Pros
-Some coworkers were friendly and well-intentioned. -If you're very early in your career, you might gain basic IT support experience if this is the only position available.
Cons
Severe Underpayment: Managed services staff were significantly underpaid. — far below industry standards for the level of expertise required. Neglected Work Environment: Managed Services was physically located behind lockers, essentially tucked away in a makeshift corner of the building. The space felt like an afterthought — no proper chairs, no ergonomic setups, and an overall neglected feel. It didn’t resemble a professional work environment at all. Lack of Leadership Continuity: I joined under the impression that I'd be supporting and potentially succeeding the managed services manager in the future. However, just a month into the role, he left for a much better-paying opportunity at Bass Pro after building the department over 10 years. This left the team in a leadership vacuum with no clear successor, direction, or transition plan. Disorganized and Amateurish: Coming from a previous role engineering role, where engineering practices were mature and well-structured, Federal Protection felt chaotic. There was little to no documentation, outdated tools and processes, and no apparent desire for improvement. False Expectations: The initial pitch made it seem like there would be room for infrastructure work and long-term planning. In reality, it was basic helpdesk work with no room for innovation or process improvement. No Vision for Growth: There was no structured onboarding, mentorship, or strategy in place for growing the managed services division beyond break/fix tasks. It felt more like a reactive IT shop rather than a proactive service provider.