Stay at job for tuition assistance or look elsewhere?

Posted by ElectricOne55@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 18 comments

I currently work in a major state university that pays 55k but rent in the area is 1500 and probably going up. So I'm not sure how much longer I can stay to be able to save enough to buy a home? My job has a pension, pto, and tuition assistance. I thought of staying for those benefits. However, the pension I'd have to stay 10 years to be vested. At my current salary of 55k, I would get 33k per year, and if I somehow got promoted to 75k I'd get 45k each year of retirement. However, there's a lot of boomers so idk if I'd get promoted. With the tuition assistance, was considering getting the degree so I don't get asked in interviews why I changed from a kinesiology degree to IT. However, the degree would take me minimum 2 years. Plus, although I'd get tuition assistance it would only cover up to 5000 a year, so above that amount I'd have to pay the taxable amount of the tuition fees above that. But, the program I was looking at was 880 a credit. So, that would be 10000 right there for just 2 classes in fall and spring. I also don't know if I'd be able to the degree while working full time? Another option was to apply for other jobs, or to just keep getting certs. I already have CompTIA trio, CCNA, AZ104 and 305 though. So, I'm not sure what else I could get lol or if any other certs would even help? I've also had bad luck applying to jobs where I would apply to 100 just to get 5 repsonses. Not sure if that means I need to go for an IT specific degree, if I need more experience, or if it's just the state of the economy and everyone's having these troubles and I'm overreacting. I've also noticed I don't really need a masters required for a lot of IT roles. It may give me a pay bump, but could also overqualify me? My last option was to go to Western Governors University which would be 4000 for a 6 month semester, and I could finish it quicker than the state school I work in. If I chose this route would a 2nd bachelors in IT or a masters be better though? It may not have the same name brand or networking value as the in person state university that I work for though? With that said would going online at the in state university, WGU, or not going to college at all be the best option? Also, should I stay in my current role for the tuition assistance and pension. Or am I overrating these benefits? Should I just apply for other jobs? And am I overestimating how much I think another degree will help me?

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18 Comments

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tickpig@reddit

>With the tuition assistance, was considering getting the degree so I don't get asked in interviews why I changed from a kinesiology degree to IT. However, the degree would take me minimum 2 years. I've worked with tons of people without IT degrees. This is the one field that is still somewhat of a meritocracy. Personally I believe the IT field is about to see dotcom levels of culling. A state job is typically much safer in those times. If you think you can earn significantly more, go for it, just know last hired first fired. If you need to save money, get a roommate.

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ElectricOne55@reddit (OP)

That's why I was afraid of leaving is I don't really trust the private sector with all of the layoffs going on. People om reddit just tell me that I'm thinking from a place of fear. But, I worked at this one weird startup before that let me go for no reason after only 8 weeks. Some say oh that's just a one off and not every company is like that and that government jobs lay people off too. But, at least I've made it way past 8 weeks lol. I mainly was considering the degree because I keep getting asked in interviews why I changed fields. I was also worried that the ats systems were blocking out my application because I don't have a tech specific degree. The last reason would be that parents told me you have more energy and time to do a degree when younger. But, even with the cheap WGU option it still would be 4000 to 8000 dollars gone.

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tickpig@reddit

Does the university where you work allow you to take classes tuition free, or greatly reduced? Back in the day that was one of the perks of working at a college.

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ElectricOne55@reddit (OP)

Yes it only covers up to 5200 a year though and the rest you would be taxed on.

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audaxyl@reddit

If it’s a state pension I would apply to other higher paying jobs that use the same system. The $5k tuition assistance isn’t even a consideration, every job I’ve had offers that

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ElectricOne55@reddit (OP)

Do you think I should go ahead and attend school here for the brand name, or do you think that doesn't reallu matter and would WGU be just as good? And I'd I did WGU would a 2nd bachelors in IT or a masters be better?

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audaxyl@reddit

No one cares where you went it’s just a way to get past HR

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ElectricOne55@reddit (OP)

What do you think of WGU and would a 2nd bachelors or masters be better? Or do you think I don't need college at all considering all the certs I have?

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gzr4dr@reddit

It looks like WGU is an online university. This will never be looked upon in the same light as an accredited 4-year university, so I absolutely would not get another degree from them, Master's or otherwise. A 2nd bachelor's would also not be a good use of your time unless you went to a higher ranked school in the discipline. Now a degree is not necessary to be successful in IT, but it will help increase your chances of landing an interview. I will, however, say that the very successful people without a degree in IT that I've worked with would have been successful regardless. It's like saying Bill Gates didn't graduate college, while ignoring the fact he dropped out of Harvard because Microsoft was already becoming so successful.

