Hired!

I finally got hired!!...

As someone else had put it, "what a way to start the new year!" Got my CCNA Security the 22nd of December... set up the interview over the Christmas/New Year holiday, then last Monday, I had the interview and landed it the same day! For the record, the concept still remains that it's WHO you know and not what you know. In my case, it's a bit of who and what, but the WHO was very important. Luck favors the prepared!

My ONLY issue: I think I (actually, they) could've done a bit better with the salary, though, and I was kicking myself for not negotiating harder... I was sort of caught off guard - I was not expecting them to call back the same day while I was in between my 2 jobs having lunch. They asked me how much I was looking for, and I told them my "targeted" price range, and they told me the range they had advertised in the job listing [I never saw] - their top number was the bottom number of mine (my range was simply a target - which, by the way, included an average salary for the certs & level of education I have, so I thought it was reasonable - but I did have an absolute bottom number lower than my own range, which would have been acceptable under certain conditions) and their bottom number was something I probably would not have accepted. SO, after he told me their range, they offered only slightly more than their bottom number! That number fell EVER so slightly short of my absolute bottom number, which was the only problem I had with it - why mention your range if you're going to offer so low on it? I felt a bit insulted, sort of. Why would they set the high-low range so wide unless they were willing to actually consider the highest amount or close to it, or at least hit the middle somewhere? After such a tough, long haul trying to get back to my IT roots, and to attempt to live some kind of a normal lifestyle for once (not working at 2 jobs, or having to be in school or both, while I should instead be thinking or active about having a family or home at this age), I was just hoping not to be short-changed again (shafted). It's like you ALMOST get to your goal every time, but just can't - you fall short, once AGAIN.

So, under pressure, I accepted it anyway (with a request to TRY to get it higher - he said he needed to speak to an authority about it, so I MAY end up getting a tad bit more, but I'm not getting my hopes up). This one job, even at that low number he offered, still pays more than the 2 I currently have, and it offers benefits and other perks, and it's not far away, AND the experience is what's most important anyway. I don't want to sound ungrateful, because I'm still thrilled to have a new opportunity to grow (and to have more money

). It was just an awkward situation and a part of me is disappointed, despite being ecstatic (if that makes any sense).

Maybe I'm being excessively nit-picky (maybe not?) but I'm happy and can exhale a bit, finally. Can't wait to get started. It's a small company not far from home, and they're expanding and I'll be doing help desk stuff, but lots of other things including working with MS, Cisco & perhaps Juniper systems, servers, setting up & maintaining network security & more. I hope it's all that it's cracked up to be, I hope the new situation works out and is, at the very least, a great setup to a better near-future. Thanks to you all for all the inspiration and advice and for existing. This site has definitely been a blessing. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

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Comments

coty24

Awesome man, I'm happy for you. I know exactly how that could be. When I got the job I have now, my recruiter gave "Good news and bad news"
I'm short I got low balled a little. I hope you get to do all the things you wanted. Good luck man, and congrats again!

ciscoman2012

Congrats man I wish you success in your new venture!

N2IT

Nice work and congratz

ChooseLife

Congrats! Forget about market averages etc, what really matters is whether the given number and the job itself are acceptable for you. Sounds from your posting that the gig is good all around - higher salary, perks, experience. So enjoy it and don't let the little bug inside spoil the moment. I heard this one phrase once and it change my perspective on chasing higher salary forever: "No matter how hard you try there is always going to be an a**h*** who works less and makes more money". So just do what you enjoy, and money will follow

PsychoFin

Congrats! It sure beats not having to do two jobs anymore I'm sure!

xenodamus

PsychoFin wrote: »

Congrats! It sure beats not having to do two jobs anymore I'm sure!

Heck yea - I'll trade 2 crappy jobs for 1 decent any day!

Congrats on the new gig - gear up and get in learning mode!

whatthehell

Congratz on the new job and good luck!

tpatt100

Good news! and good luck now and in the future

johnnyarks

Nice! Congrats

veritas_libertas

Congratz

LinuxRacr

Congrats on the new job!!

JohnnyBiggles

Thanks everyone.

xenodamus wrote: »

Heck yea - I'll trade 2 crappy jobs for 1 decent any day!

Congrats on the new gig - gear up and get in learning mode!

Thanks, but I wouldn't necessarily call them 'crappy'. One sort of limited the other, which created the crappy situation I was in. One of the jobs I was at 10 yrs and was never supposed to be that long, but it helped to get me through school... the other had its perks but was only part time and not quite what I wanted to be doing... it became my bread & butter since it limited the other job tremendously - I only took that because the other had slowed up a bit because of the economy. That's why I was hoping for a higher number - so I wouldn't have to think so much about whether or not accepting a lowball was a good enough decision. I kind of wanted to drop both and walk away from my situation confidently with my middle finger up...LOL (not literally, but I'm sure you understand what I mean).

Anyway, the new situation isn't perfect but should be way better than the old situation. Hopefully all turns out well Thanks everyone for the well wishes.

buzzkill

JohnnyBiggles wrote: »

For the record, the concept still remains that it's WHO you know and not what you know. In my case, it's a bit of who and what, but the WHO was very important. Luck favors the prepared!

Go on then, I'll bite. Full on nepotism or just a friend at the new place?

buzzkil

We'll find out soon enough brother from the UK.

