Did I make the right decision? Current Employer vs. Turned down job offer

Hello all,

Just wanted to get some feedback regarding if I shouldn't have passed up an opportunity.

Quick Background on my experience and qualifications:

Worked in I.T. Since January of 2010
Have an Undergrad in Information Systems, Masters in Business Information Systems from a reputable school in New Jersey (NJIT)
Have my CCNA & CCNA:Security (though not the security at the time of the job offer)

Current Position:
I do a lot of support in my current position, testing and planning for application releases, and programming in SQL/Oracle. Also do the documentation for the applications I support (release notes, user manuals etc)
Company is one of the largest Logistics company in the world.
Current Title: Programmer
Commute: 1 hour

New Job
One of the largest Telco companies in the world.
Position required an Undergrad, up to 3 years of experience, and CCNA.
Labeled as a College Hire Program.
Quick blurb on tasks: Responsible for the requirements, testing, planning & implementation of new software, hardware & applications relative to new product delivery, systems architecture, process enhancements, infrastructure and security.
Title: Sr. Specialist - Network Support
Commute: 10 minutes

Most could probably google and find the job listing with the information I provided. I could PM the listing if it allows you to more easily assess the position.

I ultimately turned it down due to compensation. I would have taken a 10% paycut on Salary, and possibly a few more % after bonuses.

After factoring in gas costs/maintenance, I'd still be up 3-4k yearly at my current position, and with Rent, Student Loans, and Car Payments, money is sorta tight, so that losing out on a few grand could hurt a little bit.

Thanks!

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Comments

MrBishop

All I can say is that I know what company your speaking of and I was contacted by them for a similar roll. I was told that the position needed to be a current graduate student, which I won't be until next year. I think you were in a tough position and depending on your career goals only you really know if it was the right choice.

networker050184

Money isn't everything, especially with a ten minute commute! The second job sounds more interesting to me personally, but I have no idea what you like.

Akaricloud

Did you negotiate for higher compensation in the job offer?

zenhound

I'd have taken a slight pay cut to not have that commute. 10%, maybe, maybe not. I'd try to negotiate them up. But the second position sounds more interesting to me so I may be biased.

JasonX

Akaricloud wrote: »

Did you negotiate for higher compensation in the job offer?

Yes, I initially was requesting a slight increase over my current salary of around 5-10% as I'd like to believe it's common practice that you leave a company for better compensation.

I would have easily settled for equal pay as my commute costs (Gas, maintenance on the vehicle, etc) would have padded in an increase alone.

The HR person did indicate they would see if they could approve the first offer (5-10% increase) and believed she could have gotten my 2nd offer approved (match current salary) but was unsuccessful and would only be able to provide the 10% paycut for a starting salary and could not do any better.

I do want to desperately reduce my commute and break into Networking, but don't really want to stretch my pay more then I must presently do so now. Nothing terrible about my current position, just I don't see myself as a programmer and hate the commute.

Both are very large companies and even my starting salary at my current position 2 years ago exceeded the new offer when I only had my B.A, no Masters or Certifications and only an 4 month internship (given it was same company and they offered me a fulltime position upon graduation). Given, it's sort of different job functions, I'd think someone with a few years of experience in IT, A Grad Degree and a CCNA should at least warrant a starting salary above what I had previously started fresh out of Undergrad.

cxzar20

I once worked for the company in question that you had an offer from. You made the right decision, stay far away. The paranoia and lack of job security there was crazy. I am guessing it was in Bedminster or Morristown, but they have places all over.

JasonX

This was a Piscataway location... and yes they do have locations there I believe, Bedminster for certain.

What was so bad about it?

MrBishop

Depends on which one! V has some real serious issues when it comes to them being efficient. It's a continuous cycle of contractors in and out every 3 months. I don't know how A works but I heard they paid better and it can't be any worse than the competition.

JasonX

This was A not V, funny I nearly took a position with V for College Hire Program for Network Engineering in Piscataway and there starting salary was almost 10% more then what A just offered me.

ptilsen

Those jobs are practically in different fields. If networking is what you want to do, it seems like a no-brainer to me. If programming, QA, DBA, or something along those lines is what you want to do, the first position makes more sense.

MrBishop

JasonX wrote: »

This was A not V, funny I nearly took a position with V for College Hire Program for Network Engineering in Piscataway and there starting salary was almost 10% more then what A just offered me.

I'm not saying the V isn't a good company but at Bedminster there is definitely some issues with their revolving door policy. It basically a waste of company money to continually train people over and over all year round. There were people in V that came from A who said they would have stayed but no job security, so I guess its a crap shoot. If you can get in then you pretty much should have some upward mobility depending on department and your supervisor.

cxzar20

JasonX wrote: »

This was a Piscataway location... and yes they do have locations there I believe, Bedminster for certain.

What was so bad about it?

Like I said, job security was by far the worst thing about it. While its NOC was impressive, it just isn't worth the constant stress. You could be let go at any time and for any reason, you would sure know it. The benefits also sucked for a full time IT position, IJS. I will never go back to working there, I would change careers in the worst case scenario. When I left I was ready to quit without even having a job waiting for me, but luckily my current employer made me an offer. I gave my two weeks notice but was immediately shown the door. If you ever decide to work there keep an open mind that it is unlikely that you will make a 20 year career there...for every person that has been there that long there are many, many others who quit (emphasis mine) or shown the door involuntarily.

erpadmin

Just FYI, "T" is probably what you want to use, since that's their ticker symbol, but that's just me.