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ElectricOne55@reddit (OP)

I just keep getting asked why my degree was in kinesiology andnwhy I switched fields. Even though I have 10 certifications now lol. Do you think I may not even need to go to college at all? I wonder if I will hit a pay ceiling if I don't though or if the applicant tracking systems are rejecting me because I don't have a tech specific degree?

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phantomofthecake@reddit

Look within the state system if you want to keep your benefits. Don't discount K-12 either. Get on LinkedIn and build your network. Plenty of people in the industry who can help you with resume building and will be glad to help. This video is really great on helping to utilize LinkedIn to optimize getting a job.Yes it is cyber focuses, but the tricks can be applied to any industry. [How to hunt for a job like a hacker ](https://youtu.be/Air1c697tjw)

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SitC_Nollij@reddit

If you aren't even getting callbacks, it means your resume isn't good enough for the position. If you aren't getting offers after the interviews, it means your interview skills need work. You didn't even mention your experience - at all - which is by far the biggest factor on your resume and your likelihood of being able to do the job. This is really a question for r/cscareerquestions. Just keep in mind that $55k these days is helpdesk or maybe desktop support salary range, so you should be able to find something that pays better pretty easily.

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ElectricOne55@reddit (OP)

I have around 3 years experience around 1 year at each job maybe that's what's not getting me hits. Should I just lengthen the time at 1 job and have only 2 jobs on my resume, or have 1 just one job on my resume and put that I was there 3 years? Sometimes I get asked the whole why I switched from kinesiology degree to working IT and why I don't have a tech specific degree. But, I have 10 certs so I thought that would negate that lol. The third reason is sometimes I would change my location on linkedin and recruiters would reach out. I'd do well on the questions and they would even so. But, they would get all condescending and say they didnt' liek that I didn't already live in the area. What do they expect though, I can't even get approved for an apartment unelss I have a job so idk what these employers are expecting?

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SitC_Nollij@reddit

What do you tell them when they ask? To me it seems like a fairly softball question that you should be prepared for. You still haven't listed a single technology, tool, or process that you have any experience with, other than "manage more systems". You need help with how you present yourself to potential employers, and that's pretty far outside of what this sub is for. If you actually need experience (which I still can't say, since you haven't presented anything meaningful on that), MSP or a bunch of short-term contract gigs is the way to go. A degree, regardless of type, won't get you very far unless you have the relevant experience to back it up.

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ElectricOne55@reddit (OP)

I usually say that I have experience with Active Directory, Azure, Powershell scripting to add users to azure, backup sql scripts, and setup firewall ACLs. I've done networking setup VLANS access and trunks, ACL, Switchport settings, load balancing, tcp/ip, default gateway, ip route maps, arp, ipconfig /release /renew, dhcp leasing, and static IP address assignments for printers. Bash scripting and ssh remoting, chmod, chown, etc. Cisco ASA, Meraki Swiches. Used PowerBI to keep track of inventory. Powershell and group policies. Exchange, Outlook, and a bit of Sharepoint troubleshooting. I do have a bunch of those bullshti 6 month contract to hire recruiters message me but I thought they were suspect. The last month I haven't gotten any though, so idk if the economy is really bad or what. A lot of employers say I do well on the quesitons. But, they don't like that I don't already live in the area. And I've never come across 1 that offered relocation assistance. Idk what they expect though because you can't get approved for an apartment. As far as the contract roles who would move for a 6 month contract to hire that's not guaranteed either? So, idk what to do there because I have to move to where the jobs are, but the employers don't want to hire me if I'm not already there lol.

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SitC_Nollij@reddit

Much better. Are these laid out appropriately in your resume to match the positions you're applying for? Also, drop ipconfig and the like. If I saw that on any resume applying for anything higher than helpdesk, I'd assume they're padding with everything they've ever seen. Curate your other skills on a per-position basis. Why are you applying for onsite positions in a city you don't live in? There are tons of fully remote positions for those skillsets, and they are also common in every major (and even most minor) metropolitan areas. Most companies won't pay relocation for existing employees, and new hire relocation is only for extremely qualified candidates.

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ElectricOne55@reddit (OP)

Because I found that most of the remote jobs went away or they would be hybrid, or they would be remote and still wanted yoy to live in the same time zone

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ElectricOne55@reddit (OP)

I recently interviewed with a company that offered 65 to 80k but it was for a MSP. I would have on call work and have to occasionally drive places etc. Currently, I'm working at a university for 55k workload not too bad, but there's no promotion opportunities really and rent is around 1500. The university also has tuition assistance, pto, and a pension. But id had be to be vested 10 years to get the pension. Plus idk if using the tuition assistance would be better than doing something like WGU where I could finished faster. What would you choose between the 2 though? Some said they would choose the role with more piece of mind and free time. But, that could change over time as well though.