Should I take this job?

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The company is quite small. I think with around 50+ users.
My concern is that I would be the only support person around excluding the manager. Therefore this will probably mean alot of running around from floor to floor and station to station. I would be supporting quite a few applications that the users are using and of course Microsoft Office. I guess I'm not that confident especially when I know I'll be the only support person around and I get some user that is asking for some help on something advanced on Excel! (I'm not THAT good at using Excel to be honest ). Also it's going to be weird being the only IT guy as I'm use to interacting with my fellow colleagues....work environment is very important to me. And of course progression - there's obviously no chance of that.

The good thing is, I probably would get the chance to work on firewalls, switches, Active Directory, general PC maintenance and I also get certifications paid for (unless I leave )

Would I be able to skip 1st line support in future? As I guess this job is more hands-on rather than phone work.
My gut feeling is that I won't like this job and I won't fit in. Or am I just thinking too much? Anyone been in this situation?

Cheers

 

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You could take it the after a month or so start applying elswhere.

 

where is the loyalty in employment GBL? I would never even consider taking a job if i expected to start looking elsewhere within a month. Things happen and sometimes you can avoid having to look elsewhere, but i wouldnt say 'hey, ill take that job until i can find a better one - wont stop looking at all'.

You are screwing the employer, and a fellow IT professional out of a perfectly good role really. It might not be right for you, but it could be perfect for someone else looking to get into IT/move into another position. By taking the job you are effectively c*ck-blocking them.

The job itself sounds good, but if you arent confident enough in your own skills yet, and want the support of other it professionals, then this doesnt sound like the job for you. You could get in there, and love every minute of it though. Ultimately, you have to decide how much you want it.

 

What I was trying to say that if the OP can get some experience under his belt and the job turns out to be crap then he can move on.

 

thats not how it came across Im afraid. And a months experience isnt necessarily going to be enough for most places to consider you. 6 months tends to be the minimum for a step up. anywhere else is going to question why you are looking elsewhere within a month of taking on a new job.

It also sounds like the OP already has IT experience, so its not a foot in the door kind of thing.

 

Sorry about that. I know a month isn't long but if the job turns out to be a really bad idea then there's no harm in leaving.

 

agreed. I just dont want to advocate deliberately doing so.

 

I admit it was my crap gramma sorry.

 

As long as you are good at solving problems on your own, landing a job like this can be a *good* thing. Anything that goes wrong, you'll be responsible for, both high-level and low-level. And I mean that in a good way... because you'll be able to learn how to fix those things.

Let's consider a job where you were the lower-level tech working with a higher-level tech. Anything "easy" that comes along, you get to work on. Anything "high-level" that comes along, he gets to work on. If he doesn't ever allow you to assist him... then you're stuck with all the drudge work... all the easy tech jobs. Thus, you never end up working with the higher-level stuff. But if you were by yourself, you'd get to handle EVERYTHING.

That's just magnified in a large corporation... you'd be with a group of first line techs who all do nothing but the low-level stuff.

Would you be able to skip first-line work? No, you'd be doing first-line work there. And second-line. And third-line. YOU are all lines. That's what I'm saying... it'd be *great* for that higher-level experience. Because when you are asked in a future (non first-line!) interview, "Do you have any experience with AD, firewalls, and routers," you can confidently and happily say, "Yes, I do."

I'd take it.

If you want to interact with colleagues, that's what CF is for. ;)

 

I presonally would love the challenge but if your not happy with being on your own then don't apply or do what I said earlier.

 

If your looking for a chance to grow and learn new things then I say go for it. However, if your someone that needs to bounce stuff off of others or really just need that interaction with other techs. Then I say go with your gut, and don't waste your times or theirs by starting a job you will not be happy in.

You may not actually have the chance to be promoted but if your already running everything there is nothing to be promoted too. It sounds like you have a chance to learn and work with things that are new to you and they are willing to pay for your studies. Only you can decide if this oppertunity is for you or not. Why don't you try making a list of the pros and cons and go from there. It sounds like this job has a lot to offer, but in the end your the one that has to live with it. Good luck and let us know what you decide.

 

so would I!!!

 

Getting out of your comfort zone by taking up this challenge could be just what you need to build up your confidence. Of course you won't be able to instantly crack every problem you come across completely on your own, but you'll always have resources like Google and IT forums like this to draw upon.

I say go for it mate! If you're making a decision out of fear, it's usually a bad one. Be bold! Seize the opportunity, I say.

That's my 2 cents, anyway...

 

What he said.

Don't worry about the chance for promotion or what your title will be. I'm in the same position as the only one here for 42 people. My title is IT Manager but I do all the work from 1st level tech to Head of IT. The expericnce you'll get will be more than worth any title or promotion.

 

This is more or less what i did in London prior to moving to Australia. I did it for 7 years, along with other roles, Fleet Manager and Service manager, but it was the IT side of things that i enjoyed the most.

I would definetly go for it, sink or swim situations like this usually result in you becoming a very good swimmer

 

OMG! You lucky devil!!! Bite their hands off!

 

You didnt mention the salary ?

 

Damn Sub_Bass, that sounds like the type job I've been chasing for a couple of years now.

My advice would be to take the job but first make it quite clear that you are unfamiliar of certain areas and will need time and/or support in the short term. ANY new job will have areas and tasks that you either are weak at or have no knowledge of and ALL jobs require you to grow into them to a certain degree - its your ability to grow with the job and be good at it is what makes you good worker that is respected by your colleagues. At least, that’s what I believe

 

Like most have already said, if you’re up to the challenge, this could be a great opportunity. Just don’t underestimate the challenge and amount of work that you’ll need to do. If you’re prepared to put in the effort you may really enjoy being the IT-specialist.