AT&T Premises Technician Pay?...

I'l be starting soon as a prem tech and wanted to know how the take home truck policy worked. I remember them saying something about numbers or whatnot. My starting garage is like 20 minutes from my house. Rather not pay for the gas.:P

Anyone know?

Steven wrote:

I'l be starting soon as a prem tech and wanted to know how the take home truck policy worked. I remember them saying something about numbers or whatnot. My starting garage is like 20 minutes from my house. Rather not pay for the gas.:P
Anyone know?

You won't be eligible for at least 9 months. You have to be a tenure 3 tech and make your eff% and quality (repeats) for 2 consecutive months. You cannot be on a plan either.

when and where are you starting steven??i got a job offer for july 20th in socal. taking my drug test tomorrow and background check is underway. i'm a little concerned about my driving record. it is borderline. but if all goes good thy said starting date the 20th. what about yourself?

Does anybody know what dist. 4 prem tech are getting

Hey!

I'll be in Texas. I still have to buy boots and stuff for the classes, but was wondering if 90 degrees on the heel also includes boots like these, where there is a little bit of a slant. I dont want to buy the wrong shoes.

http://www.amazon.com/Caterpillar-Mens-Shift-...

Also, for any existing PTs could you give some good tips for a newbie.(Besides of course "you're gonna hate it etc") I was reading the other threads and they said write good notes about the job etc to cover your ass.

PT Sacramento wrote:

<quoted text>
Because INR jobs are in numerical decline. Prem techs are going to be filling in more and more of the INR role, leaving what's left for INRs with seniority to fight over, and as they retire out, now and then when more are needed, they can simply be pulled from the pool of INR techs forced to become PTs in the meantime.
You can look at it one way, and say "PT and INR are merging into the same dual-role position", or more negatively and say "INR is on the way out".
As a PT myself, what I'd really like to see is for INR to stick around, and for Frames to get tossed. INR can work Frames through the F2, with PTs covering the house and pole (drastically reducing the "nuisance calls" we need to do now just to have someone run a drop wire, or tie down at the terminal, etc). Plus, Frames techs at the COs have been decreased so much anyway, that they're basically unable to keep up with the work/answer their phones as it is. I'd say about 20% of my jobs are problems with CO work not being done by the due date.

thanks, what about the uverse techs, i live in south texas and there is no uverse here, a local i/r att guy told me att is getting out of uverse altogether, does anybody have any info on this?

techy wrote:

<quoted text>
thanks, what about the uverse techs, i live in south texas and there is no uverse here, a local i/r att guy told me att is getting out of uverse altogether, does anybody have any info on this?

I really don't think they are getting out of uverse, since it is growing to be one of their main profit centers if you read their annual report. They may divest markets that are unprofitable, but uverse is the wave of the future essentially.

Steven wrote:

Hey!
I'll be in Texas. I still have to buy boots and stuff for the classes, but was wondering if 90 degrees on the heel also includes boots like these, where there is a little bit of a slant. I dont want to buy the wrong shoes.

Repeat after me: I WILL NOT SKIMP ON MY BOOTS TO SAVE $50.

Seriously, empty that wallet. You will be on your feet all day, and unless you are the kind of guy who fools around alot and gets your boots punctured/scraped to an unusable state quickly, it's worth it to generally think of $100 as an absolute minimum on your boot cost.

Ok, let me back up a bit: in training, it may serve you to have a pair of $20 payless boots with a square heel (needs to have a shank in it too, for climbing ladders). That will get you up and running at minimum cost - but it only makes sense if you don't have time to get real boots before orientation, or you are really concerned about failing out.

Once you're out of training, a good pair of $1-300 boots will make all the difference when you might be standing/squatting for the majority of your 8-12 hour work day. Hell, even driving in the truck a lot, you will notice the difference.

Personally, I'd recommend something like an EMT/firefighter boot, since you get laces for tightening, but also zippers for easy on/off, and maybe good hazmat/biological/puncture protection:

http://www.edarley.com/firefighting-equipment...

Black leather boots of any style, in my experience, get you much more respect from customers than the standard labor/construction "yellow boot". You might get laughed at by your peers, but they will shut up when your P2Rs start rolling in. Also, if you shine them regularly, you can use them as a more formal/dress boot outside of work.

