The occupational outlook for professionals with a telecommunications degree is dim according to the 2010-11 Bureau of Labor Statistics. Even though telecommunication services are in high demand, and consumers are constantly inundated with new and emerging technological advances in field, once these services become efficient there is a lessened need for manpower. As the Baby Boomer generation retires, there will be a temporary hiring need, but the federal government's prediction is that over the long-term, employment opportunities in this field will decline. For this reason, obtaining a telecommunications degree is a risky investment.
A telecommunications degree or certification is a necessary starting point for working in the telecommunications industry. Certificates and associate's degrees in telecommunications, achieved either on campus or online, provide students with the basic educational knowledge about the industry and an overview of the professional opportunities available. A certificate or associate program is ideal for a student who is interested in exploring the field. For students who are committed to specializing in telecommunications or who have a specific career track in mind, a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree is appropriate because these programs go into greater detail regarding fundamentals of the business, complex technical skills, regulatory and government oversight affecting the field and management best practices.
The telecommunications industry is a highly technical field. A degree program that provides externship opportunities, where you can apply classroom taught concepts in the field, is ideal as classroom-based knowledge is not enough. Professionals must not only have hands-on experience in their chosen specialty, but must continue to hone those skills as existing technologies change and new technologies emerge.
The bottom line, given the field's poor professional outlook, is that anyone interested in a telecommunications degree must assess the strength of his interest in the industry, his ability to pay for the degree in light of the salary he expects to make after schooling, and whether he is willing to commit to continuing his education continually throughout his career. If a person's interest in the telecommunications industry is weak and he is uninterested in constantly keeping his technical skills current, a telecommunications degree may not be worth the initial and ongoing investment.
Many telecommunications companies provide on-the-job training for professionals. Working for such a company is an alternative for those who lack the financial means to obtain a telecommunications degree or for those who feel they may not see a return on the investment of a telecommunications degree.