Telecommunications is a huge, multibillion-dollar industry with a global reach that businesses and people rely on in virtually every aspect of their daily lives. Whether you're looking for general telecom jobs, telecom IT jobs, or telecom sales jobs, the key is making sure that you're prepared and equipped with comprehensive, accurate, and up-to-date information.
Tip #1
Get yourself noticed!
Register on message boards and forums, which are used by recruiters, employers, and industry professionals, so that you can get a feel for what's happening in the industry.
It's easy to establish a presence — why not blog about your current job and demonstrate your knowledge and skills? The Internet is a great way to establish a name for yourself outside of the usual recruiting process and demonstrate your commitment and expertise to the world at large.
Tip #2
Use a web resource which specializes in telecommunications and telecom vacancies instead of a general recruiting agency or website.
General resources are going to waste your time and energy, so avoid them.
Tip #3
Your resume is your most powerful tool in getting yourself in front of an employer, so use it well! Using a basic resume that is sent unchanged to every potential employer is not appropriate. The resume must be tailored for each job opening to show how your skills and attributes suit the requirements of the specific employer.
Do not think that an employer is going to spend a lot of time digging through your resume to find what they are looking for. Remember, your resume will be one of many, so it needs to stand out from the pack if you wish to maximize your chances of being called for interview.
Tip #4
Check out any website you are using by checking for a physical mailing address and a landline telephone number located within the United States. If a site does not have these two basic business essentials, then avoid using it.
This is a simple check to make sure that you do not upload your resume to someone you can't trust and who may not be using your resume as you would like.
Tip #5
Many candidates are understandably concerned about their present employers finding out that they are looking to leave. Instead of searching in secret, though, tell your employer what you are doing and why.
You may find that the simple idea of losing an employee will motivate your employer into looking at what they can do to keep you employed with them. This also frees you up to make it publicly known that you are on the market for a new position and allows you to network and promote yourself without restriction within the market place.
This is all about leveraging your qualities and skills so that you get the best results in terms of career development and financial reward.
Tip #6
A website which charges employers to advertise their job openings should be avoided. The reasoning here is simple: Not every employer will list their vacancies with such a service — in fact, most will not do so — and the site will therefore have a very restricted pool of vacancies.
Worse than this, such services are often provided to individual job seekers for ''ree,'' the result of which is that you have a large pool of candidates chasing a small number of jobs. Worse yet, if you are offered the job, the employer is less likely to offer a good pay package because there are other candidates who may accept the deal if you refuse.
Tip #7
There are many sites with free information, but they charge employers to advertise (see Tip #6). When individual users pay a fee, however, the bulk of your competition will be deterred from registering, and this reverses the situation described above in Tip #6.
With such sites, you have more vacancies being offered with fewer qualified candidates to compete for them. In other words, the employers must compete more for your skills and are more likely to offer remuneration and benefits that are more competitive to make sure they attract you instead of another employer.
Tip #8
Arrive at your interview dressed properly and on time! Some of your fellow interviewees will not do this, and it's a simple and easy way to put this type of candidate behind you.
Basic and obvious, yes, but you'd be surprised at how often this is ignored by job candidates.
Tip #9
Prepare properly, and you will gain confidence in your own ability and in how you present yourself to an employer. Look carefully at the employer and their requirements and take the time to educate yourself on the challenges within the business environment.
This preparation will shine through in both your resume and any interview.
Tip #10
Aim high!
Many candidates look to change jobs because they feel that they have hit a glass ceiling at their existing job or become stuck in a rut.
By all means, then, apply for positions that you feel you qualify for, but also select a few that you feel are above your pay grade. You may be surprised at the responses you get, and if you are being called in to interview for such positions, you should probably reassess your own ideas about what you're worth and what you're capable of.
