Going to recruiter interview this afternoon

Well guys, I am gainfully employed as a help desk rep but I have a good Net Admin who tries to throw me lots of junior administration work my way. I live 10 minutes from work and I have pretty good benefits.

They also pay for one training class a year. (boot camp)

Now, last week I was just going about my day when a recruiter called me to get some more info from me about my work history as well as experience. He said he has a client who is looking for a net/sys admin for a e-commerce company in downtown Chicago. So, I am meeting with him for a face to face interview today.

I am excited and a little suspicious at the same time. He told me I would be working by myself and this company just got a lot of funding, whatever that means. I am excited to get real world experience doing network administration stuff full time, but at the same time I am in a comfy spot where I do sys admin work 25% of the time and when **** hits the fan I escalate to my Net admin.

But on the other hand, its nice to get that experience and at the same time command another 15k in salary. I was hoping to ask for either 65k or 70k. Not sure what they will say to that, but either way I have a good job.

Just wanted to hear some feedback or advice for the interview this afternoon!!!

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Comments

captobvious

ScottFern wrote: »

UPDATE: The original recruiter said the company he was representing filled the position internally but said he wanted to keep in contact with me to find a position that fills what I am looking for, and it was good sign he even called me to update me on the status of the opening.

That is code for they were never going to hire you unless you took the measly offer they were going to throw at you. You did the right thing in putting down more than you knew you could get. Ball was in their court and they decided not to play. Their loss!

Edit: Yeah it was nice of him to call you back. Heck, I don't even get "thanks but no thanks" when applying for jobs these days.

flurrball

First off, i agree completely with you ScottFern.

I am in a similar position as you, I take care of helpdesk, and my manager lets me deal with the servers, routers, switches, remote sites, backups, phones, etc as long as I don't mess stuff up. He's totally cool with helping me learn, and letting me work on stuff I'm new at. This is a rarity in the IT industry, most managers are worried about you taking their job. So stick with this employer until you have nothing else to learn. Also, you said when you can't figure it out, you escalate it. What I do at my company is, escalate to my manager, and literally stand over his shoulder as he works on it. You should try this, eventually you will take work off your managers plate, and he will be happy to show you more. Plus, you will get some great experience that will benefit you in the long run.

Second, I am a firm believer in swinging for the fences. I will stick with this job as long as it makes sense, but already I'm sending out apps for 70-80k jobs to test the waters. I know my experience is good, and the way I figure it, even if I apply for 100 jobs, if I find one where they will pay me what I want, it's better than sucking it up again, and taking a lowball offer to do desktop support + server admin just to prove I can do it.

ScottFern

flurrball wrote: »

First off, i agree completely with you ScottFern.

I am in a similar position as you, I take care of helpdesk, and my manager lets me deal with the servers, routers, switches, remote sites, backups, phones, etc as long as I don't mess stuff up. He's totally cool with helping me learn, and letting me work on stuff I'm new at. This is a rarity in the IT industry, most managers are worried about you taking their job. So stick with this employer until you have nothing else to learn. Also, you said when you can't figure it out, you escalate it. What I do at my company is, escalate to my manager, and literally stand over his shoulder as he works on it. You should try this, eventually you will take work off your managers plate, and he will be happy to show you more. Plus, you will get some great experience that will benefit you in the long run.

Second, I am a firm believer in swinging for the fences. I will stick with this job as long as it makes sense, but already I'm sending out apps for 70-80k jobs to test the waters. I know my experience is good, and the way I figure it, even if I apply for 100 jobs, if I find one where they will pay me what I want, it's better than sucking it up again, and taking a lowball offer to do desktop support + server admin just to prove I can do it.

I am considering taking even a lateral moving position because my current job is moving away from the open cross training mentality and going to a structured unified help desk which is going to hinder my face time with servers, and other admin duties. I am disappointed in these changes coming October 1st and do not look forward to supporting all divisions in North America by sitting on the phone all day. I much prefer the face to face contact.

Even if this new job doesn't have all the toys to play with its still more of an independent admin role and they pay for training.

blargoe

Lateral on paper, but sometime lateral isn't really lateral, you know? I'm not even sure jumping from "unofficially" working on servers to "officially" working on servers would be lateral.

