How safe are employees at AT&T engineering department? When's the last time there were layoffs there? Is it usually the new people who are cut first? I got an offer and I'm considering joining but my current position comes with a reasonable amount of job security and I don't want to squander that.
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First, define what the "Engineering Department" is. Are we talking about NEO (Network Engineering and Operations)? They have been cut there like everyone else over the last several years. As others have mentioned, a great deal of true "engineering" is farmed out to OEM's (on the Mobility side, that would be Nokia, Ericsson, etc.) So these folks in many cases are just paper pushes, some do go out and do drive testing on the network and stuff like that but a lot of that is farmed out too. I have noticed that a lot of those that were culled from these orgs over the last several years were non degreed (did not possess an Engineering degree). These folks came over to these "engineering" roles from say a field tech role...where they had a good reputation as a field tech and a desire top get out of that into the more prestigious and cushy "engineering" role. They were the first to go once the boom time was over and sacrificial heads were needed for surplus.
If you’re able to issue a PO and PM the OEM’s, you will be a very successful mobility RF ENG. Very little engineering happening at AT&T.
Engineering and network can be easily outsourced. It would be cheaper than hiring or paying overtime. Especially more cost effective for the manual labor part of laying fiber.
Not true, I firmly believe most of the legacy T technicians are safe and T has big plans for them over the next 5 years or so. We’re supposed to get busy very soon and supervisors have made it very clear that there will be no layoffs at anytime! Yippie!
John Stankey said "nobody is safe". You should believe him.
The fiber build in the West has been put on hold for a while, don’t know why or when it will resume.
That depends what engineering job it is really. With the push for fiber you can bet planners and OSP engineering will be swamped like they were during the Uverse build but that will likely have a lifespan of 5 or so years or until they decide other things are more important. That group was hit pretty hard a few years back and they are adding headcount back in for that build. For what it’s worth I spent several years in that gig and loved it, but moved on for more $ and a promotion. If I could take my $, title and go back I would probably go. Good luck.
AT&T is a great place to work. Just don't let those old, bitter guys bring you down.
DO NOT Take the job. Run far far far far far away you will be much happier at your current job I guarantee it.
DO NOT take the job with att. you will regret from day one. there is no security at att and you will be much happier at your current position. I guarantee your happiness if you stay at your current job.
Depends. Would you be happy with constant threat of layoffs every quarter? Horrible merit raises. Reduction of benefits year after year. Horrible senior leadership. Middle management that may or may not be capable. Are you going to be happy and proud to work for a company that is generally hated for their lousy customer service and asinine pricing schemes?
Not sure how anyone in their right mind can endorse this company and suggest someone leave their present company to come work here.
Just the comments in this forum should give you enough information to make an informed choice.
Good luck in your decision.
You’ll be fine for a few years after that you better be good.
The term 'job security' and the company at&t should never be used in the same sentence, unless it's to describe a negative, as in 'There is no job security for anyone other than top execs at at&t'.
Whether you transfer or stay, you are always at risk. Always.
AT&T is no longer the company it used to be. They hired the best the brightest and kept them until they retired. Stankey and the gang clueless leaders ruined the company by making poor acquisitions and wasting $$$B. Employees paid a hefty price for their mistake. In my humble opinion, stay away from AT&T.....
I would not say engineering is safe. I'm also an engineer (by education) but went down other paths some time ago. RAN engineers were mentioned, but those RAN engineers I know are actually contractors, and I doubt AT&T would be bringing them back in house. Those that I know were very competent though. Good luck with your decision. If you have sharp skills I think you'd do OK, but if you're looking to make an actual career of it, T has made it pretty well known that it's not the place for it.
It depends on what kind of engineering you’re are involved with. It may be safer but there is no job security anywhere, ever.
I've worked alongside with an RF engineering group for over a decade & they've been incredibly lucky in the layoff department. I don't know that I ever remember anyone getting laid off which is crazy because there's also a bunch of ericsson contractors around who seem to be doing all the work.
There is no "job security" at AT&T, you'll be reminded of this constantly, but engineering is as good a place as any to be, take the job.