Take the job offer or no?

[a1strank]

A little bit about myself:

Currently working at a decent company in the IT department (14 months now), not learning much but it is an easy job with OK pay. (42k) Manager is OK but not perfect and loved the people around me so overall no complaints other than the long commute and no-growth (30 miles 1 way) I will be done with my bachelor's in IT in 2 weeks and recently I've been interviewing with some AT&T managers. Surprisingly, one of them gave me a job offer and it pays pretty well - $60k a year plus 10% bonus, pretty good for my age I assume. It is a support team for cloud services..I assumed I will be learning a lot so I had seriously considered about it.

Here's the situation. I've planned a trip oversea for 4 weeks and they said if I want the job I'll have to cancel the trip. Canceling the flight and losing that money is no big deal for me but going back this time is very different because it is going to be 7 of us. Just imagine all your buddies including you have bought the ticket and ready to have some fun in few months. What would you do in this situation? Take the job or wait until you get back? I am single, 25, no kids, no house, just in a relationship. Current company already approved the long leave for next year. Now, I don't know how good this AT&T position is just yet because haven't even met the managers in person. All this was done in an phone interview and an offer was send to me few hours later. The location is also far from me (30 miles a way as well, but in midtown)..the job looks good on paper though and definitely a good increase in pay..tell me guys! I haven't been applying to many positions yet so I don't know where I stand in this market. I've applied to one of the positions at Citrix (Support engineer) but got turned down a day later and I met all the requirements...but that's about it.

EDIT: I forgot to mention I have about 3 years of real world experience and the AT&T position is from the NETREX program designed for recent grads:

http://att.jobs/student-program/network-transition-exchange-program

 

[Insomniator]

Take the job, gotta get in a position where you will learn - especially in IT. Jobs aren't exactly the easiest thing to find these days.

Take a sweet vacation with the extra 20k you'll be making.

 

[rasczak]

Yea, I'm sure your buddies will understand. Jobs are not easy to come by so take what you can get to gain experience and travel later.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Personally I hate working for large companies.

In that situation I personally would pass on the ~$10k per year and get more experience, then move to another small/med company with more room for growth.

You're basically going from "real" IT to a phone jockey position. The 10% bonus insinuates that you will have to sell something or have some measurable performance metric, in other words..... You will just be a number.

 

[bigrash]

That's a tough one. I would say take the job, but once you start working, you'll never have the chance to take a month-long trip.

 

[bigrash]

You're basically going from "real" IT to a phone jockey position. The 10% bonus insinuates that you will have to sell something or have some measurable performance metric, in other words..... You will just be a number.

No. A lot of large companies gives you bonus at the end of the year depending on the company's performance, and has nothing to do with the employee selling anything.

 

[Capt Caveman]

You're basically going from "real" IT to a phone jockey position. The 10% bonus insinuates that you will have to sell something or have some measurable performance metric, in other words..... You will just be a number.

:biggrin: Phone jockey position? No, not all support positions are phone jockey positions. And bonus is on performance not selling anything. Idiot.

OP - why can't you still go on your trip but just cut it short by a week or two? If this position is part of a development training program then they see potential in you and plan to develop/train you.

You may develop some very important skills and obviously this type of program means this specific position is not long term and you will eventually be asked to possibly relocate or work another position/office in your area in a year or two.

How do I know? I was recruited out of school for AT&T Financial Management Training Program and worked in NY, CT and MA in two years.

It looks like you could learn a lot in very short period of time and if you decide a couple of years down the round it's not for you. You'll have this on your resume which will look impressive to prospective employers.

Personally, I'd take the job and see if you can still go on the trip for a week or two.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

:biggrin: Phone jockey position? No, not all support positions are phone jockey positions. And bonus is on performance not selling anything. Idiot.

OP - why can't you still go on your trip but just cut it short by a week or two? If this position is part of a development training program then they see potential in you and plan to develop/train you.

You may develop some very important skills and obviously this type of program means this specific position is not long term and you will eventually be asked to possibly relocate or work another position/office in your area in a year or two.

How do I know? I was recruited out of school for AT&T Financial Management Training Program and worked in NY, CT and MA in two years.

It looks like you could learn a lot in very short period of time and if you decide a couple of years down the round it's not for you. You'll have this on your resume which will look impressive to prospective employers.

Personally, I'd take the job and see if you can still go on the trip for a week or two.

Aww Caveman, did I hurt your feelings? Rofl way to lash out like a little emotional child.


Again with your lack of interpersonal and info processing... I didn't say ALL support positions are jockey type things. But this one in particular is.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

Honestly, if you are even thinking about this then money/growth/security isn't a priority in your life. And you are not committed or dedicated towards your profession either. Do yourself a favor and forget AT&T. You are wasting their time and money on somebody who doesn't give a damn.

I am not trying to get personal, but if a 50% raise and better job is worth so little in your life, then you don't deserve any of it.

