Telecommunications twenty years ago was very uncomplicated. The business idea involved the provider offering a simple fixed-line phone service to companies and individuals, with these consumers paying a fixed fee on a monthly basis. However, since then the number and variety of products offered by businesses in this sector has increased dramatically, and this along with the introduction and development of the Internet in the mid-1990s has meant that the telecommunications industry has moved onto a global scale. Between 1991 and 2003, the value of the global telecommunications industry rose by $800 billion and the value of equipment sold in this industry rose by almost $200 billion.

The industry continues to grow rapidly since its initial boom during the 1990s. Experts predict that there will be 7% employment growth per year in the telecommunications industry. The industry offers a wide variety of career opportunities and the main ones are discussed below.

There are various types of Engineers in high demand in the telecommunications industry. Network Engineers plan for the needs of particular networks, whilst Field Engineers have a more hands-on job, actually having to install telecom equipment at customer`s homes and business premises. Test Engineers have the job of checking that the product actually works to the correct standard and Applications Engineers (also known as Software Engineers) concentrate on writing code for the different types of technology.

Customer Support Staff have the very important job of communicating with customers, usually through phone calls or e-mails. They help to answer queries and solve issues, from identifying a problem the customer is having to fixing any faults/bugs the customer has with their technology. This role in the industry is usually good for employees who don`t have a background in the engineering field.

The final main career opportunity available in the telecommunications industry is in a Public Relations role, whereby the employee works with the government and press to improve the company`s relations with these two parties.

Often a good place to start a career in telecommunications is working in Customer Support, as the experience gained here can be useful in other areas of the industry. Employers seek workers who have the skills of computer programming, telephony and cellular technology to name but a few, and favour potential employees who possess excellent interpersonal communication skills, sales ability and business knowledge. PPC Affiliate Marketing. To succeed in the field, workers need to have knowledge of the industry, and also be driven and motivated to be successful. Product Managers are those that tend to be higher paid within the industry and they usually posses an MBA or many years experience in telecommunications, with this usually gained in roles such as Engineers or Customer Support.