What Do Telecom Equipment Technicians Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Telecom Equipment Technicians install, set-up, rearrange, or remove switching, distribution, routing, and dialing equipment used in central offices or headends. Service or repair telephone, cable television, Internet, and other communications equipment on customers’ property. May install communications equipment or communications wiring in buildings. They also demonstrate equipment to customers and explain how it is to be used, and respond to any inquiries or complaints.

Other tasks include:

• Test circuits and components of malfunctioning telecommunications equipment to isolate sources of malfunctions, using test meters, circuit diagrams, polarity probes, and other hand tools.
• Test repaired, newly installed, or updated equipment to ensure that it functions properly and conforms to specifications, using test equipment and observation.
• Climb poles and ladders, use truck-mounted booms, and enter areas such as manholes and cable vaults to install, maintain, or inspect equipment.
• Assemble and install communication equipment such as data and telephone communication lines, wiring, switching equipment, wiring frames, power apparatus, computer systems, and networks.
• Run wires between components and to outside cable systems, connecting them to wires from telephone poles or underground cable accesses.
• Drive crew trucks to and from work areas.

We asked Telecom Equipment Technicians how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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75% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 55% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Telecom Equipment Technicians collaborate with other workers to locate and correct malfunctions. They drive crew trucks to and from work areas.

A typical day for a Telecommunications Equipment Installer and Repairer will also include:

• Note differences in wire and cable colors so that work can be performed correctly.
• Maintain computer and manual records pertaining to facilities and equipment.
• Clean and maintain tools, test equipment, and motor vehicles.
• Inspect equipment on a regular basis to ensure proper functioning.
• Remove loose wires and other debris after work is completed.

We asked some Telecom Equipment Technicians a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	72% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	44% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	73% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	53% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	16% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	46% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Telecom Equipment Technicians also place intercept circuits on terminals to handle vacant lines in central office installations. They may also enter codes needed to correct electronic switching system programming.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Telecom Equipment Technicians Perform routine maintenance on equipment, including adjusting and lubricating components, and painting worn or exposed areas. They might also Install updated software, and programs that maintain existing software or provide requested features such as time-correlated call routing.

In addition, they Measure distances from landmarks to identify exact installation sites for equipment.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Diagnose and correct problems from remote locations, using special switchboards to find the sources of problems.

To some Telecom Equipment Technicians, it is also their responsibility to Determine viability of sites through observation, and discuss site locations and construction requirements with customers.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Telecommunications Equipment Installer and Repairer, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/installation-maintenance-and-repair/telecommunications-equipment-installers-and-repairers-except-line-installers.htm

http://www.cwa-union.org/

http://www.ibew.org/

http://www.nactel.org/