Anyway, whatever you do, stay away from boots under $100 if you think you'll be a PT for a year or more - the work will hurt you more, and the company will be able to blame substandard footgear on any worker's comp claim(*).

(* This will depend on your garage/manager... Hell, even needing to wear the boots is up to them. I know plenty of techs who just keep their boots in the van as needed, and wear regular sneakers or flat-soled boots the rest of the time. But I'd rather just get really comfy boots with a lifetime warranty and never worry about someone "catching me" during a random spot check.)

Hey Former PT,

First of let me thank you for the great answer and for taking the time to write so much. I'll be getting the best boot I can find, and my fear is that I'll show up the first day and they're like "wrong kind". Thanks for the tip with the black boot, I'll definitely be getting them in black.

Also a second question, a friend who works for a competitor suggested that I give customers my number (of course on the business phone lol) to call first, in case of any issues to prevent callbacks. Any input on this?

Steven wrote:

Hey!
I'll be in Texas. I still have to buy boots and stuff for the classes, but was wondering if 90 degrees on the heel also includes boots like these, where there is a little bit of a slant. I dont want to buy the wrong shoes.
http://www.amazon.com/Caterpillar-Mens-Shift-...
Also, for any existing PTs could you give some good tips for a newbie.(Besides of course "you're gonna hate it etc") I was reading the other threads and they said write good notes about the job etc to cover your ass.

get the cheap $20 boots at walmart.If you leave after 6 months for whatever reason you wont be stuck with $100 plus dollar boat anchors.

Steven wrote:

Hey Former PT,
First of let me thank you for the great answer and for taking the time to write so much. I'll be getting the best boot I can find, and my fear is that I'll show up the first day and they're like "wrong kind". Thanks for the tip with the black boot, I'll definitely be getting them in black.
Also a second question, a friend who works for a competitor suggested that I give customers my number (of course on the business phone lol) to call first, in case of any issues to prevent callbacks. Any input on this?

Definitely give people a direct number. I always told people I am almost always a shorter hold time than the 800 number. Don't play it like you don't want them to call the main line, just more that you've been to the house, and can probably fix it faster over the phone.

I also said "even if they send another tech, give that pt my number, I might be able to save you both time." keep the focus on it being a ustomer service thing, and people will use it.

My phone also almost never rang during a job, so it helped make me look good - I'm giving everyone my number, no one is calling, I must be good.

I'd also get a google voice number - that way you can give out a number that rings your work phone, transcribes messages to your work email, but also isn't tied to your device. That way you can check you messages even when your phone is dead (happens a lot), and there is even a feature to route calls based on the caller, do people who call you up a lot can be sandboxed, you can have your manager's calls ring more/less, etc.

One last thing - you will have random days off, so try and get your manager's approval to give out his or her desk line as a backup number in case you're off when they call you (most pts aren't allowed and/or don't want to bring the work phone home).

Bruce Campbell wrote:

I just got hired for this position. I start at $13.08 an hour and the top pay for this position as of now is $16.75 an hour. I'm assuming that by the time I get to top pay it will be higher than that. I did get hired at the 3 year pay scale because of my schooling, so it will take 2 years, instead of 5 to get to top pay. I will be the first to admit that the pay is not on par with the other jobs at AT&T but hopefully, now that I have a foot in the door, I will be able to bid into a higher paying position after a few years.
By the way, I live in the St.louis area.

Good luck with that. All the good paying jobs are going away and being replaced with premise techs. I was a service tech for 12 years before being ousted.

Brian wrote:

<quoted text>Good luck with that. All the good paying jobs are going away and being replaced with premise techs. I was a service tech for 12 years before being ousted.

That post is almost 5 years old man.

So I've been riding out with PT's for almost 2 weeks now and the only ones who hate their jobs is the one who got surplussed from I&R. He's understandably pretty bitter about taking a gigantic paycut overnight,$32/hr to $20.65/hr. Everybody at my garage is really happy that mandatory 6 day workweeks haven't been forced this year as of yet. They all just tell me once you get past the stupid procedures and occasionally-stressful numbers-games (efficiency, quality, etc.) that it's pretty easy. Every manager I've met openly sympathizes with these things when they are brought up in the daily meetings. Overall, I'm still happy I took this job. I've ridden with over 7 techs so far and every time I mention all the millions of bad reviews about this job they are like WTF, why? They say if it's reviews from a couple years ago then yeah working 6 days a week 12 hours a day did suck, but that is slowly going away. Numbers have been starting to matter each month, but only the sucky guys don't make it. I came from a competitor, and they said if I had great numbers over there, then I shouldn't have any problem being successful here.

