Should I Stay or Go: 'Comfort & $$$$' or 'Experience, Growth, New Skills But Less $'

So here is my situation. I have my A.S. in Computer Networking, finishing my AA this year and then starting on Bachelors in Business Administration in Jan 2010. I have been working in IT for just over 4 years and I spent a year and a half of that being a Network Admin dealing also with hands on desktop support, network support, and everything in between. The past two and a half years Ive been working starting out with 2nd level desktop support and then starting last year I have been doing network account provisioning and access management, namely creating and provisioning AD accounts, dealing with shared network resources and mailboxes, etc. Im currently studying for Network+ and will take at the end of March. I then will get the A+ real quick after that before starting my CCENT.

Here's my situation. Im not sure what my current position dealing with network account provisioning and stuff translates into at other companies so I dont really know how to categorize the work I do because I dont have full AD control but I still deal with it. I make alot of money for what I actually do when I look at other job listings for Network Admins and other positions that do alot more work. Right now Im at over 50k. Its an extremely easy and cush job and Im very comfortable just sitting here staying in it. The problem is its too easy and I need more of a challenge and want to gain more varied experience and want to get back into the networking and server side of things. From what I see though unless I get more certs and can take contract positions, the networking admin, or other IT jobs that I think I could get pay less than what I make, and some are for companies that are small or Ive never heard of before (I work for the 2nd largest bank in the nation).

I dont know if Im selling myself short in thinking I can only try for basic entry level network admin or support jobs or what but the jobs out there I know I could get or that I would try for would definitely be a pay cut and maybe not as secure as Im at now. I dont really know what to do, its like Im stuck. Im afraid to step my toes into the pool or something. I dont know what is going to be better for my future but I dont think staying in this position is going to get me the networking or server admin experience that I want or will need to be able to move up into more advanced positions. Im looking anywhere from 6-12 months out so I can get the certs to add to my resume to go along with my experience. So what has anyone done when in this situation or what would they do?

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Comments

msethk

I would probably stay where I'm at. Jobs are hard to come by and if your making a good living then why would you want to leave? Yeah it's nice to learn new things and I don't know know your financial situation, but to me in the end I do what I do to make a living. If I am making a good living and I'm happy with the job then I would stay put. I wouldn't leave just because you think you need to learn more and get paid less. Sounds like your in a good spot to keep getting that "experience" factor on the resume. You can learn more by studying at home and then applying what you can at your current job. Maybe one day you can move into an even higher paying job.

apena7

I would stay.
Right now, I would not changed jobs unless I'm forced to. In my opinion, I would stay at the bank and soak up as many stimulus dollars as I could

.

Work on those certs while adding another year to this job on your resume.

Claymoore

Personally I found this book to be useless, but you might like it:
Amazon.com: Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life: Spencer Johnson, Kenneth Blanchard: Books
I recommend just going to Borders and reading it, though. Tricking millions of people to pay $20 for what is essentially a children's parable with big words to make it seem more adult is the real magic of the book. However, if you struggle with the idea of change in your life then maybe it will help.

Is there the possibility for advancement at your current company or will you have to move on in order to move up? Also, in IT, you tend to make your money walking in the door to your next job - not sticking around your current one. Even if you get some additional responsibilities, you may have to move on to get that next big jump in pay.

Certifications in any area may not prove you can do the job, but they will definitely help you get the job. Applying for any Windows admin role without at least some sort of MS cert will probably doom your chances of getting an interview regardless of your actual abilities. An alphabet soup of certs will get you past the HR resume filter and (hopefully) at least get your resume seen. From there you are on your own, but if you studied hard and didn't **** you may survive the tech interviews.

brad-

Stay.

You want to learn something...set up a lab and not worry about where your paycheck is coming from in 3 months.

Turgon

JoJoCal19 wrote: »

So here is my situation. I have my A.S. in Computer Networking, finishing my AA this year and then starting on Bachelors in Business Administration in Jan 2010. I have been working in IT for just over 4 years and I spent a year and a half of that being a Network Admin dealing also with hands on desktop support, network support, and everything in between. The past two and a half years Ive been working starting out with 2nd level desktop support and then starting last year I have been doing network account provisioning and access management, namely creating and provisioning AD accounts, dealing with shared network resources and mailboxes, etc. Im currently studying for Network+ and will take at the end of March. I then will get the A+ real quick after that before starting my CCENT.

Here's my situation. Im not sure what my current position dealing with network account provisioning and stuff translates into at other companies so I dont really know how to categorize the work I do because I dont have full AD control but I still deal with it. I make alot of money for what I actually do when I look at other job listings for Network Admins and other positions that do alot more work. Right now Im at over 50k. Its an extremely easy and cush job and Im very comfortable just sitting here staying in it. The problem is its too easy and I need more of a challenge and want to gain more varied experience and want to get back into the networking and server side of things. From what I see though unless I get more certs and can take contract positions, the networking admin, or other IT jobs that I think I could get pay less than what I make, and some are for companies that are small or Ive never heard of before (I work for the 2nd largest bank in the nation).

