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When I joined Tilson, the environment was distinctly different from what it evolved into. It had the vibrant energy of a startup where everyone knew each other and innovative ideas were always welcomed. Back then, the team was small but ambitious, making significant strides in the telecom, wireless and engineering fields and fostering a sense of family.

In those early days, the atmosphere was electric with innovation and collaboration. Projects were not only challenging but also pioneering, setting new benchmarks in the industry. The company's size allowed for agility, enabling quick adaptation to the fast-paced changes in telecommunications, always keeping a step ahead.

However, as the company grew, there were noticeable shifts. The close-knit, startup culture that had been a core strength began to fade away. The transition from a tight group to a larger, more corporate entity marked a significant change, not just in size but in ethos. The focus increasingly leaned towards financial metrics and project billability, overshadowing the initial passion for the work itself.

Promotions and career growth, once based on merit and ingenuity, seemed to lose priority. External hiring for key positions became more common, impacting the morale of the team and diluting the depth of expertise and understanding of the company's foundational values.

The once vibrant innovative spirit began to diminish. New hires appeared less connected to the original essence of the company. The focus of projects shifted, becoming more deadline-oriented and less about sharing in collaborative successes on projects.

This phase of growth suggests a need for reflection and reassessment by management. There's a need to reconnect with the founding principles that drove early success. Balancing financial goals with a commitment to the field of telecommunications is crucial. Fostering and promoting internal talent could help preserve the company's unique culture. Reigniting the innovative drive is essential for not just surviving but thriving in the telecommunications sector.

While the company's expansion is commendable, it's important to remember that its early achievements were rooted not just in financial success but in a shared passion for innovation and a strong sense of community. Maintaining a balance between growth and these core values is vital for shaping the company's future in the industry.

As an OSP Field Engineer I was not happy about the compensation there. I liked the company’s attitude and they were trying very hard to treat us workers valuable. But that’s where it ended. Pay was low in my opinion. I was staying in an Airbnb rental far away from my family and home and we were required to share living quarters with other men so they can save money on hotels. There was no overtime allowed. It’s controlled. They wanted more production and deadlines met but were not willing to let us make any real money.  The hourly pay was too low for this market. My theory is that they have bid too low on this contract to win it and then passed all the stress to the field people with constraints. We are the ones that do all the actual work and get below average compensation. We asked the proper supervisors and went through the appropriate channels and we just got the run around about pay increase. 
And just like another person said two posts ago, management is not organized. 
We had no direction or standard operating procedures and  everybody was doing whatever they wanted out in the field.  We have no clue what the client wanted. The local market supervisor was a joke with no real experience with this client.  We are subcontracting under a subcontract.
We did have conference calls but they were standard safety meetings.
Again the company treated me good during my time there overall, but the pay was too low for this industry and they were not fully organized in my area.
Another thing is that projects finish suddenly with no heads up.  But they are quick to put you in another market and the pay is not matched up to the new market you are going to.
Contacted everyone up the chain and they gave me the runaround about pay. 
(No answers just said that they are not the person to talk to and sent  you on to someone else)  three of us quit after a few months.

Tilson is the classic example of a tech based telecommunications company that grew too big, too fast. Management is mostly supportive, but managers who are not can fire you at a moments notice without any warning or opportunity for improvement. They will not put you on a PIP, they’ll simply call you on a Friday to terminate your employment because of budget cuts. Don’t be lured in by the work/life balance which is about the only good thing Tilson has going for it. You will be micromanaged in your role and will be given other people’s work to complete if they are fired and or let go. They do their best to make it seem like they have their stuff together, but internally they are a mess. Money is made by the OSP teams on the outside, but if you work in any internal or backend support role here, your days are likely numbered. The only people who get promoted are those who suck up to the managers. Everyone else is stuck on the same hamster wheel, doing the same monotonous job every day without any reward or recognition for it. Too many teams meetings and calls about nothing, which simply waste your time and don’t often lead to any real change. The hardest part of the job is wanting to get up and go to work every day, because the mission of the company is pointless. The most enjoyable part of the job is when you’re taking time off, with all of your devices silenced so that nobody can get ahold of you. This job will have you stressed out with nothing left in the tank. At first it was nice but it went downhill real quick. It’s a no for me…

Joining Tilson has been one of the finest career moves I have made, and I gladly recommend them to friends and past colleagues who are also looking for a change and/or new challenge.  (Prior employers were predominantly larger, multinational organizations.)  Tilson is growing at a remarkable clip, and has been, which means an abundance of career advancement opportunities for high performers.  My colleagues are friendly, intelligent, adaptable, and almost universally self-motivated.  Leadership is engaged, strives to be a really decent corporate citizen, and has a candid and transparent communication style, which is a welcomed change from the ignore-the-uncomfortable style I have seen at other organizations.  This engagement, decency, and overcommunication have also proven invaluable during this challenging past year of pandemic life and uncertainty.  Plus, despite its early successes, Tilson continues to strive to be the best at getting better and, in this reviewer’s experience, is unrivaled in its openness to trying different/new ways of doing things.  Compensation and benefits are competitive, as is the emphasis Tilson’s leadership and management place on a well-balanced work/life ratio.  Five stars.

