Are pretty much worthless. Buzz words and phrases accompanied by an aversion to dive into the trenches and go to work.
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Not true. Many folks who started at the Labs and AT&T were hired as first and then promoted to second level with PHD's. I worked with multiple friends who had their PHD's in Tech Dev at one time. Most have left or have been outsourced but there are still a couple hanging in there like myself with the company but they don't advertise it.
One easy way to get fired is to mess up doing expense reports, falsifying, not doing them period. People lose their jobs all the time using credit cards inappropriately also and get walked out of the building. Bet that's what got him.
An electrical engineering degree undergrad and also a masters and was brilliant but probably sub par at power point presentations ,expense reports and other ludicrous things this company deems important. There was probably a language barrier partially responsible for this and pretty sure the person he was passed over for Had far inferior credentials “but asked the right questions” Par for the course
One of my former team mates was a European guy who was extremely bright, talented and well educated. I believe he had an electrical engineering degree undergrad and also a Masters. I could see why he was hired; he was close to brilliant. But in meetings it became apparent that he had no clue what was inappropriate to say. He seemed to take pleasure in asking the wrong questions to the wrong audience at the wrong time. He was often late to deliver on basic tasks like expense reports or mandatory trainings. When he did not receive a Director level slot that opened up, he was shocked. The rest of us were not. A female colleague got the job instead. Of course he slammed the choice and claimed discrimination, telling us the company just needed to fill their 'quota'. Nope. We knew better.
He was later 'let go'; and no one was surprised.
When that GED doesn't get you ahead, blame nepotism or anything else you can. It's never you.
In a former position I worked with Service Managers who supported our organization. One particular female service manager expressed to me her perceived poor treatment by management over the years. Although she was extremely knowledgeable; knew details about processes and procedures, and minutia that frequently solicited praise from our organization; she was a loud mouth, gregarious, and often obnoxious. She repeatedly complained to me that she was overlooked for two different promotions because she believed they were given to minorities (both male and female). She believed her experience was equal to those who received the promotions over her. She was probably right. What she failed to understand was that leadership did not find her to be a 'good fit' within their organizations. Additionally, her competition for the jobs she sought had post high school education; while she had never pursued even an A.A. degree over her 20+ years of employment.
Being a good fit within an organization often overrides someone who has experience. But you can never convince people like this former employee that (they) 'she', not others, was the real problem.
Reported, Reported
Derogatory/racist comments about minorities and women...you're on the wrong platform mo-o.
Reported..
@2ghc. Yes. I too worked as an operator & had a degree in accounting. Jimmy Carter was President & doing a Brandon job on the U.S. Fortunately Jimmy lived long enough to become only the 3rd worst President of all time after a. Joe, b. Barry. Anyway the economy was bad and white men were not being hired.
I worked with an SMU degreed lawyer who was white & couldn't get hired.
Don't know if he graduated last or next to last but being white & a no name no-body, he wasn't getting work. He worked at Dallas Connor Dr. Operator Svcs for 2 years, quit and today is a PI attorney in Highland Park. We've kept up over the years and he's been doing great for the last 35 years with a house in University Park. But white men in the 70's were so out of fashion. This company does not hire the qualified and the results show.
@1eic+1k8cAuER ..... Really?
Starting in the 1960's & especially in the 1970's/1080's many real degreed WASP males found themselves at odds wit Democrat induced inflation, recession and EEO. No jobs for white men. I was told that I was "A dime a dozen". An HR District told me if I was black he'd start me out as a District Level Staffer. Being white, don't call us, will call you. I know EE's, CPA's, and even a Lawyer that hired on as clerks & operators. I had an MBA and I was hired as a temp, then clerk, then frame then manager. I needed healthcare so I took the job being promised that after time & title I could bid or get recognized.
Only people being promoted were blacks, mexicans, females, executive children.
I don't really care if you believe it or not but this is true. And career path- doesn't work.
I was told by a boss that my release date was 1 day per year - get offered a job on that 1 day and you wait another year. This company was & is a clown show.
@eov+1k8cAuER I can agree with your comments 100%.
I got my MBA degree, took a ton of additional training on my own time, made sure my bosses knew of it, volunteered for every extra project I could (and mostly turned down in favor of the bosses' "pets"), made sure my bosses knew every project I completed was completed on time or before the due date, etc. STILL I wasn't even given the time of day! Still not considered for promotion. Yet I saw time and time again favoritism being played with the bosses pets getting all the promotions, the choice assignments. Didn't matter if they weren't qualified, they still got promoted, or to work on special assignments.
