Career Connundrum

Kinet1c

I have a bit of a career conundrum. I'm fairly sure I know which route but can't hurt to get another opinion(s).

Current Role:
Desktop Support lvl 2 - no server/networking/virtualisation exposure, only desktop
Minimal certifications paid for, only those relevant to my current job (ie. MCSA Windows 7)
Absolutely no potential to gain exposure to those technologies previously mentioned, very slow moving company with red tape galore
Salary: For arguments sake lets say €50k

Potential Role: (all interviews are completed and I feel I have done enough to get an offer)
Infrastructure Support - server/networking/virtualisation exposure, no desktop
All the certifications I want paid for (prometric/pearsonvue fees that is)
Good opportunity for new skills if I'm hungry for it... which I am
Salary: €35k


I'm married, no kids (currently) and not a huge amount of debt/outgoings that I couldn't restructure if I took the pay cut.

LarryDaMan

Ah, keep the extra 15k per year and pay for your own certs and technology training. Also, take a fun vacation and have a nice dinner. Seriously, it is clear by how you worded your post that you obviously want the infrastructure support position. Taking a 30% pay cut is not what I would do, but if money is not your major concern... do what makes you happy.

epcg

Well this reads a lot like whats going on with me. However I do get exposure to networking, servers, vmware, sans, and etc. But I want the responsible and job title.

If I didn't have a family to support I would already have the title but cant afford the pay cut. Its not huge but I just can't. So if you can and shes fine with the choice then go for it. You can't be scared of whats out there or what may happen. Also my dream is to one day get a job that pays for any certifications. Good luck

veritas_libertas

@Kinect1: I'm having the same problem. I'm being paid above what most Desktop Support techs in my area would typically be making and I'm having trouble getting offers to move into entry-level infrastructure/networking positions that are equivalent or more than what I'm currently making.

networker050184

It was a no brainer up until the salary part. Sounds like it is definitely a good move career wise, but be sure you can handle the pay cut if you decide to do it. Money isn't everything, but you do need to make enough to support yourself.

da_vato

Sounds like the pay cut would only be temporary plus it sounds the like the potential to grow or move around is significantly better. Being that you don't have kids or an insane amount of debt I would happily take the paycut if I were in your shoes.

NetworkVeteran

Job 1 wrote:

Minimal certifications paid for, only those relevant to my current job (ie. MCSA Windows 7)For arguments sake lets say €50k

Job 2 wrote:

ll the certifications I want paid for (prometric/pearsonvue fees that is)Salary: €35k

If they're offering to cover Pearson/Prometric fees, how much did that cost you last year? Let's assume it's $1,000 or less. Now it's a simple comparison of $50k vs $36k. Often we put too much emphasis on items like "free training" or "free testing" when the amounts offered are often quite small and there may be strings attached.

The tough part is of course better career advancement in return for a pay cut.

Can you ask your present employer to allow you to volunteer to do other types of work in your off hours? Can you push the $36k job to toss in $7k more for you? Have you looked long enough to know that's the best pay you can get for a job that offers you exposure to the sorts of technologies you want to work with?

Look to shuffle things around so you don't sacrifice so much.

Pseudo_node

I agree that it would be a good career move (if you can afford it) and the experience you will gain may be worth it in the long run; if you pick up certs and are good at the job, then you will make up the money lost (look at it as an investment).

Kinet1c

Thanks for the advice folks

NetworkVeteran wrote: »

If they're offering to cover Pearson/Prometric fees, how much did that cost you last year? Let's assume it's $1,000 or less. Now it's a simple comparison of $50k vs $36k. Often we put too much emphasis on items like "free training" or "free testing" when the amounts offered are often quite small and there may be strings attached.

The tough part is of course better career advancement in return for a pay cut.

Can you ask your present employer to allow you to volunteer to do other types of work in your off hours? Can you push the $36k job to toss in $7k more for you? Have you looked long enough to know that's the best pay you can get for a job that offers you exposure to the sorts of technologies you want to work with?

Look to shuffle things around so you don't sacrifice so much.

My current employer's infrastructure is managed in another part of the world (not interested in relocating) and it's control will not be returning to our office. I've thought about the negotiation, so waiting for the official offer with final details before I ask for anything. I've been looking in total for ~3 months that will give me a good grounding on a variety of technologies, this appears to be the best one I've come across so far and have managed to get interviews with.

There's no catch with the certs, I've asked. I know it's not a lot of cash but it's dollars out the door. I'm provided with vouchers and away I go to do the exam. I don't have to pay up front and seek reimbursement.

Asif Dasl

If it were me I would get MCSA & VCP before looking for a new job, you only give potential employers a reason to low-ball you without them. I understand that the lower paid one has better opportunites but the salaries listed for the top one is not realistic so it's hard to say if I would stay or not. Like I say I would get more certifications and see what the new year brings. That may not be what you want to hear from me though - because it sounds as if you want to move now.

