Am I Being A Baby?

TL;DR: valid byotching or being a byotch?

So this isn't all bad. I just figured getting fellow IT peoples advice might give me some more incite, especially from those that might be older. I am 32 years old and have been with my current employer for 6 years and a couple months. My job title now is "IT Specialist" although somehow I am on the Help Desk. I have eight Microsoft Certs, MCITP, MCSA, information systems degree, etc. This isn't so much about how much I think I deserve but where I am six years later. I have survived a large merger three years ago and am still solid in the companies eyes. My biggest fear is waking up at 35 years old and wondering why in the f&^* I am still on a help desk.

I have been told in multiple reviews that I am the most knowledgeable person on the team. I am short when speaking to people on the phone, not in a bad way I just don't ask about family life and things. I get in and get out as soon as possible. I handle admin duties, I handle RIM duties, I handle IOD duties, Citrix, VPN, VoIP, and the list goes on. I have worked an average help desk and this is not an average help desk by any means. I can support 100 pieces of software at the drop of a hat here. Sure 50% of the day is average password resets etc. but the other 50% is **** that is kicked to me to solve because others cannot. This could come from Security Analyst, Network Team, Admin Team, Telecom Team, and others. The new VP of IT even told me that "you're right this is not an average help desk". No other departments have accountability what so ever, and daily duties keep being piled on our group, especially me. Canadian IT was backlogged with a months worth of work that I kicked out and caught them up on in three days.

We recently have a new VP in IT as of two months ago. He is French Canadian, not that matters but it kind of does in some semi racial way. Just appears to me French Canadians look down on Americans, and I can't really blame them all the time for it. He invited me to meet up with him in Los Angeles a few weeks back along with a coworker of mine. Coworker basically said about 50 words in the four hours we got dinner etc. I came prepared with a list of things that would help things at the company from IT point of view. He asked about schooling and I laid it out and he went "wow ok". I then began to tell him that I was looking around at other places because I didn't feel I was being paid appropriately. He said "quit looking and let me see what I can do for you". He also asked what I would want to make me stay with the company. I told him to put me in a position where I replace a dinosaur as I call them. Dinosaur to me is someone who has been here for 20+ years that is not staying up to date with new tech etc. They are paycheck collectors. Dinner went really well and I thought I got through to this guy.

Three days later I get a call that I received a 2.5% increase and a 2,500 dollar bonus. I mean I'm not going to cry about that but in the grand scheme its not exactly how I pictured it. In not so many words he told me to hang in there because he plans to merge IT in U.S. with IT in Canada. He made it sound like I could be in charge of a Tier 2 team once it happens. I just don't know whether to believe him or not at this point as I have heard many statements like this in the past. These old timers refuse to retire and clear a path for forward momentum. I mean my boss even, as much as I like the guy and respect him he takes off for the day the minute I start. It's like "well he's here now I can go". My coworkers take this privilege as well at times but for some reason the laziest of them all received a 2.5% bonus too. It's a bit deflating.

I guess I need to know other peoples thoughts. It's not like I can really talk to coworkers about it. I guess I have a cush little gig at the end of the day but I want more to do, more responsibility, more money, for my thoughts to be taken into consideration. I feel I have earned that, maybe that is the issue right there. Maybe I feel entitled and shouldn't? This company constantly groans about money and for instance why aren't we shipping mini PCs and letting go of desktops that are 800 a whack plus shipping? I have plenty of other ideas as well but I feel its all pooh poohed.

Should I stick it out for another year or should I continue to look? Should I mention to the VP that's not exactly what I was expecting or shut up? My next idea is to wait until Windows 10 releases and go all the way through to MCSE. I've always wanted to and know I can but it feels like it doesn't matter what certs I have at this place or the countless years of experience. Maybe that's just corporate, I don't know.

I am honestly just looking for someone to tell me that I shouldn't be bitching or moaning, or someone to tell me you should mention this, you should go for MCSE and see what that nets you leverage wise when completed. I just feel lost at the moment. I love what I do, that is an advantage out the gate. I love this work.

Here are the perks of the job for reference so you guys can gauge everything. I have no shame, be hostile or be nice. It's entirely up to you. I will take advice any way I can get it.

1. Work from home for the past five years.
2. Full benefits, not awesome but gets the job done for sure.
3. Don't get stuck is Los Angeles traffic.
4. Work a 1pm-9pm schedule, some nights are eerily quiet after 7pm.
5. Making 53k a year on average not counting random bonus.
6. Work an on call week once a month for an extra 400.00 bonus
7. Just earned my extra week of vacation so 3 weeks vacation a year
8. Week of sick days (never use them)
9. Pretty cool ass boss, family first type boss.

Am I just being a byotch? Thank you for your time in reading this.

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Comments

lsud00d

Get out of there...2.5% increase isn't even COL. With what you've described as your experience and certifications, you could make much more.

Don't worry about the company, and don't entertain a counter offer. The best time to look for a new job is while you have one, so update your resume, post it here so we can spruce it up for you, and then get on it!

