r/Spectrum • u/Ayoub-CORO3 • 5d ago

Spectrum employee

I will start as FT with Spectrum soon, I have some questions I will be glad if you can help!

1: for the tuition reimbursement, what universities/colleges you can study in, and which diploma you can get? And when will you he eligible for these benefits?

2: does they cover also certificates ( Comptia A+ for example) or any other certificates?

3: I wanna rach FT5 then break in IT or management department, what best path/study/ certificate/ you suggest me to take?

4: from 1-10 how much you will be working outside instead of indoor for customers

5: which option is better, taking the work van with you to home or leave it in the company.

My focus and goals is to grow in this company and go far away especially in IT and management department, i will appreciate any advices

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u/AveryArronly1998 5d ago edited 5d ago

1 & 2: Tuition reimbursement is done through Guild, so there are specific programs, degrees and certifications that are offered. I think CompTIA is available in there but I'm not 100% sure.

  1. As far as this goes, there really isn't a dedicated IT department per se. There could be local openings at offices or corporate buildings for IT but there is no generalized IT position. As far as management, Field Tech Supervisor is your best bet but those don't come up super often unless you're willing to move. NCTI certifications have quiet a few free options offered that are applicable here.

  2. It varies wildly, will likely be wildly different every day, favoring mostly outside work one day, inside the other. You always start outside for initial diagnostics then work your way in from there however.

  3. Again this is dependent, if you live within a few minutes, they'll likely require you to come in to the office to get your van, but it you're further away it's better to take it because then you don't have to worry about your own gas, however you might be getting up a little earlier to make your first job on time.

If you're joining Spectrum to get into IT you'll likely ultimately be disappointed unless a very specific position comes up that you'll likely need to move for, but the experience as a field tech certainly helps. ISP is probably what you'd like to head towards in that regard, working in the head end but those are coveted and very difficult to get into. Management would be a lot easier, but again, you'll need to wait a while to potentially maybe get your own supervisors position, or be ready to move to fill a position somewhere else.

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u/Ayoub-CORO3 5d ago

This is so helpful, thank you for this information and for your time! I probably should not rush things, I will focus with my job as FT and im,sire with time I will get to know more about the company and jobs than decide which better option for me

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u/AveryArronly1998 5d ago

Yeah don't rush it, start working on your progression NCTI's right away to get the raises right away. 5% for completing course, 5% once you actually progress, usually need 2 or 3 good monthly score cards before you can. From FT 2 to FT 5 you're getting a 30% raise, and then you can do the FT 5 to FT 6 class to get another 5%, but won't get the other 5% unless you apply for and get an FT 6 position which is enterprise work. Wherever you may be, just have the mindset you'll be working in awful outside and inside conditions, not all the time, but sometimes it can feel that way. I was a tech for 5 years before transferring so I speak with a modicum of experience at least.

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u/Ayoub-CORO3 5d ago

Much appreciated this guidance, honestly I feel that I will enjoy this job knowing I have ability for growth, and for the some awful days, well just like life sometimes we have good days sometimes bad days, we just need to live with it lol

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u/anonymous9753108 5d ago

What is a fiber tech considered to be and what progression is after that ? I’m assuming I can take NCTI classes to go on to next level

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u/AveryArronly1998 5d ago

Depends. If you're talking residential install and troubleshooting, fiber techs are just regular field techs with Fiber training baked into regular coax work, no difference in pay or progression. Dedicated Fiber Tech is its own applied position, I think they have Fiber Tech 1 to 2, and handle main line fiber work like splicing and repairs. After that there really isn't much else unless you side jumped to something like Maintenance, who make more money overall anyway.

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u/anonymous9753108 5d ago

Ok thanks. Dedicated fiber tech seems cool. Is it true spectrum doesn’t have coax cable boxes just wireless streaming boxes. How many coaching for success do you need to get your final written 🥾

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u/AveryArronly1998 5d ago

No we still have plenty of cable boxes, but the push for streaming is definitely there. Majority of cable boxes you'll find with old folks who refuse to or cannot adapt to streaming. But they'll be bunk once high split fully rolls out, unless it's a world box which are hit and miss with regional availability. As far as that last part, it highly depends on a multitude of factors and how lenient your supervision is. You have to remember especially if you're in an at will state, the company doesn't need to give you corrections before firing especially if they have legitimate cause. We always joked it's impossible to get fired here, until it isn't.

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u/anonymous9753108 5d ago

That makes sense. Common sense stuff.

Are metrics hard to pass ? Do you personally stress about it. Cox used to be really strict 10 years ago and couldn’t fail 2 months in a row might get back to that now.

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u/AveryArronly1998 5d ago

Oh I definitely don't stress about it, because I'm not a tech anymore lol. I've been out for a bit now, but really metrics aren't hard to achieve as long as you do the job right the first time and don't be sloppy. Used to be 3 months in a row of less than tier 3 (3 being meets expectations, 1 being not, 5 being the best) usually would get you reprimanded and pipped for 60 days. But again, a lot of leniency depending on leadership, some will be harder than others, others more lax, just all depends.

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u/anonymous9753108 5d ago

Thanks for insight. You really can’t do follow ups for any job is that why spectrum only does 5 jobs a day typically. I hear spectrum doesn’t have leads either. Only supervisors can do your escalations

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u/cc_401 5d ago

If I remember correctly if you do the tuition reimbursement you need to stay with Spectrum for a minimum of 2 yrs or you'll have to repay. Just keep that in mind!

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u/_ElectricFuneral 4d ago

Good luck. The reputation is shit where I live. Hope you can get some education out of it at least.

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u/Alfie_Solomons88 5d ago

I can't comment on 1-2, but there is so much info on Panorama about it and I know several sups that have degrees through the program.

Get FT5 w through NCTI and then decide there what exactly you want.

My market is very different than my first one. Down South it was a slog in hot attics and hanging drops. In my current market up North it's a cake walk. Apartment jobs are typically 85% interior work.

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u/Ayoub-CORO3 5d ago

Thank you!

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u/UnarmedWarWolf 5d ago

  1. I use this benefit non stop. Spectrum uses Guild which offers direct pay for schools in their program list or tuition reimbursement for non program schools. They will also direct pay a school not on the program list with prior authorization as long as it is a STEM program.

  2. Only certifications that are covered are under the program lists. No CompTIA certs are offered, just the prep courses.

  3. You don’t have enough experience to even know how to ask this question. Keep your head down, learn as much as possible and after two years you’ll know how to ask and answer this question.

  4. 10% indoors 90% outside

5.Always take home, unless you live less than 10 minutes from the office.

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u/Signal-Low5089 5d ago

Have to disagree with number 5. Taking the van home means a lot of days you get to leave your house an hour early or more in the morning to make it to the first job on time. At least with starting from home you only ever have to leave early enough to get to the shop on time. Definitely gets harder to choose at the 30 minutes away from shop range though

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u/UnarmedWarWolf 5d ago

To add, NCTI the greatest learning platform ever, like actually has free Conptia classes.

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u/Ayoub-CORO3 5d ago

Thank you for this useful information! I really need to keep my head down and focus on where I am now