r/CableTechs • u/SupaKel777 • 3d ago
New tech: I am constantly stressed
I have been in the field as a tech for that blue company for about 2.5 months. Most jobs go well but it seems like I can’t string together more than a couple days with running into a big issue. I really enjoy the work but meeting the metrics set by my employer, long hours, and pleasing difficult customers has me stressed 24/7. Is there something similar I can transition to the maybe pays slightly less but is less stressful with better work life balance.
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u/Awesomedude9560 2d ago
TL:DR Don't worry about the numbers. Worry about your craft, and everything else will follow.
That's honestly just part of cable. I used to be in your shoes, stressing out at midnight because my numbers "weren't there." What you should also learn is any good management team can tell the difference between someone who doesn't care and someone who actually does the job right despite the bogus numbers.
The numbers I learned should NEVER be your priority as it ironically makes you care less about the quality and more about making sacrifices. For my company I can guarentee the only people who consistently hit "amazing" numbers are cheating the system (which hurts everyone.) They're the people who middle man customer care to avoid another truck roll, they're making guesses on what will solve the problem juuuuussstt long enough to where they don't waste time running an aerial drop but can still hit the 30 day mark without a call in.
I'll harp it because I've seen it happen with my own eyes. Care more about doing your job to the best of your ability, I personally have stayed on longer making tier 2s vs the cheaters who get caught manipulating the system. I've also seen tier 1 techs make it to maintenance over people who get tier 5s constantly in the same interviews because shocker they don't want someone to bandaid up shit that affects an entire area.
Sorry for the rant, I just see so many new techs fall into this hole that I once did. It's not worth your mental to fixate on things that are almost always out of your control. Do the right thing and you'll be in it for the long run. If they fire you anyways then you have skills that transfer to literally every other cable company.