Kinet1c

It may not be what I want to hear but this is why I posted, all opinions are welcome. I'm going to see if an offer is provided and go from there... I may not even get one so probably jumping the gun.

Kinet1c

Job offer arrived and having looked at financials, it wasn't feasible for me to accept it in it's current state. I've requested a higher base salary, will see how it goes.

networker050184

Hopefully something can be agrees upon. Good luck!

cgrimaldo

Following this thread as I am in a similar position.....good luck to you!

srabiee

I would never accept a paycut that substantial. And I would almost feel offended at the offer. At the very least I would feel like Company B wasted my time. But then again I get pissed off easily when it comes to stuff like that.

RouteMyPacket

Ask yourself this, what is the experience you will get at the new job worth to you? Does it fit perfectly into where you want to be 5yrs from now?

Now the most important question of all. Can I afford the paycut?

If the answer is absolutely no to the paycut, skip it this time and continue studying for the server level certifications. Pay is irrelevant for you right now, sure you want what you can get but trust me, the money will come once the experience is there and depending on how driven you are, it can and will come at an extremely fast pace trust me.

Asif Dasl

+1 what RouteMyPacket said!

Kinet1c

RouteMyPacket wrote: »

Now the most important question of all. Can I afford the paycut?

If the answer is absolutely no to the paycut, skip it this time and continue studying for the server level certifications. Pay is irrelevant for you right now, sure you want what you can get but trust me, the money will come once the experience is there and depending on how driven you are, it can and will come at an extremely fast pace trust me.

Having gone over the figures, we can take a hit on my salary but not that much of a cut. As it stands, I've turned it down as there doesn't appear to be room for negotiation. I'll keep on studying. Thanks!

jibbajabba

Up until a couple of years ago I would have changed for career sake in a heartbeat ... no matter what the "cost" ... But the trouble is, every company has issues. Just because the new job sounds great on paper - it might not be.

I learned it the hard way - you go down in salary for a job ... a few months down the line you realize the company is rubbish - the job sucks - the people suck - something .. NOw you got neither a good job, nor a good salary. This can be more frustrating than anything.

You are likely to stay if either is brilliant, money or job or both. But if both suck - you outta there.

Long story short - Use the "extra" money to study as mentioned above .. In fact, calculate how much after tax you'd earn on the lower wage and put the difference away and see how you get on ...

Kinet1c

Got a definitive no on room for negotiation so I turned it down officially.

Kinet1c

Over 2 months on and the company that low balled me are still looking to fill the position. €5k more and I'd have taken it.

Anyway, starting to look at tech ops jobs so I'm hoping to work through LPIC-1 and python over the coming months.

bermovick

HA! Serves them right, doesn't it?

One thing to consider is to check back with them, let them know you're still interested if they can meet what you need -- the longer the position goes unfilled, the more a "buyer's market" it becomes (at least I would think so).

ande0255

The experience you will get from that job will cover the pay difference you'll take right now down the road, that's a damn good amount of exposure. Especially if you get certs to back it, you will be thanking yourself in 5 years for doing it.

If you have major debt, I wouldn't even factor it into the decision, it'll probably be around for a long, long time.

DirtySouth

Thats a difficult decision for sure. If you had some network/virtualization certs in hand, would the base salary be hire? If so, will that opportunity be available in 6-12 months after getting some certs?

roch_greg

The OP has got things sorted but I would like to add that taking a pay cut of 30% is significant, especially in these times when everything is so uncertain.

On average the usual Cost of Living Increase (sometimes called a raise) is between the current inflation rate and say 4%. I say usual because many, including myself, haven't had a pay increase since before the last recession.

To advance your salary by 10% or more in a year you would need to find another job. Either with the same company or somewhere else.

Even if he got back to 50k in 5 years he wouldn't be in the same place financially due to inflation. Which at the current rate of 2% or so he'd need to get to around 55k.

Kinet1c

Wanted to do a follow up from this. Not taking that role 18+ months ago was a good move Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I've got more exposure to monitoring, linux, infrastructure support and 24/7/365 online business.

The NOC role I took 12 months ago has been interesting but the most important thing I've taken from it is that I've learned what I do and don't want from a job.

With the RHCSA in a transition period, I may look to LPIC2 to expand my *nix knowledge along with an internal or external job move. Could be a lateral move at this stage as I still need to work on my scripting/automation so a smaller company might be a better option for me at this point in my career.

cgrimaldo

That's great news!

anhtran35

You might as well take up an internship for free part time then work for a low ball company full time. Congrats!

NotHackingYou

Thanks for the follow up.

Kinet1c

Another update, starting next month I'll be working NOC in one of the top global IT security firms. Got a very worthwhile bump across the board in my package. Looking forward to the new challenge. It's a lateral move but it's to a smaller organisation which is in startup mode so hoping to learn a lot more than I have in my current role over the past 12 months.