TELECOMMUNICATION

In Nigeria the telecoms sector has experienced significant changes and undergone serious restructuring during the past few years as a result of the issuance of GSM licenses.
There is a wide range of organisations to work for, whether in consultancy and services, manufacturing and supply, or the many types of ’end user’ organisations.
If you know you enjoy working with technology – through your studies and preferably through work experience too – providing solutions to organisations’ problems and concerns, then you have the first requirement of any employer in this field: motivation.

Analytical and technical skills

There are common expectations regarding essential competencies telecommunications job seekers need, although the precise mix will vary depending on the particular job and employer.
You will need to display good analytical and problem-solving skills and strong technical aptitude, particularly for software development. You can demonstrate that you possess these skills through your academic record, emphasising project activity that indicates in-depth understanding and application of subject matter to a work-related environment and industry in general.
For some employers, the ability to quickly learn new systems can be as important as current technical knowledge. Creative flair is also desirable, especially in research-oriented roles, and graphical design awareness is essential if you want to work in Web design. In many cases you will also be expected to show specific IT systems knowledge, especially with smaller companies where training is not always readily available.

Communication and interpersonal skills

All graduates working in the telecoms sector need key skills:

* In the big three GSM companies new recruits start of in the consumer service department, this usually involves advising customers over the phone or on a face to face basis, thus it is essential to have good communication skills

* A lot of project activity involves working as part of a team, so you will need the ability to listen, discuss and come to agreements with both clients and colleagues.

* The ability to manage your own time and meet deadlines is also essential for any type of project work.

* In some technical support and writing roles communication skills are vital.

* For roles with an emphasis on project management, the ability to organise others is also important.

You can provide evidence of these ’soft’ skills through:

* your studies
* work experience
* placements or internships
* voluntary work
* extra-curricular achievements.
Make examples relevant to the position you’re applying for. For example, for a project management role, you could give evidence of a role where you have led others, such as team sports or a prominent role within a university society.
Increasingly, emphasis is placed on business awareness and adaptability.
In roles such as sales and technical support, awareness of clients’ needs is essential. With tough competition and pressure to reduce costs, even technically specialised staff will need to possess good business acumen and the ability to adapt to meet new demands.
These skills will be invaluable if you ever decide to set up your own business or work on a freelance basis.