T is the biggest fu----g joke of a company on the planet. Nepotism and favoritism rules at AT&T. You might as well have some inbred son of a bi--h running things. You'd get the same results.
I don't need an MBA to climb a telephone pole. And I make the company go.
Anyone who claims they accepted a job at ATT with an MBA 30 years ago as a 'clerk' is obviously lying. Spew your nonsense else where. Your motivation for this post is clear. You fool no one.
Reported
As some have posted, an MBA doesn’t guarantee success or advancement. Tons of folks with MBAs sitting in lower level 2 spots going nowhere. Most thought they needed it to get ahead. I always advise folks to skip the MBA and get a masters in something technical. If you have a bachelors in business, you’ve had the same classes that you take for an MBA or Masters for your major. If you have a history or art degree, then an MBA would probably help you if you’re in management. I still think a masters in stem would be a better use of your time and money. Used to be HR wouldn’t consider you for advancement without an MBA. That is very short sighted especially for folks with BBAs.
You are a great example of how GED power rules!
Stop implying there are all kinds of low level managers with PhD’s.
The premise is untrue, and frankly quite ridiculous.
You have an MBA in finance and pulling 400K? I call BS At the very least you’re an AVP if not higher and we all know how that game works. I have some waterfront property on lake Meade if you’re interested
The corporate way is to scrape the easy money from the top and let the rotting carcass lay until so e fool buys up what is left. Companies don’t exist to provide goods and services. They exist to be plundered and then move on to the next victim.
The most important learning in an MBA is the fact that BOTH frontline employees (techs, csrs, rscs, and business sales) as well as managers have specific roles in AT&T’s success. MBA degrees cover how different departments relate to each other. An MBA who listened, studied and took notes could turn AT&T around in 6 months. Eliminate 90% of SVP, VP, AVP, Directors, etc. Let managers “manage” instead of endless “leadership meme-a-palooza” calls and webcasts. A wise “leader” once said, if every area manager, director and above quit, the stores would still open, the calls would still be answered and the trucks would still role.
I made the comment regarding employees with PhD's. That is a fact. Understand, not everyone with an advanced degree has opportunity within the company. AT&T is not setup to promote advancement based on merit. A lot more goes into the process to promote employees than meets the eye.
There are many different areas of study for MBA degrees including marketing, leadership, finance, accounting, M&A, etc. Mine is in finance, but I agree many of the courses are common sense. Others are not. I had to take a few courses in accounting, international business law, and a bunch in corporate financial analysis that are not common sense at all. Could you learn a lot of it on the job? Yes. You could also learn a lot of it watching online courses. So, what the difference? I can prove I actually took the courses and learned the material sufficiently to pass the tests and do the projects. That's all it proves nothing more. Regarding degrees in general, I have several and hold a position for which execs will not consider anyone with an advanced technical degree. I make roughly $400K at T and just as much on the side with my own investments, at least partially using what I learned in MBA school. So, do degrees matter? They did for me big time. If not for someone else, maybe there is a different problem. Remember, having a degree doesn't make someone stupid, and not having one doesn't automatically make you smart.
By time you got out of college, I had 4 years of seniority.
Zero debt.
A 401K.
Pension.
Just a grunt outside making all the $$$$ I wanted to.
Retired at 54.
You enjoy.
All you need to do to be successful is go to T University. College is for suckers.
You lost me when you said PhDs can't get hired. You're making this stuff up. Lots of personal resentment of educated people. Own it.
I would disagree with anyone who states an MBA provides opportunity for advancement, mobility within the company. I personally know employees of AT&T with MBA's from quality known schools who couldn't even get into mgmt. Additionally, there are folks with PhD's in Computer Science who cannot get past a 1st line.
So the answer to the question is this, it's about who you know, where you are located and how came into the company. There are many people who are willing to relocated who have higher education that never get a look in Career Path. Live in Dallas, work downtown and start in the company through LDP. Do those things and there's a good chance you go places.
There is nothing factual about the comment.
I think it's just a statement of fact. I don't think it's a point about MBA degrees.
This post sounds like you see no value in higher education. There are positions within the company that do not require degrees, undergraduate or graduate level. Unfortunately, many of those do not offer the same opportunity for career advancement, monetary compensation or mobility into other areas of the business. Perhaps this reality explains your obvious resentment of those who've achieved MBAs.
You're missing the point of an MBA degree. Stop showing your intelligence level in a public forum.