I dont know if Im selling myself short in thinking I can only try for basic entry level network admin or support jobs or what but the jobs out there I know I could get or that I would try for would definitely be a pay cut and maybe not as secure as Im at now. I dont really know what to do, its like Im stuck. Im afraid to step my toes into the pool or something. I dont know what is going to be better for my future but I dont think staying in this position is going to get me the networking or server admin experience that I want or will need to be able to move up into more advanced positions. Im looking anywhere from 6-12 months out so I can get the certs to add to my resume to go along with my experience. So what has anyone done when in this situation or what would they do?

Stay precisely where you are for now. Ramp up on your certification studies to keep the brain cells stimulated. There is increasingly limited access to systems in many IT jobs these days due to rationalisation, standards, outsourcing, offshoring and change control. So you might find a job change gives you less exposure than you thought it would quite frankly. This is particularly the case in larger shops but even smaller ones are heading that way.

Get yourself some exposure through studies to the MCSE and CCNA, this will help you put what you have around you into more context even if you don't administrate servers and network equipment in any depth. You have a job and responsibilities and both these do count for a lot. Use the comfort zone you have there to really start learning things in more depth because you will mostly likely have the time to do that in this job. Keep the paycheck and study hard for the rest of this year. Then start asking the right questions of the head office engineers who look after the specialist responsibilities of your IT infrastructure. Once you have a good study footprint and have taken time to *relearn* what you have around you and how it really hangs together you will be better placed when the job market finally stops tanking.

Good luck.

Alif_Sadida_Ekin

JoJoCal19 wrote: »

So here is my situation. I have my A.S. in Computer Networking, finishing my AA this year and then starting on Bachelors in Business Administration in Jan 2010. I have been working in IT for just over 4 years and I spent a year and a half of that being a Network Admin dealing also with hands on desktop support, network support, and everything in between. The past two and a half years Ive been working starting out with 2nd level desktop support and then starting last year I have been doing network account provisioning and access management, namely creating and provisioning AD accounts, dealing with shared network resources and mailboxes, etc. Im currently studying for Network+ and will take at the end of March. I then will get the A+ real quick after that before starting my CCENT.

Here's my situation. Im not sure what my current position dealing with network account provisioning and stuff translates into at other companies so I dont really know how to categorize the work I do because I dont have full AD control but I still deal with it. I make alot of money for what I actually do when I look at other job listings for Network Admins and other positions that do alot more work. Right now Im at over 50k. Its an extremely easy and cush job and Im very comfortable just sitting here staying in it. The problem is its too easy and I need more of a challenge and want to gain more varied experience and want to get back into the networking and server side of things. From what I see though unless I get more certs and can take contract positions, the networking admin, or other IT jobs that I think I could get pay less than what I make, and some are for companies that are small or Ive never heard of before (I work for the 2nd largest bank in the nation).

I dont know if Im selling myself short in thinking I can only try for basic entry level network admin or support jobs or what but the jobs out there I know I could get or that I would try for would definitely be a pay cut and maybe not as secure as Im at now. I dont really know what to do, its like Im stuck. Im afraid to step my toes into the pool or something. I dont know what is going to be better for my future but I dont think staying in this position is going to get me the networking or server admin experience that I want or will need to be able to move up into more advanced positions. Im looking anywhere from 6-12 months out so I can get the certs to add to my resume to go along with my experience. So what has anyone done when in this situation or what would they do?

I'm in the exact situation as you. In fact, it's almost scary that it's so exact. I too work for one of the largest banks in the nation. I too also have an extremely cushy, easy, and well paying job (44K/yr...not as much as you but still great for me). I have an AS degree in Networking and will finish an AA this year to transfer to the local state university so I can finish my BS in Information Systems Technology. The only major difference I see is that instead of network administration, I do application testing and support.

About the same time last year, I started to get worried that I'm going to end up like some of the other people in my department. I thought I might end up staying there for 10+ years with the only technical knowledge I have would be limited to only the applications I support, and the environments that they run on.

That's when I started working on my certifications. Doing this has given me a greater edge in my department (I can solve issues easier and faster), and keeps me up to date with my technical skills. My trek to MSCE is a long one and should keep me busy until I graduate with my BS. After that, I'll start looking for another position that'll pay more and be a little more relevant to what I want (systems administration), and that position may be with the same company I'm with or it'll be with another one.

Either way, just keep plugging away at your studies and certifications. Something will come up. Besides, if you have a secure job right now I wouldn't be in a big rush to change positions. With the current state of the economy you'll never know if that new job will be as stable as this one.

itdaddy

jojo

this is what you shoudl and do it cause I say so.hahahah just kidding..
serious this is what I think..

you are young; stay in this secure job and hammer out the degree.
work on some certs and set yourself a goal for each reasonable. but stay in your nice cush job that pays well and focus on your degree no matter how boring or how unfullfilling it is.

i have seen it hundreds of times. the people with college degrees eventually get the big jobs.
yeah some who just have tons of certs they get good jobs but more with degrees..like look at CIOs most are not even IT related degrees and they become executives telling Techs and engineers what to do. I have seen Cisco press books written by English majors with 2 certs like CCNP and CCSP. so get that stupid college degree (personal feelings cause I am finishing mine) then hammer certs till your blue in the face....if you had a hard challenging job while going to college it would be hard to finish your degree. take advantage of your good job an dthe times we are in and finish that college degree and the do certs and never lookback

2cents

blargoe

Stay. Save money. Certify, and finish your degree.

