Advice from alumni for job-hunting students:

• The Three Basics for obtaining a job (here is what I interview for):

1. Are you presentable? (Can I place you in front of customer/audience?)

2. Are you articulate? (Express oneself, formulate focused, direct ideas, don't ramble, etc.)

3. Do you show initiative? (Do you want to learn and grow?)

• Check out telecom organizations like the Association of Telecommunication Professionals (ATP). Look for smaller ones also.
• Learn as much technical information as you can. Make friends in the industry - it's a very small industry. Everyone knows everyone else.
• Try to get as much exposure to data communication/networks as possible. Marketable entry level skills include a general knowledge of voice, data, network and public and private services.
• Take full advantage of the ITS internship program; it will give you a head start!
• Be persistent. Professionalism and internship experience are crucial.
• Perseverance!!
• For best financial rewards look into sales and marketing - Data Products - LANs, Bridges, Routers - Intelligent LAN Hubs. Send Resumes to outsourcing firms.
• Just hang in there and get your name out to as many people as possible.
• Distribute resumes everywhere! - Keep your head up.
• The best advice that I could ever give is not to take a job on the basis of money alone, but take a job on the basis of the knowledge that you will gain from it.
• Don't lose track of your interviewers after your interview. Be persistent and call them often - this will keep you fresh in their mind and show that you are very eager and serious about their open position.
• Start early!! Keep spirits up. Work with CP&P on campus. Research companies and ask a lot of questions!
• Concentrate on both voice and data (I wish I had!), LANs and WANs and have a working knowledge of PCs. Good luck!
• Be persistent! It is easy to get discouraged, but persistence pays off in the long run.
• PC skills are a plus! Don't forget that there are all sorts of opportunities other than technical roles such as marketing, advertising, and training (your other classes outside ITS are ones you can also rely on when applying for jobs.)
• Try to retain as much of what you learn in the classroom as possible. Your knowledge of the industry will help in training and knowledge, coupled with creativity, can take the place of the 1-2 years of experience that a lot of employers are looking for.
• Don't take college or your education for granted! Learn as much as you can while the time constraints and deadlines of the professional world aren't imposed upon you.