4 Reasons the Broadband Industry Should Top Your Job Search

As a Talent and Culture leader, I’m at the forefront of trends in recruiting and hiring. It’s not slowing down—in fact, recent layoffs in the tech industry have only made things more interesting. There’s more talent available now than ever before. 

There’s one particular field on the rise that might surprise you: the broadband tech industry. Now’s the right time to enter this industry, as the market is booming due to unfettered growth with a perfect storm of demand, funding, and economic changes.   

It should absolutely top your list if you’re job hunting, and here’s why. 

Why the Broadband Industry Is Rock Solid and Recession Proof 

The broadband tech industry will keep growing because high-speed internet service is now widely accepted as a necessity that people simply can’t do without. It’s critical to all aspects of their daily life: shopping, entertainment, education. Even a recession won’t change what has become a basic need.   

The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society reports that a 2021 survey found 82% of voters agree that “we need universal access to high-speed internet to ensure our kids get the education they need to compete and win in a global economy.” 73% say “access to high-speed internet is as critical to families today as running water and electricity.” 

This hasn’t gone unnoticed on Capitol Hill. Congress has set aside billions in funding specifically for broadband internet projects, with the hopes of closing the “digital divide” and making sure every American has access to reliable broadband in the next five years. Despite higher interest rates elsewhere, a recession won’t have as great an impact on the broadband industry. Funds are already allocated, so projects will push on. 

 With economic uncertainty comes a pivot inward. Broadband internet is the backbone of home entertainment for most families. It also enables them to stay connected to healthcare, education, and more. So while there may not be many new car sales during a recession, broadband services will continue to be in high demand. We can’t do much without reliable, seamless connectivity at home or work.  

If You Think Broadband Tech Isn’t Tech-y Enough, You Haven’t Seen Calix Platforms Yet 

With broadband projects taking off across the country, companies like Calix have a tall order. As one of the leading partners in broadband networking, we’re not just about hardware. On the contrary, on top of our network, access, and Wi-Fi hardware offerings, we help broadband service providers (BSPs) become “experience providers” where the subscriber’s experience is top of mind. With 11 years and over $1 billion dedicated to developing our cloud and software platforms, we will continue to grow rapidly—and we require the best talent to help us build it and serve the communities that need it.

In fact, we’ve developed a rich set of managed service offerings that are high on the value stack today. There’s no ramping—we're already there. And we have recently evolved to an aggressive approach with managed service ecosystem partners to rapidly evolve what’s possible in the smart home, smart business, and smart town of today. 

This is where the future of broadband lies. 

 4 Reasons the Broadband Industry Should Top Your Job Search 

Here are four reasons why you should move the broadband industry right to the top of your list. 

1.  Our Tech Is Cooler Than the Big Five
When people think of the tech industry, they assume the Big Five (Apple, Amazon, Meta, Google, and Microsoft) are the only players in town. But these tech titans are wobbly. On a downward slope, their innovations are no longer redefining the world. They've collected big data and monetized it at the expense of consumers. We're helping BSPs make sense of their data to deliver the experiences their subscribers want.  

2.  Our Culture Is Better Than Google
For a long time, workplace culture was synonymous with Google. But employees are disenchanted with free pizza, work pods, and pool tables. What matters now is completely different. At Calix, we’re work from anywhere (WFA)—and we always will be. We also put high value on aspiration with our mission, accountability, and alignment across the organization. My last blog post summarizes this if you’re interested in digging deeper.   

3.  Our Size (and Speed) Means You’ll See Results Faster
There’s not as much movement in the Big Five companies as you’d think. It can take years to make a small update, and if you’re a driver of change, you'll get frustrated. We have a 91-day release cadence for everything in the company. You’ll feel gratified much faster because your work will be highlighted right away. For true tech minds, this is the impact you want to make on the world.

4.  Our Runway Will Launch Your Entire Career
Because you’re learning way higher up on the value stack at the onset, we position you for high growth during your entire career. Instead of “doing your time” for years in entry-level positions, vying for visibility to key stakeholders, you can enter Calix and make a splash immediately. This experience will only keep accelerating, setting you up to outpace your competition in the job market.

Bet on Yourself. Bet on Broadband. 

If you take a look at our open positions, you’ll find an incredible volume of opportunities. We can’t get enough talent in the door—and our culture is second to none. Just browse our reviews on Glassdoor, Comparably, and Indeed. 

This is a company and industry designed to thrive in the long run, through any bumps in the economy or job market.   

As we continue to expand and build out our incredible teams, we’ll be looking for people who take initiative and are committed to supporting communities of all sizes as they take on broadband projects. We’ll keep growing to take advantage of every opportunity at this exciting time in the industry. 

Explore our current openings and take the first step towards the career of your dreams.