Should I Stay in Network Engineering with 3 Years of Experience or Pivot to Customer Success Management or Data Analytics?
Hi everyone,
Are you a Network Engineer with 3 years of experience at a large VAR? Do you feel like you’re not being compensated fairly for your work, despite driving steady revenue from key customers? Are you considering a career change to Customer Success Management or Data Analytics, or simply looking for a new job?
Here are some key points to consider:
Salary Concerns:
– Are you satisfied with your current salary of $95k base pay with a $10k bonus? Are you unsure if this is competitive for a Network Engineer in your city in Texas?
Job Satisfaction:
– Do you enjoy the flexibility of working from home, but find it stressful when not busy due to target hours requirements each quarter?
– Does your manager provide enough direction on career progression and opportunities for growth?
Skill Set and Qualifications:
– Are you interested in exploring a different career path that may offer higher pay and less stress, while possibly requiring different certifications or skills?
Recommendations:
1. Consider researching average salaries for Network Engineers in your area to ensure you are being compensated fairly.
2. Explore opportunities in Customer Success Management or Data Analytics to see if these fields align with your interests and career goals.
3. Look into job openings that may offer more competitive pay and opportunities for growth, while considering the upcoming RSU payout you are due later this year.
Overall, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of staying in network engineering vs. pivoting to a new career path to ensure you are making the best decision for your future. Good luck with your career planning!
#NetworkEngineering #CustomerSuccessManagement #DataAnalytics #CareerChange #JobSearch #SalaryNegotiation #TexasJobs
You’re making the average salary for your area and you have amazing benefits. CSM positions are a revolving door, and you’ll make maybe 70 grand if you’re lucky. You’re also getting yelled at by your customer all the time for anything and everything that happens. If it’s your companies fault, it’s your fault, if it’s their companies fault, it’s your fault. You’re going to make even less doing data analytics, especially since you’d be starting from the bottom again.
If you like network engineering, stick with it, maybe find another job if you’re after money, but realize you’re going to have to work harder and you’ll receive less benefits probably.
I would more focus on what’s going to give me more experience. Is staying there as a VAR working on a variety of different customers environments going to give you more experience, or do you think going to a different job you’ll have more career growth opportunity in networking, such as getting into network security, architecture, or maybe management?
What will put you in the best position 10 years from now is really what you should be thinking about.
You’ve got a chill 6-figure remote job? You’ll get through these though times, stay strong brother
Palo in Dallas?
Just barely breaking 6 figure does seem low, that’s more like a NE2 salary where I’m at.
Honestly, I’d stick with network engineering and just look for a new gig
My recco is you need some direction for sure. “My job is pretty cushy” ” I see many people who make way more for seemingly less work and stress” Which is it?
I think I can help – but you have to clear up some things. What is your desired salary range, and what time frame are you looking to hit those targets? I’ll say if you were in a Northeast metro – with a little more experience, you could be near $150k-$200k as a VAR or OEM field engineer.
“I have a few large customers who specifically want to work with me on projects ” What are they billing your time at? Would they buy more hours or sign on for more projects if it wasn’t you?
Know that salary increases sometimes come with more stress. You put up with so your kids can go to college, etc…
“I’m considering leaving Network Engineering for something in Customer Success Management or Data Analytics or just looking for a new job” Why? Do you like those roles? Or have you heard they make more than you and do less?
Lastly – a way to make more money is find your way into a presales engineer or solutions architect role. More money, probably similar stress to what you have today, but in different ways.
I believe you’re underpaid, especially to have a CCNP.
I would stay the course but expand out to different cloud apps/security roles. I am way over 400k as a IC with just a ccnp and cissp and aws cert so you have plenty of room to grow.