#Underpaid #Entitled #ITCareers #SalaryNegotiation #CareerAdvice #JobSatisfaction #ChicagoJobs
🤔 Am I underpaid or just entitled? 💰
Are you feeling undervalued and underpaid in your current IT job? It’s a common concern that many professionals face, especially in the fast-paced and ever-changing world of technology. You are not alone in this dilemma, and it’s essential to evaluate your worth and consider your options moving forward. Let’s explore the factors at play and discuss some strategies to address this issue.
##Analyzing Your Situation
###Current Role and Responsibilities
You mentioned that you are in a team lead position, managing a significant workload for a range of clients. You handle a diverse set of tasks, from IT support to security management and client relationships. It’s evident that your role requires specialized expertise and a high level of responsibility.
###Market Comparison
Research the average salary for similar roles in Chicago downtown and compare it to your current compensation. Consider factors such as your skillset, experience, and the demands of your job. Are you being paid fairly based on industry standards and your contributions to the organization?
###Work-Life Balance
You also highlighted the long hours and the toll it’s taking on your personal life. It’s important to factor in the value of your time and the impact of your work hours on your overall well-being.
##Evaluating Your Options
###Salary Negotiation
Initiating a conversation about your compensation with your employer is a proactive step. Compile a list of your accomplishments, such as improved client satisfaction, successful project implementations, and any additional responsibilities you have taken on. Request a meeting to discuss your contributions and make a case for a substantial salary increase.
###Exploring Other Opportunities
Consider exploring job openings at other organizations to gauge the market demand for professionals with your skill set. Networking with industry peers and attending IT events in Chicago can provide you with insights into potential career advancement opportunities.
###Upgrading Your Skills
Continuous learning and professional development are crucial in the IT sector. Investing in certifications, advanced training programs, or pursuing a degree in a specialized area of IT can enhance your value in the job market. This could ultimately lead to more lucrative prospects and job satisfaction.
##Financial and Career Planning
###Budgeting and Financial Goals
Evaluate your current financial situation and create a budget that reflects your expenses and savings goals. Assess the affordability of renting an apartment closer to work and explore ways to improve your financial stability.
###Long-Term Career Strategies
Reflect on your career aspirations and the potential trajectory in the IT field. Consider the option of pursuing a degree in finance as part of a strategic career transition or enhancement of your skill set.
###Seeking Mentorship and Guidance
Connecting with industry mentors or seeking counsel from professionals who have navigated similar career challenges can provide valuable perspectives and guidance.
##Navigating Job Satisfaction and Growth
###Personal Fulfillment and Job Satisfaction
Amidst the financial considerations, prioritize your overall job satisfaction and sense of fulfillment. Assess whether your current role aligns with your long-term career goals and personal interests.
###Self-Care and Well-being
Consider seeking outlets for stress management and maintaining a healthy work-life balance, which could involve setting boundaries around work hours and scheduling time for self-care activities.
###Considering Alternate Paths
Explore the potential of transitioning into a role that aligns more closely with your passion for higher-level IT tasks. While this may involve some degree of risk, it’s important to weigh the potential rewards against the current challenges you face.
In conclusion, it’s evident that the question of being underpaid or entitled is a complex one, influenced by multiple factors such as market trends, personal circumstances, and career aspirations. It’s important to approach this issue with a balanced perspective, seeking opportunities for growth and career satisfaction while also advocating for fair compensation. Remember that your skills and expertise hold value in the IT industry, and prioritizing your professional worth is crucial for your long-term success. 🌟
Underpaid. Stop working during your commute and working from home.
Job hop. You could easily make more. Tons of MSPs in the area. You’re going to burn yourself out working that much for that little.
Leave the MSP life or if you want to stay hop to another MSP or else you’ll be chasing minimal raises
I don’t know what it’s like in Chi vs LA but I pay my service desk with less experience much more than that.
There’s only one way to test if you are underpaid.
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Go and apply for a bunch of jobs and see what the job offers come in as.
If you can get more from another employer, then yes, you are underpaid.
