Money Money Money!!!

[Jupitus]

Hope that got your attention

I know quite a few peeps who hang around in here are in IT related jobs and I'm doing a bit of research for something. Question for you all is this: What would a graduate with a good technical skills base but not necessarily a load of experience hope (and the realistically expect ) for a first line technical support/ help desk role?

Any input gratefully received :wub:

 

[Vae]

Give a clue as to location Jup - It'll probably affect peoples expectations

 

[xane]

Not only location but the industry as well.

IT Support is not really an industry in itself, each company requires it whatever their business, and it is the industry in which it serves that defines the wage too.

I've been in IT for over 20 years and worked in both support and development, the major effect on my wage was when I moved into the finance/banking world, the difference was remarkable yet I was doing essentially the same job.

Saying technical support is not a separate industry is not strictly true however, as an emerging industry is in "outsourcing", which is basically what was known as "facilities management" as few years ago, taking a section of IT and contracting it to a specialized company.

 

[Jupitus]

Vae: Central London.

Xane: I'm trying to get a generic view as our industry is very specific and quite small. No specialist knowledge required, just a good solid understanding of things technical to be able to learn stuff to do with our proprietary software and equipment.

Cheers guys.

 

[old.user4556]

Depends on the company,

A "helpdesk / support / plugging in printers / running some CAT5" job may be anywhere between 13k a year to 19k a year.

Just after I left uni, I went for an IT Network Support position at a company called Scottish Life (part of Royal London). The salary? £14k a year with training, going up to £16k a year after a year depending on progress.

Sounded like a shite job with a shite salary, so I gave it a miss.

G

 

[MrBlack]

It's one of those irritating fields where experience counts for a lot so, depending on your location, you might find yourself having to accept a low salary of around 14k just to get that experience.

That said, Front-line helldesk work isn't ever going to be technically challenging. Employers in this field are really looking for a good telephone manner, lots of patience and an ability to roll through the basic "is it plugged in" questions without sounding patronising. Tech skills come second to that.

It's good to have done some of this work if you're looking to move on into systems admin work (3rd level support, installations, servers, training). Be careful to look for companies that offer some progression or training if that's where you want to go. Good places to try are small expanding companies. My first job I started on 10k as a techie assistant, learned my stuff and was on 24k inside 3 years as the sole sys-admin. I've come down a bit since then, thanks to being made redundant, but it was a hell of a good job to have had. Don't be too worried about the starting salary if you think you'll get a chance to prove your self and move upwards as the company expands.

Another nice thing is that the job market in this area in general is picking up; It's been crap lately, so average salaries will be increasing.

MrB.

 

[Scouse]

Don't go for it. It's a shit job for a graduate.

If you start off on that rung of the ladder then you'll have low expectations for the rest of your life. Don't sell yourself short.


If you want to get into IT try to be an Oracle DBA or summat - at least you're looking at 30k+ with a few years experience....


IT's going down the pan in this country anyway. I've seen job ads for MCSE+CCNA+CCSE+5 years 3rd line experience going for £7-8/hour - contract.

I wouldn't get out of fucking bed for that shit. The trouble is that you'll find loads of fucking monkeys that would - so rates will never be what they once were....

 

[throdgrain]

So stay in bed.

 

[Jupitus]

So 17-19K in central London is respectable money for a graduate working in this kind of role, yes?

 

[Moriath]

yup sounds about right to me. I got about 16k +comp when i first started out of uni

mind you that was a few yrs ago

 

[Tom]

So 17-19K in central London is respectable money for a graduate working in this kind of role, yes?

That would get you a nice hovel. Christ, you'd be struggling to pay even a couple of hundred a month in rent/mortgage.

 

[Vae]

17k is 1100 take home per month and 19K is 1210 takehome per month.
Rental accomodation is say 500 for a reasonable place in a 3 bed shared place or larger in zone 2. Oh and forget mortgages - Not a chance in hell.

Adding bills, food etc it doesn't leave you a lot left but is liveable on as long as it's expected to increase in the near future.

 

[MrBlack]

I'd hold out for the 19k, if you can.

If the company is one you think has an interest in your personal development (ask about training + career progression) or one that you think you'll enjoy working for, then go for it. If you're single and you can put up with living in cheapish shared housing, you shouldn't have too much trouble living on 19k, even in London.

If you don't see any signs of the promised land, career-wise, then get out.

Also, don't expect your pay to climb much above that starting wage if you stay doing the same job.

erm.. thirdly, Local governments seem to be paying over the odds for good support staff.

*ahem* fourthly, a warning: http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/7/36386.html

MrB.

 

[Jupitus]

*cough*

well thanks for the comments.... I didn't sleep a wink last night worrying about these poor bastards who I can get to work here while they doss down in a cardboard box under waterloo bridge every night.

Seriously, I'm on the buy side here and trying to work out was it the market rate for this kind of position. Painful as it may be on an emotional level, if I can hire someone decent for 17-19k then I'll do so. My company isn't a charity and I have a responsibility myself to make sure we're as profitable as possible. Jeez... when I started work I was on 7k pa working 7am - 7pm, and living in a shared place in the grotty part of Balham (yeah yeah, I know that was ages ago )

Besides... we provide desks, chairs and pc's too, what more do you scrounging bastards want??? :kissit:

 

[TdC]

hmm, 45kpa, latest new lappy every two months, free mobile+calls, choice of lease car, company flat, all travel paid, 40 days paid hols, access to workspace at all hours, no fixed start/end times. to start.

 

[MrBlack]

*cough*

when I started work I was on 7k pa working 7am - 7pm, and living in a shared place in the grotty part of Balham (yeah yeah, I know that was ages ago )

Aye, but then we 'ad it tough...