Thread regarding AT&T layoffs

I applied externally for 2 jobs in Workday, going to the candidate Home page only one of those jobs you can click on the URL that takes you to the job description. The other job title link is dead, only hours after I applied. I can only search for one REQ# the other one doesnt come up. Something is fishy.

" The economy is really bad"

Except it's not though.

good luck. AT&T doesnt provide the kind of rigor that tech companies want. it will be a long road for you and I'm sorry about that. Being at AT&T is a waste of time except it's easy and a paycheck..but that comes with a price

I am actively looking. Since 2016, it’s taken me about 3 weeks to 4 months to find a job. I’ve had to do a lot of no benefit, short term contract work but, it kept me in my home. I’ve had solid employment for the past three years but, we are having a re-org next week. That short term contract stuff is awful because they usually abuse us. Good luck in your job search.

If you dispute this (you don't have to like it)...then you know nothing about how people actually get hired. It is ALL about relationships and networking. Keep blindly sending those resumes out and let us know how it works out for you.

You’re probably not wrong, but networking with people who live in California, Alabama, Texas, New Jersey, Atlanta, New York, Seattle, Utah, etc etc etc is very difficult unless you basically live on LinkedIn.

Being a social media influencer and living on your iPhone shouldn’t be a requirement to get a developer job if you’re a performer and I’d think recruiters should know this - many young people (including myself) avoid social media ON PURPOSE because it’s unhealthy.

"I work in IT" is akin to "I have a job".

It doesn't mean anything.

In the 90's, sure it was the weird helpdesk guy that you tried to get to fix your laptop after you downloaded that virus with your dial up p0rn. He's long gone.

As are the "IT" jobs.

" Getting a job, or at the very least getting interviewed and getting seriously considered for a job has ALWAYS and will always continue to be about who you know."

If you dispute this (you don't have to like it)...then you know nothing about how people actually get hired.

It is ALL about relationships and networking.

Keep blindly sending those resumes out and let us know how it works out for you.

Used to be you got calls all the time. Now, crickets. You can apply though LinkedIn all you want, most of those are phantom jobs. It’s always best to network network network. That is the only way I see folks getting jobs these days. The economy is really bad.

Get ready to ask people if they want fries with their burger.

Targeting entry level is going to he the new reality for many of T’s top performers.

" 200+ seems to be the norm unless you know someone or have a very specific job skill"

This is what I scratch my head over.

Getting a job, or at the very least getting interviewed and getting seriously considered for a job has ALWAYS and will always continue to be about who you know.

You cannot expect success hoping that somehow your resume is pulled from hundreds or thousands of applicants by a complete stranger.

You need someone (could even be an associate of someone that you know) on the inside that will take a minute to send an email or make a call on your behalf and say, "hey, we should take a look at this person...".

Reading some of these posts, it's as if many that worked here long term have no (zero) contacts outside of the company. It's baffling. If you haven't bothered to try and create a network, get a good LI profile going, etc. , you should focus on this.

From my experience, it seems hiring managers don't like AT&T. So far, every interview has been awkward listening to their horrible experience and why they switched.

Company does have a bad reputation and they’ve burned a lot of bridges with people in the industry.

You don’t treat your employees the way T does and not remain hated as they go onto bigger and better things.

I know my experience here will definitely stick with me and I’ll have only negative things to say going forward as well.

I heard a lot of this even years ago before I worked here, a lot of other developers warned me away including ones that worked here at the time but it was a decent check for this area (the only good thing anyone had to say about it)

I know a lot of people are saying T is a negative, which is probably true, but at least for software development it’s more what you know vs where you’ve worked.

If you have the skills, can pass the interview tests and can communicate during the technical problems you’ll be fine.

This may be different for other non-development related roles that have more to do with ‘process’ as T basically has no process and the systems are a mess - but if you’re a skilled developer with an array of in-demand languages and skills you’ll be fine.

From my experience, it seems hiring managers don't like AT&T. So far, every interview has been awkward listening to their horrible experience and why they switched.

New hiring world. 200+ seems to be the norm unless you know someone or have a very specific job skill. Plus supposedly 40% of the job postings aren’t real. Recruiters are posting to get interviews to meet their interview numbers or to restock qualified candidates for their internal job bank, just in case. Know of a few folks who have been down this road. Looking for a job had to become their full time job. Also don’t be surprised or get discouraged when you get an interview, go through 3-4 rounds and find out the job went to a “internal” candidate. That seems to be the new code for we really aren’t hiring but you would be a interesting candidate when we do.

This feels like 2009, no one is actually filling any jobs.

You should minimize association with AT&T on your resume if looking for other jobs in the technical field. T’s reputation is not good in the industry. If you stayed more than a decade, this will often be recognized as a negative obstacle you will have to overcome.

There are large numbers of 'openings' that are not real. Companies keep them to farm resumes and look good.

I hired a career coach. I'm doing very well. I think the job market is full of opportunities of which I have secured safe landing places with.

The hiring world is much different now with traps laid that conventional job applications wouldn't help you with. You should hire a career coach to help you deal those traps.

For those that are saying that the employment market is terrible, that is completely false, you aren't job hunting correctly. Most here aren't, life was different 10, 20 years ago. The market is terrible for you, because you are missing crucial steps to get the job. No, I'm not going to share them here, don't ask.

Most hiring people know that if you worked for AT&T you're accustomed to starting workday late, quiting early, taking long breaks, getting lots of vacation and many other types of paid time off while being overpaid doing outdated tasks unrelated to any work wouldwanttohireyoufortoday. You would be better off by not admitting you worked for AT&T. Personally I'm embarrassed to admit who I work for.

You should have started looking for a new job when RTO was announced a year ago if you weren’t going to relocate.

If you decide to go into real estate look into CDS’s (Credit Default Swaps). It’s good to have a feeling for the market before you short.

Job market has been horrible.

I would suggest a resume review if you are not getting any interviews.

Also network more. Attend networking events. Meet for coffee, etc.

The job markets su-ks right now and people hire people they like.

OP = Debbie Downer?

Welcome to Walmart!

When I hear someone say they’re in “IT” it tells me they don’t know what they do.

“IT” is a term from the 80’s for people who take your old mouse that doesn’t work and gives you a new one.

You need to better define your skills and figure out how they add value to prospective employers.

No one is hiring for “IT” work these days.

Many former “IT” employees from AT&T now work in other industries due to lack of relevant marketplace skills. Insurance and real estate are common second career choices.

I took the $50,000 plus sipp offer during covid and left the AT&T payroll with pension and benefits. After collecting as many of the higher pay amount unemployment checks during covid I went back to work in the aviation industry. Later went back to telecom as a nocc tech. Now in aviation again. You may need to take what you can get for now. Biden messed up the economy.

Thanks for sharing the experience. I wish this site could be used more for help such as sharing who is hiring/ recruiters for different states, overall tips for making transition to new employment.
Good job paying off your debt. Keep cash flow at all cost even if just a small amount until you get what you want — cash is king. 👑

It depends on your qualifications, are you a developer or just support?
QA?
Area of expertise?

This is a complex question.

When I hear IT I think support or operations, not development or DevOps…

It’s rough for developers, but not year long job search rough, I hear it’s 2-3 months at most, sometimes less if you’re very skilled and interview well (leetcode, etc) general IT support etc yes it’s very bad.

sorry typo.....*job coach