Questions about how to become a tech

1167 Views 15 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Mertzen, Sep 22, 2008

firefighter4evr

Discussion Starter · Sep 18, 2008

Just wondering........

Is D* so well staffed and not that busy??? Seen a Ad in the local newspaper for D* looking for installers.. the add said that they where looking to train people that had little or no exp. , so i applied and got a email back to send a resume... 2 weeks later no response.. just wondering what are the thoughts of all the installers????

is this normal?? any tips?

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

BattleZone

· #2 · Sep 18, 2008

"how to become a tech"

First, get a hammer. Next, place your weak hand on a solid surface. Strike hand HARD with hammer. Once you recover, place weak hand back on solid surface. Strike hand HARD with hammer. Repeat a few more times.

If this seems like a good idea, you'll make a great tech, and won't mind the treatment at all!

Elephanthead

· #3 · Sep 18, 2008

I think the problem is that you followed instructions and sent in a resume, a DTV installer would have said they didn't have time for that, and just showed up for work 6 hours late the next day. Anyway I would suggest pizza delivery if you can drive and want a job, just work the peek dinner hours and weekends, then you can continue your job search until you find a good day job.

AntAltMike

· #4 · Sep 18, 2008

You only have to correctly answer the only two questions that count.

1. Do you have a vaild drivers license, and,

2. Can you start immediately.

"What does a yellow light mean?

Slow Down.

Whaaaat dooooes a yellllowww liiight mmeean?

Slow down.

Whaaaaaaat doeeeeeeess a yellllllllowwwwww liiiiiiight meeeeeeeeean?

See less See more

firefighter4evr

Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 18, 2008

the answer is "YES" to both of the question....... its just odd that u hear everywhere that there so understaffed and overloaded with installs and myself and 9 other people all went together to fill out apps... none of us have heard anything in 2 weeks except... please send us a resume...

Jared701

· #6 · Sep 18, 2008

you guys aren't giving me hopes that my installer will be able to find my apartment, let alone set up a dish

DtvSlave

· #7 · Sep 18, 2008

Maybe this will be helpfull?

Someone on here might know who/where the your local HSP office is. If they can give you that info, try there.

I'm not sure if the local HSP IS where you put in your app. if it is, go back and talk to the Site Mgr. It take 2 interviews one from a sup. ans one from the Site mgr.

BattleZone

· #8 · Sep 18, 2008

Try Craigslist or Cable Bar to find people who are hiring.

There are in-house techs who drive the DirecTV vans, and contractors. Contractors make more money, but have to pay for everything themselves. In-house gets their supplies and basic tools issued to them, and the vehicle, but the pay is much lower. In-house techs work for the HSP (the big contractor in the area that gets all the work), while you need to find a contractor if you want to work that way.

firefighter4evr

Discussion Starter · #9 · Sep 18, 2008

IIP said:
Try Craigslist or Cable Bar to find people who are hiring.

There are in-house techs who drive the DirecTV vans, and contractors. Contractors make more money, but have to pay for everything themselves. In-house gets their supplies and basic tools issued to them, and the vehicle, but the pay is much lower. In-house techs work for the HSP (the big contractor in the area that gets all the work), while you need to find a contractor if you want to work that way.

yeah, this was a in-house tech job.... i wanna say there name was iron something... ironwood maybe??? they used to be a contractor for d* but, D* bought them out (thats what i was told) :sure: :sure:

Teronzhul

· #10 · Sep 18, 2008

Yes Ironwood communications (subdivision of Connect180) was in fact recently purchased by DirecTV and apparently there are some transitional pains. It would be unsurprising if your application was lost as a result. If you really want the job, then just be tenacious. If you can find an Ironwood contact number (which shouldn't be too hard) then call it.

You won't hear many good things about the job. I did it for 2 years, but wouldn't really recommend it. I enjoyed the job itself, but not the 60+ hour weeks, and ever increasing bs with chargebacks and continuously reduced pay.

firefighter4evr

Discussion Starter · #11 · Sep 18, 2008

Teronzhul said:
Yes Ironwood communications (subdivision of Connect180) was in fact recently purchased by DirecTV and apparently there are some transitional pains. It would be unsurprising if your application was lost as a result. If you really want the job, then just be tenacious. If you can find an Ironwood contact number (which shouldn't be too hard) then call it.

You won't hear many good things about the job. I did it for 2 years, but wouldn't really recommend it. I enjoyed the job itself, but not the 60+ hour weeks, and ever increasing bs with chargebacks and continuously reduced pay.

thanks for the info..... I have an email address and a cell phone number to the local site manager .. called and wrote many times... no response

Supervolcano

· #12 · Sep 18, 2008

firefighter4evr said:
Its just odd that u hear everywhere that there so understaffed and overloaded with installs and myself and 9 other people all went together to fill out apps... none of us have heard anything in 2 weeks except... please send us a resume...

Did you actually graduate high school?

JUST KIDDING!!! JUST KIDDING!!!

But seriously, by your nickname I'm gonna take a wild guess that your a fire fighter, and if so, I'll further speculate that you probably work 24 hours on / 48 hours off?

If that's true, maybe they don't want you because they want guys that will work 6 or even 7 days a week, every week.

firefighter4evr

Discussion Starter · #13 · Sep 19, 2008

Supervolcano said:
Did you actually graduate high school?
JUST KIDDING!!! JUST KIDDING!!!

But seriously, by your nickname I'm gonna take a wild guess that your a fire fighter, and if so, I'll further speculate that you probably work 24 hours on / 48 hours off?

If that's true, maybe they don't want you because they want guys that will work 6 or even 7 days a week, every week.

Correct, i am a fire fighter.... not a paid one... firefighting is a hobby of mine. Im a truck driver now im used to working 14 hours a day 7 days a week !!! I went to college took up Electronics Engineering Technology. we learned a few things about cable and sat systems so, since im looking for something where i would be in town a little more, thought it might be a good idea to apply....

kevinm34232

· #14 · Sep 19, 2008

firefighter4evr said:
Correct, i am a fire fighter.... not a paid one... firefighting is a hobby of mine. Im a truck driver now im used to working 14 hours a day 7 days a week !!! ....

Well as an installer you can expect to work 0-12 hrs per day, 6 days a week. If you sub soncract and not work for an HSP, please check out the company as best you can, because, well.... Well, just check them out.
Seriously, it's not bad if you are with a professionaly run company but that can be tough to find.

swager_31

· #15 · Sep 22, 2008

I have been installing for abt 2 months (I used to install for brighthouse networks as a contractor) I am finding out that is not the hours of work it's the time out on the job that your not paid for (cause you have to lie abt your hours) as not to go over 40 outher wise they make you stay home till the new pay period begins.
there is soooooo much more that can be told...

on a side note if there is anyone that knows abt D*buying out any outher contractors like MASS TECH in FL
please send me a pm with some info please ...thank's much....

Mertzen

· #16 · Sep 22, 2008

Step 1. Don't

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