Telecom Systems Engineer Job Profile: Female, age 32, from Garland, TX (ID# 2074)

1. What exactly do you do?

What field is your job in?

Telecommunications
What is your job title?

Telecom Systems Engineer
Please provide a brief description of the firm or organization that you currently work for (size and general description of what type of organization it is)

We mostly provide IVR services for major marketing firms and pharmaceutical companies. There are about 65 employees.
How long have you been employed in this position?

Seven Years
How many hours do you work a week on average?

45
Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)

45
Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)

I acquire, set up and catalogue toll-free numbers, as well as order and provision circuits and services.
What was your gross income last year? Please include any bonuses or incentives received.

48000
What is your expected gross income for this year? Please include any bonuses or incentives you expect to receive.

51000
Please list any benefits you have (Please include number of weeks vacation, sick leave and type of health insurance, retirement plan 401k)

Full health insurance and stock options
Do you feel you are under/well/over compensated at your current position?

Slightly under, but will be asking for a raise soon.

Does your job entail you working with others on a daily basis? Is this something you like/dislike about your job? Explain

Yes, but not to a large degree. I spend the majority of my day alone.
Do you work collaboratively with supervisors/managers?
Do you work collaboratively with your co-workers?

Yes
Describe your work location (e.g., office, home, theatre, in the field) and what you like/dislike about working in it

I do work for the program managers in my company and take requests for work from my immediate supervisor, as well as interact with our systems administrators, but the majority of my day is spent alone.
Please rank in order of importance from 1-8 (1- most important 8- least important) Assign each number once.
- 3 Income
- 1 Work Environment - co-workers
- 2 Work Environment - supervisors
- 4 Benefits
- 5 Hours
- 7 Level of responsibility
- 6 The actual "work" you do at your job
- 8 Job Title

If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?

Study the telecommunications history, learn all about toll-free numbers and DS1, DS3, circuits etc etc.
What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours? Please be specific and explain why (e.g., social skills, organization skills, technical skills)

Attention to detail, ability to work well with others, patience, yet also able to be demanding and tenacity to ensure work gets done on time.
Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?

Techincal training, not necessarily formal training outside of High School.
What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?

Learn to get along well with others, learn to be nice most of the time and demanding when need be. Study up on telecommunications!

How did you find your current job? (e.g. newspaper, internet, referral, etc.)

I was promoted into it and then just given additional responsibilities as I grew into them.
What was the application process for your job? (e.g. submitted resume, paper application, electronic application, all, etc.)

My original job was for a much lower level position, but it was mostly just resume and interview. I was promoted into this job for working hard and being interested in telecommunications.
Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail? (e.g., number of interviews, who you interviewed with, group interview, individual interview, etc.)

No, I did not have to interview for my promotion.
If you can remember, what questions were you asked at your interview?

N/A
Is this the job / field you planned to work in?

No
If your job is in a different field from your original plan how did you get here? Explain (Plan can be from high school/college/post college/personal plan)

I was planning on going into Counseling or Sociology. I took an entry-level position to support myself through college, however I used my "downtime" on my job to learn other parts of the company as we were very small at the time and as we grew I was handed more responsibility. I was only recently handed the job of circuit provisioning and am still learning that part of it after my previous boss was fired.

Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?

It was very on-the-job training as many of my responsibilities were given to me and I was the first person in the company to have them. I am learning Circuit provisioning as I go along now.
Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain

Not really, but I have been able to learn quickly and think on my feet. There really has never been time for more formal training in many areas.
Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain

I felt prepared for my original responsibilities as an entry-level transcriptionist, and for my original promotion as tech support, I didn't feel prepared for many of my newer duties such as Toll-Free number and Circuit provisioning, but am learning as I go.
If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare you for your job?

If someone were to observe you at work, what would he or she say is "fun" about your job?

I work with great people for a great company. Interacting with my co-workers is fun, learning new things is fun.
What is (are) the most fulfilling aspect(s) and least fulfilling aspect(s) of your current employment? (e.g. fiscal, spiritual, type of work, hours, commute, compensation, etc.)

Fufilling: learning new things, helping my co-workers, knowing I do a good job. Least Fufilling: I always planned to be in a "helping" profession like counseling or ministry, and instead I'm in a very technical job.
Is your current employment part of your career plan? Why or why not?

Yes. I really enjoy working with this company and have no plans of leaving. I continue to be challenged and respect and admire all of my supervisors.
What are your current career goals? (Can be broad or specific)

To continue learning and growing in my current position, learn more and become more adept at Toll-Free Routing and circuit provisioning.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your career?

A lot of what I do is very niche, there aren't many people with a job like mine, but I'm really glad I have it.