Career dilemma

[Jimmah]

I work at the government right now as an intern through the YMCA (the y pays me not the gov) doing office admin (filing, scanning, mild database file verification) and it's fine. Recently I was offered a position at Staples as their lead computer tech. It pays 4$/hr more, closer to home (I can walk instead of bus), same hours, but I would lose the positives of having the gov job look good on my resume (it's a 9 month internship, currently in the 3rd month), gov contacts (eventually I would like to be in the gov permanently). The internship sadly isn't bridgeable (aka when I finish my course at college I get swept in without a competition).

What my biggest issue figuring out is, what would be best for my career/employability? Long term goals are to work in the IT dept. doing network admin (always liked it) or something very similar (working on my CCNA atm), so I'm unsure if the gov experience would be better suited to getting an 'in' (even the IT dept. manager is on the fence as to which is better).

I could use some thoughts, opinions and whatnot. I know it's my decision, but reading someone else's point of view would be stellar right now (stressed out).

 

[FoBoT]

Staples as with all retailers are in for a bleak few years in the current economic crisis

is it supporting the corporate systems? or in a retail store helping customers?

 

[CRXican]

stay where you are

Staples is a joke

 

[MovingTarget]

Not worth it. Job security > hourly rate right now...

 

[imported_Imp]

I worked as a support assistant (essentially what you described) with the I.T. department of a division of my municipality, under the number 2 guy, for two summers. Unfortunately, I didn't go to college for I.T. or anything computer related (civil engineer here). It MAY be possible that if I pleaded with my supervisor, the manager, the H.R. manager on my floor and a director or two I knew by name at my home office, I could have secured an entry-level position after I graduated.

But I didn't, cause it wasn't what I wanted to do career-wise. I have since applied to many jobs with other divisions with the municipality with no luck. My supervisor gave me pretty positive performance reports, and I always give my former staff number.

Lesson? Unless you are working in the exact office and government agency you want to be in, don't expect your loyalty to mean jack shit. You'll probably compete with everyone else, even the 50 guys who never worked with the government before. On the otherhand, if you worked with Staples and got real I.T. experience, you will be more competitive applying to future government jobs and corporations. The only downside is that you signed up for a 9 month internship and want to bail at 3; they will probably remember that in the future.

Did I mention, if I got a job with my municipality again, and I'm under the same union, I would start with full benefits...

Edit: I forgot about job security. Stick with government is a good idea, just don't expect it to be some auto-hire once you graduate.

 

[cirrhosis]

Stay away from Staples.

 

[SirChadwick]

I agree w/ the others here. Stay put!

 

[Insomniator]

Why are people here saying that a gov job that isn't IT is better than an IT job anywhere else?

If you want to work in IT, working for the gov. doesn't mean crap. When I was first looking for an IT internship, more than one employer asked me if you interested in computers, why does your job history show no evidence of that?

 

[Jimmah]

Originally posted by: MovingTarget
Not worth it. Job security > hourly rate right now...

To clarify on this, it is only a 9 month internship with only 6 months left with no possibility of being hired on after due to my designation not being on the list of bridgeables.


Also, why does everyone hate staples? I don't know much about them, minus their prices being rediculous, is there something I should be aware/afraid of?

 

[Jimmah]

Originally posted by: Insomniator
Why are people here saying that a gov job that isn't IT is better than an IT job anywhere else?

If you want to work in IT, working for the gov. doesn't mean crap. When I was first looking for an IT internship, more than one employer asked me if you interested in computers, why does your job history show no evidence of that?

Mine has a fair amount of computer related experience, and basic certs (A+, Net+), sadly I had a choice of working in a warehouse for the RCMP, working for Public Works....in a warehouse, or DND doing office admin.

I do wish to work in IT, but also doing it for the gov. Such a pain getting into the gov when je ne parle pas francais.

 

[FoBoT]

i don't hate staples, but i'll bet you $1 that in 2009 one of the three office superstores goes bankrupt, either staples, office depot or office max

how many paperclips do we need in a depression?