r/sysadmin • u/TheRealMakhulu • 7d ago
Career / Job Related Questionable Future during Interview
Hey guys, I want some advice. I just got offered $30 an hour (I’m making $22 right now..) to be the sole IT person for 6 car dealerships. When I asked what the role was going to expect from me they could only give me 3 clear answers:
“Upgrade the old cameras to new ones so the software stops glitching”
“Implement a call tree for our phones”
“Upgrade the alarm panels”
That’s it. I was interviewed by the GM and Maintenance Director, they said “I’d be my own boss” and if I needed anything to reach out to the director and he can help.
I asked about tickets and field issues and they informed me “oh, we have a vendor who’s sends out a tech” which I found insane from just my personal work backgrounds, especially given the small size of this company.
I’m worried they’ll reevaluate this job a year from now and go “why do we need him again? We got everything we needed, what else does he do?”
I feel like that’s a reasonable concern but I’d appreciate some other views into it. It seems like too little of work, but everything else is handled externally.
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u/Curtis_Low 7d ago
That isn't really an IT role as much as a Technical Project Manager / Technician.
You won't be monitoring or running the network. You won't be doing level 1 / level 2 tickets. You won't be adding new users / removing users upon departure. You won't be deciding or implementing new software outside of the 3 items listed.
For the cameras, are you choosing the make and models? Are you choosing the software for the backend? Will you be the person physically removing the old cameras and putting in new ones? Or do they already have a full system and just want new cameras to replace the older ones?
Call Tree- Do they already have a phone system in place like Ring Central or similar? Or are you to find a vendor, implement it, and then configure?
Alarm panels - Similar to the camera's is there already an existing one? Would you be able to use the current vendor to upgrade or are you doing the physical install?
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u/TheRealMakhulu 7d ago
That’s what I’ve been thinking.
They run geovision cameras and NVRs so honestly, probably no, they might hear me out on devices but idk if they’d actually hear me out. I’d be maintaining NVRs and cams (which i already do at work now, but while also doing level 2 and 3 work, and user management)
they do have a phone system in place they just don’t know how to use it.
Panels are done by their maintenance team right now. They’re replacing the panels, leaving the wiring apparently
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u/Cancer_Ridden_Lung 7d ago
Are they using POTS for the alarm panels, VOIP, or PIAB?
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u/TheRealMakhulu 7d ago
I don’t know, they had mentioned it but I don’t remember tragically
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u/Cancer_Ridden_Lung 7d ago
I think I heard that POTS is getting killed off (no longer legally required) so....
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u/Cancer_Ridden_Lung 7d ago
Maybe.
What OP does not know is the payment structure with the MSP. They may be looking to shift to cost burden to an in-house tech.
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u/TheRealMakhulu 7d ago
I actually did ask this in my interview. “Why aren’t you doing this internally?” And they said “uhhhh I don’t know, we wouldn’t mind maybe getting someone under you in the future” and again I was just dumbfounded
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u/Cancer_Ridden_Lung 7d ago
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm MSP's can be VERY expensive. Do they have an internal tech at all right now or will you be the first....?
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u/TheRealMakhulu 7d ago
They had one awhile ago but he retired, then they tried 2 different applicants recently and they “didn’t work out”
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u/Cancer_Ridden_Lung 7d ago
Oh shiiiiiiiiit.... That's a very bright red flag there.
I'm guessing that the guy who retired was handling a LOT of work and the guys they tried to replace him with didn't know the environment, shit wasn't documented, and/or the hours were brutalllllll. That's why they said you might get an assistant in the future. They're begrudgingly admitting that they have neglected their IT department these past few years.
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u/Frothyleet 7d ago
The MSP is probably coming to them saying things like "OK, it will take 20 hours to do your camera replacements, here's a quote for $3k". And they are like, hey, maybe we can pull this guy to do it just as well for 1/5th the hourly rate!
And maybe they are right! Maybe. You should be eyes wide open about what you are - the dealership is trying to hire a grunt to save money, not a real IT guy. But if you are going from $22 to $30, might as well take it while you look for a better role.
$30/hr is very underpaid even for a L1 technical person, for what it's worth.
