Thread regarding AT&T layoffs

WHeEGeW-5gvz Why don’t you say whats on your mind? No need for management speak around here.

Large numbers of managers are not supervisors, they have no direct reports. The management title is applied for other reasons.

Go to work each day and do your job whatever that may be. Managers are the ones that are losing their jobs, many supervisors would like to take back thier tools but are not qualified to perform todays Bvoip and Ase orders. Technology has changed and management does not have the required skillset. The response will be “You are not a good fit for the

position.” So sorry.

sounds like somebody's a little cranky because they're being played by a bunch of internet trolls

@WHeEGeW-1foh Lots of wisdom in your post. With regard to finding that next job, of course now more than ever “who” you know is more important than “what” you know (I would argue that’s always been pretty important). The job market is good. But oftentimes just knowing that person to get you in the door is the difference between you landing the gig and not. That’s why networking and maintaining relationships is so important, and why people like Mr French Fry guy. on this page will always struggle. He’s probably never had a positive relationship with any management in his life. You know, they’re all dumb and just know how to do things in Excel.

I love at&t

What toxic comments...

Why are there a large number of people with a strange fixation on Excel in these forums? (Actually... I have a theory that it;s the same guy that keeps posting these weird things bashing people with Excel skills) Psst.., move on Dude it's not 1997 anymore. Go back to your coloring book.

technical managers/directors/avps and business managers/directors/avps - they'll retire with fat pensions, loaded 401Ks, stock options and more money than we'll ever see. They will do just fine, the rest of us, not so much.

Excel? No one used Excel anymore, we use BI software, lol

Layoffs are an annual holiday tradition at AT&T. What better way to say Happy Hoilidays than with a pink slip?

If you don’t have excel skills here they don’t want you. If you are halfway competent and get an offer take it while it’s still there. Kiss your friends and vacation good bye. It will end anyway.

Truth is you will not find your job waiting for you at another company. It doesn’t exist. If it does exist, you will have THOUSANDS of other applicants vying for the same job. I’m not kidding. Average published job receives 500+ resumes for it. Small Business Administration said the gig economy will grow next year from 34M flexworkers to 46M (a 30% increase). That’s A LOT of competition. Get used to the idea that you will be working consulting jobs and become the CEO of you. You may work 2-4 different jobs each week.

The only way for you to land your next gig is to network. It’s all about who you know. No one cares about what you know—it’s a whole new world with work being automated and virtual. Getting hired by another company is possible, but might be short term. If you want something more secure, create a new role or position for yourself - T has provided an amazing training ground for business. If you took the suggested online classes, you would have the equivalent of an MBA. Get certified in something that interests you. Discover needs in your local community at schools, community centers, animal shelters; Pinterest your hobbies and sell your wares online; write articles and post them on LinkedIn, do website development, become a financial advisor or an executive coach ....find ways to help others and those who are hiring will find you. But if you expect job prospects to come flocking to you, you will be disappointed.

@WHeEGeW-lzw -- "So why dont you put your training to good use and leave now while recruiters are contacting you and you are a hot commodity now ?" There are a couple reasons. A big one is the vacation time, I know I am not going to have anywhere near what I do now in my next job. Another is the pay... I am likely to be taking a pay cut, at least initially, I realize this. Those are the biggest factors. "I guess it would be hard to leave 100k behind doing a job berating everyone under you and manipulating excel numbers instead of actually going somewhere else and do some real work" It's more than 100K FYI, and I don't really have anyone to berate as I am an individual contributor, and I get along very well with my peers and folks that I interact with. I also don't do much with Excel in my role and there is plenty of "real work" to be done in my group.

most that I met had an inflated sense of self worth

I do not think AT&T is intentionally sabotaging people's careers, at the C-level they think we are just inter-changeable worker ants who need to be managed and whose pay affects their bonuses.

