Life & Career Advice Welcomed

MagnumOpus

Six months into the world of IT and several doors are beginning to open. I'm currently employed with Geek Squad and enrolled at WGU, but I need advice in which course of action is best. I'm in limbo between choosing to advance my career (IBM) while attending WGU or holding my current position (flexible) at GS while attending/completing my degree plan at WGU. Both situations have their benefits but since the IT realm is a different animal, any advice in navigating these waters would be awesome

Thanks in Advance.

networker050184

I don't see any reason not to move on from Geek Squad and onto a real job in IT.

datacomboss

So, you can't complete your degree at WGU while at IBM? Or did I misunderstand?

I can't see any benefits to staying at Geek Squad.

ajs1976

Unless you are going to IBM to be a janitor, go. Having a name like IBM on your resume will help you a lot later.

TomkoTech

Pretty much seems like a no brainer.

Tyb

If you can handle the hours at IBM and maintain your studies, I would say go for the new job.

MagnumOpus

datacomboss wrote: »

So, you can't complete your degree at WGU while at IBM? Or did I misunderstand?

I can't see any benefits to staying at Geek Squad.

Of course I can complete my studies at IBM, but the flexibility I have now will certainly dissipate if I leave GS. My current flexibility allows for several hours of study and chance of rapidly completing my degree plan. I really don't know if the risk of staying at GS for that very reason is worth the reward.

MagnumOpus

Tyb wrote: »

If you can handle the hours at IBM and maintain your studies, I would say go for the new job.

Studies would definitely change and this is more-so what concerns me the most. At the same time, I don't want to seem like I'm kicking the bucket.

Thanks

TomkoTech

Most people hiring in the IT industry are going to look at Geek Squad and laugh. People have experience with them personally or through family/friends. Not ALL GS members are bad, but a lot of them are. However just about anyone looking at a resume with IBM on it is going to sit up and take notice.

The main question here is what is the job you would be doing at IBM? To me the amount of time you take to get your degree is irrelevant considering the number of people in the IT field sans degree. If you have your foot in the door at one of the top paying companies in the industry and you didn't take it I would think you are foolish. Once you are at IBM you will probably learn a lot more just working that you would studying. Once you get your degree you already have the IN at a great company. It would be easier to transition to another position.

And your studies wouldn't HAVE to slack. If you decided you wanted to finish you degree in X amount of time then do it. Stop wasting hours watching TV shows every week. DVR them and catch up after. Tell your friends you can't go to the game or the bar until after you finish your degree. Yes it would suck. And yes you could burn yourself out if you are prone to that sort of thing. But it is doable. There is no reason not to take the job at IBM in my opinion.

SixtyCycle

You spent your time, money and energy with school and a low level position at GS hoping that someday, several years from now after jumping from one small company to another you could land a job at one of the respected companies in IT such as IBM. If you are indeed guaranteed a position at IBM you just fast-forwarded your life/career by 5-10 years with no education and experience.

itsgonnahappen

SixtyCycle wrote: »

You spent your time, money and energy with school and a low level position at GS hoping that someday, several years from now after jumping from one small company to another you could land a job at one of the respected companies in IT such as IBM. If you are indeed guaranteed a position at IBM you just fast-forwarded your life/career by 5-10 years with no education and experience.

I second that. This is a no-brainier. Accept the position at IBM and count your blessings.

MagnumOpus

TomkoTech wrote: »

Most people hiring in the IT industry are going to look at Geek Squad and laugh. People have experience with them personally or through family/friends. Not ALL GS members are bad, but a lot of them are. However just about anyone looking at a resume with IBM on it is going to sit up and take notice.

The main question here is what is the job you would be doing at IBM? To me the amount of time you take to get your degree is irrelevant considering the number of people in the IT field sans degree. If you have your foot in the door at one of the top paying companies in the industry and you didn't take it I would think you are foolish. Once you are at IBM you will probably learn a lot more just working that you would studying. Once you get your degree you already have the IN at a great company. It would be easier to transition to another position.

And your studies wouldn't HAVE to slack. If you decided you wanted to finish you degree in X amount of time then do it. Stop wasting hours watching TV shows every week. DVR them and catch up after. Tell your friends you can't go to the game or the bar until after you finish your degree. Yes it would suck. And yes you could burn yourself out if you are prone to that sort of thing. But it is doable. There is no reason not to take the job at IBM in my opinion.

You spent your time, money and energy with school and a low level position at GS hoping that someday, several years from now after jumping from one small company to another you could land a job at one of the respected companies in IT such as IBM. If you are indeed guaranteed a position at IBM you just fast-forwarded your life/career by 5-10 years with no education and experience.

Thanks for taking your time to put this in perspective. I've made a few mistakes in the past and to make a long story short; I chose the well-paying job over my studies. In the instance, it's clear I will just have to pony up. Nonetheless, thanks for the insight.

Dakinggamer87

As everyone else has said I would jump to IBM!!

You can do it

stryder144

TomkoTech wrote: »

Most people hiring in the IT industry are going to look at Geek Squad and laugh. People have experience with them personally or through family/friends. Not ALL GS members are bad, but a lot of them are. However just about anyone looking at a resume with IBM on it is going to sit up and take notice.

You know, you've got a point with this one. I have a part-time job with GS and I consider myself to be one of the better ones. Having said that, though, how do you prove it? I think I'll have to ask my manager if I can get copies of the positive statements from our surveys. While I don't need them, the company I work for full-time is fairly prestigious in the telecom world, having copies might help if I should decide to move on to another part-time position somewhere else.

MagnumOpus

Didn't land it . On to the next one it is. -Thanks again

kohr-ah

Keep at it! I cant tell you how many times I was told 'No' before I got a 'yes'