door to door sales representative

customer service representative

principal software engineer

retention specialist

telecommunications technician

DIRECTV

Going into work, I would check out my standing  on all my merits the company is most concerned about.  I was always at the top 5% of the company wide in my golds and accomplishments right out of training, and received special recommendations for such. I then checked the system to see if I found out any outage or problems that we would be expected  affect or call volume for the day, or any promotions that we would currently be running.  I always like to be a step ahead of the customer if possible and always have the correct and accurate information to start out my new day on a clean fresh slate and build up from there.

During my 28 years experience in customer service I've always said that the best part of my job is my customer.  To be able to make them happy with the service I provide them and to able and resolve what the issue they called in regarding and have a nice conversation with them throughout it all. I've also said over the years as well though, that the worse part of my job is also my customers.  Sometimes, you will just get that person, know matter how much you're been doing and everything you've done to help them, just hasn't satisfied them.  I really hate when that happens because I pride myself in having the ability to handle those customers to a happy resolution to their issue.   For the most part, I make them happy with what I've done for them and they say just how awesome our company is,  But when this happens, it usually results in an escalated call, and I can't help feel that I let my supervisor down just a bit as well, because I know I was doing everything I could for the customer, within reason of course.  So then I just have to pick myself up by the bootstraps and just learn from the experience, put on a happy face and give that next customer that outstanding customer service experience they expect and deserve!

I really enjoying working close to the powers that be, as I am always trying to up my game, and learn from them as much as possible. Since I've been doing this for such a long time, you are always in need of some fresher-uppers. I know none of us are 100% all the time and I think that constructive criticism feedback is much needed and always welcome to me, as long as it's presented the proper way to the employee. It's something I thrive on, as it will always help me to be a better agent, and excel at my goals.  Which I'm hoping in turn will help me to shine, and show my possibilities.  I'd very much like to climb the corporate latter and find a leadership role that would hopefully be good not only for myself, my company, but also the representatives that I would lead.

•	Tested applications independently  Client Server & Web Based build on C# / ASP.Net with Oracle as RDBMS database.
•	Ensured UAT and various types of Testing is completed within established time and that testing objectives conform to Business Requirement Specification (BRS), Software Requirement Specification (SRS) and User Requirement Document (URD).
•	Partnered with cross-functional leads responsible for UAT (User Acceptance Testing) – providing them with test schedules, test data, direction, and detailed Test Scripts in accordance with the Enterprise Release Schedule.
•	Performed code coverage analysis of existing client server app code to evaluate the percentage of cycles and releases covered by QA testing strategies.
•	Worked closely with Product Owners to understand User Stories and to create corresponding Automation story-tests.
•	Created comprehensive & feature-based Test Plans to test web-based of .mobile applications, as well as performing compatibility suites on numerous mobile devices.
•	Actively participated and represented QA Team in walk-through, inspection, review and user group meetings, and led meetings within QA Team for creating various Test Artifacts
•	Actively participated and represented QA Team in JAD sessions BA and development units.
•	Collaborated with business analysts to design scenarios and provide test data requirements that focused on business flows across integrated systems.
•	Provide input to and shape UAT management process in alignment with industry best practices.
•	Enhanced & maintained Data-driven Automation Framework comprised of HP QuickTest Professional (QTP), MS Excel, and Descriptive Programming.
•	Developed user-defined functions, Text Checkpoints, Custom Checkpoints, Table Checkpoints, file management, and Recovery mechanisms.
•	Mentored and supported QA offshore team in defining Test Procedures, application knowledge, and QuickTest Professional (QTP) implementation.
•	Tested mobile applications on various devices such Android, Blackberry and iPhone
•	Tested various parts of the application including GUI, user experience, system performance and business rules.
•	Attended weekly Project Status Meeting with Development team and QA Manager, and worked closely with QA Manager to define Test Scope, Gap Analysis, Risk, Dependency, and Constraints.
•	Performed cross browser testing on IE6/7/8, Firefox 2, Netscape 7/8/9, and Safari and on various Operating Systems (OS) including Windows Vista/XP/7 and Mac.
•	Created simple to complex SQL queries to validate Oracle tables and for correct test data retrieval.
•	Supported Sprint activities by determining the number of test cases needed to verify the software being developed off the Sprint Backlog.
•	Formulated methods to perform Positive testing and Negative testing against requirements.

