How to Become a Telecommunications Consultant
A telecommunications consultant is an independent professional who specializes in project-based employment in the telecommunications industry. Although there is no specific educational degree or other qualification that is mandatory for working in telecommunications, generally companies that hire consultants are looking for outside expertise to solve a specific internal problem or to direct a new initiative, so telecommunications consultants usually need to be very experienced and have a proven track record in order to find work. Thus, you will need to "pay your dues" before you can become a telecommunications consultant.
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Instructions
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Get a college degree. At a minimum, you should have an undergraduate degree, but a master's degree may be even better for your resume as a consultant. Choose a major in telecommunications or a related field.
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Find employment with a company in the telecommunications industry in a position that offers opportunities for advancement. Try to take on as much responsibility as possible for whatever projects you work on and that give you a chance at being promoted to higher level positions.
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Gain at least a few years of experience, ideally including involvement with new initiatives or internal projects. You want to be able to list bullet points on your resume showing that you had a leadership role in solving difficult problems.
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Seek the standard industry certifications for the specialty you wish to consult in. Consider the certifications from the Telecommunications Industry Association, Cisco or Microsoft as are appropriate for your career goals (see Resources below).
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Seek a position with a consulting firm after you are able to claim project management experience. You can also choose to go directly to starting your own consulting firm, if that is your wish, but spending a few years working for an established consulting firm may give you added credibility to future clients.
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Tips & Warnings
Look for opportunities to get your name out there in the trade world. Attend industry conferences and hand out business cards.
Write guest articles for trade publications. Many trade publications will publish a link to your website in exchange for an article, and this will give you added publicity.
Consider getting involved in industry organizations and standards bodies in order to further beef up your resume as being a change leader and taking initiative to advance the technology (see Resources below).
