Pros
Drop out of college... quit your job... work for GCS and get paid to learn.
I started working at GCS after transitioning into IT after COVID. I started at the bottom as a NOC Tech and got promoted after only 3 months. Felt great. I'll be full-fledged support engineer by the end of my first year most likely.
Company structure/advancement for techs:
NOC -> NOC II -> IT Support Engineer.
If you're new to the industry you'll start in the NOC. You'll move up to NOC II in 6-12 months if you work hard.
If you have 1-3 years of IT support experience you'll start as a NOC II and, if you can cut it, you'll move up to IT Support Engineer in 3-6 months.
If you have 3+ years of experience, you'll likely start as an IT Support Engineer.
You can then go higher up the ladder in support to Data Center Support Engineer or go to the projects team and become a Projects Engineer.
They recently created a SOC so there's potential to become a Security Engineer or Security Analyst.
** CERTIFICATION BOUNTY PROGRAM! You can get up to $500 bonus for earning a certification. They pay you to get certs... Not all of them, of course, but there's a whole list of IT certs including Azure, M365, CompTIA, and CCNA that they will pay you a bonus to achieve. They'll even reimburse your exam fee. Crazy.
Work from home! Unless you're starting in the NOC then you'll have to work 3-4 days a week in the office but this is good because you really get to know the workings of the business this way.
We've all heard that your first job in IT is, and should be, helpdesk. This is like helpdesk on steroids. The big leagues. Starting or moving your career to an MSP like GCS is like going to the boot camp. You come out with big IT muscles.
The company really does take care of its employees. I was hospitalized in December and was out of work for basically a month. Then my baby was born recently and I got a good chunk of paternity leave. I haven't even worked here a year! Special case but man am I glad I worked here.
Work life balance is a real plus. Also, the senior engineers here are very smart. I've learned so much already. Best first job in IT hands down.
As an MSP you get to touch over a hundred different companies tech infrastructure. You learn so much compared to just working for a single company and servicing there infrastructure alone.
My manager is really great. Everyone is very nice. Don't be intimidated by the big brains - everyone is eager to teach what they know.
Cons
I'd like to see cheaper benefits or more employer contribution to healthcare. Benefits are standard otherwise. There's no retirement plan.
