My current position is with a small company (~25 users) handling everything IT-related. My title is "IT Administrator" and I do anything from create/update the intranet to manage workstations and our server, train users, and troubleshoot. I applied for a position with a larger company recently for a network administrator. I received a call back from them asking if I'd instead be interested in a help desk position. It sounds like a subset of the tasks I perform now with a similar amount of users (30-35). I would be doing some hardware troubleshooting/repair, software support, and monitoring of server logs and backups. This sounds like a step down for me, career-wise, but the compensation is much better plus I'd have other IT co-workers (6 in the department) which I think would help me with learning new skills. Would it be a wise decision to go from IT Admin to Help Desk or would it hurt my career more then help? And if offered the job, should I try to get a better sounding title than something with "help desk" in it?
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A step down for better compensation?
- Thread starter philote
- Start date
It can be good or bad, depending on how you look at it.
If you took the job and put together a resume with previous salaries, then it would probably look like a lateral move. By seeing a lower salary for the IT Admin job, the reviewers make think that it is comparable to the new job, instead of above it.
But if you don't list salaries, then it might look like a step down.
On the flip side, if the new company provides opportunities for growth, you may want to take the job for that reason, and list as your reason for leaving to be able to work for a company with growth opportunities.
There are other things to consider as well. If you really need the money, then obviously take it.
Another way to look at it is like this: if you were laid off or lost your current job...and had to take a job such as this new one, would you then feel it as a step down? You might be trying to compare them too much.
I can't give you an accurate guess because I have never had to hire someone, and these are just my personal opinions. But you should definately meet with them and get the exact job title and job description. If you do that and you find some things left out that you are capable of, perhaps you can let them know that you would be offering their company these skills and ask if the job title is negotiable. They may think it admireable that you wish to take on more responsibility, but then again, they may not like it.
If you took the job and put together a resume with previous salaries, then it would probably look like a lateral move. By seeing a lower salary for the IT Admin job, the reviewers make think that it is comparable to the new job, instead of above it.
But if you don't list salaries, then it might look like a step down.
On the flip side, if the new company provides opportunities for growth, you may want to take the job for that reason, and list as your reason for leaving to be able to work for a company with growth opportunities.
There are other things to consider as well. If you really need the money, then obviously take it.
Another way to look at it is like this: if you were laid off or lost your current job...and had to take a job such as this new one, would you then feel it as a step down? You might be trying to compare them too much.
I can't give you an accurate guess because I have never had to hire someone, and these are just my personal opinions. But you should definately meet with them and get the exact job title and job description. If you do that and you find some things left out that you are capable of, perhaps you can let them know that you would be offering their company these skills and ask if the job title is negotiable. They may think it admireable that you wish to take on more responsibility, but then again, they may not like it.
Job Titles still matter a lot to some people, and going from IT Admin to Help Desker will be seen as a definite step-down.
I would ask what title would be on your business card. Make sure it's either something non-descript, or impressive sounding.
Chip H.
If you want to get the best response to a question, please check out FAQ222-2244 first
I would ask what title would be on your business card. Make sure it's either something non-descript, or impressive sounding.
Chip H.
If you want to get the best response to a question, please check out FAQ222-2244 first
The duties performed in your job(s) are going to define your position.
To be PC and not wanting to “hurt” anyone’s feelings, job titles took on the “importance factor,” such as, homemaker=domestic engineer, janitor=environmental engineer, etc. Everyone has a technician or engineer moniker attached to their job.
Going from your current job with the Admin title to the larger company with the help desk title will not hurt you in any way. When interviewing in the future, an employer is going to look at your accomplishments and determine that both jobs were close in their daily tasks.
My suggestion would be to take the job for more experience. Processes and interaction with more people will help you with your “soft skills” which are very important for success.
As for the long-term, it depends what you intend to do. Large corporations employ specialists in a field instead of generalists, and you will eventually need to specialize in an area. This may be more possible at the new company that is a little larger, with 6 co-workers, which may let you become the “technology X” expert there, and use that experience as a catalyst to a large corporation.
If you want to work for small to medium companies, then it won’t matter that you went from “admin” to “help desk” because the companies that comprise this segment usually employ generalists because they don’t have the money to spend for specialists and they don’t want 500 IT employees.
