While many of those courses carry a college credit, Turner says one of his main regrets in his career is not leveraging AT&T's education benefits to go back to college."I would have loved to have completed an engineering degree," he says.
Currently, AT&T offers eligible employees up to $30,000 in tuition reimbursement, and partners with Notre Dame, University of Oklahoma, Champlain College, North Carolina A&T and other universities for select programs so employees can complete their degree at $30,000 or under. Courses are also available 100% online.
Though Turner still has access to those college benefits,"recently with personal and business life I'm so busy. I don't know when I could find time to go back to school," he says."It's going to take a lot of catching up. I have some co-workers that have gone back to school, they're a little bit younger than me and they've admitted, it's tough."
His on-the-job learning will keep him busy until retirement around age 70 or beyond, he says. His role has changed in the last few years to support the public sector and defense account team, which"has taken me to some interesting locations," including building a wireless system on a retired Navy destroyer in California.
"The things I've learned specific to AT&T wireless and cellular engineering by putting my hands on the equipment has been invaluable," Turner says."It's taken a little bit longer, but it's been invaluable."