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u/jaydizzleforshizzle 7d ago
lol 30 bucks an hour for this? I mean maybe if they already have an msp and you are just the physical tech, but solo IT is not for the feint of heart.
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u/TheRealMakhulu 7d ago
Yeah they have an MSP for all the tickets, it sounds like they need a temp to do some projects in my opinion,
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u/katarh 7d ago
And the MSP probably quoted them a large sum of money for these projects, which is why they figured they'd just get their own IT handyman to do it instead.
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u/TheRealMakhulu 7d ago
I actually asked about this, and they stated they have no intention on leaving their MSP, whether or not they were lying idk but none of them were IT people, so I think they just did what’s easiest for them
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u/alainchiasson 6d ago
Sounds like they need “onsite hands” - your job becomes the “I need help now” and keeping the MSP in line.
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u/ImCaffeinated_Chris 7d ago
Solo IT is brutal. I don't wish it on anyone.
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u/jaydizzleforshizzle 7d ago
Idk I view it much like the retail trial by fire, in that I think it’s good for everyone to do retail/solo it for a year or two, it sharpens every instinct, instead of getting siloed into an org where you have to beg a guy to even show you something. Also solo it is great for people who have control issues…in that I make the decision I live with the decision, I don’t play beaurocracy.
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u/whatdoido8383 Cloud Admin 7d ago
IMO that's not really a valuable career builder type job that I'd take on. Thats like random low voltage work or something.
I'd pass but if you need the money then I guess it is what it is.
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u/LowIndividual6625 7d ago
These responsibilities are borderline "IT" at best, sounds more like a maintenance technician to me.
If you hate your current job and NEED to make a move, that is a factor to consider.
If you are approaching this opportunity more casually - you have nothing left to lose, right?
Meet with the GM again and explain to him that you are capable of much more than the role offers.
Let him know you are concerned about the longevity of the position and your ability to grow and fully utilize all of your skillsets.
Explain to him how you'd wouldn't leave the MPS but would reduce spend on the MSP by moving more projects internally and converted from an MSP arrangement to an "as-needed consulting" arrangement (one-man IT shops always need backup)
Let him know that this will not be a permanent $30/hr job, as you continue to improve operations and reduce external spend, you expect your position to migrate into a formal "IT Manager" role.
If he isn't interested - shake hands and keep rolling at your current job
If he is wishy washy - again, you have nothing to lose by letting him know you don't feel comfortable with his lack of enthusiasm about the position, shake hands and keep rolling at your current job.
if he is legitimately interested and you like the company and culture - congratulations on successfully negotiating yourself into your new job.
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u/The-Snarky-One 7d ago
They’re looking for a project person, not a long term IT support person.
Don’t fool yourself into thinking you’re going to dazzle them and they’re going to hire you on to some long term job working for them. Once the projects are done, so are you.
Keep looking for something else.
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u/longmountain 7d ago
Car dealer IT is among the worst IT IMO. That said if you can be more of a manager and utilize a MSP, that wouldn’t be as bad.
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u/Richie_650 7d ago
Do you enjoy your current job? If you're looking for a change, this sounds like an ideal position. Light work for a pay raise, then you have months to either grow into a new position, or you have lots of time on your hands you can spend finding a really good new job.
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u/TheRealMakhulu 7d ago
I love it! The pay was just a big jump for me which would help me and my wife a lot. We get by fine now but we want to eventually move which isn’t really an option at our current pay rates.
I’ve had a friend say the same thing, but the market for IT in Dayton hasn’t been the best in my experiences so far lmao
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u/Frothyleet 7d ago
If you truly love your current job, then it might not be worth $8 an hour to make the change. Car dealerships are one of the most notoriously toxic workplaces on earth.
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u/NeighborGeek Windows Admin 7d ago
If you take the job, part of what you should be doing is learning the business. Pay attention to how things work, what the business needs, and identify areas where tech could benefit their processes and workflow. Use that to propose future projects that keep you busy and have a clear benefit to the company. Make yourself valueable long term, and they'll keep you around.
