AT&T

Great technical know-how and ability to dive into the history of the telecommunications industry. There is a vast amount of knowledge available for employees through the company intranet. There are also numerous workshops available to employees whose management department deems it necessary to attend.

Although politics are everywhere, AT&T is very political amongst the middle management tier. If you are not middle-aged and have been with the 'Ma Bell' company or have history with Pacific Bell, Pacific Telephone, Bell Labs, etc., you are considered a 'newbie' and will always be viewed upon as such.

New ideas and concepts are not fully welcomed, and there is a mentality in which the motto, "This is the way it is, was, and always will be" is often refrained.

Salary is also rather middle to middle-low range unless you are a Senior Manager or Technical Director level.

I would say consolidate and offer more retirement packages to the boomers. I would also give more leeway to the newer generation (Gen Xers) to take telecom to a new level. I realize it's a big corporate monster, but innovation and new ideas can still be valued in a big corporate environment.