If your intention is to go into IT management, then moving to the new company would benefit you by working with other employees and learning how that organization works. Take with you all of the good AND bad that you can from each company you work for and use the knowledge to help you excel in your career. If you want to work in management for a large corporation, you would most likely have to start out as a specialist and then over the years (and it can take YEARS) move up into a departmental manager, then move to a area manager, to division manager, and then move into the vice presidential positions. Remember though, these moves are extremely political and generally take many years to reach; though some do move faster than others, for whatever reasons (read, political).
Decide what/where you want to go and that will help you in deciding if the new job is what you feel is best for you.
To be PC and not wanting to “hurt” anyone’s feelings, job titles took on the “importance factor,” such as, homemaker=domestic engineer, janitor=environmental engineer, etc. Everyone has a technician or engineer moniker attached to their job.
Going from your current job with the Admin title to the larger company with the help desk title will not hurt you in any way. When interviewing in the future, an employer is going to look at your accomplishments and determine that both jobs were close in their daily tasks.
My suggestion would be to take the job for more experience. Processes and interaction with more people will help you with your “soft skills” which are very important for success.
As for the long-term, it depends what you intend to do. Large corporations employ specialists in a field instead of generalists, and you will eventually need to specialize in an area. This may be more possible at the new company that is a little larger, with 6 co-workers, which may let you become the “technology X” expert there, and use that experience as a catalyst to a large corporation.
If you want to work for small to medium companies, then it won’t matter that you went from “admin” to “help desk” because the companies that comprise this segment usually employ generalists because they don’t have the money to spend for specialists and they don’t want 500 IT employees.
If your intention is to go into IT management, then moving to the new company would benefit you by working with other employees and learning how that organization works. Take with you all of the good AND bad that you can from each company you work for and use the knowledge to help you excel in your career. If you want to work in management for a large corporation, you would most likely have to start out as a specialist and then over the years (and it can take YEARS) move up into a departmental manager, then move to a area manager, to division manager, and then move into the vice presidential positions. Remember though, these moves are extremely political and generally take many years to reach; though some do move faster than others, for whatever reasons (read, political).
Decide what/where you want to go and that will help you in deciding if the new job is what you feel is best for you.
- Thread starter
- #5
Thanks for the advice chiph and RiverGuy.
I am considering this position because of growth opportunity. Obviously in my current position, being the sole IT person, I have nowhere to go from here.
In the future when I send out my resume I definitely don't want it to look like I couldn't handle being an IT Admin and had to take a step down. Could the change of positions for growth opportunity be somehow conveyed in a resume?
Also, can anyone suggest a good job title for the position as I described it? um... IT Associate?
I am considering this position because of growth opportunity. Obviously in my current position, being the sole IT person, I have nowhere to go from here.
In the future when I send out my resume I definitely don't want it to look like I couldn't handle being an IT Admin and had to take a step down. Could the change of positions for growth opportunity be somehow conveyed in a resume?
Also, can anyone suggest a good job title for the position as I described it? um... IT Associate?
- Thread starter
- #7
BTW, this is a newly created position so I'm sure the title for it would be negotiable.
More possible titles, pulled from Salary.com... tell me what you think:
Systems Support Assistant
PC Support Manager (or Specialist since this isn't really a mgmt position).
Information Systems Generalist
More possible titles, pulled from Salary.com... tell me what you think:
Systems Support Assistant
PC Support Manager (or Specialist since this isn't really a mgmt position).
Information Systems Generalist
IN a large compnay you may have less success getting them to change their titles. HOwever, if you feel your official title looks like a step down, you cna always make sure that your description of the job shows that it is more than the title. I also had one official title that was so far off, I ending up putting the real title in parentheses after it on my resume. I mean, come on, ADP Installer is not even close to being a database programmer. Then I explained why I did this in the interview. I was stuck with the title due to the nature of the contract we had which specified the titles and salaries. It was either that or take considerably less money and have a clerical title. But I've done a lot of hiring and interviewing and I know I never paid the slightest bit of attention to the job title. It's the duties I was interested in. Usually it was for the oppposite reason though, that I saw resumes for people with the right title but who clrearly weren't qualified to do the job.
Title part aside you need to make sure that you don't mind the limitations of the job. If you really enjoy the networking and server aspect of your current job and see user support as a pain then you probably wouldn't want to take a Help desk position regardless of what the title is.
Yes more money is always nice to have but more money does not mean more job satisfaction or happiness in your job. You have to define what is most important in your career Satisfaction and Happiness or Money and titles.
"Shoot Me! Shoot Me NOW!!!"
- Daffy Duck
Yes more money is always nice to have but more money does not mean more job satisfaction or happiness in your job. You have to define what is most important in your career Satisfaction and Happiness or Money and titles.