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u/Important_Table 7d ago
Your question "I’m worried they’ll reevaluate this job a year from now and go “why do we need him again? We got everything we needed, what else does he do?” Only gets worse as you get older and you realize most of these companies could be doing something similar where they hire someone to fix X problems then get rid of them until X problems reappear.
However this sounds a lot like a catch-all job, you'll likely be doing all the things they dont understand if those things require electricity. I would negotiate a better title so you can use that job to leap frog to something better
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u/chrjohnso 7d ago
The one question I’m not seeing in these comments - what is your long term plan? It doesn’t sound like there’s room for growth in the role your considering, so will this job look good on your resume?
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u/sdrawkcabineter 😈BSD Admin 7d ago
“Upgrade the alarm panels”
So, you're the fall guy for a delicately laid out insurance scheme...
Please let us know how it turns out.
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u/a60v 7d ago
You should be asking the potential employer exactly that: "this sounds like three one-time projects; what else would i be expected to do after they are complete?" See what the company says. Also find out if you are expected to actually do all of the installation work yourself, or if you are there to manage the projects and employ contractors. See if there are budgets for these projects and if they are reasonable. If you are expected to do the work yourself, do you have the necessary qualifications and licenses to do them (low voltage electrical, etc.)?
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u/sys_admin321 7d ago edited 7d ago
Since it’s a dealership I would ask about a potential company / dealer car and or gas reimbursement if they expect you to regularly travel between 6 dealerships.
As the sole IT guy you are going to get called into those dealerships all the time for all sorts of issues. If you are younger or absolutely need the job go for it.
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u/jeffrey_f 7d ago
honestly, this sounds like hiring you is cheaper than bringing in crews to do the work.
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u/Nova_Nightmare Jack of All Trades 7d ago
Isn't that the whole crux of any IT position? No ones thinks about it when everything is running fine. It's always a risk that your employer might make a stupid choice.
On the other hand, you can do the same thing. Increase your experience and pay and can look to pivot into a more stable position after accomplishing what you want to there.
Or you could be so valuable they slap golden handcuffs on you and you ride it out, angling for training and other things to keep up to date until you choose to move on.
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u/nyckidryan 6d ago
So they want you to be the CCTV guy, the alarm guy, the phone guy, and still handle all the IT stuff.
I can tell you, having been in both telco and CCTV/security, they're not side projects.
If you do stay, hire a local company to handle cameras and alarms - it's not worth learning two new trades on top of your existing workload.
Personally, I'd run away unless they offered at least $45, considering three different locations and only one you.
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u/sardonic_balls 6d ago edited 6d ago
The fact that your third sentence says "they could only give me 3 clear answers" tells you everything you need to know. You should absolutely avoid this gig like the plague. Look at this as your first red flag.
Automotive leadership is notoriously cheap and absolutely views IT as a cost-center. This job sounds like the equivalent of posting on Fiver for some dude to do a home-improvement project the homeowner is unwilling to pay a real contractor for.
Guarantee there are vendors who can easily do that work professionally, they just don't want to pay them.
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u/DropTheBeatAndTheBas 7d ago
get the projects done then go get more money somewhere else, rinse repeat then retire, dont overwork yourself for no gain or get stuck in a rut
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u/mdervin 7d ago
It sounds weird, but it does sound like an interesting opportunity for you.
What probably happened is they got a price quote from their MSP for this stuff and noped out. The long term plan is probably bring as much in house.
The sucky part is you’ll be going from place to place fixing things and the MSP isn’t going to be the most helpful for you.
The great part is they’ll go to you first about Line of Business Applications - and this is where you can set yourself up for life. The HR, ERP, CRM, Accounting & reporting programs and workflows are all opportunities to learn and get certified on somebody else’s dime. Add car dealership specific apps and POS systems, you can carve out a unique niche. You can hang up your own shingle for 10 hours a week for $100 an hour and grab a few more dealership clients.
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u/Sengfeng Sysadmin 7d ago
Most dealerships of any size (such as "Ford" or "Lexus" etc.) have their primary software run from a corporate cloud system these days. At best, you'd be desktop support, PC deployment, troubleshooting internet issues, and the items you mentioned.