And I would definately move on based on what you said about the current job and your role. I almost got caught like that in a restructuring one time but at the last minute rather than being "demoted" to the support group I was "promoted" to the server group from my hybrid jr. admin/sr. support role. I was all ready to pack it up and leave until that change.

At this point in your career, it's a lot like chess, you have to think three moves ahead. Lateral is OK in this case I think.

ScottFern

Just went on a rampage and applied to like 5 different sys admin jobs online.

JockVSJock

BTW, I was just contacted by a recruiter for a job. I asked for a job description via email up front and they only wrote up a vague two sentences to describe it.

However this person wanted me to agree to an interview right away.

Sometimes its hard to wonder how these people think...

ScottFern

JockVSJock wrote: »

BTW, I was just contacted by a recruiter for a job. I asked for a job description via email up front and they only wrote up a vague two sentences to describe it.

However this person wanted me to agree to an interview right away.

Sometimes its hard to wonder how these people think...

That's ridiculous. Glad to see you played it smart (unlike me) and didn't let the recruiter dictate terms. Hope more learn from my mistake and wise up!

itdaddy

BTW, I was just contacted by a recruiter for a job. I asked for a job description via email up front and they only wrote up a vague two sentences to describe it.

these recruiters are weird; it is a dog-eat-dog! huh! good luck chris
use your gut instinct...the good thing is an interview means practice to me not always the job. I take it for practice to stay hungry and keep in top interview form. I took a couple of interviews this year knowing I wasting going to get them or wanted them and took them only for practice!

ScottFern

Well, I got a call for a sys admin position I applied to in Northbrook. I spoke with the recruiter responsible for filling the role and she said if the HR team was interested they would contact me next week.

We shall see......

itdaddy

Goood luck dude

Agent6376

ScottFern, how long have you been working with servers? I've applied to maybe 10 or so jobs for admin positions, but never receive callbacks. I think I'm stuck right now where I know server theory, but I have little hands on. Therefore, an ideal position would be a Jr. admin or even admin for a small firm, but those positions just aren't available. I'm also not big on throwing together a misleading resume (where I have experience working with servers), only to get into an interview and have the interviewer come around to the fact that I have tons of lab experience, but not much real world.

How does someone in my situation get out of help desk-type work?

ScottFern

Agent6376 wrote: »

ScottFern, how long have you been working with servers? I've applied to maybe 10 or so jobs for admin positions, but never receive callbacks. I think I'm stuck right now where I know server theory, but I have little hands on. Therefore, an ideal position would be a Jr. admin or even admin for a small firm, but those positions just aren't available. I'm also not big on throwing together a misleading resume (where I have experience working with servers), only to get into an interview and have the interviewer come around to the fact that I have tons of lab experience, but not much real world.

How does someone in my situation get out of help desk-type work?

Honestly, I got lucky and from day 1 I was basically with very little guidance running my own network at a call center with 10 servers. So yes, I definitely had a lot of face time interfacing with Windows servers. I am very comfortable replacing server hardware, and tackling issues with troubleshooting errors, and even patching and upgrading firmwares on them.

I don't claim to have the most in depth experiences with them, but I have been around them for almost 3 years now. I also applied to 4 more jobs for the last 30 minutes of work today.

TravR1

I think anything is possible.

I went from $10 to a 32,500 a year salary tech job with no certs or experience - I just walked right in to it. After I started I learned how hard it was to do that by others trying to get their friends on and such. It depends on you and how you, how you present yourself, and how well you rub with the interviewer, and a little luck.

Get yourself a suit, get a portfolio even if you just load it with random documents, and know what your doing and what your talking about... it's good practice if nothing else.

JoJoCal19

Here are my thoughts.

First, when evaluating whether a new job is worth it, you cannot just take salary into consideration. You have to look at what your current job provides that you might have to give up, comfort, cool boss, benefits, access to other higher work experience/OJT, paid cert training, etc. On the flip side of that, you will probably have to end up giving up most or all of that to move up to a better job and/or a higher paying job.

