Finally "in" but...

I just landed a help desk role for a MSP. I was offered a really weak salary because I didn't have true experience with the stuff they work on(AD, exchange, group policies, networking and firewall configs, etc.) The salary is soo weak its less than 30k. The problem is I am a extremely quick learner and already starting to feel comfortable doing everything I'm asked to do. Yeah I still do alot googling and copy paste to make things work. All my co workers make 10 to 30k more than me lol. Has anyone else took a crappy salary, quickly learned the role and then realized they are under paid? I really love this job and what I do so it really doesn't feel soo bad but still... I'd like to put my $-$ shades on too! At the end of the day I am grateful for this opportunity and thats thats all that truly matters to me.

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Comments

pinkydapimp

Why do you even know what they make? Maybe they have more experience, education, skills or negotiated better. Dont sweat what others make. Just focus on yourself. Sounds like your in a position where you can gain some much needed experience. Get that experience, grab a cert or two. and in a year get that bum in salary that your looking for. You have to start somewhere!

jamesleecoleman

Don't worry, you'll get more pay with more experience. It just takes time. Did you ask what certifications that the company would need? If you got some certs, maybe you can ask for a raise a few months or a year later??

markulous

I agree with the above. Grab some certs and/or work on a degree and revisit it in a few months. If after 6 months they still won't do anything, start looking somewhere else. With the experience you have there and some certs, you'll be able to get a healthy pay increase most likely.

CyberfiSecurity

Don't worry too much about it. You're there to get more experience as temporary to move on. I had been there and done that; sometimes, I even took dramatically pay-cuts to stay in the job market.

One thing though, I am curious how you know your co-workers make more than you do? If you discuss the salary with your co-workers, that is company policy violation. If you looked into the HR salary share files, you should stop doing that because there will be mentally challenge for you in the job. I admitted, I discussed the salary with my co-workers in the past, but only after they left the company.

stylezunknown

CyberfiSecurity wrote: »

Don't worry too much about it. You're there to get more experience as temporary to move on. I had been there and done that; sometimes, I even took dramatically pay-cuts to stay in the job market.

One thing though, I am curious how you know your co-workers make more than you do? If you discuss the salary with your co-workers, that is company policy violation. If you looked into the HR salary share files, you should stop doing that because there will be mentally challenge for you in the job. I admitted, I discussed the salary with my co-workers in the past, but only after they left the company.

Trust me I know not to discuss those kind of things with co workers.

I would never jeopardize my self like that. thanks

Repo Man

I've been in that situation. Waited 90 days after hire and asked for a raise (got over 30%)

I think this all depends on the environment IMO. Are you close with your boss? Are you the go to person already for your team? Does the company see you as a long term employee or desperate enough to keep you? If the answers to those questions are yes then go for it.

stylezunknown

Very nice!

pinkydapimp

Repo Man wrote: »

I've been in that situation. Waited 90 days after hire and asked for a raise (got over 30%)

I think this all depends on the environment IMO. Are you close with your boss? Are you the go to person already for your team? Does the company see you as a long term employee or desperate enough to keep you? If the answers to those questions are yes then go for it.

id venture to say a 30% raise is extremely rare. ESPECIALLY 90 days after being hired. Thats pretty crazy. But congrats on obtaining it.

stylezunknown

Hi guys, I'm coming on 6 months now since I started working at the place I initially posted about. I feel much more skilled and comfortable with the things we work with and I STILL feel like there is a ton more to learn. I also got a bump in pay recently, woo hoo! lol.

anhtran35

Get some certs. After 6 more months or another year of service. Apply elsewhere.

jibbajabba

stylezunknown wrote: »

Trust me I know not to discuss those kind of things with co workers. I would never jeopardize my self like that. thanks

Most companies I worked in didn't have a policy to keep quiet about salary. At the end of the day it is up to you. But I noticed myself that I don't mind if people know what I earn, even if they are on a lower wage. Simply, thus far, I think I truly deserve it and worked for it.

What I HATE though is KNOWING what other people earn. Hate when I know they earn more and do less or are less qualified. So the main reason for me not talking about my salary is not wanting to know what other earn

nster

Are you satisfied with the salary now? I'd say get a cert and leverage that for another bump if you want more right now. Or perhaps a better option is to ask for time to work on a cert during work hours. Anyone messing with AD, Exchange, GPOs, network and firewall configs etc should def be doing more than 30K after 6 months in most job markets. 35-40K is a better range.

For the work you are doing, pursuing an MCSA seems to me like a great option to go. If they let you study during work time, and you are able to get an MCSA in the next 6 months, you could ask for a substantial raise on your 1 year evaluation, or even apply for jobs elsewhere

--chris--

pinkydapimp wrote: »

id venture to say a 30% raise is extremely rare. ESPECIALLY 90 days after being hired. Thats pretty crazy. But congrats on obtaining it.

I think its more common than you think. My employer has a 90 day trial period (that you as the new hire are unaware of). Either you work out or you don't. The new hire is told there is a 90 day period, after which you are given a $2/hour raise.

What really happens is the first 90 days is making sure the person is A) A decent human being and

can learn quickly. If they pass those two tests, then their wage is open for negotiating and they are told this. I passed my CCNA, got along with everyone and started to do some technical sales work (successfully) which gave me a lot of leverage...

In 7 months I went from X to Y which was a 43% increase. Plus commissions.

I see other MSP's advertising similar setups around here, and I would be willing to bet this is more common that we might think.

LeBroke

Salary discussion is more of a social taboo than company policy in most places.

@--chris--: I'd tell you a TCP joke but I don't want to ask you if you got it :P

Polynomial

The National Labor Relations Act actually forbids employers from preventing employees from discussing wages and working conditions with each other.

TheFORCE

jibbajabba wrote: »

What I HATE though is KNOWING what other people earn. Hate when I know they earn more and do less or are less qualified. So the main reason for me not talking about my salary is not wanting to know what other earn

True story! Was working at Helpdesk for 2 years, making X amount, new guy gets hired, I'm the lead of the Helpdesk at this point, we go through training and i'm suppose to teach the new guy what we do. One day while trying to teach this guy something, i go over to his desk and to my surprise the pay-stub was wide open. The guy had just been hired probably a month prior and was making $5 an hour more than me. I was furious!

Dakinggamer87

markulous wrote: »

I agree with the above. Grab some certs and/or work on a degree and revisit it in a few months. If after 6 months they still won't do anything, start looking somewhere else. With the experience you have there and some certs, you'll be able to get a healthy pay increase most likely.

Agreed!! +1

--chris--

Polynomial wrote: »

The National Labor Relations Act actually forbids employers from preventing employees from discussing wages and working conditions with each other.

I had heard this before but was unsure of its validity...

Employee Rights | NLRB

Your right. Dell contractor companies beware! The first place I worked was all Dell, but hired through different sub-contracting companies. Company A paid $17/hour, Company B paid $15. All employees were told they were not allowed to discuss wages with each other. lol