Job openings are rife across the industry that keeps internet connections functioning — broadband. Be it in customer service or field tech work, broadband’s hiring outlook is sure to only increase as funding rolls in and hits the streets in coming years. But working in any of these jobs can look very different depending on a company’s size, culture and other factors like unionization or location.
While working for bigger companies like AT&T or Verizon can sometimes come with more resources or opportunity for travel, the little guys can offer unique qualities that the giants simply can’t, according to Brian Worthen, CEO of Visionary Broadband — a smaller group providing internet for several western states.
From his perspective, the two big perks of working for a smaller company include the chance to try on more hats and to wear them with less bureaucracy.
“We've got some installers that move back and forth from drop crews to installation, and we've got some tower climbers that actually work installs too,” he said. “And so, in a smaller organization, you're not siloed into one job and one repetitious environment.” That can be a real merit to newcomers too, as having a versatile understanding of the industry will only help you advance to higher paying specialties.
Working in smaller communities with a regional service provider also often means more customer face time, Worthen added. The combination offers more of a “chance to shine,” both in terms of connecting with the local neighborhoods and business owners as well as within your own career.
Smaller companies can also present a more personal and positive working environment, as Utopia Fiber’s Executive Director Roger Timmerman argued in an interview.
“We focus a lot on our employees and their career paths and the benefits to them,” said Timmerman. “Keeping our employees happy, paying them well, making sure this is a good source of income to support their families and to benefit their communities, those are all important to us.”
Utopia also has the unique quality of a being a municipal fiber company. “Our priorities aren't to just pay people as little as possible and, you know, extract as much profit as possible for shareholders and such,” he continued.
But private or public, working for a smaller company that is chiefly invested in its employees is very different from “being a cog in a machine that’s meant to print money,” Timmerman added.
That affects the meaning behind the work itself, too — as a technician or customer-service rep. The goal becomes more focused on working in your communities to provide better quality of life through access to the internet and its resources, rather than hitting a financial quota.
“The smaller companies, even those that are profit driven, I think are going to be far more caring about the work-life balance, the career path options, training and just investing in their employee base,” Timmerman contended.
That said, there are challenges in applying and working for smaller companies in that they often service a smaller, more specific region, Timmerman said. That may mean relocating for non-remote positions like an installation technician.
While that can be a recruiting “burden” and barrier for these smaller employers, the companies approaching the work correctly will also make sure to take care of new hires that do make the move, he added. And once your foot is in the door in this industry, the options are endless.
“This isn’t an industry that’s going to stop or shrink,” said Timmerman. “It's a growing industry; people are demanding more and more broadband. It's a good place to be.”
Interested in the growing opportunities within the broadband industry? Check out our jobs portal and Learning Center.