What I can tell you is that while you should never sell yourself short, I would say even your expectations of $60-$65k plus for that job with your experience may be a stretch in this economy. Competition for jobs is tough and there are plenty of more experienced and hungry IT people out there unemployed who would jump at that position for $50k or maybe less. One thing that is certain is alot of time to move up and get more experience you have to be willing to lateral or sometimes take a small paycut. It will pay off down the road though.

itdaddy

I agree with jojo

I had 2 interviews a while ago. and I was asking for 50K for a job I was the help desk, network admin and programmer for 300 people and on call 24/7...I told them I wasnt interested after they called and wanted a 2nd..I said good luck finding someone to do that job and you are offering what no benifits (med, dental, retire) and only paying what 42K...They have not found anyone yet...good luck..

it is dog eat dog. But if you are single and want the experience i say go for jobs that are going to give you the experience...and mayb not be as good a pay.. but it is tough...

ScottFern

UPDATE: I've been in contact with a dozen recruiters over the past 3 months and all I have to show for it is two job interviews and no job.

However, I applied direct to a company that manages Hotel IT infrastructures and setups up custom wireless solutions for large groups for their Network Administrator position. I just got an offer today for 62k.

mikej412

ScottFern wrote: »

I just got an offer today for 62k.

It's always nice to find out that someone "wants you" -- is it mutual?

mikedisd2

ScottFern wrote: »

I just got an offer today for 62k.

Fantastic, well done. It's good to hear that someone is making progress with their career.

You are excepting the offer, aren't you?

Bl8ckr0uter

ScottFern wrote: »

UPDATE: I've been in contact with a dozen recruiters over the past 3 months and all I have to show for it is two job interviews and no job.

However, I applied direct to a company that manages Hotel IT infrastructures and setups up custom wireless solutions for large groups for their Network Administrator position. I just got an offer today for 62k.

Awesome.

JockVSJock

EXCELLENT!!! Glad to hear that it worked out for you.

ScottFern wrote: »

UPDATE: I've been in contact with a dozen recruiters over the past 3 months and all I have to show for it is two job interviews and no job.

However, I applied direct to a company that manages Hotel IT infrastructures and setups up custom wireless solutions for large groups for their Network Administrator position. I just got an offer today for 62k.

veritas_libertas

Thats great

ScottFern

Well guys, I think I am going to take the offer. However, I am going to push a little bit for a sign on bonus.

ScottFern

Guys help me put this into perspective. Just got more details on the position and it looks like the quality of my benefits goes down a little.

PTO Days 15 (20 curently)
Paid Holidays 7 (10 currently)
United Healthcare PPO (83/check) / BCBS PPO (32/check currently)

Also, I lose insurance for 90 days and I end up having to pay for some chiropractic visits I had stupidly signed up for once I switch jobs.

I asked for a 3500 sign on bonus, awaiting their reply.

sambuca69

ScottFern wrote: »

I asked for a 3500 sign on bonus

Just curious, do you always ask for one?

I never have... wondering what I've missed out on, lol.

ScottFern

sambuca69 wrote: »

Just curious, do you always ask for one?

I never have... wondering what I've missed out on, lol.

Yes, both times I did it out of necessity. First time I owed money for training and the second time (this time) I was counting on my annual bonus to help pay for my wedding.

ScottFern

Well, I am still in negotiations with them right now. They agreed to the bonus in principle yet they wanted to wait until either Friday or Monday to officially extend the offer letter because they wanted to ensure some business.

In any case, I get a call from Robert Half Technologies and the guy says I got a great contract position (1yr) for 23/hr level 2/3(lie) tech support. I told him I am in negotiations for a FULL TIME "Network Administrator" position for low 60s and he either thought I was lying or found it hard to believe because his follow up statement was "You haven't done any administration work though, correct?"

What!!! Ugh, I hope this position goes through!

ScottFern

UPDATE 2: I signed the offer letter yesterday and faxed it back to them. Put my two weeks notice in with my current boss, who told me, "I don't blame you." to give you an idea of where my current role was headed.

I just hope this new job is all its cracked up to be.

darkerosxx

Congrats, those sound like standard benefits... you were getting great benefits at your old job.

Bl8ckr0uter

ScottFern wrote: »

UPDATE 2: I signed the offer letter yesterday and faxed it back to them. Put my two weeks notice in with my current boss, who told me, "I don't blame you." to give you an idea of where my current role was headed.

I just hope this new job is all its cracked up to be.

Awesome man!