Dyasis

you said

I just don't know whether to believe him or not at this point as I have heard many statements like this in the past.

and yet, he told you don't look for another job, and let him see what he can do. You got a raise and bonus. Seems like he made good on his end. It seems like he is wanting to restructure things, and that wont happen overnight, it looks like he wants you to be there and grow.

huhwhat

@=lsud00d

That's one thought. That's cool about the resume thing. This seems like a nice little community here. If I decide to continue my search I would totally like to spruce it up. I'm sure I could stumble around and find the thread for resume sprucing but do you know it off the top? Thank you.

@=Dyasis

That's the predicament. He did come through. He also seems to have the best vision in years at this company. I am wondering if I should give it another year to see if he really makes good. It would suck to leave now if something was right around the bend but I lost faith.

paul78

huhwhat wrote: »

It would suck to leave now if something was right around the bend but I lost faith.

Life's too short. If you have become disillusioned (and it sounds like you have), it never hurts to look around for other options. Even if the new VP is able to make positive changes, you may just be burnt out and it may not really matter how great things get... Sometimes, a different scene can invigorate you.

vaguemedia

There's nothing wrong with looking at or applying for other positions. If you end up with another offer, it doesn't mean you have to accept it. You might as well test the waters and see what you're really worth. Just be careful about posting your resume online.

AverageJoe

Soooo... you want honest feedback, so here are my thoughts. No offense intended, just sharing my 2 cents.

You have a job you love, decent pay, decent benefits, a cool boss, and the VP has said he'll take care of you. Even if he does nothing more, he's already delivered a modest raise and a bonus in a pretty short amount of time. So now you get paid even better to do a job you love while have decent benefits and a cool boss.

But even though the VP basically said "trust me, changes are coming" you've already decided you don't trust him and that's why you're posting for advice. You don't seem loyal to your boss who you say is cool but that you criticize in the same message. You don't seem loyal to the VP who said trust him and has already given you proof that he's making changes. You seem to think you're owed more, but you think the guys who have been loyal for 20 years should be let go so you can have one of their jobs even though there's no indication they've done anything wrong and you have no idea why decisions they've made have happened. You say they haven't kept up with technology... that's life in IT... managers typically don't keep up with programming devices. They're the ones busy fighting for your budget and pay raise and trying not to outsource your position and food fighting the other departments when the CEO is looking for places to cut 10% off the expense line.

Some will certainly say that it's just business and it's not about loyalty to a boss or VP or company, but if that's true, then you shouldn't expect your company, VP, or boss to be loyal to you either.

Yeah, I think you're whining. And because you obviously want more, and you don't trust the VP or respect your boss, I think you should probably move on and let someone who will appreciate your position, pay, benefits, and cool boss take your place.

Just my 2 cents.
Joe

LeBroke

Holy $swearword dude, I'd just get the hell out of there. But then I'm jaded and never believe in anything supervisors promise me until I actually see it. You know why you're not getting promoted or moved anywhere? Because you're awesome at what you do. You're more valuable to the company on helpdesk with everything that you know, and you're getting probably 30%-50% below your true market value. You're basically a mid-level sysadmin without the corresponding pay that a specialist of your level would have.

It's only worth sticking out if you feel the work from home and flexibility justify the lack of pay.

Get on LinkedIn, start networking, start applying for jobs that tickle your fancy. Just because someone offered you cake doesn't mean you have to eat it. But if you suddenly find yourself face to face with some apple pie that's even better than the one your mom used to make, by all means, go ahead.

Codeman6669

update your resume, and go apply for jobs. When you get a offer for X amount (and you want to go work for the new employer), let your boss know, and if they want to keep you they will pay you (quote from previous employer) + some. If they dont, then you move on and get more pay and a new experience.

This way ball is in your court. You control your fate, not them

lsud00d

@AverageJoe, loyalty is a jaded concept. Everything nowadays is business-related--are you good for business? Is business good for you? If either of these answers are no, then it's a mismatch. Move on to find your match. Make (or save) the business a bunch of money, and make a bunch of money in the process. If you can do this and do things you enjoy/love, then life is good.

AverageJoe

Sure, and I acknowledged that perspective in my earlier post. OP, however, says he has "a cush little gig" where he basically likes the work, likes the pay, likes the benefits, and likes that his boss is "pretty cool ass." It sounds like he likes an awful lot about this job, but if it's not a match, he should absolutely look at moving on. There are plenty of folks who will line up to take the "cush little gig" he's described.

huhwhat

Thank you all for the replies, each and every one of them. Like I said I'm not going to take offense as I would like to hear all answers and not only the side everyone secretly wants to hear.

I believe I will continue to look at this time. Maybe I am burnt out here and the perks just can't outweigh that anymore. I might miss in person social interaction too. It's hard to be someone when technically you are only a voice 98% of the time.

I will brush up the resume some more and continue to look but go MCSE route regardless, for myself. As far as being loyal I feel I was up until two years ago once everyone went into backstabbing mode over the merger. I have never been good at the survivor type games. I do my job, that's what I am paid for. I don't like to get involved in drama and that's a bit of the reason why working from him is so nice at times.

It sounds like a majority if not all of you think it's time to move on. I still battle with the "it could be right around the bend" thought but maybe the ride is just over. Basically every post here has echoed my thoughts on some level and I appreciate you all for taking the time to speak about it.

At the end of the day I believe I will hunt for apple pie that is better than my Moms. If I find it I might just enter myself into the pie eating contest.

Thanks again.