Not everyone wants to be laid off and leave with severance pay. Some came here to gain experience, upgrade their skills and leave voluntarily when a better opportunity presents itself.
However, is it even possible to increase chances of keeping your job here? I haven't been here long and I need some advice on how to make my job safer.
12 replies (most recent on top)
Always keep your options open outside of AT&T
A lot of advise I am seeing is good. I say keeping a job around AT&T is 90% attitude followed by experience in what you are doing. Treat others the way you want to be treated, even when they don't do the same to you. There is never a time to be rude. Bad days happen, but if you took it out on a coworker, apologize for your behavior and get back to work.
Otherwise, know that layoffs do happen, and sometimes, you are just on the chopping block. When that occurs, make sure you have some nickels and dimes saved for the rainy days, so you aren't stressing about where the rent or your next meal is coming from. Take a deep breath, and rock on.
Lastly, stay relevant. I cut my teeth on D4 AMI and ISDN back in the day. If I had stayed there, I would not be in IT anymore. Learn what is new and become an expert in it. Learn the processes. Make it so others come to you with questions.
There are 2 ways:
- Be a top performer with consistent high ratings and don't create interpersonal issues with peers, and work on something that figures to be important to the business for years to come. If you are that, you are the last guy your supe will put on the layoff list. Of course, it's hard for a new guy to become that.
- Develop essential knowledge of something important and decline to share any of it with anyone else. Make sure you are the only guy who knows how x works. They will be afraid to cut you, even if no one likes you.
be invisible and stop trembling, if they see that you are frightened it only makes them meaner. working harder only makes you wet and smelly
“ Staying is just a matter of make sure you do a good job, deliver what you say you will and try to be relevant in the work you are doing. It’s not that difficult. Most of these layoffs are 5-10% at most. Everyone gets all scared for a bit, but it will be fine.”
This wins the most naive post of the century……
Staying is just a matter of make sure you do a good job, deliver what you say you will and try to be relevant in the work you are doing. It’s not that difficult. Most of these layoffs are 5-10% at most. Everyone gets all scared for a bit, but it will be fine.
Unless they plan to go all contractor workforce, some are safe. If you are union, you need seniority- meaning you've been here a long time. If you are mgmt, then it's about your area of the business. Where contractors can do the work to reduce cost, that will happen.
There will most likely be cuts in most departments, especially on the wireline side. Wireline has to be correct negative growth or at least flatline. That means it'll be a slim crew in all wireline departments going forward.
No one is safe. Bargain for included. Read all the posts. Everyone is impacted with surplus. Wish you all the best.
Bargained for employees with 20 years or more are safe and can pretty much write their own ticket! Stankey can't touch them and it drives him crazy. He'll just have to remain in bed with the union and take it!
Do your work well, document, document, and document. Make sure you boss and his/her boss are aware of your efforts. I'm not suggesting that you be a self promoting brown noser, this is way too obvious, everyone will hate your guts and you will be number one on the hit list.
Meanwhile, work on the development plan, get the skills and experience under your belt and aim for the next job.
Have 30 years.
You'll be untouchable.
I've 39, and they never even talk to me.
;)
you'll be fine.
Per Stankey:
NO ONE IS SAFE
This is no joke, at&t does not want you to be here in three years, they want you gone. The days of cradle to grave employment at at&t are over.