Those skills are worth 120k or more in dallas. 21yo it may be hard for some to accept you have that deep of knowledge. If you truly have strong basics, Scripting, ip/bgp i.e. azure gateways, firewall, other azure components or aws equivalents, and 3 to 5 yoe on your resume you should hop. I’d ask for a New role, or promotion first, with no ultimatums or threats.
Get a few Senior engineer interviews to practice the tech interview portion.
Underpaid bro. That MSP found a unicorn, do you know through how many clowns that are Fake IT bro’s someone has to go through to even find someone that knows what an echo is in powershell?
>underpaid or just entitled?
Or … entitled to be underpaid? 😉
>Job hop? Ask for large raise?
Make the case for what you’re worth … see if you can negotiate to get it. And … keep your options open. If they don’t level up to where you ought be, keep looking, and when better opportunity then comes up – if they counter-offer, that’s too late – you asked, they didn’t come up to what you’re worth, you give notice, you move on. And, if you look and look and look and try and try and try … and can’t get better … your market value may not currently be what you think it is.
>Starting to feel like I messed up going into IT. Anyone have any advice?
As I oft tell folks, well do your research. If you haven’t already well done that, then you’re quite overdue to do so.
Underpaid I work desktop support tier 1 and make 26/hr in Texas
Job hop if you want more, honestly.
Current company I have 3 weeks left at I started my first full-time IT role 5 years ago with. I started at 40k a year because they didn’t want an IT, but corporate made them get someone. So they got cheap, desperate to leave Google, me.
Only I became a work horse, and after the first year of outstanding work, I got a huge pay bump.
4 and a half years in. I am, for all intents and purposes, the regional assistant manager without the title or pay.
Went to train another new employee and one of my counterparts that regional leadership doesn’t like and didn’t want training new people met me there to be a part of things. Revealed he made 20k more than me.
I asked my leadership for an increase in pay and was told that the real problem is that they make too much and I wouldn’t be getting a pay raise. I am also the only one not allowed to work from home since my direct report doesn’t believe in wfh for non-managers….
I start at a new company doing the exact same work that I actually enjoy doing for 20k more than I asked for from my current employer who denied me. It’s also almost entirely work from home.
I can’t wait to give her the same smug, grossly inappropriate “go fuck yourself” smile she’s always given me when I’ve asked to work from home and when I asked for this pay raise back to her.
I’m in the Chicago area as well and am 110% your underpaid and you will never see the raise you want at this company unless you got another offer and they match it. Even then I would probably head to the next job. Update your resume but make sure to list your accomplishments using the tools listed and how it impacted the business. Any well established company in the city (or well funded startup) should give you an intro interview atleast. At 21 it may be kind of tricky but getting interview experience as well as a better feel for the market here will only help you in the long run.
the best time to look for a new job is while you still have one. work as hard as your wage is worth
You’re underpaid. My first service desk job in Chicago was around 70k. This was in 2019. It’s very unlikely you’ll get the raise you’re looking for staying at the same job. I would start applying, you might not be able to land in a Sys Admin job right away, but you would be a very good service desk candidate for any role you applied for if your skills are what you say.
Way underpaid. I get that 8-5 and I refuse to be “promoted” from Tier1/2 tech support.
Low end for sure get the experience and bounce. I’m in a similar position because I know how much my other coworkers make and know I’m underpaid. We pretty much do the same day to day operational task but I make significantly less so getting the experience and looking to leave to up my pay significantly
I just left the Chicago area and now work out of DC.
I hate getting them $21-26/hr emails from recruiters.
They’re all low balling and they know it.
You could be a Sr. Tech and they’ll still try to underpay you
If you think you have a real opportunity to help the company grow, leading to an IT director position someday, stick it out.
If there is no loyalty, you are being severely underpaid.
Based on your post, they desperately need your efforts to survive. If they value you, then stick around. If they are using you, then leave.
Don’t burn yourself out, happened to me and it’s taken years to recover. Everything you just mentioned, THOSE ARE THE WARNING SIGNS. And you need to listen to the warning signs. Trust the wisdom I’ve learned from a 25 year IT career, got burned and had to get out.
Life is MUCH better now.
I work a remote Help Desk position for 48k a year. Sorry dude but you are getting screwed for pay big time.
Job hop. I went from 38k to 75k in 2 years by job hopping. I have 2.5 years of experience