Can someone also break down the training by the weeks? I know they skimmed over it at the RJP, but I have no idea what to expect. I think the first week is pole climbing school

From Jan 5, 2012 Hello guys, this is a follow up to my first post found back a page. In the midwest region we are CWA union.We climb poles, hang NIDs, and run the jumpers in the cross boxes, this results in higher pay than regions where the PT is not responsible for that work. Intro to what to expect at school Week 1: Physical: climb, climb, climb. Firt 6 feet, then 12 feet, final 18 feet and manuever around the pole left and right. Carry and climb ladders up to 70 lbs. There are I believe 7 pass/fail tests in this week alone. This is for many the hardest week. Week 2: Safety...I dont like spiders and snakes and that isn't what it takes to...remember that song. This is about the dangers you may be exposed to in additional to first aid and CPR classes plus defensive driving. Both are pass/fail. Week 3: Observation...you go to a garage and spend the week riding with techs and observing. This is your chance to see what is expected and if this what YOU want to do for employment. No p/f Week 4: Exterior wiring, how to use basic hand and power tool, hanging drops from poles, hanging the NIDs, punch down blocks, stripping wire, etc. Week 5: Interior wiring, using mock up homes how to read a work order, fish wire thru a wall, install coax and cat 5 wiring, installing and testing ends on cables, hook up equipment. Friday is test day given 2.5 hours to do a complete job that must be neat and work. Failure is being escorted out the building. Week 6: Product Demo Week: Learn the internet and Uverse TV package and give an up to 1 hour ORAL presentation of product and remote control operations. This is pass /fail Week 7: Voice over internet (new phone service, iNID, and web based training. Read alot, take a test after each section. Must pass test, good news not pass/fail you can redo any section you have problems with. Week 8,9 Supervised Rides: Placed with a senior tech you dispatch and do the work under their guidance. This is a hit or miss, I was fortunate to have some great guys who took an interest in my success, some of my classmates said they were with guys who just sat in the truck and told them to go do their best. ]

I'm a homosexual and proud of it

God help you if you work in Jacksonville manager are frequently being fired which cause the other managers to start firing techs to show they are taking action. Forget about five star if you return more than a couple of jobs because of i&r then you won't make it. Best advice is to do as few jobs as possible and take as much time to do a job and still make your numbers to stay low on the radar. If you get three hours for an install take 2.50 even if you are done in 1 1/2 hours. Try to get a trouble in the morning then sit on it untill 10:59 and pull a 12-4 at 11:00 and that will save you from am work then go to lunch and by then all of the 1-3 installs will be gone. Few jobs = less repeats (equipment)=better numbers =being able to transfer to the right yard with the managers that care Nd know what they are doing and actually get out in the field and help techs run lines in 100 degree heat. Other then that. GREAT JOB!!!

Prem in jax wrote:

God help you if you work in Jacksonville manager are frequently being fired which cause the other managers to start firing techs to show they are taking action. Forget about five star if you return more than a couple of jobs because of i&r then you won't make it. Best advice is to do as few jobs as possible and take as much time to do a job and still make your numbers to stay low on the radar. If you get three hours for an install take 2.50 even if you are done in 1 1/2 hours. Try to get a trouble in the morning then sit on it untill 10:59 and pull a 12-4 at 11:00 and that will save you from am work then go to lunch and by then all of the 1-3 installs will be gone. Few jobs = less repeats (equipment)=better numbers =being able to transfer to the right yard with the managers that care Nd know what they are doing and actually get out in the field and help techs run lines in 100 degree heat. Other then that. GREAT JOB!!!

correct.Work harder and faster=more chance of repeats=getting off sooner=less money=higher expectations=jealous coworkers.A vicious cycle. another tip:drive around as much as possible-get paid without affecting efficiency.

Hey former PT Sacramento... what are you doing for work now ?