Are you a person who enjoys working outside, doing something physical and being involved in meaningful projects? If yes, then perhaps a job in the telecom industry would be the perfect career for you.
There is a huge demand for workers in the U.S. to help deploy broadband to all the homes and businesses that don’t yet have a good broadband connection. Much of this demand is being driven by a government program called Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD), which is providing more than $42 billion in government grants to the states. Lots of companies will be applying for these grants, and they’ll need plenty of workers to deploy the broadband infrastructure.
But it can be difficult as a job-hunter to know how to get one of the many entry-level jobs in the broadband industry.
Fierce Network reached out to MasTec, the largest telecommunications construction company in the U.S., to learn some strategies to land a good job in broadband. Surprisingly, MasTec’s Vice President of Talent Acquisition Tracy Snyder said that the company looks for personality attributes as much as it looks for experience.
Here are the top 11 tips based on some suggestions from MasTec along with Fierce Networks’ own knowledge base.
Highlight Your Relevant Attributes
1) Update your resume to tout relevant construction experience
Tip: Veterans are highly sought for their toughness
Snyder said MasTec looks for individuals with some kind of prior construction work. But it doesn’t have to be broadband experience. It could be experience as a roofer, bricklayer, tree trimmer, or the like. “It tells me they’ve got the physical stamina and can work outside,” said Snyder. The company likes hiring veterans from the U.S. Armed Forces because they’ve already proven their outdoor toughness, their emotional resilience and their teamwork skills. So, if you’re a veteran, be sure to highlight that fact. You’re practically guaranteed a job interview. And if you're not a veteran, be sure to highlight your relevant personality attributes.
2) Brag about your ability and willingness to climb ladders or work in bucket trucks
Tip: If you don’t mind heights, that gives you a leg up
Snyder said, “Twenty-eight percent of the U.S. population is afraid to be on a ladder.” Given that statistic, if you’re not afraid of heights, then accentuate that attribute in your job applications because some broadband jobs involve climbing ladders or poles or operating a bucket truck.
3) Populate your resume with relevant keywords
Tip: Construction companies look for the keyword “construction.” Duh.
When telecom construction companies are scouring the internet for workers, be sure they can find you by peppering your resume and applications with relevant keywords. A couple of top keywords are “construction” and “broadband.” You can also include general attribute keywords such as “comfortable working at heights,” “good eye-hand coordination,” “physical endurance” and “measurement skills.”
Snyder said, “It comes down to if you’re not already in our industry, we’re hiring for traits and abilities.”
Get the Most Bang for Your Buck on Job Boards and Career Portals
4) Check out Fierce Network’s Broadband Nation portal
Tip: We’ve got a matchmaking website for workers to meet broadband employers
Fierce Network has set up a web portal called Broadband Nation, specifically designed to help match entry-level employees with good jobs in broadband. Many telecommunications companies use this portal to post their job openings. There’s a search bar right at the top where you can indicate the type of job you’re looking for and your preferred location. If you’re not sure about the type of job, just input “broadband.”
5) Put your resume on sites like Indeed and LinkedIn
Tip: Get that keyword-optimized resume out there
It’s a no-brainer to search the big job sites like Indeed and LinkedIn, but maximize your chances by posting your full resume on these sites. On LinkedIn, you should meticulously fill out the “Experience” section of your profile, but then also post your full resume as a PDF under the “Featured” section. Similarly, you should post your resume on your Indeed profile and Indeed provides step-by-step instructions on how to do this.
There are also some sites specific to the broadband industry, where you should post your resume, including Wireless Estimator and CABL.com
6) Go directly to the sites of telecom construction companies and check out their career pages
Tip: Outsmart those annoying algorithms by going directly to the job source
Sometimes it can feel like the big career portals are like a black hole, where your resume goes in and nothing ever comes back out. Perhaps it’s smarter to go directly to the websites of construction companies involved in telecommunications infrastructure.
Here’s a list of the career pages of some of these companies.
7) Tap social media
Tip: Start chatting with people who are already working in broadband
Linkedin has a lot of groups devoted to specific careers. Go to the search bar on LinkedIn and input “broadband.” When the search results come up, click on the bubble marked “groups.” There are many broadband groups you can then join and start talking with people in the industry about finding an entry-level job.
The career journey of 1,000 miles begins with one step
8) Go to a vocational school for some basic training
Tip: Invest in yourself, but be strategic
One pipeline for companies to find new employees is through local vocational schools. Yes, this will require some monetary investment on your part. But there’s such a huge demand for construction workers in the broadband field, that your investment is bound to pay off. Perhaps look for the least expensive, shortest time-commitment courses at your local vocational school and then tap the school’s career center for job opportunities. MasTec’s Snyder said a good course to take would be “lineman.”
An investment in yourself can result in a career with huge growth potential. If you’re a natural leader or excel with certain types of skills in broadband, you could be earning over $100,000 in a few years.
9) Boost your vocational training through associations
Tip: A trade group provides extra clout
Broadband Nation offers free intro to broadband training courses thanks to its partner TIA. Check those out here.
The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) has an initiative called FBA OpTIC Path. It’s partnered with community and technical colleges and veteran’s programs nationwide. The OpTIC course is designed using a building-block format so that novices to the technology can follow it easily. And it integrates hands-on training that follows the classroom knowledge chapters. Graduates will receive a certificate from FBA upon completion of the course. FBA is also one of the partners on Fierce Network’s Broadband Nation portal.
Check out the “training” tab on the site.
10) Network, network, network
Tip: Tap your network to get a job deploying networks – pun intended
It’s a well-known rule of thumb that a lot of people get their jobs based on whom they know. So, if you have friends, relatives, neighbors, or just acquaintances you meet at your local coffee shop, who are working in broadband, ask them for a job recommendation and referral. MasTec’s Snyder said they get a lot of their workers through word-of-mouth.
11) Be available when employers reach out to you!
Tip: Don’t be a ghost when the job offers start rolling in
You’d be surprised how many people put in the work to search for a job, but then are non-responsive when employers come calling. After you’ve followed steps 1-10, but sure to make yourself available for job offers! Check your email every day; make sure to clear your cell phone voicemail box. Make it easy for people to find you and respond quickly if someone does.
Go Get ‘Em Tiger
There are a lot of great opportunities to create a valuable career for yourself and help the U.S. reach everyone with high-speed broadband internet. Fierce Network wishes you the best of luck in securing a broadband job!
Fierce Network is gearing up for our big Broadband Nation Expo Oct. 9-11 in Washington, DC, where leaders in broadband will gather for the biggest national event to talk about BEAD. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet with your industry peers! Be sure to register here.