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azcellphonejunkie · 08-27-2002, 10:29 PM

Hey Y'all,
So I am using the cell phone right now as a modem to log onto the internet becuase I just moved and I don't have the DSL set up yet. I love technology and that it is so easy to do this. Anyway my question is reguarding looking for a new job with a cell phone company. If anyone knows the best places to find jobs that are availiable with companies I would like to know. I have allready checked out the websites and I have not really had a whole lot of luck with hearing back from the people. Anyway let me know if there are good places to find positions availiable. Thanks

KevinJames · 08-27-2002, 10:50 PM

Unfortunately "loving technology" is not requirement. Education and experience is what will "sell" you to an employer. I know this all too well from personal discouragement.

If you are in a position to return to college (or are presently there) take courses in communications and business management.

Like me, a person who loves programming and technology, you'll probably find that working in the industry is a lot less fun than playing with it.

SirIsaacNewton · 08-28-2002, 7:50 AM

...Junkie,

I teach communications technology courses at a community college. I often get students asking your question.

"Cell phone company" is a very broad field. There are many companies of diverse talents who deal with 'cell phones'. You are obviously interested in the technology side of the business, but as businesses 'cell phone companies' need people versed in business and administrative issues (sales, customer service, logistics, ...) as well as the technologists. Indeed, much of the (heavy!) technical work today is farmed out to third parties who specialize in that kind of thing. You might find it easier to get work in a related area where your technology interests could be used indirectly.

In general, the best way to find jobs -- anywhere -- is to 'know somebody who knows somebody'. Take Kevin's advice. If you are not trained in the skills that the jobs you want (or think you want!) require, you should definitely consider taking the courses to acquire those skills. (And unfortunately, you may have to flip burgers at McDonalds in order to pay the rent while you are studying!) Also, you can use the courses to meet other people of similar interests who might be employed in the field you want. THEY might know of work. Talk to the professors. I personally consult for many telecom companies in my local area and usually know of openings they have available. (I'm in Connecticut. The ones I know probably won't help you! And without knowing your skills and interests I have no way of knowing whether they would even approach a 'fit'!) In addition, the school itself will have placement resources that you can use.

Even if you already have the skills, you might consider taking a course -- in something -- in your new location. (You say you've just moved!) This will if nothing else introduce you to the local market.

This is a terrible time to be looking for technology work. It is especially brutal in the telecomm technology fields. I wish you lots of luck!

Rasputin · 08-28-2002, 8:24 PM

If you are really interested here are a couple of things you should. First thing get yourself an FCC license, take a course, or study, or just know the info, take the test. Get a job as either an installer ie, car audio, 2-way radio, cellular car kit installation. Then that job can then take you to be a site tech for a 2-way radio shop, municipal radio shop. With that experience and studying up on the different cellular technologies can get you to at least an interview. The other way to go is to get experience with a company that builds systems for carriers. They are normally temp type of positions but they give excellent experience. Without a college degree you can be a site tech, with a degree you can be a systems/switch technician/engineer. I have friends who work for Nextel, and Verizon. I turned down a job a couple of years ago with Verizon, I did not want to work in lower OC, I live in Ventura County northwest of LA County. Hopefully if you really are into the technology, like working with Service monitors, testing out RSSI levels, making cables, you can turn a passion into a career.

Airb330 · 08-28-2002, 8:42 PM

Well I better be hired by one when I go live at college next year. It's so frustrating, no one will hire me cause they are afraid I will take their job (seriously). You would think a company (not cell, not old enough yet) would want a 17 year old who shows up on time, has 100 GPA in school, takes college level classes....but they don't. I'm hoping the cell companies will!

SirIsaacNewton · 08-29-2002, 7:19 AM

Airb...,

Don't be so hard on yourself. Or so negative! You are caught up in the "Only the experienced need apply! But how do I get the experience..." paradox. It will pass!

You're obviously a high school senior -- and from many of your postings, fairly bright. Despite what you may think or want, you are still too young to get most professional licenses. And since, by your own admission, you will be going *away* to college next year, many companies will not hire you for serious technology jobs, which take quite a while to really, really learn, because you likely won't stay around long enough to 1) - either be fully trained in the first place, or 2) - to work for them long enough to payback their investment. Also, you're in high school. You can't -- or at least shouldn't -- be working the 40, 50, 60 hour weeks that these kind of jobs demand.

I associate with people just slightly older than you on a daily basis. You are all self-described experts in some chosen technology. Don't take this wrong, but it ain't so! I have been working, teaching, and consulting in and around the telecomm industry (as broadly defined) for over 30 years. If I have learned nothing else in all that time, it's how much I still don't know -- and how hard it is to keep up with what I need to know. First, it changes almost daily; anything you know today is obsolete tomorrow. Second, it takes a long, long time to really learn your stuff. (Somewhat contradictory. But "that's life"!)

