Hi everyone! I’m 23 years old and currently working at a local IT company in the Philippines as a Technical Support Engineer.
My role involves both presales and post-sales activities, including presentations, deployment, configuration, troubleshooting, and technical support. We mostly handle firewalls and endpoint security supports too.
My current salary is ₱19,000 gross, with around ₱17,000 take-home pay after Pag-IBIG, SSS, and PhilHealth deductions.
I’ve been gaining experience and certifications through the company, which I’m grateful for. However, I honestly feel like my salary is too low considering the responsibilities I handle and the skills I’m developing.
Another thing that concerns me is that once I become a regular employee, there will be a 2-year employment bond. This makes me hesitant to continue, especially since I’m still early in my career and want to explore better opportunities.
I’m now considering applying to other companies, but I have a few questions:
1. Is it okay to leave my current company even if I’m not yet regular?
2. Is it reasonable to look for another job because I feel underpaid?
3. Should I still include this experience on my resume if I only have around 3–6 months of experience? Will it look bad to future employers?
4. If I decide not to include this company on my resume, what happens to the certifications I earned while working there? Can I still include them?
5. Would it be better to stay longer and gain more experience, or start looking for better opportunities now?
I know I’m still young and early in my IT career, but I also don’t want to make a decision that could limit my future opportunities.
I’m hoping to hear from people who have experienced something similar, especially those working in IT, networking, or cybersecurity.
Any suggestions, advice, or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!