AT&T

Great benefits and starting salary right out of college. Working with all recent grads is a great transition into the corporate world. Training from the TU (AT&T University) staff is great; they were all top sellers in the field. Cheap and nice housing, free food, and great networking.

The training in the program could be way better. The trainers are great, but at times they rush the courses or lack passion. The separation between TU and the B2B program presents great challenges, it appears. How do you train new hires effectively while they have a quota their first month? Though it is low, it still puts on pressure. Many of us felt like we didn't know how to place orders effectively when we did get our sales, which can harm our customers and AT&T's reputation. Also, they call this a developmental program, but I call it trial by fire. You are told you can work 4-6 months here, but I have seen people let go at the end of month 3 if they aren't bringing their numbers. Is that really development?

If you do well, though, and make it to placement, be flexible. Many of the jobs are only offered in Dallas. If you are locked in on a certain city, then I would be very wary of working in this program. They seem to struggle to get us the jobs that we are promised. If you don't have a position you want, then you're out, and you're done at AT&T. No HR representation at all; they will not help you find another job.

Be more transparent in the recruiting and hiring process.

Don't lie about the number of people who are asked to leave or quit.

Dedicate more time to better training, and make sure we know how to use all the systems, learn more of the products, and have more practice.

I believe the first month needs to be all class-based, just how the program used to be in Atlanta.

I think it's smart to get us calling early and break the fear of cold-calling, but only when we have the foundation to build upon.