I have been a tech for 6 years through HSP's, contractors, and retailers. Over the years of installing, even for other companies, it's always changing. New products come out along with new technology. After awhile it's easy to learn. Iv enjoyed installing vary much and have traveled the country doing so. You never know what the day is going to bring, however not always a good thing. Iv always loved my job. Lately however, installing Directv through HSP's and contractors has been miserable. They have been increasing the amount of work and time that goes into every install with more and more strict guidelines that in most cases is too high for the average house/structure. As well as not paying to install many new items. With gas prices and equipment prices on the rise, as well as more non paid labor being requested, this job is as bad as it gets. Everybody but techs get a pay raise, all Directv techs get is more work less money and if the customer doesn't want to pay for items than the tech is stuck with the tab. Directv is doing a beta program where they will pay for some of the additional items promoting there are no more custom charges to customers. However they are paying less than what the items are worth... Once again the tech takes the tab. As well as not paying for all custom items, what about the stuff that's not on the national list? Hope that doesn't stay. Tech eats the tab. What if you goto a house only paid to swap a box and the rest of the houses cables are not installed exactly how Directv wants them? Tech has to completely change the whole house, taking most of the day and a lot of equipment to complete. Yet the tech only gets paid for a 20min box swap. oh say the customer does not have Internet for the broadband deca, the tech must wait usually days for the customer to get Internet then go back a second time unpaid to hook it up. Otherwise their stats will fall and Directv will elemanate them. The will terminate or threaten the contractoring companies to terminate there own people or Directv will cease to contract with them. Meaning through intimidation and illegal tactics Directv has full control over everything. But how can they get away with it? By the use of 1099 tax form workers. 1099 are considered independent, and do not receive any form of benefits like employees, tax deductions, insurance, and other employer obligations. They are cheaper, safer, and easily disposable. 1099 workers are treated just like employees but with no bennifits and less compensation, again which is illegal per IRS. And soon the IRS will launch a investigation and uncover Directvs wrong doings and it will be pretty big. Only hope Directv can change into a ethical company one day.

A typical day of work at Directv starts by showing up at work and logging in to your computer work station. Early morning calls are usually customers who have had service interrupted and either have to pay their full balance due to get it turned back on or request your supervisor to tell them the same thing. Typically when a supervisor is requested you have to find one that is available, which can often take up to 15 minutes. Waiting often further upsets the customer, who can rate their phone call. Not only does the customer do this, but the company does as well by monitoring random calls, timing calls, recording transfers (when a customer needs a different department). Advancement depends largely on statistics the computer records that you have no control over for the most part.

Once the phone is hung up the next call comes in and you repeat this throughout the day.

The worst part about this job is when you get a call from someone who has just had their bank account or card auto debitted by directv. Directv automatically withdraws any money owed to them at the time of the account being closed, their system is also really unreliable when it comes to sending the return boxes for their recievers. So several times a day someone will call who has just had their rent money/food money/whatever withdrawn. Sometimes this occurs in error, and Directv has no way to refund it, so your job at this point is to sit through the screams, being called every name in the book, and basically agree to all the verbal abuse they can dish out at you. These also tend to be calls where people request a supervisor because they don't believe there is no way to just put the money back in their account.

Management is basically there to take supervisor calls, however they don't like doing this. The main encounter with management anyone has is disciplinary action or to go over something you have said in a recorded call.

There is little or no contact with coworkers as you are on the phone all day. Smoking cigarettes is the only time you are around anyone else that isn't on a phone.

The single best thing about this job is getting off work, going home, and turning on the tv to every single channel known to man, completely free, and the best medical coverage in the city.

Typical day was 8 hours, somewhat dated corporate culture of requiring people to come into the office every day and management take account. Working remote is set up, but culture dictates you can't use it unless traveling.  

