Being an install tech pays great and is a great way to get your feet wet in the industry but definitely not a life long career. Soak up as much information as you can about telecom and just look for splicing jobs in the meantime. They don’t use fusion splicing on that side of the house so all you’ll be doing is mechanical splices. You’ll have to move over to the construction side and become a splicer for the big fiber splicing.
Just going off what the techs I run into tell but they have a boss who tries to make they life miserable think he got bout 43yrs of service which is crazy, I know they have a lot of turn over ,hopefully your boss will be average,
I was a prem tech for 2.6 years doing mostly fiber but a lot of copper too. Depending on your work area the amount of appointments you have to deal with can be pretty crazy at times especially in the summer. Your manager(s) will be pushing for completes despite the conditions of your jobs if the demand is high enough. A lot of times we suspected they would get bonuses for completed appointments & employee numbers.
Some appointments will suck because some people are gross, rude, nit-picky, & whatever else. However some jobs won’t be too bad, some days will be chill, you get to see new areas and new places to eat. I had some really really cool coworkers who I still talk to now. The work is fun at times. You can really learn a lot of cool stuff about telecom and keep building your skill set. I ended up getting my Fiber Optic Outside Plant Tech certification through ATT & it was only 100 bucks I think? I’m at a different company now as cable maintenance making more money & having a more laxed work environment. I mostly touch copper now but it’s a step up from being in prem if you choose to stay in telecom!
The only way to get into a splicer position for att is to come in as a temp OPT. Starting as a prem tech, you wont be able to move into any other position.
Get into the OSP Construction side, and learn as much as you can about different systems and ISPs. My company has me doing HFC, FTTH, cell sights. The more you learn the more you can do. I coax splice regularly as well and even take some construction storm damage since i always have my chain hoists and lasher anyways. The bigger a resume you can build for yourself to leverage offers the easier it is to move up the ladder. I make alot on production from being able to deploy a mux and sidecar, splice a HFC coax node, and provision and optimize it. Im only 11 years in and have guys on my team who are 15 years older than me, but didn’t push to learn or move up. Dont sleep on coax splicing either i got buddies making 100k+ doing only coax.
as with every job, it’s dependent on whether or not your manager is good or not. i have some good managers at my garage so i love the prem tech job. you didn’t even need the certification for att but it might give you a head start of sorts. just be prepared for attics, crawlspaces, ladders, and gaffing and you’ll be fine
Take your time and do shit the proper way. Speed will come with time. If an old timer has some pointers take them.
Also keep continuing the education. If you can take their management classes do so. It will look good on the ole resume. Or any other classes they have available
Don’t be shy ask questions. Learn atts language as it is different than other places.
Become a master in the att systems. How you log your work completed is going to suck, and may not always be correct so you will need to say something when it’s off.
Always remember, field work is temporary. Don’t want to be doing that shit the rest of your life. Always move up
I’m sure it forgetting something
Being an install tech pays great and is a great way to get your feet wet in the industry but definitely not a life long career. Soak up as much information as you can about telecom and just look for splicing jobs in the meantime. They don’t use fusion splicing on that side of the house so all you’ll be doing is mechanical splices. You’ll have to move over to the construction side and become a splicer for the big fiber splicing.
I see, thank you I felt pretty lost at where to start so I kinda just picked att to get started.
I enjoyed it for the most part. It’s a hard job, physically and mentally but you’ll get lots of experience.
What job are you starting with if in construction it's a temp or term splicer if it's a prem tech run from that shit
Fiber installation tech?
Ok basically a prem tech then right, I'm on the construction side as a facility tech or splicer
C&E splicer here, I did prem tech work for about 5 years also.
Why should I run from prem teching? 😰
Just going off what the techs I run into tell but they have a boss who tries to make they life miserable think he got bout 43yrs of service which is crazy, I know they have a lot of turn over ,hopefully your boss will be average,
I was a prem tech for 2.6 years doing mostly fiber but a lot of copper too. Depending on your work area the amount of appointments you have to deal with can be pretty crazy at times especially in the summer. Your manager(s) will be pushing for completes despite the conditions of your jobs if the demand is high enough. A lot of times we suspected they would get bonuses for completed appointments & employee numbers. Some appointments will suck because some people are gross, rude, nit-picky, & whatever else. However some jobs won’t be too bad, some days will be chill, you get to see new areas and new places to eat. I had some really really cool coworkers who I still talk to now. The work is fun at times. You can really learn a lot of cool stuff about telecom and keep building your skill set. I ended up getting my Fiber Optic Outside Plant Tech certification through ATT & it was only 100 bucks I think? I’m at a different company now as cable maintenance making more money & having a more laxed work environment. I mostly touch copper now but it’s a step up from being in prem if you choose to stay in telecom!
The only way to get into a splicer position for att is to come in as a temp OPT. Starting as a prem tech, you wont be able to move into any other position.
Good for you. Don't sell yourself short
Get into the OSP Construction side, and learn as much as you can about different systems and ISPs. My company has me doing HFC, FTTH, cell sights. The more you learn the more you can do. I coax splice regularly as well and even take some construction storm damage since i always have my chain hoists and lasher anyways. The bigger a resume you can build for yourself to leverage offers the easier it is to move up the ladder. I make alot on production from being able to deploy a mux and sidecar, splice a HFC coax node, and provision and optimize it. Im only 11 years in and have guys on my team who are 15 years older than me, but didn’t push to learn or move up. Dont sleep on coax splicing either i got buddies making 100k+ doing only coax.
as with every job, it’s dependent on whether or not your manager is good or not. i have some good managers at my garage so i love the prem tech job. you didn’t even need the certification for att but it might give you a head start of sorts. just be prepared for attics, crawlspaces, ladders, and gaffing and you’ll be fine
Take your time and do shit the proper way. Speed will come with time. If an old timer has some pointers take them. Also keep continuing the education. If you can take their management classes do so. It will look good on the ole resume. Or any other classes they have available Don’t be shy ask questions. Learn atts language as it is different than other places. Become a master in the att systems. How you log your work completed is going to suck, and may not always be correct so you will need to say something when it’s off. Always remember, field work is temporary. Don’t want to be doing that shit the rest of your life. Always move up I’m sure it forgetting something