Start talking to your current superiors now about your development plan and that you'd like to eventually take on more responsibility as your education and training increase. You never know, you might get to stay at your company and earn a promotion eventually...

JoJoCal19

Thanks for the advice and points of view guys, much appreciated. You all mirrored my feelings why I should stay where I am, for now anyways. With me going to school fulltime and starting my bachelors next year this job is ideal because its not real stressful and the schedule lets me have all late afternoon and evenings free with a set schedule. I know I can stay where Im at and keep doing what Im doing and focus on getting my degrees and certifications, but I guess I wont get the actual work experience that I desire. I know I will be getting Cisco equipment when I go to study for my Cisco certs but I wish I could get the hands on experience that can go on my resume. For now Ill stay put and focus on education and certs.

Claymoore, there are opportunities for advancement but it will be doing something different so I will have to cross-train and rely on a little luck to move. Thats kinda why I was thinking about going and finding an entry level networking position somewhere so I can have that experience and move up easier. I can say tho that when I do finish my bachelors I should be able to get a promotion much easier.

JoJoCal19

itdaddy wrote: »

jojo

this is what you shoudl and do it cause I say so.hahahah just kidding..
serious this is what I think..

you are young; stay in this secure job and hammer out the degree.
work on some certs and set yourself a goal for each reasonable. but stay in your nice cush job that pays well and focus on your degree no matter how boring or how unfullfilling it is.

i have seen it hundreds of times. the people with college degrees eventually get the big jobs.
yeah some who just have tons of certs they get good jobs but more with degrees..like look at CIOs most are not even IT related degrees and they become executives telling Techs and engineers what to do. I have seen Cisco press books written by English majors with 2 certs like CCNP and CCSP. so get that stupid college degree (personal feelings cause I am finishing mine) then hammer certs till your blue in the face....if you had a hard challenging job while going to college it would be hard to finish your degree. take advantage of your good job an dthe times we are in and finish that college degree and the do certs and never lookback

2cents

Itdaddy ultimate goal is actually to become CIO or at the very least an IT director. Those are encouraging words to hear. Also IT project managment is something Im definitely interested in as well. Those are things that the Bachelors and MBA Im pursuing will help out with.

itdaddy

Jojocal

you are on the right track! I have really looked into it myself. I have gotten tired of these guys/gals (pathetic I am I know) pushing us Techs/Engineers around. We are their bread and butter and they are jerks.and get paid way more....I am persuing that myself.
I am in a job much like yours easy and well doesnt pay like yours by a long shot. Sometimes you have to crawl before you walk and walk before you dance and then walk or crawl again
and then dance your ass off! after all is said and done. Whenyou are young I always look
back at my life and I say get that stupid degree and then hammer certs. You are on the right path man! Finish that boring college ( hahaa okay my classes now are cool)but I have had some hellaish classes and classes that put me to sleep, but almost done.. and you will ge there. look at your college as a job..and know that when you get done you are done.
noone can take your degree from you, it doesnt expire! like certs do..and and MBA for CIO is fantastic. I may go that route myself. I see it all the time CIO who say has an MBA and
has a good foundation of IT but maybe not as much as the guys below him amzing how they get the better paying jobs and get to boss the techs and engineers around.

However, you will be like me I am sure. I have tons of respect for techs and engineers who know more than me. I do now! And I always will. I think that is a great combo for a CIO

stay in school, pace yourself and when you are done you can chase all the certs you want
and never have do your degree again! Degrees never expire. I am 42 finishing my BS.
pisses me off I never finished it when i was younger. I was the dumb one
you be smarter than me and finish that degree and you will be top DOG. mark my words!
But along the way just trickle a cert like A+ or CCNA those are to good combos to have.
With my A+ and CCNA I know so much more on how things work. TO me what woudl be nice
is A+, CCNA, MCSA and Linux plus to have a good solid foundation.

darkerosxx

Nice to see fresh enthusiasm for knowledge.

IT_Admin

You want to be CIO you have to go out and get it, it's not going to come knocking at your door.

Experience & luck are key things to obtain the next step up, if you are finically able to take the risk. Take IT... It may be less $$$ now but in 6months when you are able to prove yourself as a valuable asset you may get bumped up the ladder with nice bonus to follow.

You are in a dangerous crossroads right now, a cushy/semi-decent paying job OR take the unknown. So I can see the temptation to stay for "awhile" at your current job. However there is no time like the present, and you don't want to be looking back in a few years regretting that fact that you may missed out on that chance.

There are only a few chances to rise in this Industry, who knows this may be one of them but if you don't take the chance you'll never know.

If it was me, I would jump on it. But that’s me..