Management have mostly all been there for a very long time (almost since beginning) and are now entitled, over-paid, and mostly ineffective.  Employees around were always stressed out due to low headcount, boat loads of manual processes, and constantly having "fire" drills where an issue comes up and then an over-response, and then chaos ensues. Management seemed to have a reading comprehension problems from subordinates.    

People who endure there have to:
1) take orders 
2) do things tasked to them and not think or question management
3) attend so many meetings on meetings for meetings about meetings.  There is never a conference room available. 
4) Be expected to perform without any guidance, support, or feedback.   
5)  Have tough skin because veteran managers talk about any employees like dirt and have no shame about it getting back to them.
6) Be able to handle pterodactyl MBWA (That's the swooping in of management as they Manage By Wandering Around).  

They discriminate in hiring and retention, I personally overheard the team managers and leads using "I'm not sure it is a good culture fit" amongst many other colorful, illegal and unprofessional choice words regarding candidates.   Most candidates decline the offers they extend any way.   That is why they are the largest consumer of local temp agencies.  This gives them the tremendous flexibility to make poor decision on the fly and it not have such a high direct cost to them.  

If you need a job, take it and plan to grind your fingers to the bone, keep your head down, don't ask questions, and then go home.

If you are seeking a career opportunity with growth potential, coaching, mentoring, and career development opportunities, you should go elsewhere.

•	Authored Systems Requirement Specification (SRS), Use case, System Requirement Change Request, and Data Dictionary to Delta's SFDC implementations such as Sales Cloud, Marketing Cloud and Salesforce Chatter. 
•	Carried out regular meetings and walkthroughs with development team members, Project Manager and Quality analyst to better understand system functionality 
•	Used detailed knowledge of application features and functions to assess the scope and impact of business needs throughout analysis and completion of all enhancement specifications for each business partner and cross impacted groups 
•	Built relationship across multiple technology, operations, services, sales, program and product team to accomplish end goal 
•	Facilitated requirements gathering cross multiple vendors and organization 
•	Performed the detailed analysis of functional and technical requirements; designed and deployed the custom objects; identified the lookup and master-detail relationships; and created the junction objects. 
•	Implemented security and sharing rules at object, field, and record level for different users at different levels of organization. Also created various profiles and configured the permissions based on the organizational hierarchy. 
•	Implemented pick lists, dependent pick lists, validation and formula fields to the custom objects. 
•	Implemented the validation rules on the objects and tabs, Page layouts, Custom tabs, and Components to suit to the needs of the application. 
•	Implemented the workflows and approvals for various functional requirements. 
•	Implemented the searching and tagging functionality; developed various custom reports and dashboards for data analysis. 
•	Used field level security along with page layouts to manage access to certain fields.

The company provides everything you need from a company vehicle, tools and uniforms and PPE. The only thing you need to purchase are a good pair of work boots. You can buy extra specialized tools to make the job even easier but its not necessary.
A typical day consists of reviewing a list of dispatched Jobs in the morning. Pre-calling the customer before heading out the customer's home to arrive by 8:00am. (You do start your day from your home as you get to take the van home) After arriving, you greet the customer at the door, then assess the hazards and the job and what will be required to complete it, depending on if it is a service call, installation, upgrade, commercial or movers. Communicating that information to the customer and then beginning the job. Sometimes its a simple fix such as realigning a dish or reprogramming a remote control. Other times it can be quite complex diagnosing a problem within the system which can take several hours. If the job isn't built correctly or the customer wants to add, change or remove something, you may have to call in to dispatch to get the work order modified. Most jobs are very similar in nature and can be resolved within an hour or two. You are guaranteed 8 hours minimum but can often work 10 to 12 hours a day in the summer months. It balances out during the slower times of the year. You do get compensated for overtime by 1.5 X which adds up nicely as well as when you meet your metric goals to achieve additional bonuses. You are expected to try and sell the protection plan to each customer and you do get paid  $$ for every sale so it is a nice incentive. At the end of the day the expectation is to post-call your customers and check to see if everything is working correctly, then head home. Yes there's a lot more to it, but that's a basic overview.

