easy to double your income. Unfortunately, not many employers take a CCENT or a two year degree very seriously so the fact that you found a non-help desk job that's willing to hire you is great.

Vik210

i cant comment on your living expense… regarding job opportunity, I will take it if I were you.. people pay so much to learn and you are getting paid.. moreover you can change whenever you want..
all the best..

LauZaIM

I am a little surprised at how many people are suggesting I took the job. Originally they were only offering me $11/hr and I discussed with him further and I was able to bump it to $12/hr. An apartment in this area is about $600/month but you have to figure in utilities as well because they are not included. In addition there is car insurance, cell phone bills, student loan bills, an amazon credit card bill, grocery bills, and gas bills. All of this added up costs more then my income. I've only had my CCENT for a couple weeks and managed to land this job offer. The cert was actually a major part of why they offered it to me.

After discussing it with the girlfriend and parents I declined the offer. It just wouldn't be feasible to live off of $12/hr part time and not wish I had just waited for a full-time version of something similar. As I said before, I plan to get a job in about 2 months. Hopefully the market isn't THAT bad..If it takes longer I'll just have to delay the proposal.

I am definitely brushing up on CCNA material and I'll hopefully pass that at the end of this month. It was a very hard decision and I spent many hours on the phone with the better half, but in the end I think its definitely possible to find a full-time position that pays similar if not more with my credentials is it not?

RouteThisWay

Good luck. And yes it is possible for sure! Especially once you knock out ICND2 and get your CCNA.

networker050184

Nothing is definite of course, but I think you can at least find something similar that is full time.

Akaricloud

Keep hunting and you'll find something!

Definitely stay ontop of things though. Either go for your CCNA or start on some MS certifications depending on what interests you most.

techdudehere

Smart move but I would not wait 2 months to find a job. I would visit the chamber of commerce and get a list of employers that may need you. I would call area recruiters. Leverage any business contacts you can through your family. I might even go to a Linux Users group or similar to make contacts. You can get the same job someone with few years or experience might get simply by using your contacts and showing people you're the type of person who learns fast. It's also important to show people you're the guy they want to see every day when they walk in the office. I have never been enlisted but if I were a young man today I think I'd talk to some of the guys who are enlisted on here and find out about what that is like. It seems like the government offers good benefits. Forget going deep in debt for an overpriced degree if you can score early retirement and get the government to pay for a degree later if you want it. I'm aiming for semi-retirement by 55 in the private sector but it's not easy, to take care of yourself and your girlfriend you'll probably need 80-90k just to get by forget about being able to save anything you'll need a lot more.

Complete_IT_Professional

LauZaIM wrote: »

I think its definitely possible to find a full-time position that pays similar if not more with my credentials is it not?

From what I've read, the 18k per year seems pretty low (even for a part time job), but that's just my impression and I don't know your market.
If you're after a full time position, I'm sure one will come along - and you'll be getting more pay from the 40 hours full time than the 30 hours part time!