 

[PowerYoga]

Had a similar situation, took the job without thinking twice. 42k is nothing in this industry.

You can have fun with the extra 20k and your buddies will appreciate all the drinks you are buying them next time.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Curious... Where do u live where $60k is considered good at age 25?

 

[aaksheytalwar]

IMO a base salary of 60k is okay for a 22 year old. A good salary for a 22 yr old is 90k base. And for a 25k year at least 100-120k base.

 

[Insomniator]

Not sure if the last two posts are serious or not.

I don't know many 40 year olds making more than 100k, and I'm not in a cheap area.

Most of my friends would be delighted with 60k at 25.

 

[sze5003]

Curious... Where do u live where $60k is considered good at age 25?

So you have to make more than that at that age to be good ? Everyone I went to school with got jobs making 40k or so like op and we all graduated in IT. I went the development route and was the first one to get a job starting at 60-65.

So considering we all graduated from the same crap and all the friends are making less I consider it good.

 

[PowerYoga]

Not sure if the last two posts are serious or not.

I don't know many 40 year olds making more than 100k, and I'm not in a cheap area.

Most of my friends would be delighted with 60k at 25.

In this industry? At the very minimum 60k on an entry. Maybe if you're an IT monkey for some little firm then 40k would be the standard. Some of my friends are under 40 and quite a few are making 6 figures or close to it after bonuses, but they're devs.

 

[sze5003]

Well they must be working for MS or google. I dont know anyone my age making 90k base. I get bonuses and partnership every year but no where near of an increase like you are talking. I'm a dev for a very large company and everyone here knows they don't pay that much.

The only ones making over 80 are managers and those that have been here a long time.

 

[a1strank]

Curious... Where do u live where $60k is considered good at age 25?

Atlanta.

Browsing to the job catalogs and looking at some entry salaries I find 60k quiet good for my area. I say the average here is about 45k for college grads.

 

[Insomniator]

Atlanta.

Browsing to the job catalogs and looking at some entry salaries I find 60k quiet good for my area. I say the average here is about 45k for college grads.

60k is good in the entire world I would say. My buddy is going to be an oral surgeon and he's only getting paid 60k for his residency. He'll be 30 before he makes 6 figures. Of course, 7 probably won't be far behind for him!

 

[a1strank]

:biggrin:

OP - why can't you still go on your trip but just cut it short by a week or two? If this position is part of a development training program then they see potential in you and plan to develop/train you.

Long story short, the manager said I can start when I get back from the trip but the AT&T Staffing Manager said all people enrolled or recruited from this type of program MUST ALL start at the same time (even though this particular manager is only hiring 1 person from this program). I communicated with the manager and he said that's something new to him as well and sorry. The starting date is Jan 21st and my trip leaves on Feb 2nd..I was thinking maybe I can just take it and try and see if I can find a way around it with my manager as he seems pretty cool / flexible about it but I'm not entirely sure how this program works really..

 

[sze5003]

Take the job and get the experience. You will deff learn a lot.

 

[SheHateMe]

Do you want the job or not? Its on the table, all you have to do is sacrifice vacation for it. Your buddies can still go, you can miss the flight and they will still be fine.

If you want an opportunity to learn and grow in your field..why are you even asking us which choice you should make?

 

[Markbnj]

In this industry? At the very minimum 60k on an entry. Maybe if you're an IT monkey for some little firm then 40k would be the standard. Some of my friends are under 40 and quite a few are making 6 figures or close to it after bonuses, but they're devs.

Development is a different thing.

OP, as a 51 year-old, I can tell you that at 25 I would have taken the trip, no questions. In fact I did, but that's another story. Unless you have obligations to people (which you will have plenty of later on in your life), go do what makes you happy. You won't ever regret it. There will be other jobs, but probably very few opportunities to have the experience of a lifetime with a group of close friends who will all shortly be heading off in different directions. Live now, you'll be working plenty later .

 

[Capt Caveman]

Again with your lack of interpersonal and info processing... I didn't say ALL support positions are jockey type things. But this one in particular is.

How do you know? Have you clicked on the OP's link? Have you seen the job description or know anything about the training program? Keep on showing your ignorance, you do this in many of your posts.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Long story short, the manager said I can start when I get back from the trip but the AT&T Staffing Manager said all people enrolled or recruited from this type of program MUST ALL start at the same time (even though this particular manager is only hiring 1 person from this program). I communicated with the manager and he said that's something new to him as well and sorry. The starting date is Jan 21st and my trip leaves on Feb 2nd..I was thinking maybe I can just take it and try and see if I can find a way around it with my manager as he seems pretty cool / flexible about it but I'm not entirely sure how this program works really..

Aww. The timing is bad here. Do you know when the next recruiting class starts? If it's in like six months, could you defer your start date til then. Go on your trip then continue to work at your current place til the next round starts?

 

[sze5003]

I was in your position with my first job. I was on vacation when they gave me an offer. I left vacation short to start work. Now I get 20 days vacation but I don't have time to take off