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SPRINT
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"Employees have an average of 1.2 terminals."
— Sprint representative
• IBM, Data General, DEC, Tandem •
• COBOL, FORTRAN, FOCUS, SAS, TAL •
• Data communications • Medium-sized shop •
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Sprint provides data communications products and services. They have a public data network, packet switching, and a private network with electronic mail (Sprintmail).
U.S. Sprint was founded as a joint venture between GTE and United Telecom in 1986. U.S. Sprint is an international long-distance voice carrier. Sprint has more than 2,000 employees in the Washington, D.C., area. Washington area facilities include Sprint International, a voice and data carrier; Government Systems Division, which supports FTS 2000; and Sprint Data Group, which provides domestic data and messaging services. Corporate headquarters is in Kansas City, Missouri. The company provides services to corporations, government clients, educational institutions, and online libraries. Their business is predominantly commercial.
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Technology
Sprint's data processing environment is mixed. They have an IBM 3090, which is used for billing, order entry, accounts receivable, and E-mail routing. Their Prime 9755 and 750 control the network. They have Tandems for messaging applications, and DEC 11/700s for production work. New applications are being developed on Data Generals, under UNIX and ORACLE. Operating systems include MVS/XA, PRIMOS, VMS, and Guardian. Languages used include COBOL, FORTRAN, FOCUS, PASCAL, PL/I, SAS, and TAL. Additional software used includes CA-IDMS, ADS/O, IMS, DB2, IED, ADW, Bachman, MIDAS, INFO, and Datatrieve.
The department is divided into four groups: Information Processing Facility; Analysis, Data Management, and Rapid Applications Development; Applications Development; and Information Systems Support. Job titles include Associate Member of Systems Staff I through III, Member Systems Staff I through III, and Senior Member Systems Staff I through III. More than sixty percent of Sprint's work is new development. On a recent project programmers developed billing applications for frame relay service in COBOL II on the IBM 3090.
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Culture
Computer professionals work in a campus-like setting in Reston, Virginia. They have soft-sided cubicles with glass panels. All have at least one terminal or PC. There is no smoking in public areas. Travel is infrequent. Overtime is not compensated, and averages two to four hours a week.
Sprint offers computer professionals interesting projects, a varied data processing environment, and a good training program.
Sprint observes 11 holidays. They offer two weeks of vacation to start, three weeks after five years, and four weeks after fifteen years. There is an employee contribution for medical insurance, dental coverage, and long-term disability. Sprint has an employee store, a health club, a credit union, and a $30/month concession on U.S. Sprint long-distance calls.
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Candidates
Sprint looks for people who have experience in a number of different hardware and software environments. They should be flexible but have the ability to work in a structured environment. Sprint strongly prefers a college degree.
The average computer professional has two to five years of experience. Sprint generally does not hire entry-level computer professionals. New employees are found through employment agencies (20%), employee referrals (13.5%), unsolicited resumes (13.5%), and internal transfers or promotions.
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Contact
Ms. Jo Cole, Staffing Manager
Sprint
12490 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, Virginia 22096
Copyright 1993. Vandamere Press. Covin’s Washington Area Computer Job Guide
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