In the exciting world of telecommunications, innovation and connectivity come together to shape the world we live and work in. Are you fascinated by the way the Internet works? Are you curious about the technology behind it? If so, then a career in telecoms might be the perfect path for you.
Most of us have a smart mobile phone these days and can’t imagine a life without the Internet. And yet you may not be dreaming of a career in telecommunications (or telecoms as its often called) – at least not yet!
Telecoms has seen huge developments and continues to be a fast paced, exciting industry to be in. It has the power to connect people and businesses, families and organisations worldwide, just at the click of a button. Whether it’s connecting to watch your favourite show on Netflix, calling your family on Facetime or ordering a new pair of shoes online – you need the Internet for all that. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes, and people who work in telecommunications make this happen!
Without this connectivity, the world would be very different.
Ask your parents if they remember the life without smart phones, tablets and laptops! Think about the world around you and how telecoms connectivity supports it all. You connecting to friends and family, you connecting to devices to pay for things, devices connecting to other devices, all the equipment and fibre and radio links combining to make it all happen instantaneously!
A job in telecoms can be varied: from satellite engineers who plan and design telecoms infrastructure in space, to design engineers running the television and internet coverage for major sporting events, telecom leaders in industry planning how high streets and shopping centres function or in the health sector where telecom connectivity is hugely important to improving health care. This list is endless, telecoms is everywhere!
Can you spot this telecoms infrastructure around where you live?
There are various routes you can take to secure a job in telecoms. For the engineering jobs you’re likely to need a degree in electronic engineering or equivalent. For sales or project management you could also undertake an apprenticeship or secure a diploma to help you enter the field.
Various technician jobs can give you training ‘on the job’ from where you can develop your career as you wish into a range of exciting opportunities.
If you have an interest in technology and how things work, that is an excellent start.
You can find examples of jobs in the telecoms industry (this will open in a new window)here.
Hear from these telecoms experts how they got jobs in Telecoms
(this will open in a new window)Emma Philpott, Head of Mobile at FarrPoint
“The start of my career had nothing to do with telecoms but since then I have developed a career and competencies across a range of technologies. I have been extremely lucky that the projects I’ve been involved with have taken me all over the world from Abu Dhabi to Antarctica. Working in such a dynamic industry where innovation knows no bounds is very rewarding.”
You can read more about Emma's journey into telecoms in her Meet a FarrPointer interview.
(this will open in a new window)Andrew Muir, CEO at FarrPoint
“I didn’t know what I wanted to do leaving school and ended up doing a degree in electronic engineering. I thought it was kind of cool. And what a world of opportunity that turned out to be! I moved from research into lecturing and teaching, then designing networks before going into consultancy and setting up a company, which is the most varied and rewarding position I could imagine!”
(this will open in a new window)Andrea Rutherford, Head of Telecoms Policy at Highlands and Islands Enterprise
“Since graduating at St Andrews, I’ve had a few jobs in project management and research, and I now head up the telecoms team at Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I couldn’t recommend this sector enough because I help to connect people all across the region.”
If you would like more information or advice about a career in telecoms our team of experienced professionals is here to answer any questions you may have and provide invaluable insights into the industry's ins and outs. Get in touch, and start what could be a great journey to unlock your potential in the telecoms industry.
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