Leave my current full time (non IT) job for paid summer internship in IT?

[DisgruntledVirus]

I have had it with my current job for many reasons from the leadership, to being stagnant (no chance for promotions), to not in my degree field (CIS-Cisco networking specifically), to the job itself sucks and I've noticed very negative effects in my personal life (i.e. unmotivated to do anything like running which is something I love to do). I have put out my resume to 5-6 different companies/places and have heard back from one today. I think it's a strong possibility I will get an offer, but obviously won't know for sure until that offer got extended.

I'm 25, graduating this fall (dec 2012 just in time for the end of the world), only IT experience is academic except for 6 month internship with my current company on our raised floor team. I have a good resume from a professional/office environment but it's realistically pretty weak technically as I don't have my degree or certs (even though I have taken the courses for up to CCNP level through my college degree program). So, the recruiter told me today that they cannot extend offers beyond the current school year for full time permanent positions, but can do a paid summer internship.

ATOT, with your infinite wisdom, what should I do if I get extended an offer for a paid summer internship? Should I leave my current job which offers pretty good benefits, awesome PTO time, where I hate my job and dread coming in every day, get headaches/migraines which I never got previously, and feel micro managed to the point where everything I do is monitored for 15 min chunks of my day to take a position that is still paid (potentially more too), and is just an internship with the possibility of a full time offer at the end of the internship? If I didn't get a full time offer, I would have to do a new job search and may or may not find one.

Cliffs:
Hate current job, been applying elsewhere
Got call from recruiter, but only can offer paid summer internship (possible full time offer after summer)
If I get offer should I leave my job (with good benefits and I'm stable in) to risk another job and being unemployed after internship?

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I'd stay in my current job and keep looking.

 

[Falloutboy]

life is about taking risks, very few people have success given to them. make a choice on what you want to do and go with it. if your not happy with your job now it sounds like you should be hunting for a job anyway, so take the internship, poor your soul into it for 6 months and worse case your hunting for a job, which you should be now.

 

[Wyndru]

If your current job has no where to go, is there another job in your current field you can go into that you might like, to carry your on the job experience over?

If not, then I say go for it, you are young, now is the time to get into something you enjoy. Get used to layoffs though, it seems IT is the department they layoff first in most companies I've worked for (All 3 of my last jobs). (Or hopefully find a job where you are the only person hired, like a system/network admin in a small company)

 

[DesiPower]

never leave a job without having a offer with better salary/package, that my motto atleast. In today's economy and job market, I would not take any chances. Also, how long have you been at your current job? its its a year or less, you might think about adjusting your attitude a bit...

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

never leave a job without having a offer with better salary/package, that my motto atleast. In today's economy and job market, I would not take any chances. Also, how long have you been at your current job? its its a year or less, you might think about adjusting your attitude a bit...

The economy and job market are what worry me.

I have been with my current employer for 5.5 years in 2 different departments, with the prior 4.5 years in my current department. I got moved to a new team at the end of last year and I have seen many things going on as far as the direction this department is going. I have seen how things have worked for multiple years in this department and nothing has changed outside of now there is no room for promotion. Plus we started outsourcing last year, and those plans appear to be put on a temp hold but I'm expecting them to resume in the next year or two.

 

[Lifted]

Are you living with your parents or anyone else who is paying the rent? If so, follow your dreams man.

 

[Krazy4Real]

Tough to say without knowing the pay of the internship. It could be worth it though to actually get experience in the field that you want to work in. It would help you land another job in the field even if you don't get a full time offer once the internship is up.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Are you living with your parents or anyone else who is paying the rent? If so, follow your dreams man.

I was on my own from 18 until last fall when my ex and I stopped living together (due to poor choices she made, she couldn't afford her share of bills). Since I'm in school my parents said I can live there rent free while I finish up school. The only debt I have is student loan debt.

 

[Red Storm]

I was on my own from 18 until last fall when my ex and I stopped living together (due to poor choices she made, she couldn't afford her share of bills). Since I'm in school my parents said I can live there rent free while I finish up school. The only debt I have is student loan debt.

Then I would definitely go for it. It's a lot easier to take risks when you have a safety net.

 

[Saint Nick]

Hehe. Good luck with whatever you decide. I am considering quitting my job to work a job that allows me more flexibility.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Tough to say without knowing the pay of the internship. It could be worth it though to actually get experience in the field that you want to work in. It would help you land another job in the field even if you don't get a full time offer once the internship is up.

That is one of the large factors involved for me personally. For sake of the conversation lets estimate a 25% increase in pay giving me a net of an extra $125/week or so.

 

[tarheel1983]

I took a risk jumping into the IT career path 5 years ago with no experience. Since then my income has doubled and I have worked for Applied Materials and Electronic Arts and I would not change anything I have chosen

 

[Krazy4Real]

That is one of the large factors involved for me personally. For sake of the conversation lets estimate a 25% increase in pay giving me a net of an extra $125/week or so.

No question I would do it if I were in your situation.

 

[dmcowen674]

Leave my current full time (non IT) job for paid summer internship in IT?

I'm 25

Take it from me who is turning 50 on Armageddon Day this year, life is short.

Jump

 

[xSauronx]

I was on my own from 18 until last fall when my ex and I stopped living together (due to poor choices she made, she couldn't afford her share of bills). Since I'm in school my parents said I can live there rent free while I finish up school. The only debt I have is student loan debt.

take the internship, try to get to know as many people as possible there in case you like the place, and go out of your way to get involved in as many things as possible. nag the hell out of someone if you have to. might pay off.

personally i hated where i interned, and a friend told me about an opening at his company so i ended up working there with him.

 

[SandEagle]

if u have no wife, kids, mortgages, worries...do it.

 

[goobernoodles]

Absolutely. Literally every change I've made in my IT career (my choice or not) has led to both: more pay and a better job. Obviously, I've had some good luck to this point, but I echo the other posters. Do it.

Have some of my good juju.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Absolutely. Literally every change I've made in my IT career (my choice or not) has led to both: more pay and a better job. Obviously, I've had some good luck to this point, but I echo the other posters. Do it.

Have some of my good juju.

I would love for some good juju

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Update: Well I guess I don't need to worry about this anymore as I totally bombed the interview.

Meh oh well.

 

[Wyndru]

Everyone feels like that after they leave an interview. I'm sure you did fine, it's a sit and wait game now though.

 

[ch33zw1z]

You're 25, no strings attached, hate your current job (migraines are no fun, i understand), can make more money, have a place to sleep at night on your own or with the rents. Go for it.

edit: interviews don't always go the way you picture them. think happy thoughts

 

[DarkManX]

I was in the same position several years ago, Working a shitty retail job which had great benefits, and OK pay. I was halfway through my education.. similarly but slightly different field. I was just an MIS major. An internship came up which paid about the same as what I was making... but obviously it was a summer thing and no benefits. My risk was comming back with no Job (I think that was at the time when the economy was in pretty bad shape also). But I took the internship because I was not thrilled with my FT job.

Long story short, the initial internship gave me the experience to find another internship shortly after I returned and pretty much kept me employed PT until i graduated. f I didnt do either of those I would have never landed a FT job in my field unless I had them on resume. I had a classmate who did not do any internships... he was at the top of our class and could not find a job lol.

 

[DarkManX]

Not to mention... I dont think there is a shortage of IT jobs, as long as you have the right skills and experience.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

internship basically always mean FT position after, if you are at all good at your job. if you arent good at the job you are going to have bigger problems with employment anyway. your current job sucks, why not try something else. makes sense to me.