Is working as a Satellite TV Tech with Dish Network a good job? Dish Network is currently hiring for sat techs (no not a contractor, with Dish Network directly). And my step dads friend basically guaranteed me a job there since I already have experience installing cable with cox (subcontractor), I'm SCTE certified (if that helps), and he works with dish currently. Was wondering if it's a regular 8 hour a day job, and if they are paid piece wages or hourly (tired of piece wages). Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Working as Dish Network Satellite TV Technician.
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It is not the job it use to be. From what I hear from installers that work for Dish directly, they are not allowed to think for themselves. Things as ridiculous as not putting the sticker on straight on the remote charges them back everything they made on the install. Working for an independent is hit or miss, some of them do poor work (or at least aren't the best). Others pay well and do very good work. In this economy, I would probably be happy just to get/have a job. Hard to say if it one you will like or enjoy. For independents, they haven't raised the amount we are paid/compensated in the 12 years I have been doing this, actually it is the other way around, they pay less than they did 12 years ago, and if you count for inflation, it is way less.
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You could get charged back for a sticker being crooked on the remote? That's a bit ridiculous if you ask me. And the reason I don't like working with piece wages is the fact that a TC (trouble call) would be 11 points and at my SC we were paid about $1.70 a point, sometimes we were stuck at a TC for 3 hours making $18.00. The money could be good at times, having a 45 point job, a 32 point job, and another 30 pointer plus some small installs to make about $230 that day. I just think hourly is a bit better in my opinion, and I would have to stress about making 2-3 jobs per timeframe.
Hey, I'm an internal dish tech, let me give ya some answers!
Yes, it's hourly. No piecework, but we have a performance metric (the "points") that you have to meet, to keep yer job.
It is FAR from a set 8 hour day job. On paper, it's 4 on/3 off, 10 hour days. Some days you get "hellroutes" and you are working till midnight....some days, no route for the day.
Dish tends to be a tad "rules-heavy" on the techs. You follow the book, no matter what.
It can be a really frustrating job, or an exceedingly fun one, depending on you. Some days, it's just a string of angry customers you can't help. Some days, it's wonderful older ladies who offer you pie (don't accept the pie against Dish regs!).
This sums it up best: "At Dish, the only thing constant is change." If you can thrive in that environment, it's a good job. Otherwise....
Yes, it's hourly. No piecework, but we have a performance metric (the "points") that you have to meet, to keep yer job.
It is FAR from a set 8 hour day job. On paper, it's 4 on/3 off, 10 hour days. Some days you get "hellroutes" and you are working till midnight....some days, no route for the day.
Dish tends to be a tad "rules-heavy" on the techs. You follow the book, no matter what.
It can be a really frustrating job, or an exceedingly fun one, depending on you. Some days, it's just a string of angry customers you can't help. Some days, it's wonderful older ladies who offer you pie (don't accept the pie against Dish regs!).
This sums it up best: "At Dish, the only thing constant is change." If you can thrive in that environment, it's a good job. Otherwise....
its as good as you make if you like people and dont mind hard long days then its a great job. I enjoy having a 3 day weekend every week but its hard going to work w your kids sleeping then coming home to them in bed some days. Its my favorite job I have had but I slaved away building rvs for years
Are you serious? You mean if they offer you pie, or cookies you can't take them? What about a Coke, or water?
Being "rules heavy" is an understatement. I get the biggest kick out of DNSC (Dish Network Service Center, the techs that work directly for dish) techs always needing to put the orange cones out behind their vans no matter where they park. Even if is at the end of a mile dirt driveway, like someone isn't going to hit the van "because" the cones are there.
But seriously, Cyril, are you serious about the pie?
Yes he is serious about the pie.. And the cones.. I used to think was nothing but a joke. Until I found out why.. An AT&T employee was backing up and ran over a kid.. And killed her.. The cones are so that we pick them up has we leave and we look.
According to my classroom training, no pie, coke, water...anything from a customer. Liability issue, you accept food/water/soda from a customer and get sick....
As for cones, I thought they were a joke too...but they work good for reminding you to LOOK around your truck. Saves you from making return trips, cause you forgot to grab your consumable tote...
It is sad when a company gets to that point. Takes all the fun out of everything. Treat you like a 3 yr old.
NOW I know why the techs never want any of the coffee I offer! I always thought it was a nice gesture.
Do you get snow in the area you live in?
It sucks working in the winter, here is why....
#1 Its cold outside, means you got to dress to stay warm.
#2 Muddy boots, which makes it a hassle going in and out of the customers home.
#3 Its a pain to get the connectors on the cable
#4 It gets darker sooner
#5 Snow & Ice on Roofs
It sucks working in the winter, here is why....
#1 Its cold outside, means you got to dress to stay warm.
#2 Muddy boots, which makes it a hassle going in and out of the customers home.
#3 Its a pain to get the connectors on the cable
#4 It gets darker sooner
#5 Snow & Ice on Roofs
A lot of the "stupid" rules come down from the lawyers. It's all about liability and avoiding situations where either the customer or the installer have grounds for a suit. The cones probably came from the insurance company, probably as a condition for coverage, especially when the insured is a major corporation as people LOVE to sue large companies.
Such "stupid" rules are common with very large corporations, especially when they have to enter a private residence, lots of liability issues, and large corporations are the ones MOST sued by shady "customers" after a visit because the large corporations have deep pockets. Small local businesses visiting your property for services don't get the lawsuits nearly as often because the slime know those little businesses will probably go out of business BECAUSE of the suit, hence, they never get the money/settlement.
Ironically, these "stupid" rules often protect YOU, the installer, especially as an employee of a major corporation. One could claim you required the "pie" or coke or goodies or you wouldn't preform the work and the customer demands to be compensated in some form or they threaten to go to the AG. You don't see this often if you work for a local plumber, etc., but it DOES happen with the big corporations because they have the deep pockets.
Having a clear policy ("stupid" rule) forbidding the acceptance of such goodies HELPS to protect the company from allegations of goodies in exchange for whatever by the installers. And if the company does NOT enforce this, it weakens their legal standing when trouble should arise.
Such "stupid" rules are common with very large corporations, especially when they have to enter a private residence, lots of liability issues, and large corporations are the ones MOST sued by shady "customers" after a visit because the large corporations have deep pockets. Small local businesses visiting your property for services don't get the lawsuits nearly as often because the slime know those little businesses will probably go out of business BECAUSE of the suit, hence, they never get the money/settlement.
Ironically, these "stupid" rules often protect YOU, the installer, especially as an employee of a major corporation. One could claim you required the "pie" or coke or goodies or you wouldn't preform the work and the customer demands to be compensated in some form or they threaten to go to the AG. You don't see this often if you work for a local plumber, etc., but it DOES happen with the big corporations because they have the deep pockets.
Having a clear policy ("stupid" rule) forbidding the acceptance of such goodies HELPS to protect the company from allegations of goodies in exchange for whatever by the installers. And if the company does NOT enforce this, it weakens their legal standing when trouble should arise.
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Yes, it is stipulated in the handbook that gifts are acceptable, but anything worth over $50 has to be reported to your FSM and I think anything over $200 has to be reported in writing. I would be glad to report that to my FSM just to actually get a tip that big...or at all. I always tip service techs.
The cable guys (Time Warner here), ATT guys (phone), and electric/power guys all do it too.... I never knew why until the post above (presuming it's correct but it sounds perfectly valid).
