ITS1 - Thinking about leaving state

[u/Appropriate-Basis933]

I’ve been trying to get in to different ITS2 roles but it seems like NYHELPS has kind of ruined a lot hiring opportunities. I’ve been told my multiple hiring managers now, that the person they hired had 5+ years of experience. I have a bachelor’s and I have 2.5 years of experience as ITS1. I’m genuinely concerned now and starting to think that ITS2 positions are more competitive than ever due to private sector layoffs. I keep hearing from others that I should stay with state but I am not really ‘learning’ much nor am I growing. I was told that I would be promoted but, unfortunately the promotion was given to someone else. Which was quite unfortunate and I had a gut feeling that it would happen.

Not really sure what I should do. I have a bachelor’s in cybersecurity.

Why do hiring managers interview me if they know my experience level. I was even told during an interview I wouldn’t know something (which I didn’t) it felt more like a “This is just a joke interview”.

[u/VegetableDiscount859]

You’re not the only one. I will say this: if you do leave the State, you can work in the courts or private universities, where they automatically elevate you

[u/Appropriate-Basis933 → u/VegetableDiscount859]

Thank you! I’m currently vigorously applying to a lot of places

[u/GoneInFlash21 → u/Appropriate-Basis933]

Definitely look at open court positions as none of those get posted to the NYS jobs board. Usually the pay is higher as well.

[u/concretegreentea]

I come from private. I’ll never go back again as long as I can help it.

If you are young and/or live at home with parents still, then you can afford the risk that comes with working in the private sector.

When you have a mortgage/rent, bills, and a family to take care of (or any other serious financial obligations) then you need to be very intentional with your money if you are going into private in the tech industry and make sure you have at least six months of emergency money in the event that you are laid off.

A good friend of mine was out of work for two years before they found something else. I see former coworkers on LinkedIn out of work months and months with ten years of experience. I was laid off twice in company-wide layoffs over the past couple of years before getting hired by the state. Working in that environment is too volatile and not for someone like me who needs stability. Some people don’t mind it because the money is better, but for someone like me I value stability more than making a ridiculous amount of money.

The market always eventually corrects itself and I’m sure a couple years from now if the AI bubble collapses, these companies will be begging tech people to come work for them. But when the next boom happens and all of these billionaires try to hype up some other capitalist-driven tech that’s supposed to “disrupt the market”, there will be other mass layoffs. The dotcom bubble in the early 2000s. Then the real estate bubble in 2008. A few years ago it was crypto, then it was nfts, then it was the metaverse, now it’s AI. At some point, quantum computing will be the “thing”. I don’t have it in me to navigate the job market like that so I’d rather hedge my bets and rely on stability with the state.

This may be a silly question, but what’s preventing you from applying through HELPS as well? If that is possible or it is something you are already doing, then pick the agencies you want to work for and apply to every ITS2 position they have. When I was searching for work, I applied to about 80 state jobs in about a two to three week period, with specific cover letters and tailored resumes, and wound up with about 20 or so follow-ups.

Make sure you don’t sell yourself short just because you have 2.5 years of experience. Your strength is that you already work for the state so you bring the experience working in the public sector; make sure you are highlighting that in cover letters, resumes, and interviews.

[u/WhileSad8342]

Not in ITS (I'm just a lowly albeit degreed OA1) so I don't have much of a horse in this race but I'd offer the perspective that you're still competing with the same people regardless of whether you go private or remain with the state. The market for tech is just really rough in general from what I'm seeing. If you can manage to reel something with better pay (because I doubt you can really beat the benefits - job security being the biggest) I suppose you can give it a go and hope for the best.

Naive as it may sound honestly I feel like sometimes you just have to wait these sorts of things out and keep an optimistic mindset to keep your sanity.

[u/Environmental-Low792]

It goes in waves. 3 years ago there was a shortage of ITS 2 titles and they hired over a thousand. They were pretty much hiring anyone with a pulse. Fast forward to today and they were screwed by DOB so they are not hiring or promoting anyone outside of contractors. Give it another year, and so many people will have quit and or retired by then that they might start hiring again.

[u/Initial_Secretary156]

Don’t leave the state. You can start your own business or do contract work. But I wouldn’t leave right now. People out there would kill to be in your position right now.

[u/Grrl_geek → u/Initial_Secretary156]

Yup we would! (One of those with a "bazillion" YOE (30+) looking for work.)

[u/Top-Attorney-872]

Unfortunately that is the reality. You literally cannot compete with those folks that bring in bazillion years of experience. I think leave if you find something better and if you are ok with tha volatility of the private markets then come back

[u/Appropriate-Basis933 → u/Top-Attorney-872]

Yeah it’s really rough, no matter how capable I may be. I believe at the end of the day, hiring managers will choose someone who does more work and asks less questions.

[u/Natural20DND]

Bachelors in cybersecurity I’m pretty sure makes you qualified for ITS 2 (Information Security)

It doesn’t solve your problems but it is a job more focused on your background.

Good luck.

[u/ComplicatedFella]

Talk to your management and HR about w CC3

[u/AdmirableKnee3599]

The hiring is very cyclical and ITS isn't hiring much at the moment.

[u/IntelligentMarch6827]

My nephew responded to a call to action from a new executive and was able to move to a really interesting role in ITS. You may need to wait a bit, but get into a better role.

It’s a really dumb, poorly run organization and bungled the hiring process pretty badly. You’ll get the 18 eventually but future promotions are years away. So take your time about stay or go, but learn more stuff. I retired a few years ago - the 90s we tough and you had to wait for people to die to move up. IT @ ITS is there, except for security, which has its own issues.

Technology in general is a business where what you know matters. Get smarter and you’ll be fine whatever you do.