What does a Telecommunications Installer or Repair Worker Do?

Telecommunications Installation and Repair Workers install, test, maintain and repair telephones, telephone switching equipment or other telecommunications equipment such as cellular telephones. At present, workers in this field tend to specialize in either telecommunications equipment (voice) or data communications.

• Telephone Installer/Repairers install, arrange, remove and maintain telephone equipment, wiring and other hardware, and also test installed telephone systems to locate any problems, then repair or replace any defective equipment
• Switch Network Installers and Repairers install electro-mechanical, analog and digital trunking systems, circuits and equipment in telecommunications central offices and switching centres
• Telecommunications Service Testers operate computerized testing systems to perform service tests on customer lines and equipment, determine the nature, cause and location of service trouble, initiate dispatch of repair personnel and complete appropriate test reports and service records
• Telecommunications Equipment Technicians install and maintain the communications systems that link homes and workplaces. They deal with various telecommunications equipment and related systems such as telex and fax machines, mobile radios, cellular telephones, computer to computer linkages as well as testing the operation of this equipment, locating any faults and replacing or repairing it

Job Related Skills, Values and Interests

• reading and interpreting diagrams, plans, manuals and technical specifications and developing a thorough knowledge of various telecommunications equipment and systems
• inspecting premises, working out installation plans, and then installing various electrical/electro mechanical equipment, circuits or systems
• identifying and analyzing problems with telecommunications equipment or systems in order to fix them quickly and accurately
• communicating (verbally or in writing) and interacting effectively with co-workers, supervisors and customers

What Preparation and Training Do You Need?

To become a Telephone and Switch Network Installer or Repairer you must complete Grade 12 with your secondary school diploma, with senior credits in mathematics and physics and preferably with some drafting or electrical courses, before entry into an apprenticeship of three to four years. Telecommunications equipment technicians usually require completion of community college electrical and electronics programs as well as on the job training.

What’s Your Future as a Telecommunications Installation and Repair Worker?

• Telecommunications Installers and Repairers usually work full-time, sometimes indoors but often outside with either the large telecommunications companies, or the smaller companies that do contract work for them
• as voice and data communications merge, workers will be required to have knowledge of both areas, including fibre optics, local area networks (LANs) and satellites; new wireless communications technology will also impact on the skills required to keep up to date.

Wage Rate

• apprentices start at a wage rate less than that of a journeyperson
• this rate increases gradually as you gain competency and skill
• Fully qualified Telecommunications Installers and Repairers can earn anywhere from $16.00/hr to $28.00/hour often with benefits and opportunities for overtime

Self-Rating

Ask Yourself: Is working as a Telecommunications Installer or Repairer for You?

If you answered Yes to most of these questions, Telecommunications Installation and Repair could be for you!

You may want to explore other jobs that require similar interests and skills such as:

• Electrician, communications equipment
• Industrial Electrician
• Electronics Assembler
• Electronic Equipment Service Technician
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technician

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