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3/6/2005 1:03:00 PM
So I'm going through the steps to become a Telus installer/repairman, & am now up for the knowledge testing on Thursday. If you've gone through this please let me know if I should be worried.
I have the 2 CD's of material & have been working through them & scoring fairly well (65-80% pretest/75-91% post). My only concern is that it seems that it is taking much longer than the 40 hours recommended. I'm only 3/4 through the Telecommunications disc (1st disc) & have spent close to 30 hours. Is this normal?
Also, there are about 30-40 acronyms thrown at me already, am i expected to be fluent with these for the test?
I've got until Thursday & am dedicating every waking moment to studying (as have been the past 4 days) but I'm afraid that this much cramming is burning me out before I even get the job. I've recently finished my ETCC Certificate, but 90% of this info wasn't touched on.
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3/6/2005 1:15:00 PM
i did the craft test. but i did the old one. they just changed to the new one in feb. so i'm not sure what u need to know. the test i did was easy.
even if it takes longer than the 40 hours, i heard those cds are very good teaching tools.
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Figaro
Nightlife Industry (22927posts)
3/6/2005 2:10:00 PM
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3/6/2005 2:10:00 PM
Easy as in how? Did you need to know the definition of all the acronyms as well as the functions?
I find the CD's actually lacking a little in proper referencing...they tend to give the meaning of an acronym only once (ex: Open Systems Interconnection Reference Model [OSIRM]) then only refer to it as OSIRM throughout the rest of the course which definitely doesn't lead to easy association. A simple mouse over popup on each acronym would help immensely. I'm just griping i guess, but I'm worried as hell as this is the job I've wanted for the past few years & it's my only chance to get in on it for this round.
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3/6/2005 2:36:00 PM
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3/6/2005 2:42:00 PM
i ment it was easy for me. the test i did was over 40 years old. thats why they made a new one. My test was all multiple choice, dont know how yours is going to be. i havnt had the chance to talk to anyone that has done this new test yet.
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3/6/2005 2:44:00 PM
^^That part I have no problem with (ladders, etc).
Actually, this position is my dream job. I love telecommunications technology, enjoy hands on work & have no fear of heights. I've ran my own Computer Services company for the past 4 years & want ot get out of the office & challenge myself.
It's this daunting amount of information I'm working on absorbing right now which is unnerving me. I love learning about this stuff, just not at such a pressured pace (I've covered every facet of modern telecommunications in the last couple days, not to mention obsolete, historical & redundant technologies.
Not to mention that I am unable to look for other jobs while studying this in case I fail. I'm at the point where if I dont get in I am out on the streets.
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3/6/2005 2:45:00 PM
did you take the telecommunications technician program at BCIT?
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3/6/2005 2:46:00 PM
I only have my Electronics Technician Common Core.
Managed a 3.0GPA while also running my own business full time though.
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3/6/2005 2:56:00 PM
do you not feel the need to take the telecom course? cause it would help a lot.
but then agian, if you have the chance to not take the course and get the job, that would be pretty good.
i heard from someone that was in my class studying those same cds as you, that it was a good reveiw of what we learned in school.
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3/6/2005 3:04:00 PM
I would have taken it but I couldn't afford it, nor handle the stress of juggling school & work again to achieve only a menial grade (not proud of my 3.0, should have been 3.5+ had i not had to work).
Initially I was also looking to be an installer for Shaw, where they'll actually put you through the ETCC program, so going through the TT program would be overkill. Though it seems that the Shaw contractors are in a constant state of flux these days.
If I dont get this job I'm basically going to have to work a menial job until I can start the Joint Training Committee Electricians Pre Apprenticeship Program in the fall.
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3/6/2005 3:11:00 PM
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3/6/2005 3:17:00 PM
^ In regards to the training, that's what I figured. I can get a handle on the technology & knowledge pretty easily & was told there's 40-180 hours training after the hiring. My problem is with trying to amass all this knowledge on my own in such a short time.
I know I'll love this as a career & will excell at it. I'm a bachelor with very little ties to the city & look forward to travelling & learning for the job. I only hope that I am deemed to have enough prior knowledge for the position.
Note: This is also the 1st job that wasn't handed to me. I'm not used to this uncertainty, nor the testing of my abilities. I guess it's what I was looking for already though (a challenge).
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12/4/2005 1:34:00 PM
Oh ya, we're back baby! Working max OT in the greatest job ever.
Saving the world one dial tone at a time.
My compound has moved from East Van to Kits too. We're 80% new hires (I was on my own for a month before we went out) so our numbers are down, but damned if I didn't surpass our daily average by 66%, on a Saturday.
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