a typical work day at directv home services included alot of stress , but that was part of the job the thrill of what was to come and working as fast as you can with alot of things to juggle to get home to your family at a descent time
What i learned at the company was moral values and customer service skills that i will hold dear to me to apply myself to everyday life and respect , i also learned that hard work pays off and a good workout is a nessesity to providing for a family
My co workers were excellent i was on a team that helped one another and did our best to be the best team at that site , i personally worked as fast i could so that no one was left behind and left stranded and was able to get home to there familys.
Working as a team is very valuable in this line of work
The hardest part of the job ....... was making descisions , some were easy some were hard , having to tell a customer you were unable to perform services cause of line of sites or other issues , or dealing with angry customers , but in reality that was your job to approach every situation professionally and to calm the customer and make them very comfortable with your presence .
One must remember that its not your house its the customers you have to have that mentality of .... what if this was my house ?
The most enjoyable part was installing the services for a customer and knowing you brought a new customer a new experience , experience to see somthing others dont have. Knowing that you did a job to perfection and not taking away the decor of the house and doing a professional job and a smile at the end of the day .
Me personally i have and still aquired customers of my own that call me for advice and help , because of my overall professionalism and knowledge of their home and mutual understanding of there demands and needs

As a new tech, you will be adequately trained with both classroom training and being out “in the field” with another tech. Tools will be provided to you to do your job, however the quality is subpar. Most technicians end up purchasing their own tools because of this. As the title stated, it is rewarding work being able to help customers with their DirecTV equipment issues.. but management is an utter joke, especially since the AT&T merger. 

There are multiple tiers of management, many of which are completely unnecessary because any time an issue arises they “don’t have the power” to correct it. They are also constantly changing rules and guidelines when it is convenient to them. This gets incredibly frustrating when you are at the mercy of how each individual member of management decides how to interpret the SOP for that particular day. 

The work itself is not too difficult, although you will have the occasional bad weather day and/or difficult work order. There will also be days where you will have to travel hundreds of miles in a day because route management is atrocious. At that point, a technician can call their manager to notify them of the incredible distance between jobs instead of being assigned jobs that are in their dedicated area.. the typical response from the manager would be to blame it on other technicians and say “it is what it is”.

Pay is decent for the area, benefits are slightly lacking. The field technicians are always willing to help out other technicians, whether it be with difficult jobs, equipment shortages, or just answering questions… but you will never get any meaningful assistance or direction from management as they are too concerned with trying to catch you doing something wrong.

Working for DirecTv has several perks, including nearly all inclusive DirecTv programming, work directly from your home using their truck materials and meters all you have to do is buy a small hand tool kit.

Your work will be delivered to you via a handset, you go to the jobs listed and your day is done when you finish your last job. the position is not hourly, it's paid by the job so the faster you become the more you will make. Most decent techs will average between 700 and 1000 a week after becoming proficient, however for some that day is a long time in coming.
You have to have common sense when working and pay attention to details, this is all important both during training as well as after.
Management as in most places have both good and bad people, and dealing with customer service directly can be a real hassle.
Most difficult about the job can be the hours, you never have a set time to go home so you will find it's hard to plan anything. Also since you are on piece work there are custom charges that are to be passed on to the customer, there are certain members of management that believe that no matter what you should not charge this custom labor so it can cost you hours of time. Keep in mind that is only certain members of management.
You can count on your direct supervisor to be there when you need them, and should you find yourself in a position where you cannot finish all your jobs, usually your supervisor can find another tech that is available to take your work.
For the most part they are a great group of guys who will help you get through and be a source of knowledge after your initial 4-6 weeks of training, (which I found to be less that adequate.)

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Door to door sales representative 74 salaries reported	$150 per day
Customer service representative 10 salaries reported	$20.83 per hour
Principal software engineer 28 salaries reported	$170,073 per year
Retention specialist 6 salaries reported	$20.94 per hour
Telecommunications technician 22 salaries reported	$20.49 per hour

Working at DIRECTV: Company Overview and Reviews

DIRECTV

DIRECTV Ratings

Popular jobs at DIRECTV

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected