NEXT PROS: Rickey Holt, Fiber Optics Technician
By Arkansas Next staff on Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Rickey Holt
High school: Bay High School | Age: 35 | Where I trained: Arkansas State University-Newport | What I earned: Associate of Applied Science in General Technology with an emphasis in Telecommunications | Job title: Installation and Repair Lead Technician | Employer: Ritter Communications in Jonesboro
What do telecommunications line installers and repairers do?
They install and repair hybrid fiber coax, copper and fiber optic cables that deliver communications services such as internet, phone and TV to residential and business customers. Install and repair techs terminate cables by connecting them to devices which makes the services ready to use and splice together cables to distribute services throughout buildings or neighborhoods.
“On an average day, I could be splicing fiber to activate services for someone or working on an outage caused by someone digging in the wrong spot and hitting our service." – Rickey
Responsibilities
• Travel to work sites to perform installation, repair or maintenance work.
• Analyze data to assess equipment operation.
• Lay cables to connect equipment.
• Calculate requirements for projects.
• Assemble structural components.
Job Outlook
110
Average annual job openings in Arkansas.
1,130
Jobs in Arkansas by 2026.
Work Ethic Needs
“The main thing that someone who is considering this job would need is a good work ethic and the ability to adapt quickly to change. As technology advances, so does this field of work and you have to be dedicated to learning and growing with the changes.
“We have many options for progressing in our field. I started out as an installer and worked my way up to a service tech. I am now the lead install and repair technician. I feel that as long as you keep putting in effort and are willing to learn, you can advance in this field.” – Rickey
This option is for you if:
√ You like keeping up with the latest technology.
√ You have a steady hand.
You’re a problem solver.
√ You’re a people person.
√ You’re not an “office person.”
High-end earners (top 10%) make
$79,220
Median wages in Arkansas
$62,020 Annual
$29.82 Hourly
START YOUR TRAINING
| Arkansas State University–Newport |
| National Park College |
| NorthWest Arkansas Community College |
READY TO HIRE YOU
| L'Oreal Maybelline Co. |
| Ritter Communications |
| Simmons Foods, Inc. & Affiliates |
Source: CareerOneStop.org