Forsaken_GA

JohnnyBiggles wrote: »

I finally got hired!!...

As someone else had put it, "what a way to start the new year!" Got my CCNA Security the 22nd of December... set up the interview over the Christmas/New Year holiday, then last Monday, I had the interview and landed it the same day! For the record, the concept still remains that it's WHO you know and not what you know. In my case, it's a bit of who and what, but the WHO was very important. Luck favors the prepared!

Amen to that. I had an opportunity to go work for a major provider fall into my lap the week before Christmas, thanks to a friend keeping an eye out for me. I passed my resume along, hiring manager called me next day for the phone screen, following day was the in the person interview, and on 12/23, I was called with the offer. It was a merry christmas (especially since I was on vacation from my previous employer for the majority of my final two weeks... didn't plan it that way, but hey, their own damn fault for having a use it or lose it vacation policy)

My ONLY issue: I think I (actually, they) could've done a bit better with the salary, though, and I was kicking myself for not negotiating harder... I was sort of caught off guard - I was not expecting them to call back the same day while I was in between my 2 jobs having lunch. They asked me how much I was looking for, and I told them my "targeted" price range, and they told me the range they had advertised in the job listing [I never saw] - their top number was the bottom number of mine (my range was simply a target - which, by the way, included an average salary for the certs & level of education I have, so I thought it was reasonable - but I did have an absolute bottom number lower than my own range, which would have been acceptable under certain conditions) and their bottom number was something I probably would not have accepted.
[/quote]

If you're still looking at a pay increase, then you did fine. I'd give up 2 jobs to work one making more than the 2 combined in a heart beat.

Amusingly enough, the last two jobs I've had, I knew how much I wanted, and when I stated my number, no one blinked... I've had my last two salary requests accepted as a matter of course. The first one was a 40% hike in pay rate, so I knew they weren't trying to lowball me based on past salary history, which was nice. The current step up, I put the number right around a 15% increase, and again, no qualms. I probably could have gotten another 5% if I'd pushed, but the number I named is what I was comfortable working for, so I've got no cause for complaint.

JohnnyBiggles

buzzkill wrote: »

Go on then, I'll bite. Full on nepotism or just a friend at the new place?

Actually, it was a customer at one of my jobs. He's been one for a few years and this past February, I started studying for the CCNA and took it serious enough to let people know that I was treating it as such (like school - doing it a few hours, a few days every week) in casual conversation (and so they can understand if I'm exhausted, too...lol).

To my discovery through our chats, I learned he was a working CCNP (actually, a CCNA with years of experience at CCNP level, but he never got to complete the exams to get it). So, whenever I saw him I made it a point to update my status and ask for pointers or just general questions about working as one, and he would question me too, seeing that he hadn't been in the Cisco studying/testing environment in years. I got the CCNA in September and he was proud of me when I showed him the CCNA card (you get it with the certificate), since even though he took his years before, he knew what it involved and how difficult it is to achieve. I told him my plan from that point which was to go for the Security cert., which I got in December.

I saw him only 2 days after I got it (excellent timing) when he mentioned that they were going to be looking for someone... but he kind of understated the role as a help desk job for someone right out of college or something, and only suggested I send him my info & requirements just in case. Perhaps when he saw the resume, he realized other things they may need there and perhaps as a fellow Cisco guy, might have made some suggestions with whatever pull he had to his superiors to set up the call. I was clear on what I wanted to do when sending my info, and they called anyway.

I assumed It wasn't favoritism, since others were interviewed, and since my own was pretty thorough with technical questions and the whole 9, and also what I've done in the past qualified me that much more for the direction they're going.. ALONG with the new certs... but I'm sure he did put a good word in anyway, which didn't hurt either...lol. Both he and his boss were impressed, apparently. I did not expect any favoritism - in fact I don't like it, since you're kind of held in their debt and people can get crazy with that sort of thing. It's good to know you can hold your own. [but better to know that people are willing to help out, even though you can

]

JohnnyBiggles

Well, as it turns out, negotiation was successful! They actually gave me more than what they originally offered. It took a few paychecks to realize it since I didnt want to be pushy about asking, so long as I got at least what was offered. I just expected what they first offered and low and behold I did the math and it was, in fact, higher! Higher only by a little bit, but that little bit was just enough to make it respectable and to make me happy with it, all other conditions considered.

I'm a month in & the job is great so far, a bit boring at times even but they have some things coming up and things going on now that keep me going and I'm learning a lot (there's nothing like on-the-job training as opposed to book training!). I actually look forward to doing hands-on tasks (hardware)... it's weird because with all the work I put into Cisco studies this past year, there's hardly any Cisco equipment to work with since it's a relatively small network, but the principles learned in both CCNA & CCNA:S help anyway with what I'm doing which is more or less administration with a tiny bit of NOC engineering. That should change over time or at least be more balanced as I become more familiar with the network and with upcoming upgrades on deck.

All in all I'm excited and happy to be back working in this field. I'm still gonna study on (learning never ends) anyway, I just need to see which path is best for me now.

Turgon

Congratulations Johnny. Settle into the new job and have a great first year there.

techinthewoods

JohnnyBiggles wrote: »

For the record, the concept still remains that it's WHO you know and not what you know. In my case, it's a bit of who and what, but the WHO was very important. Luck favors the prepared!

Care to elaborate on that any?

Congrats by the way.

NOLAJ

Congrats on the gig!!