For me, the most important aspects of working at Tilson are:

• A culture of inclusion. Tilson walks the talk. Training and accountability are key. Hiring of veterans, promoting women into leadership positions and efforts to hire a workforce that reflects society’s diversity is championed.

• Leadership by example. Tilson supports an open-door policy. If you need to access those in leadership roles, they are available to you. 

• Colleagues who are the best in the business. I have been amazed with the expertise in telecom, government, and construction. There is always something to learn at Tilson and you are supported in these efforts.

• Benefits are top notch.

• The HR department is extremely professional, is constantly promoting efforts toward employee wellness and does a great job of training. 

• Tilson quickly responded to the pandemic and implemented work from home solutions. There are continual communications around COVID-19 and future considerations. 
 
• Safety is priority number one, and everyone knows it!


Tilson is a wonderful company to work for. Great from the very beginning. The interview process is pleasant, professional, and efficient. It was clear to me that the friendly talent acquisition manager and the hiring manager truly cared for their potential future employee. Once hired, I learned quickly that Tilson’s stellar management starts at the top – Our CEO is one in a million. He, as well as the directors and managers in layers reporting to him, effectively relate to the employees. They are approachable and will make themselves available as time permits. A true Open Door policy. We are all part of the Tilson family. As a displaced worker with 32 years at a major telecom, I can relate first hand to the evolving work structure in Corporate America. Required, long term expense controls which result in reduction in staff are creating many opportunities for Tilson. The corporations need their projects completed regardless of their staffing levels. We are here to do the work. Tilson offers great opportunities to agile employees.

I've only worked at the Portland office for a short time, but it's by far the best company I've ever worked for. My coworkers are all super nice and helpful. Everyone has a good sense of humor and there's great camaraderie and employee activities that people actually want to do, like running, softball, video games, ping pong, etc. I would say the culture is the best part about working here. The company's growing like crazy, which can be a double-edged sword; pros are that you have a lot of autonomy and can run with ideas without red tape getting in the way, morale is high, and there are a lot of possibilities for career growth. Cons are that it's unclear what exactly that career growth is, and the work can get hectic. I would say that if you do well with a certain level of uncertainty and are an independent go-getter, it's a good fit. It very much feels like a tech start-up. But if you enjoy the structure of a traditional corporation and just want to collect a paycheck, it's probably not a good fit for you.

I feel that Tilson is a great place to work like any other place of employment one gets out of the company what one puts in. It is up to your mind set on if this company will be a good fit for you or not. Tilson may not be a perfect company but they are always looking to emprove and better the work experience and workability of the company. Never forget this company is Veteran oriented. When you have a concern "use the chain of command". Over all, I feel Tilson is a great place to work.

If you are self-motivated, willing to adapt and grow and contribute to a high growth company, this is a fantastic place to make your mark and accelerate your career. Plenty of need for high-performing individuals who are driven by accountability and team success. Strong support from peers and management. Tilson's ambitious mission to build America's information infrastructure says it all!

If you are not comfortable working in a dynamic environment, this company may not be for you. Tilson doesn't settle for being a "good company." It anticipates customer and industry changes and pivots to stay ahead of the curve to become a great company. This is hugely important in telecom today as we witness the effects of the pandemic and the recession complicates our client’s behavior. This may be challenging if you don't easily adapt to change, or if you're not willing to be flexible in your work assignments.

It is pure chaos working at Tilson. There is no order to anything. They throw you into the work environment and tell you to start working. They do not train you fully and expect you to know everything.

Everyone there is learning on the go, and making it up as they go. Almost no one there knows what they are supposed to be doing.

They promote managers that don't know what they are doing or how to manage, which causes more confusion down the line. 

They will drop you with no warning. No write ups, no talks. They are constantly burning through people as well and its no wonder with the pace they ask you to work at. The average person working there has only been there a few years—very few old-timers. 

The only good things are the wage is good, other than they expect you to work your heart out. They do have some fantastic people working there. Diamonds in the mud that Tilson managed to scoop up. and they do allow a flexible schedule to a point. 


Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Laborer 10 salaries reported	$21.80 per hour
Truck driver 6 salaries reported	$28.00 per hour
Construction laborer 15 salaries reported	$24.97 per hour
Foreman 20 salaries reported	$35.95 per hour
Driller 3 salaries reported	$34.00 per hour

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