I need some perspective

Raekwon

As I mentioned on another post, my current job (been here 2 years) are letting me go at the end of this month. I was at an interview this week (my second this month, third since January) and even though they seem keen I got a really bad vibe off the place and my gut instinct is telling me to look else where. But then again a job is a job right? And in this current climate should I really be in the slightest bit fussy?

The job is basically for an IT guy (working alone) in a relativity new company in Dublin. The place is already setup and works okay but the snag-list is as long as my arm and it will pretty much have to be setup again from scratch. Alot of the technology is brand new and I've never even touch some of it before so in saying that their could be a learning curve but the training will be pretty much non-existent. But it would be a challenge and I really welcome that!

Sounds okay so far but they also have the same business in London and I would be expected to look after that also. So I would need to be there for approximately one week setting the place up then I would be expected to go their every fortnight to amend any physical problems (basically anything that can't be solved over remote access). I'd also pretty much be on 24 hour call for both places.

It's initially a 3 month contact with a view to be made permanent (I have a feeling that it will just be for 3 months) and the salary is €25k per annum (a huge paycut for me, but then again huge paycuts are pretty much standard these days).

So would I be mad to take this if offered or mad not to take it? I know I will get loads of "sure isn't it better then sitting around on your hole collecting the dole" answers and I realize that, but it seems like a very lonely and stressful job with very little reward to me.

Atomic Pineapple

if its just a 3 month contract you can give it a go and if its not for you then your free to leave after 3 months without any hassle?

AnnyHallsal

Keep looking, but take it if you're offered it. If you spend three months on the dole with no prospect of a job I'm pretty sure you'll regret not taking it however colossal the challenge. However much work there is, you can endure three months, right? At the end, all that work will be great experience, and you can keep looking elsewhere in the meantime.

petes

draffodx wrote: »

if its just a 3 month contract you can give it a go and if its not for you then your free to leave after 3 months without any hassle?

Nail on head.

ghosttown

€25k not a lot for potential hours, 24h a day on call and london visits. I assume that's a basic and you'll get expenses etc, make sure these are covered, and you get subsistence for uk trips. Rules re airport parking / lunchs etc, be clear in advance.

Raekwon

Cheers for all the answers lads

draffodx wrote: »

if its just a 3 month contract you can give it a go and if its not for you then your free to leave after 3 months without any hassle?

Yeah that was my thinking, but I only found out about the salary and the fact that it was an initial three month contract when I got a call looking for references this morning. The job was advertised as full-time and the interviewer spoke about it as long term etc so I was kind of taken aback and more doubt crept into my mind.

The_Honeybadger

You sound like you have alot of experience and are good at what you do. I really would question why they would only offer you 25k? For an I.T. professional that seems very low indeed as the job sounds demanding. Can't really give you any advice as I'm not in I.T. and don't know what the job prospects in the sector are like at the moment but sounds to me like you'd be selling yourself miles short.

Boom_Bap

I would go for it as long as expences etc are covered for travel and out of hours.
You're going to be learning a lot of new stuff, pretty much running the IT dept by yourself and doing some travel. These things look great on a CV, so if in 3 months things dont work out you have improved your skillset and have more to talk about in future interviews.

But, if you cannot afford to live on the 25K then keep looking. If you can, try overlook the step down you are taking moneywise and focus on the positives.

gandalf

They do sound like cheapskates and yes it could be the nightmare move from hell but if you are getting the chance to try new stuff and learn new skills on the fly I'd jump at it. Once you can afford to live on the salary they are offering you should be ok. Worst case its 3 months and you can still put it on your CV because it was a contract. These days experience is king and the more you get and the more varied it is the better chance you have to stand out from the crowd if you decide its not for you. I would explore the possibility of re-visiting the renumeration if they decide to hold onto you after the initial 3 months.

Good luck.

old hippy

Try it, dude. It's only 3 months. At the end, if they are really keen to keep you on, re-negotiate the salary.

dan_d

I know someone who went into a similar situation......one guy running his own business, decided he needed....well, employees!! The guy I know, came in and had to start everything from scratch (he's IT), and in a year of arriving he was the VP of the company, and on a huge salary (still is). The company took off as a result of his work. This is in the last 2 years - he's worked long hours but thinks it's worth it!!.

another world

ghosttown wrote: »

€25k not a lot for potential hours, 24h a day on call and london visits. I assume that's a basic and you'll get expenses etc, make sure these are covered, and you get subsistence for uk trips. Rules re airport parking / lunchs etc, be clear in advance.

Agreed. 25k for that type of job is taking the pi$$. I´d look elsewhere.

CorkFenian

They're offering the 25K cos they can, people are desperate, they will find someone as good if not better to take it..How do I know this cos I found myself in the same boat last year....I had to take it...

the_syco

Take the job. In three months time, you'll be able to put a lot more knowledge on your CV.

As well as that, if you do well, in 3 months time, ask for a raise. Giving you a raise would be better than getting a completely new person in again, I'd say.

Raekwon

Bah! I didn't get it in the end and after the quick rush of relief the doom & dread suddenly kicked in........3 interviews in 3 months and 3 no's........bye bye confidence!

Btw I think the very poor salary for this role was mainly due to that fact that it was advertised on the Fás website among a sea of WPP1/WPP2 jobs, like this role, which I would have applied for if it had an actual salary...........but of course this is been discussed in more depth in another thread.