Pros
Money. The salaries are decent in almost every department and level. In some areas the salaries are more competitive than in others. For instance, sales jobs are much more lucrative than network or operations jobs. Because AT&T is an international company, the employess face greatly varying costs of living even just in the United States. Therefore the salaries are much better in areas of the U.S. where the cost of living is relatively low. Another advantage of working at AT&T is the training that they provide. There is an excellent system for training and coaching new employees. Training continues throughout your career. While working there I was able to take advantage of managment development including classes in public speaking, business case development, and many areas of telecomunications technology. However, these opportunities are available to only a select group of employees. AT&T also offers limitted tuition reimbursement. It is not nearly as good as it used to be but will pay for one or 2 courses a year.
Cons
Employee morale (at least in Connecticut) is at an all-time low. It was pretty low wehn I left, but when I speak to friends who still work there, I realize it has gotten much worse. Among a dozen or more formere co-workers who are still there, I cannot think of one who likes his or her job. The low-level and middle management has very little confidence in upper management. Executives treat managers as if they should be happy to have their jobs. Managers in operations are routinely ecpected to be available 24 X 7. Some first-level managers are expected to work for several hours in the middle of the night in emergency situations without any compensation. Company provided water coolers, coffee, and holiday parties are non-existent. Mangement benefits are also a sore spot. Currently most union employees receive a much better health benefits package and better retirement benefits. Good right now for union employees, but that is rumored to change when their contract is up in 2009. This disparity aslo causes resentlment. Disparity between sales and operations compensation also creates resentment sales departments conduct quarterly awards and annual trips. Resentment among operations de-motivates employees to go above and beyond to get sold services delivered to customers in shorter than standard time frames. Although salaries are really good right now, managers must be among the top performers in order to receive an annual raise equal to cost of living. This causes slaries to slowly become less competitive but they are still good.