I have never taken a paycut, and someone with your educational background should definitely not have to. You sound like you're getting close to the position you want though...especially if you got a hit from "A"...

Be patient my friend...if nothing else, fall back on your notes from HRM 601.

MrBishop

cxzar20 wrote: »

Like I said, job security was by far the worst thing about it. While its NOC was impressive, it just isn't worth the constant stress. You could be let go at any time and for any reason, you would sure know it. The benefits also sucked for a full time IT position, IJS. I will never go back to working there, I would change careers in the worst case scenario. When I left I was ready to quit without even having a job waiting for me, but luckily my current employer made me an offer. I gave my two weeks notice but was immediately shown the door. If you ever decide to work there keep an open mind that it is unlikely that you will make a 20 year career there...for every person that has been there that long there are many, many others who quit (emphasis mine) or shown the door involuntarily.

He's definitely correct and they will kick you to the curb the minute you say your leaving. So, if you decide to go to V and then find yourself leaving for another position, don't give notice until the day your leaving for the next position. Basically, you don't need to give notice because the minute you do, your escorted out the door immediately.

JasonX

cxzar20 wrote: »

Like I said, job security was by far the worst thing about it. While its NOC was impressive, it just isn't worth the constant stress. You could be let go at any time and for any reason, you would sure know it. The benefits also sucked for a full time IT position, IJS. I will never go back to working there, I would change careers in the worst case scenario. When I left I was ready to quit without even having a job waiting for me, but luckily my current employer made me an offer. I gave my two weeks notice but was immediately shown the door. If you ever decide to work there keep an open mind that it is unlikely that you will make a 20 year career there...for every person that has been there that long there are many, many others who quit (emphasis mine) or shown the door involuntarily.

I believe you're talking about V. My most recent interview that was in this discussion was for "A".

I was contacted regarding a NOC position with V in Bedminster though, didn't want no part of a graveyard shift so I declined an interview.

Also to note, I don't know how credible glassdoor is, but for the position I interviewed for, there is 1 salary for "A" with same Title Name and it indicated a salary 10k over my present salary, hence why I was very interested. When they came back with the salary that would have been a 10% paycut, I was seriously disheartened.

MrBishop

I also look to that website for salary comparison and it should be pretty accurate since it comes from current and former employees.

Legacy User

so working for V blows? I kept getting calls from recruiters for V in bedminister. It was contract to hire $25- $28hr. sounded impressive but i didnt meet the min a.s. degree requirement since i wasnt done with school yet. They would always say once your done with school call me i'll get you a job yada yada yada.

MrBishop

dmarcisco wrote: »

so working for V blows? I kept getting calls from recruiters for V in bedminister. It was contract to hire $25- $28hr. sounded impressive but i didnt meet the min a.s. degree requirement since i wasnt done with school yet. They would always say once your done with school call me i'll get you a job yada yada yada.

I'll tell you right now from experience, its very slim contract to hire. I'm not saying they "blow" but at that facility they do mass turnover all year round. I always wondered why they were always hiring and it because every 15 weeks they get rid of the contractors who's time is up and hire on a new bunch. I've seen 35 to 40 contractors come in just for the NRB alone and only 2 were hired on. I'm hoping their other facilities aren't managed in the same fashion because you had some very bright people let go.

I would say that the learning experience is good but don't expect anything other than that. I stayed in contact with some of the people I met their and asked if they would return and they said NO! I have a different opinion and I meet and exceed all their requirements. I get hammered with offers from recruiters for that location and I gotta tell them I worked their before and they still want to put me through. (V's response is that they selected other candidates and to keep applying)

I know they're some of the people working in their integrated group that should have CCNA's but don't. I'm about 2 weeks out form completing my CCNP at this point and I'm going to keep bothering their HR department until something changes. Either at this location or better yet, at one of their other locations.

The biggest thing I'll say is don't lie on your resume because they check everything thoroughly. It basically a good starting point for anyone wanting to gain some experience. Big emphasis placed on starting.

kurosaki00

Im into networking
I would have even taken a 15% pay cut if I was going to work in something that I really like.

Like others have said, pay is not everything in a job.

cxzar20

kurosaki00 wrote: »

Im into networking
I would have even taken a 15% pay cut if I was going to work in something that I really like.

Like others have said, pay is not everything in a job.

Keep in mind that T doesn't just deal with data networking...there is a fairly good chance that you would end up in legacy PSTN NOC work as a new hire. There is no future in it and trust me you would not be happy doing that if you are an IP Network Engineer.

the_Grinch

I got an offer from V, but the HR lady was so rude (along with the manager asking me questions, but not listening to the answers) that I told them no thanks. Pay was really good, but environment is much more important when your there 40 hours a week.

MrBishop

the_Grinch wrote: »

I got an offer from V, but the HR lady was so rude (along with the manager asking me questions, but not listening to the answers) that I told them no thanks. Pay was really good, but environment is much more important when your there 40 hours a week.

I guess you're referring to the hiring manager? I don't even want to get started on what I think of that guy and his style. If you're referring to the Bedminster location.

Legacy User

I'd take a 10percent pay cut to drive 10 minutes to work for the job I want. I'm Driving 50 minutes on a good day 1hr 25 minutes with traffic is not a good time on the town.