JAAS

Greetings to all...

Guys I have a question to ask and I expect honest answers please.

I was hired by XYZ company as a "break-fix technician" (don't konw if that's a real term or something they came up with, but my real job is to review tickets from employees and fix minor issues like password resets and pc troubleshooting) and I'm being paid like one.. ($7.50/h).

The thing is, I started looking at the PBX, and out of my own I started playing and learning a few things, up to the point where now if there's problems with the phones they call me. (general problems, like no tone and such. Nothing really technical)

Yesterday I decided to "clean up" a bit the patch panel (if that's how it's called) to remove wires that where once used but where no longer connected, seems like the last guy working here just disconnected what he didn't needed and run new wires leaving the old ones there.

That went fine, but now they are asking me to move all extension from the higher cabinets (C, D, E) to the empy ports in the lower cabinets in order to use the least ammount of cabinets possible.

I was randomly cheking the ports with a tester and there are some that are damaged (this is a 20something year old equipment). So in order to do this I'll have to go one by one in order to determine which ones are working and which are not.

The question here is.. how much do any of you guys professionaly charges for this kind of work, because I'm pretty sure it is not $7.50.

Sorry for the long read but I really feel I'm being used here..

oozenoz

I used to work for a company that installs and services phone systems, about 8 years ago. They charged (at that time) 85 an hour, it's since climbed to 105. Of course, techs aren't paid that much per hour, that's just what the company makes - and out of that they have to pay all the overhead such as trucks, office, lights, etc.

I would suggest you call one of the local dealers in your area and ask how much they charge based on T&M, then use that as an argument to bump your pay - after all, if they had to hire someone in to do it, that's what they'd be paying. Without being fully trained and certified you can't expect to make what seasoned techs make but they should at least bump your hourly up to a reasonable number... even on the low end of the scale, newbie techs are probably making close to double what you've quoted, and perhaps more depending on the cost of living in the area.

One other thing to consider, if you're interested in taking this on professionally, suggest that to your employer - maybe they'll send you for formal training. It would also make them think a little bit harder about that raise.

__________________
- calvin

PBXtech.info

 

martinyoung

Depends on how you want to be paid for the work.

When I worked for an Avaya Business Partner and wanted to contract for another vendor to do what you are talking about, the going rate was at least $50 per hour here. The really good and knowledgable vendors could, and did, ask for more. We could get some at $35 per hour but this is something that you get what you pay for, the cheap guys we usually had to spend a lot of time cleaning up after.

When I was working for Avaya (I retired about five years ago), starting pay for a field tech was $17 per hour and top pay was $28 per hour. It has gone up some since then, I think the range now is $20-$31.

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Marty
Retired Avaya DSIC tech

JAAS

thanks guys..

dbhf9

My gosh! I was reading a book this afternoon by Thomas Friedman and there was a discussion at one point where he stated that the begining wage for workers @ Walmart was $8 an hour!

martinyoung

There was an article in the Wall Street Journal last year about Walmart pay. The store manager for one of their large stores is paid $50,000 a year. And that is a salary, these managers generally spend at least 60 hours a week in their store. Sometimes a lot more.

Not to mention abysmal medical coverage. CNN reported last year about Walmart's poor medical coverage and the company response was that most of their employees were retired from other companies and were using that company's retirement medical insurance so the news story is wrong. Walmart employees have excellent medical coverage, just not paid for by Walmart and employees that are not retired are just out of luck.

__________________
Marty
Retired Avaya DSIC tech

PBXtech.info

 

oozenoz

You thinking of becoming a greeter, Marty? LOL!

__________________
- calvin

martinyoung

Welcome to Wal*Mart. Would you like a cart? May I direct you to the area of the store you wish?

I have dealt with Wal*Mart as a telecom vendor and have found them to be a bit difficult. I don't think you could drag me in the door to be an employee.

__________________
Marty
Retired Avaya DSIC tech

oozenoz

It just that you seemed to have done so much research, I was thinking you were planning a move...

__________________
- calvin

martinyoung

Yeah, but research can also convince you that a certain course of action is ill advised. Besides, I don't look good in a red vest.

__________________
Marty
Retired Avaya DSIC tech

oozenoz

I think they wear blue...

__________________
- calvin

martinyoung

Red, blue, Target, Wal*Mart. Notice how I can tell them apart.

__________________
Marty
Retired Avaya DSIC tech

bigtang

Hi all, looks like most of you guys are pro and experienced.

Just a quick questn on ACA certification pls.

can i just read for the aca certification on my own and register for the exam itself like one would do mcse? or do i have to register with some avaya registered training school?

Which line of avaya is highly demanded for that pays well.
personally i want to go through the VOIP and messaging path.

wot do you think? if its ok wot should my exam combination be?


Thanks alot

martinyoung

IP Telephony is a good base certificate to get. Just about all the rest of their certs relate back to this one in some fashion so you will have a leg up if you have this one first.

You do not have to go to any kind of registered training school to take the exam, you can walk right in off the street if you know the subject matter.

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Marty
Retired Avaya DSIC tech