So to you I say: Enjoy high school. It's the best years of your life. Take your Advanced Placement courses. Do really well in them. Get 1500+ on your SAT's. Go to the best college you can get in to. Take the most rigorous technology curriculum they offer. Get a Masters; even a phD. You can never have too much education. Even then you'll be a young man and "cell phones" won't change all that much in the next 4 to 8 years. There will still be a "wireless" industry out there -- altered from what it is today, but nonetheless......
Whatever college you choose should have some sort of intern program. Take advantage of it! You can use the time to "sample" numerous positions and you will need the experience.

PS: If you just need a "job", try Radio Shack (or Circuit City or Best Buys or ....). From my experience, they need all the technologically astute sales help they can get. Also from my experience, the most common technology jobs that many of my students have had is the part-time computer administrator position -- often Webmaster for a small non-tech company who has a Website but doesn't have the expertise to run it. It helps if the site imposes few demands on your time -- such as one with relatively static content that requires little updating.

AZVZWguy · 08-30-2002, 6:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: azcellphonejunkie
Hey Y'all,
So I am using the cell phone right now as a modem to log onto the internet becuase I just moved and I don't have the DSL set up yet. I love technology and that it is so easy to do this. Anyway my question is reguarding looking for a new job with a cell phone company. If anyone knows the best places to find jobs that are availiable with companies I would like to know. I have allready checked out the websites and I have not really had a whole lot of luck with hearing back from the people. Anyway let me know if there are good places to find positions availiable. Thanks

Right now, times are still pretty bad in the industry. Our center just put out the call to hire 30 people and it appears that those positions have been tentatively filled. With the closure of so many call centers in metro Phoenix, there is a big pool of people from which to draw, so hopefully we got some good ones.

azcellphonejunkie · 08-30-2002, 7:27 PM

yeah I heard about that too, but I am hoping that I may have an opportunity with them in some other capacity if I continue my search.

spyder22 · 09-14-2002, 1:13 AM

if you have some background in telecommunications then look into a recruiting firm like teksystems, gloetel, scom, exi/parsons. the days of people without experience getting a foot in the door are over. the market is flooded with out of work telco people.

08-27-2002, 10:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
azcellphonejunkie The Cell Phone Junkie Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Cave Creek, AZ Posts: 2,828 Phone(s): Treo 750, HTC Diamond, BB Pearl, iPhone Provider(s): ATT\|Prior: SPCS, Alltel, T-Mble, Nextel, Verizon Devices: Acura GPS, iPAQ rx3100, Bluetooth Thanks: 1 Thanked 10 Times in 6 Posts My Auctions	Cell Phone Company Jobs Hey Y'all, So I am using the cell phone right now as a modem to log onto the internet becuase I just moved and I don't have the DSL set up yet. I love technology and that it is so easy to do this. Anyway my question is reguarding looking for a new job with a cell phone company. If anyone knows the best places to find jobs that are availiable with companies I would like to know. I have allready checked out the websites and I have not really had a whole lot of luck with hearing back from the people. Anyway let me know if there are good places to find positions availiable. Thanks __________________ The Cell Phone Junkie

08-27-2002, 10:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
KevinJames WA's 1st retired mod Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Central Valley NorCA Posts: 2,588 Phone(s): Nokia 6126 Provider(s): the new AT&T Devices: Bluetooth devices--MotoHS820, Garmin Nuvi 660 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Cell Phone Company Jobs Unfortunately "loving technology" is not requirement. Education and experience is what will "sell" you to an employer. I know this all too well from personal discouragement. If you are in a position to return to college (or are presently there) take courses in communications and business management. Like me, a person who loves programming and technology, you'll probably find that working in the industry is a lot less fun than playing with it.

08-28-2002, 7:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
SirIsaacNewton Fresh Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Cell Phone Company Jobs ...Junkie, I teach communications technology courses at a community college. I often get students asking your question. "Cell phone company" is a very broad field. There are many companies of diverse talents who deal with 'cell phones'. You are obviously interested in the technology side of the business, but as businesses 'cell phone companies' need people versed in business and administrative issues (sales, customer service, logistics, ...) as well as the technologists. Indeed, much of the (heavy!) technical work today is farmed out to third parties who specialize in that kind of thing. You might find it easier to get work in a related area where your technology interests could be used indirectly. In general, the best way to find jobs -- anywhere -- is to 'know somebody who knows somebody'. Take Kevin's advice. If you are not trained in the skills that the jobs you want (or think you want!) require, you should definitely consider taking the courses to acquire those skills. (And unfortunately, you may have to flip burgers at McDonalds in order to pay the rent while you are studying!) Also, you can use the courses to meet other people of similar interests who might be employed in the field you want. THEY might know of work. Talk to the professors. I personally consult for many telecom companies in my local area and usually know of openings they have available. (I'm in Connecticut. The ones I know probably won't help you! And without knowing your skills and interests I have no way of knowing whether they would even approach a 'fit'!) In addition, the school itself will have placement resources that you can use. Even if you already have the skills, you might consider taking a course -- in something -- in your new location. (You say you've just moved!) This will if nothing else introduce you to the local market. This is a terrible time to be looking for technology work. It is especially brutal in the telecomm technology fields. I wish you lots of luck!