"techs are totally screwed..who wants to hire disgruntled lazy people? "

The above comment is just insulting and rude. I can only think the intention is to enjoy getting people upset. Attacks like this can only come from management or a management-wannabe, who are often the most vicious.

I second OPs take

The original post, like so many others of the same, is one dimensional and full of opinionated rhetoric. Most L1-L3 managers/individual contributors that I have worked for/with in the last 20 years are dedicated, hard-working and highly skilled folks who are in those jobs for good reason. Whether it be a strong technical background, advanced leadership, project management, etc., those people were very good at there jobs and would flourish no matter where or who they worked for regardless of whether it be with T or another company. The same goes for craft level employees (Center/DEG/C&E/IEFS/TFS/TFS-CO/TFS-BS...both union and non-union) at AT&T. Their are bad apples for sure and the good ole boy club can sadly place people in positions they are not/will never be qualified for while overlooking more promising candidates. The same can be said for nearly any company.

It is very true that AT&T employees as a whole are well compensated for their efforts. I have personally had many co-workers leave (voluntarily and involuntarily) for jobs with other companies where they were more or less prosper depending on their individual skills/background and where they went. Those that took a pay cut also usually got the added benefit of reduced pressure/stress/responsibilities as well that offset the pay decrease. To each their own I say.

agree with most of your post except when you bash the hard working union people..plain wrong pal..

Doubt many AVPs or Directors will be slinging fries.....

So why dont you put your training to good use and leave now while recruiters are contacting you and you are a hot commodity now ?

I guess it would be hard to leave 100k behind doing a job berating everyone under you and manipulating excel numbers instead of actually going somewhere else and do some real work

Societies standards of what a skilled person should be are too high. Being able to duck around in excel should be all the skills needed for someone to maintain a 100k+ year job.

Anyone who disagrees is immoral.

i guess you have updated your skills on how to ask for an ETA using different words, and you even got a badge for it

@WHeEGeW-isi You're cracking yourself up aren't you? Really hilarious man, that french fry thing was awesome. The reality is that you don't know anything about most of the folks that may get caught up in a future surplus. Lots of folks, myself included, have not stagnated during a long tenure here. Some earned degrees, professional certifications, and maintained a strong network of contacts in preparation for the day that their time here would come to an end. Some (like me) are even regularly contacted by recruiters with opportunities while still hanging on here. Additionally, the vast majority of smart and qualified people that I have seen caught in surplus over the last few years are doing quite well outside of T. You're just one of those uneducated, "all managers are worthless" types, and it's pretty sad. Work on yourself and stop worrying about everyone else.

i can't wait to go to the drive thru and ask my soon to be former director and avp questions like :

• what is the latest status on my french fries?

• can i have an updated ETA on my order?

• Is there anything I can do to help make my french fries cook faster?

• may i suggest turning up the oven to make these french fries cook faster?

• please socialize any insights to the team on any issues you had with my french fry order

• please update the spreadsheet with the number of french fries in my order before this issue escalates

OP really is rude, but I agree with the main point. I am second level management, and do work mostly from home. I have an Associates and a Bachelors degree, and certainly have ‘skills’ and am important to my group for keeping things running. However, with T’s flip flopping all over the place with target technologies, antiquated and complicated ticketing systems, a lot of what I know is T specific - how to navigate through chaos to get things done - and not really resume material. I know I would not be hired immediately by another company at the same title and/or pay.

Well OP, written like a person I have already met while moving through the drive thru on my way to the beach! Excuse me, I asked for large fries, not a ‘small fry!’

As cold hearted and cruel a post, I must say I agree. I got surplused in 2017 as a tech. Having AT&T on your resume looks good, but if it's all you have without any other skills from

other jobs, or some kind of training with real world demand or at least an Associate Degree or military experience, it's going to be hard. But not impossible. If you have to take lower pay, do it and get some certifications like CCNA or finish some real schooling. You had it made at AT&T money wise. Hope you saved money. Best of all if you are done with AT&T, you will feel like you got out of prison and are now free! Time To FLY!

fu