"Shoot Me! Shoot Me NOW!!!"
- Daffy Duck
philote
Something not quite right here, you're talking of moving from a ~25 user organisation where you are sole IT support, to a 30-35 user environment as part of a team of 6 IT support. Or have I missed something?
You need to look at how you want to progress your career, you're currently a generalist;
Do you want to remain a generalist? If so, you will be limited to organisations of 25-50 ish staff. Larger organisations need and can afford a degree of specialisation.
Do you want to specialise in a particular area? If so, go for a larger organisation which will give you the training opportunities.
Do you want to move into a more formal management position? Again, larger organisation with a career progression structure.
Compensation is something you have to measure against other factors like job-satisfaction, training, career progression, personal challenge and working environment.
What do you really enjoy doing? Following that is the route to a successful career.
Job title is pretty much irrelevant, but go for the most general you can get, as SQLSister says, you can always put a more appropriate one in parentheses. Titles are nebulous, the duties are what really count.
Make sure any new employer will give you the opportunity to progress down your chosen career path and, ideally, allow you to switch paths if you develop new career aspirations.
Rosie
Something not quite right here, you're talking of moving from a ~25 user organisation where you are sole IT support, to a 30-35 user environment as part of a team of 6 IT support. Or have I missed something?
You need to look at how you want to progress your career, you're currently a generalist;
Do you want to remain a generalist? If so, you will be limited to organisations of 25-50 ish staff. Larger organisations need and can afford a degree of specialisation.
Do you want to specialise in a particular area? If so, go for a larger organisation which will give you the training opportunities.
Do you want to move into a more formal management position? Again, larger organisation with a career progression structure.
Compensation is something you have to measure against other factors like job-satisfaction, training, career progression, personal challenge and working environment.
What do you really enjoy doing? Following that is the route to a successful career.
Job title is pretty much irrelevant, but go for the most general you can get, as SQLSister says, you can always put a more appropriate one in parentheses. Titles are nebulous, the duties are what really count.
Make sure any new employer will give you the opportunity to progress down your chosen career path and, ideally, allow you to switch paths if you develop new career aspirations.
Rosie
- Thread starter
- #11
Thank you everyone for the advice! After reading everyone's posts, I don't think I'll be hurt at all if I get this new job. I have a hard time in my current company because it is so disorganized and I'm the only IT person in a sea of IT-challenged employees. I haven't had the experience to see how a real/established IT department operates and I'm sure I can learn much from being in that environment.
Now I just have to do my best in the interview and hope I get the job. It's encouraging that I applied for one position and they offered me another that I'm probably better suited for. And when the guy I talked to told me about this position I got the impression that he was offering it to me though he didn't explicitly say so. But of course I don't want to get my hopes up. I'll let everyone know how this pans out.
Thanks again!
Now I just have to do my best in the interview and hope I get the job. It's encouraging that I applied for one position and they offered me another that I'm probably better suited for. And when the guy I talked to told me about this position I got the impression that he was offering it to me though he didn't explicitly say so. But of course I don't want to get my hopes up. I'll let everyone know how this pans out.
Thanks again!
Sometime during the interview, see if you can talk to someone on the help desk at the new organization. Try to get a feel for if he or she feels "trapped" on the help desk. How does the rest of the IT group at the company view the help desk? Are the help desk workers seen as skilled technicians who happen to work the phones or are they seen as people who are incapable of doing anything but answer phones?
I used to work on a help desk. It was my first "real" IT job. I got lucky enough to escape. One of my former co-workers was a skilled Windows and BSD administrator. He was overqualified for help desk work and felt constrained by what he thought were stupid rules and limits. He intended to use the help desk job as a springboard to a better job with our company. He wound up getting fired, but did actually find a better job with another company.
Try to find out how the help desk workers at the new organization feel about their work. Ask the help desk management a few questions: What's the turnover rate for help desk workers? How high is the call abandonment rate? (High = too many calls or burnt out workers)
I used to work on a help desk. It was my first "real" IT job. I got lucky enough to escape. One of my former co-workers was a skilled Windows and BSD administrator. He was overqualified for help desk work and felt constrained by what he thought were stupid rules and limits. He intended to use the help desk job as a springboard to a better job with our company. He wound up getting fired, but did actually find a better job with another company.
Try to find out how the help desk workers at the new organization feel about their work. Ask the help desk management a few questions: What's the turnover rate for help desk workers? How high is the call abandonment rate? (High = too many calls or burnt out workers)
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