08-28-2002, 8:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
Rasputin Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 1,044 Phone(s): Apple Iphone, Motorola Q, Motorola Razr, IPAQ GSM PDA Provider(s): ATT, Verizon Devices: PDA, GPS, MP3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Cell Phone Company Jobs If you are really interested here are a couple of things you should. First thing get yourself an FCC license, take a course, or study, or just know the info, take the test. Get a job as either an installer ie, car audio, 2-way radio, cellular car kit installation. Then that job can then take you to be a site tech for a 2-way radio shop, municipal radio shop. With that experience and studying up on the different cellular technologies can get you to at least an interview. The other way to go is to get experience with a company that builds systems for carriers. They are normally temp type of positions but they give excellent experience. Without a college degree you can be a site tech, with a degree you can be a systems/switch technician/engineer. I have friends who work for Nextel, and Verizon. I turned down a job a couple of years ago with Verizon, I did not want to work in lower OC, I live in Ventura County northwest of LA County. Hopefully if you really are into the technology, like working with Service monitors, testing out RSSI levels, making cables, you can turn a passion into a career. __________________ Rasputinj DealSvengali.com Cell Phone and Tech Deals

08-28-2002, 8:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
Airb330 Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 3,525 Phone(s): iPhone, Pantech EVDO Provider(s): at&t/Sprint for datacard Devices: iPod Nano (Black), XM Radio Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Images: 3	Cell Phone Company Jobs Well I better be hired by one when I go live at college next year. It's so frustrating, no one will hire me cause they are afraid I will take their job (seriously). You would think a company (not cell, not old enough yet) would want a 17 year old who shows up on time, has 100 GPA in school, takes college level classes....but they don't. I'm hoping the cell companies will!

08-29-2002, 7:19 AM	#6 (permalink)
SirIsaacNewton Fresh Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Cell Phone Company Jobs Airb..., Don't be so hard on yourself. Or so negative! You are caught up in the "Only the experienced need apply! But how do I get the experience..." paradox. It will pass! You're obviously a high school senior -- and from many of your postings, fairly bright. Despite what you may think or want, you are still too young to get most professional licenses. And since, by your own admission, you will be going away to college next year, many companies will not hire you for serious technology jobs, which take quite a while to really, really learn, because you likely won't stay around long enough to 1) - either be fully trained in the first place, or 2) - to work for them long enough to payback their investment. Also, you're in high school. You can't -- or at least shouldn't -- be working the 40, 50, 60 hour weeks that these kind of jobs demand. I associate with people just slightly older than you on a daily basis. You are all self-described experts in some chosen technology. Don't take this wrong, but it ain't so! I have been working, teaching, and consulting in and around the telecomm industry (as broadly defined) for over 30 years. If I have learned nothing else in all that time, it's how much I still don't know -- and how hard it is to keep up with what I need to know. First, it changes almost daily; anything you know today is obsolete tomorrow. Second, it takes a long, long time to really learn your stuff. (Somewhat contradictory. But "that's life"!) So to you I say: Enjoy high school. It's the best years of your life. Take your Advanced Placement courses. Do really well in them. Get 1500+ on your SAT's. Go to the best college you can get in to. Take the most rigorous technology curriculum they offer. Get a Masters; even a phD. You can never have too much education. Even then you'll be a young man and "cell phones" won't change all that much in the next 4 to 8 years. There will still be a "wireless" industry out there -- altered from what it is today, but nonetheless...... Whatever college you choose should have some sort of intern program. Take advantage of it! You can use the time to "sample" numerous positions and you will need the experience. PS: If you just need a "job", try Radio Shack (or Circuit City or Best Buys or ....). From my experience, they need all the technologically astute sales help they can get. Also from my experience, the most common technology jobs that many of my students have had is the part-time computer administrator position -- often Webmaster for a small non-tech company who has a Website but doesn't have the expertise to run it. It helps if the site imposes few demands on your time -- such as one with relatively static content that requires little updating.

08-30-2002, 7:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
azcellphonejunkie The Cell Phone Junkie Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Cave Creek, AZ Posts: 2,828 Phone(s): Treo 750, HTC Diamond, BB Pearl, iPhone Provider(s): ATT\|Prior: SPCS, Alltel, T-Mble, Nextel, Verizon Devices: Acura GPS, iPAQ rx3100, Bluetooth Thanks: 1 Thanked 10 Times in 6 Posts My Auctions	Cell Phone Company Jobs yeah I heard about that too, but I am hoping that I may have an opportunity with them in some other capacity if I continue my search. __________________ The Cell Phone Junkie

09-14-2002, 1:13 AM	#9 (permalink)
spyder22 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 78 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Cell Phone Company Jobs if you have some background in telecommunications then look into a recruiting firm like teksystems, gloetel, scom, exi/parsons. the days of people without experience getting a foot in the door are over. the market is flooded with out of work telco people.

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