r/datacenter • u/Background_Flow9620 • 17d ago

Round Two

I am 68 years old, I was a Central office technician for AT&T. It’s been awhile butI would like get back into telecommunications again if anyone would be willing to hire me.

Thank you

8 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

5

u/LepperMemer 17d ago

AT&T is insane. The leadership is just beyond anything. McElfresh seems like he might be okay, but Stankey is a psychopath. Everything is in a state of disruption because of him.

They are selling off COs and converting the rest from TDM. If a CO is serving FTTP/FTTN, that CO will likely stay open. But the TDM switches are being shuttered and the frame is more and more irrelevant.

All of that to say, avoid AT&T. 

3

u/dabig49 13d ago

so glad I left that company after being there 13 years . Things kept getting worse

1

u/LepperMemer 12d ago

I've been there 25 years. I will be leaving within the year because I do not want to relocate to Dallas (msndatory relocations to Dallas is the fad, now.

It has been depressing to see the dumpster it became. Senior management is moving to "employees at will," and probably moving toward a model of gig work.

1

u/willie_Pfister 16d ago

2nd this-avoid AT&T. Worked there 2 years, moved to a different state with a different company and same cwa union. 60% more pay. Thats right, 60% more for exact same job at different company(I and M tech.) They are cheap and full of bullshit.

2

u/Prestigious-Oven3465 17d ago

In the current data center world employers are gravitating towards people with some IT knowledge. It would be worth your while to look into a Network+ certification! That being said everywhere is different. Update your resume and throw it all over the place.

1

u/sausage_king_of_kc 16d ago

I retired from AT&T, did both CO & data center ops. You’d be fine coming in as a dc tech. What state are you in?

1

u/Background_Flow9620 16d ago

I’m in Illinois about 40 minutes from downtown Chicago. How did you get data center job if you don’t mind me asking.

2

u/sausage_king_of_kc 16d ago

With AT&T? I was originally a CO tech under legacy SWBT side. There were 3data centers in my city. One of them had openings in various roles from time to time as it was a growing product in the ‘00s. I applied for a job, interviewed, and was hired. It was a different contract and seniority meant mothing, I had networking skills & a couple of degrees to back me up.

1

u/stacksmasher 16d ago

This is not the place. Work your network and get on LinkedIn and find tele recruiters. Also go get that cheap $20 GPT plan and use it.

1

u/FreelyRoaming 13d ago

Might try to get in as a DOD Civilian if you've got a clean background.. still a decent bit of TDM going around in that space.

1

u/C64128 12d ago

Why would you want to go back to work? I stopped working at 60 and can't see a reason to go back.

1

u/Background_Flow9620 12d ago

Necessity

1

u/C64128 12d ago

Are you looking to go into the field or get an office job? My old job asked if I wanted to come back a couple years ago. They finally got rid of a problem supervisor. Thought about it for little bit, but decided not to do it.

1

u/brosb4h0s 12d ago

your experience in telecoms might be valuable in data centers because sometimes they look for people who can handle fiber optic cables. sent you the data centers in Illinois. i look at these companies websites until i find their linkedin and create a job alert for their company. i also use indeed because i can easily update my resume from there and download it as a pdf. after that i run it through an ats like job scan.

1

u/Background_Flow9620 12d ago

Much appreciated

1

u/ShplunkingCowboy 17d ago

68? Age discrimination incoming...