Work As a Telecommunications Consultant

Telecommunications consultants may have their own business and work independently or they may be employed by a consulting firm. Individuals working within this field perform a variety of duties related to evaluating current telecommunications systems within companies that can include Internet communications as well as voice and video services. Job tasks may include recommendations for management and maintenance of telecommunications systems in addition to implementing upgrades and making suggestions for enhancing the security of internal systems. Positions within the telecommunications industry require training and experience. Here are some helpful tips on how to work as a telecommunications consultant.

Steps

  1. Research the telecommunications industry if you are new to the field and have little or no experience. If you decide that you do not want to be self-employed, you can find positions working for companies or consulting firms that provide telecommunications services.
  2. Understand that general educational and training requirements necessary to successfully enter this field include a Bachelor's Degree with a focus on telecommunications. Additional undergraduate level coursework should include computer science, mass communications systems, math, statistics and research methods.
    • Your curriculum while in college should encompass preparatory telecommunications coursework. Your class schedule should focus on computer programming and software design, wireless technology, laser and fiber optic technology and voice telephone technology. Develop your critical thinking skills and analytical abilities.
  3. Realize that due to ongoing changes and advancements within the field of telecommunications it is necessary to be actively involved in ongoing professional development through a combination of courses and workshops. This is important even if you have a college degree as the industry is constantly changing and you will need to update your knowledge to keep abreast of new technologies.
  4. Consider becoming a certified telecommunications consultant if you decide to specialize within a particular area. Depending on the region where you will be working, applying for certification generally requires several years of prior work experience within the field.
  5. Recognize that if your goal is to be a self-employed telecommunications consultant, you will still need to be trained in the field by getting an education. You will then need to work for several years to gain extensive experience and expertise before you can venture out on your own.
    • Self-employment as a telecommunications consultant entails making yourself visible to potential customers. You will have to market yourself and your services to the public. Once you have developed your skills, you should start to network with others in the industry to order to make connections and meet potential new clients.
    • Consider hiring marketing professionals to help you design a website if you are developing your own, independent telecommunications consulting service. As you set-up your business, you will need to advertise your services to the public.
  6. Attend professional association meetings and events focusing on the telecommunications industry. The schedule may include conferences and onsite job fairs where you will be able to socialize and network with others in the field. This is especially important if you want to be a self-employed telecommunications consultant and work independently.

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