Telecoms industry: A career for finance professionals

With a recruitment market that grows stronger every day, there has never been a better time to pursue career options in what is possibly the most dynamic and fast-paced industry – telecommunications.

The speed with which technology moves is rapid, and the overriding effect of this is that the world is becoming increasingly integrated, interconnected and intelligent. Driven by consumer demand for better, easier and more sophisticated communications and communications devices, the telecoms industry has done well to consistently push boundaries. In spite of the once-looming global recession, advancements and successes in recent times have been phenomenal.

The industry didn’t fully escape the effects of the downturn and there are still budget and headcount restraints, as well as mergers and acquisitions, and market and outsourcing consolidation. Fortuitously, telecoms did not suffer to the same extent as many of its other commercial counterparts. This means that firms are still very much on the lookout for new talent, and for anyone contemplating a career in telecoms.

So where are we now? Large firms continue to go stronger, and the aforementioned mergers and acquisitions have seen some interesting shifts in power. A notable one is the recent strategic marriage of mobile giants Orange and T Mobile to form a new superpower, Everything Everywhere Ltd, whose shared networks and technical expertise have facilitated a massive increase in coverage that customers can benefit from.

There is also a great deal of movement with the smaller, growing businesses – of which there are many. Intrinsically, this is an acquisitive marketplace, and it is not only seen at the very top. The result of all this is a consistent stream of opportunities for jobseekers – both with the big blue chips and with the young enterprises.

Internet telephony is a sub-market that is most definitely ‘one to watch’. Skype have been leading the way for some time now, but competition is fiercely hotting up as Google launch their ‘Calls from Gmail’ platform; more companies are sure to follow. Again, this type of technological advancement is shaping the future of the way we communicate, particularly over long distances and internationally. Skype are in a strong position and have announced plans for an IPO later this year – another reflection of the buoyancy of their business and indeed the market as a whole. Again, this will breed a wealth of job opportunities, particularly for finance professionals.

So, why a career in telecoms? It’s a consumer-driven sector that is constantly evolving and reinventing the ways in which we are able to connect and interact. Its customer and consumer bases are unmatched in their sheer volume and size, and the career opportunities on offer are remarkable. Due to the industry being so unique, professionals who use it as a platform to develop often find themselves gaining a distinctive skill set that is rare in other sectors, and for that reason it is beneficial to get in early. Explore the opportunities in telecoms and you will uncover a fast-paced working environment with a fascinating infra-structure that facilitates truly prosperous careers.



Consultant Max White currently sits on the Commerce & Industry team at Marks Sattin, specialising in the Information, Communications & Entertainment (ICE) markets. The team's portfolio of clients is ever-expanding and covers the largest public listed organisations, through to the smallest niche boutiques in the city.