This is going to be long winded.
I have had prior Field Service Experience, along with a degree in Electricity. Straight out of school, working with Traffic Cameras as a career? No one watching directly over me? Seemed like the opportunity of a lifetime. Boy was I wrong.
I started in 2011. When I began there were 6 technicians in my office. 3 of them knew what they were doing. 3 didn't. And it's not their fault. You'd expect a company this large to offer a sophisticated training system. Nope. The training documents are years upon years old and ancient. If you asked to be trained you get frowned upon. Should you be lucky enough to have someone offer a training program, it's usually only a week and only on one type of system. It took me at least 3 years to learn everything I needed for my area, and still was learning. As time went on, 6 technicians were down to 2. Some laid off, others couldn't take the constant change and abuse.
The company knows 2 things. How to make money, and how to lose it quickly. In the 6 years of myself working there, my pay went from $19 to $21. I was lied to about getting a raise by an unprofessional manager (Who also got laid off) just to keep my spirits high. I only got that 2 dollar raise when the company switched directives and sold the Field Service division to a subcontractor company. And that company I have nothing bad to say about.
In time I witnessed 3 mass layoffs. You'll notice in other reviews only the privileged and employees who had connections or friends stayed during those layoffs. Verified this is true. There was one guy who was very knowledgeable and persistent in giving his all to the company for several years. On his work anniversary, they gave him 5 dollars to use at the cafeteria, a huge slap to the face. They gave all the Field Technicians a mug full of candy for Christmas rather any bonuses. I think one time I got a 5 dollar card to starbucks.
Before they sold us all off, we had a rather nice office with a set of great people whom all worked together. They sold off the office as well, and were forced to work at home. That also meant our warehouse closed, so we went from shipping and receiving parts professionally, to getting them all delivered to our homes, and using our own gas to ship them back to Fedex.
Your job responsibilities are endless, and the progression or room for advancement is transparent. Just not there at all. I used to get calls from techs asking how to do their job because no one told them how. CEO's were constantly changing. Health coverage went from bad to worse. Your work day is always rushed, and they want things done even out of your control. I can't tell you how many holidays I've missed with my family after being threatened to be let go if I didn't work on said days to get a stupid camera up and running in freezing cold weather.
So you say you need tools for your job? I got denied a new tool set when I started working there. Instead an old technicians rusty broken set was given to me and I had to improvise. Consumables such as connectors were the only thing that would be approved for purchase on the card. After 3 years I got new tools.
They have techs all around the U.S handling way more work than they can bear. Areas with 300 cameras have 2 technicians. The support teams are wonderful, that's all I can say about that. The unnecessary bull that comes with approvals aren't.
So as far as their "Culture and Values". They claim the company is built on good leadership and team playing. The upper management is the team and leadership, and they all have different conflicting ideas that never work. I mean at least you get a free OSHA Training Course and free pair of Red Wing boots. Hope you like working on Core 2 Duo Dell Laptops in the Rain.
