Any AT&T employees at the Bothell, WA call center? (Seattle: living in, gym)

[VirtualErik]

I applied for a position there and am expecting a scheduled interview today. I have previous call center experience and actually currently doing said job. I am experienced and technically savvy, I'm also currently living in Central Oregon, it's only about a 5 hr drive so moving to Seattle area wouldn't be too hard as I can fit everything I own i my car. I'm single with no kids, 35 years old male.

So for anyone who works there in the Customer Support Specialist, can you give me a heads up to what to expect from working there?

Thanks!

[Gabbythecat]

I worked at that call center. The building is nice - typical for high tech, I suppose. Nice workout room with showers, nice cafeteria, etc. But there was extreme pressure to keep your stats up - to the point of focusing on the almighty stats, rather than focusing on providing really good customer service. There was also pressure to be on time, to never leave your station. Those are good traits - to be a hardworking, reliable worker, but sometimes when nature calls, you need to answer, even if that "call" comes before your scheduled break. That was discouraged.

Call center jobs are easy to get these days. I don't know that I would move into the area for a job at an AT&T call center - get a job closer to where you are now.

[VirtualErik]

Sounds like the call center I'm in now, although it's outsourcing the company I'm providing tech support for. I know it's far from Auburn but at least would get me working in the area to reach my goal of moving the Seattle area.

Schedule adherence is big here to, as far as taking breaks outside of the scheduled ones. Here we get 2-10 min breaks and 45 min lunch.

What kind of schedules are available with Customer service specialist? also phone or chat support? both?

[Gabbythecat]

I honestly don't know what that call center is like now. It's been a few years since I was there...the other thing - turnover tends to be very high. You probably know that, but...a few people stick around, but most either get promoted or they quit for something better. If they don't get fired first that is.

[FrostyPNW]

I was hired by AT&T this past summer for a customer support specialist position. I quit two months later. It sounds like a great job in the beginning but it goes bad fast. The 2.5 months of training is a s%&! show. You don't get paid enough to deal with probably the worst most entitled customers you will ever come across. That wouldn't be as bad if management would back you up and support you. Too many times I would get a call, inform the customer of a policy and customer would flip out because it wasn't what they wanted to hear(you know, those people who exceed their data excessively, were notified multiple times they were nearing their limit or had exceeded it and then would expect us just to remove those charges). The call would escalate to management and instead of backing up the rep they side with the customer more often than not. Enough people do this that at this point they escalate just to get a manager on the line to get what they want. I have since found another job in a call center in the same industrial park in Bothell as AT&T and it is 10x better.

AT&T has taken away the majority of perks they used to offer. There is no longer a cafeteria, just vending machines. No free coffee and the gym is a sad room that looks more like a closet. You have to apply for access to the gym and showers. Most of my class applied for gym access and it never went further than that.

I think working for AT&T could have been a great job if the company itself actually cared as much about their employees as they attempt to be for their customers. Happy employees would make a huge difference in the satisfaction of customers calling in and having their needs resolved.