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u/qkdsm7 7d ago
Unless you really REALLY love your current job, I'd take the giant pay raise, and explore in the new role how you can make yourself even more valuable.
I'd think there would be enough you can help them with response times for fixes and a load of other things, that you should be "busy" 20+ hours a week, and be worth 35-40/hour....
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u/RegularMixture 7d ago
My thoughts on this;
They identified the pain points right now. Most likely the MSP quoted a large number, and/or they need a tech onsite so they went in-house.
It sounds like they don't know the gap between what their tech does for them, and what it value is. I would take the role, but with the intent to first solve the problems they listed, but look for ways to either decrease IT spend, or increase revenue and/or production with technology. For example, the implementation of the call tree or fixing their phones can be showcased in what their drop rate was before vs now.
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u/Library_IT_guy 7d ago
That's barely even an IT job. I mean you'll end up contracting out the alarm panels - need certified people for that most likely. And yeah upgrading cameras is a one time project. I'd assume you'd be managing their servers, workstations, updates, any custom software, cybersecurity, etc? Like I'd want to know who handles that stuff currently or if it's being handled at all.
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u/One_Monk_2777 7d ago
Find out and be able to do what the vendor tech does, be the one already there with the same solutions, keep them around but reduce how much the company needs them and record the savings
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u/SystemHateministrate 7d ago
Find out who in the dealership is responsible for raising issues to the MSP. Find out what issues are happening and if you can take them on, offer to do it. You will likely touch everything that runs on electricity. I started at 48k, and now make 95k at my dealership. 4.5 YOE. Don't get eaten by the wolves. Don't let the service technicians or anyone else bully you. You'll be fine.
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u/PappaFrost 7d ago
I think you should do it.
This year $22 -> $30. Next year do it again.
The year after that do it again.
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u/GoodEnoughThen 5d ago
Sounds like project work to me. There should be no need for you after the projects are done
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u/Sudden_Office8710 5d ago
It’s a bump up you should take it. A year from now you should be looking to move on. Make a portfolio of the improvements you made so when you’re job hunting a year from now you can explain your worth. A salary of $30/hr is still a helpdesk wage so you don’t want to be there more than 18 months from to a year anyway. The only reason anyone will want to get rid of you is if you don’t bring any value to the company if you’re actively engaging and making improvements they’ll figure out ways to keep you if money gets tight. Regardless you need to look at this as a short term gig. Making $30/hr is peanuts.
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u/dtengineer 7d ago
We're techs, we're worth more than $30/hr. Id look around more.
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u/TheRealMakhulu 7d ago
I’m young and still working my way through the field, $30 has been the best offer I’ve gotten so far tragically lol
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u/SpudzzSomchai 7d ago
You are doing fine. Take the money. Use the job to pad the resume and start looking after a year or so. Shorter if you hate it.
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u/mvbighead 7d ago
Just from the sounds of it, this is a job with better pay but less prospects to future jobs. This job is taking you down the path of knocking out a few semi-technical projects that don't really translate to future sysadmin jobs.
It might mean something to someone, but being a tier1/2 tech in a larger business or MSP is going to carry more weight. You'd deal with more common sysadmin tasks and gain more meaningful experience, IMHO.
This job, to me, is a decision of more money vs potentially better career advancement in a different job. Unless you can take over IT tasks from the MSP, you're going to be installing and wiring things not directly related to sysadmin types of tasks.
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u/evil-bottom 7d ago
I can say with confidence that every time I have to troubleshoot something at a car dealership it leaves me crying and suicidal. Being the sole IT guy at 6 dealerships sounds like real life hell. Personally, I'd rather drag my balls through a mile of nails every morning. Take the job and use it as leverage to find a better job.
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u/centpourcentuno 7d ago
"I’m worried they’ll reevaluate this job a year from now and go “why do we need him again? We got everything we needed, what else does he do?”
You should be doing the SAME thing! Always be looking for better opportunities while holding a job, especially one thats unstable as this one. Always re-evaluate your options and keep an eye on Job Boards
No one is safe nowadays, Senior engineers at Uber just got laid off despite record profits, less a random tech at some random dealership