Working as a tech for VM

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by JayJay

Thats out of order ! DO NOT tar all contractors with the same brush!

i was only trying to validate the "techys qualifications" i have lots and earn loads ,where as some of the flotsam that drifts thru our contract partners isnt worth paying ,thats just my opinion of course based on my mere 29 years experience,and my constant battle to keep the network from being destroyed by cowboys who dont have a clue , bodge it n scarper doesn't do it for me.

[JayJay]

Bodge it n scarper doesnt do it for me either, I have several qualifications under my belt all which ive worked very hard at. Dont get me wrong with the short space of time ive been with the contract partner ive seen some shocking things but doing different parts of the job Ive seen alot more of the services techs being more bodge it n scarper. But hey, different parts of the country clearly have different standards. We have a good team down here on the contract side of things thats for sure.

[mediamaker]

And live in India

[Pushkar]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

contractors or real engineers with actual experience and qualifications ??

Both :P

[pass_me_prozac]

Originally Posted by vince_vega

Will any of the announced redundancies affect any of the field techs?

every night i pray for this


i can only comment on my own area (glasgow) but i reckon almost every guy in the place probably dreams the same dream

guys off with stress! guys off long term sick and guys just pig sick

managers who are unable to educate let alone motivate


i have to say that if the service techs in glasgow had the same attitude as the company seems to have! there would be one hell of a lot more unhappy customers out there........we do our best (probably like all the guys in the country) under the most difficult of conditions.

i should point out i am not speaking on behalf of the glasgow techs!!!! its only my opinion as an individual

[darkbeing]

Can i ask this question please:

When I raise an issue with VM and I get one of their untrained clowns in an indian call centre, I then start raising my voice and insist on being put through to someone who knows exactly what they are doing and exactly what I am talking about, and usually I am then immediately transferred to someone who is very competent and very skilled at finding the cause of the problem and putting it right.

Who are those people, what is their job title ? I mean I have discussed dns servers with them, and proxies TCP/IP and routing tables and all sorts and they know what I mean - and I wouldnt mind working for VM doing that job
how do i go about that please? I have a lot of experience, but have been working in computer installations since the age of 16 so I have few qualifications and none really that are relevent today. Would age exclude me - I am over 40, or would having no industry quals exclude me?
I am sure at an interview there wouldnt be anything they could ask that I couldnt answer

[Digital Fanatic]

Originally Posted by darkbeing

Can i ask this question please:

When I raise an issue with VM and I get one of their untrained clowns in an indian call centre, I then start raising my voice and insist on being put through to someone who knows exactly what they are doing and exactly what I am talking about, and usually I am then immediately transferred to someone who is very competent and very skilled at finding the cause of the problem and putting it right.

Who are those people, what is their job title ? I mean I have discussed dns servers with them, and proxies TCP/IP and routing tables and all sorts and they know what I mean - and I wouldnt mind working for VM doing that job
how do i go about that please? I have a lot of experience, but have been working in computer installations since the age of 16 so I have few qualifications and none really that are relevent today. Would age exclude me - I am over 40, or would having no industry quals exclude me?
I am sure at an interview there wouldnt be anything they could ask that I couldnt answer

Sounds like 2nd line support in Liverpool..

Originally Posted by darkbeing

Can i ask this question please:

When I raise an issue with VM and I get one of their untrained clowns in an indian call centre, I then start raising my voice and insist on being put through to someone who knows exactly what they are doing and exactly what I am talking about, and usually I am then immediately transferred to someone who is very competent and very skilled at finding the cause of the problem and putting it right.

Who are those people, what is their job title ? I mean I have discussed dns servers with them, and proxies TCP/IP and routing tables and all sorts and they know what I mean - and I wouldnt mind working for VM doing that job
how do i go about that please? I have a lot of experience, but have been working in computer installations since the age of 16 so I have few qualifications and none really that are relevent today. Would age exclude me - I am over 40, or would having no industry quals exclude me?
I am sure at an interview there wouldnt be anything they could ask that I couldnt answer

'untrained clowns' - charming attitude, welcome to the ignore list

[darkbeing]

Originally Posted by homealone

'untrained clowns' - charming attitude, welcome to the ignore list

Great thank you very much. I appreciate that.
Anyone who thinks those indian call centres do a good job is clearly not going to have any sense to make in a decent technical conversation.

