Increasing consumer demand for mobile data services is a boon for the backhaul space as mobile operators and their infrastructure partners look to stay ahead of potential bottlenecks in the system.
The preferred method of meeting this demand is through the use of optical fiber running directly to a cell site. However, this need also produces significant deployment challenges as many sites are being deployed in densly populated areas that are oftentimes a chore to access. This has led to an entire industry of companies looking to ease the process.
One such company is Clearfield, which designs, manufactures and distributes fiber optic management products designed to help service providers and infrastructure vendors with their deployment needs. According to its website, Clearfield is looking to hire a new senior designer familiar with Creo software and a manufacturing engineer.
Johnny Hill, COO at Clearfield, provided RCR Wireless News with some insight into some of the workforce needs and challenges the company is facing in an attempt to continue meeting growing demand.
RCR Wireless News: What worker skills are most in demand at Clearfield?
Johnny Hill: Product development. As a leader in product innovation, our application engineering team fields many requests from customers for product ideas and enhancements to meet today’s application needs and address new applications not previously economically or environmentally feasible.
RCRWN: What sort of certifications/skill set is Clearfield looking for in terms of new employees?
Hill: Other than engineering certification and skills related to making sure that designs are not going outside the laws of physics, we look for experience. There is not a specific degree or certification for the types of skills that a 25-year veteran of outside plant applications, methods and practices can bring to a product design. This is not to say that we don’t invest in younger or less-experienced staff, because we value the aptitude to think outside the box in an industry that is going through a monumental time of growth and change. A good blend of experience can give any design a real “roll your sleeves up” reality check. The less-experienced person doesn’t know what they don’t know, and asks the questions and proposes solutions from an entirely different perspective. It’s a nice blend of talent on both ends of the experience spectrum.
RCRWN:What workforce challenges is Clearfield having to deal with currently?
Hill: As we continue to grow, the strong culture we have created must be protected. While this becomes more difficult as the employee base grows, we are very diligent about who we choose to bring on. There have been many employment candidates who have had more than enough experience and qualifications to fit the job description, but just did not fit the culture of the company. If you are going to spend one-third of your life with someone, you might as well like each other. While this might sound like we hire a bunch of robots that drink the “Kool-Aid” that would be entirely untrue. We hire a diverse set of personalities in which healthy conflict is the norm and reprisal-free opinions are encouraged. Healthy conflict among departments that all have a beer together and talk about their families at the end of the day. Nice.
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