Building a Legacy in the Field

From team members to customers, millions of people have deep connections to AT&T. For Premises Technician Kyson Cook, those connections go back to his grandfather, who helped lay the foundation for the AT&T services he has in his home today.

Listening to Kyson and his father, Jason, talk about their careers and inspirations, one thing becomes clear: they love what they do.

“I like to say I have one of the coolest jobs in the world,” Kyson said. “I’m proud to share with people about the work I do.”

“I like to say the same thing,” Jason added with a laugh.

Finding a Place in the Field

What brought both men to technician work? For them, it was all about AT&T’s reputation and admiration for the generation before them.

“I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after high school,” Jason shared. “I wasn’t ready for college at that time, but I knew what my dad did. I knew AT&T provided for us. I knew it was a place to grow. The sky is the limit here.”

“Every kid grows up wanting to be like dad,” added Kyson. “When I was little, I would put his work boots on. I’d hear his stories – they’d go in one ear and out the other at the time – but I understand what he was talking about now. Now, I’m the one telling him stories.”

Those stories are ones of connections made with customers, family, friends, coworkers and the lessons learned over years of service.

“A lot of our reputation is based on interactions customers have with our techs,” Jason continued. “They have to let us into their homes to do our job, so having a tech who’s confident, social and skilled is essential.”

Rewarding Work

Technology continues to evolve, but some constants remain. Many of Kyson’s stories echo ones from his father’s time as a tech in the early 2000s.

Before cellphones were as mainstream as they are today, Jason supported a customer in a rural area with a hum on the line. A hum so loud, she couldn’t hold a conversation. “She was an elderly lady, and this was her sole form of communication,” Jason said. “Getting it to work for her was just really rewarding.”

“I had a similar repair job dealing with dial tone. The new school dial tone – not the type he used to work with,” Kyson said chuckling. “I’m testing and I realize the phone itself is the problem. This customer was dealing with some medical issues, and he really needed this phone to work. So, I called my boss and asked what we could do. We ended up getting him all new phones.”

“There’s nothing like telling a customer you’ve solved their issue and hearing the relief in their voice. That’s the best,” Jason added.

Tools to Shape the Future

Technicians take care of our customers, and we take care of our technicians – with competitive pay, benefits and numerous growth opportunities.

“I think about the comfort he’ll have from what this company offers,” Jason said. “He’s investing in his future after starting here at just 20 years old with a 401k. He’s going to have paid parental leave when his daughter is born and really be able bond with his family. AT&T is always working to improve their culture and benefits for those in the field.”

“I get a free home phone and discounted internet access,” Kyson added. “I was able to afford a house in my first year of work.”

Kyson is also pursuing a degree through our Tuition Reimbursement Program and working towards a management role – just like his father.

“I remember going to work in my dad’s garage and working alongside guys that were like uncles to me. Now, Kyson’s having the same experience with people I used to work with; it’s this weird circle of life,” Jason said.

“I’m working hard because of the name. To a lot of the team around here, I’m ‘Cook’s boy’. It’s big shoes to fill and I’m excited to do it. Plus, you know, I’ve got to one-up dad,” Kyson said with a smirk.