Sounds like 2nd line support in Liverpool..

thanks

[BBKing]

Sounds like 2nd line support in Liverpool..

If they were mostly Liverpool accented, yes, I've met them and they do know their stuff. Personally I'd like to see them brought in as an integral part of the business charged with passing on their knowledge to new recruits and acting as a liaison to identify root causes and work with the network engineers etc. to provide fixes before people ring in.

[joglynne]

Originally Posted by BBKing

If they were mostly Liverpool accented, yes, I've met them and they do know their stuff. Personally I'd like to see them brought in as an integral part of the business charged with passing on their knowledge to new recruits and acting as a liaison to identify root causes and work with the network engineers etc. to provide fixes before people ring in.

I think that would be a great idea. The trouble with a lot of large organisations seems to be IMO that they do not fully utilise, or appreciate, their best assets.

[looper35uk]

Originally Posted by pass_me_prozac

1: every night i pray for this

i can only comment on my own area (glasgow) but i reckon almost every guy in the place probably dreams the same dream

2: guys off with stress! guys off long term sick and guys just pig sick

3: managers who are unable to educate let alone motivate


i have to say that if the service techs in glasgow had the same attitude as the company seems to have! there would be one hell of a lot more unhappy customers out there........we do our best (probably like all the guys in the country) under the most difficult of conditions.

i should point out i am not speaking on behalf of the glasgow techs!!!! its only my opinion as an individual

1: Your not alone in thinking this. A large percentage of techs in the area i work in would snap their hands of for a redundancy payment.

2: Same in our franchise.

3: Very True, But their also very good at bullying.

I'd also like to add that with the recent introduction of service technicians doing installs and only being allotted 30 minutes per install (even if it's a single, duel or triple) there will be a hell of a lot more techs going of with stress and exhaustion. Oh and i did want to raise this point with my manager, but he refused to speak to me. That really says it all.

[on in an hour!]

Originally Posted by looper35uk

1: Your not alone in thinking this. A large percentage of techs in the area i work in would snap their hands of for a redundancy payment.

2: Same in our franchise.

3: Very True, But their also very good at bullying.

I'd also like to add that with the recent introduction of service technicians doing installs and only being allotted 30 minutes per install (even if it's a single, duel or triple) there will be a hell of a lot more techs going of with stress and exhaustion. Oh and i did want to raise this point with my manager, but he refused to speak to me. That really says it all.

1.same here
2.same here
3.same here
there is an escalation process,if your manager refuses to see you you must report this to your HOD,also,inform the union and H(uman) R(emains)

[Jonnymeg]

Originally Posted by looper35uk

I'd also like to add that with the recent introduction of service technicians doing installs and only being allotted 30 minutes per install (even if it's a single, duel or triple) there will be a hell of a lot more techs going of with stress and exhaustion.

You need to spend a week on installs mate.

We regularly get 9 jobs per day.

The other day i had 4 triples, 4 duals and a single. Try doing that to standard in winter daylight hours. It is very stressful, there are NO breaks or lunch hours just racing around all day.

And the fact that service techs are now highlighting PD (performance) issues on elf's there is further pressure. And this costs us money!

Service techs have had it easy in the past, or maybe i should say had it easier than install techs, and it seems you are about to join us on the stress stakes.

We all need a break!

[pass_me_prozac]

We all need a break![/QUOTE]

Cant agree more! A permanent break!

Thats why i have no sympathy for anyone who did not get a job working for VM. To you guys who tried and failed! Its a blessing in disguise. And good luck in finding a decent company to work for who will appreciate and value your effort.

From girls/guys who answer your phone calls through installs/service and maybe even network! I would never recommend working for this company in any capacity.

To anyone thinking of applying DONT!!!! I guess someone might think i am just having a rant for the sake of it! And i guess i wouldnt blame you! But to anyone thinking of applying for a job with VM? I would suggest stopping any of the VM vans and just ask the guys what its like.

If u get a positive response from anyone i will go buy a hat just so i can eat it!

Congrats to the lucky ones who did not get a job in here! You might not think it! But let me assure you its the best thing that ever happened to you.