Applicant tracking system helps expedite hiring of certified fiber technicians for broadband network deployments

The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) today announced graduates of the Optical Telecom Installer Certification (OpTIC Path™) program will be featured in the Learning Alliance’s Talent Link applicant tracking system. FBA members and Learning Alliance partners can leverage Talent Link to gain a direct pathway to certified fiber technicians who are qualified to safely and efficiently build the fiber broadband networks that many communities still need.

The Learning Alliance is dedicated to improving telecom workforce development, offering training to veterans and civilians. It partnered with FBA in October 2022 to offer FBA’s OpTIC Path course to increase fiber technician training opportunities and build the much-needed pipeline of trained fiber field workers and keep fiber projects on schedule.

Talent Link is the Learning Alliance’s latest tool for employer partners looking for skilled candidates. The platform serves as a database of all Learning Alliance program graduates, including those completing FBA’s OpTIC Path course and other tower and wireless programs. Employers can filter graduates by program, work experience, interests, location, relocation profile, and more. FBA member companies can also leverage the Talent Link platform, gaining access directly through their FBA membership portal.

“Placement is always a pivotal challenge in any industry, but it is especially pronounced in telecom today. Talent Link, in conjunction with our partners and FBA members, offers a beacon of hope for organizations searching for the right talent,” said Fred Arnold, Director of Operations at the Learning Alliance. “Employers using Talent Link can be confident that all candidates have completed a rigorous training program and are prepared to accomplish hands-on tasks on Day One.”

“This is an exciting development for the OpTIC Path program. Not only are we creating the resources to train skilled fiber technicians, but with partners like the Learning Alliance, we can take it one step further and present our OpTIC Path graduates to potential employers,” said Deborah Kish, Vice President of Research and Workforce Development at the Fiber Broadband Association. “The Talent Link platform offers value to both OpTIC Path graduates, but also our FBA members. We know this tool will make it easier for employers to quickly find the right technicians, gain the workforce needed to complete fiber deployments, and connect their communities to the benefits that only fiber can deliver.”

Since launching the OpTIC Path program last year, the Learning Alliance has increased class size by 40%, hired eight dedicated OpTIC Path instructors, and placed 92% of its graduates into telecom positions with high starting wages. To learn more about the OpTIC Path program, visit fiberbroadband.org/education-and-certification/fba-optic-path.

About the Fiber Broadband Association

The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association that represents the complete fiber ecosystem of service providers, manufacturers, industry experts, and deployment specialists dedicated to the advancement of fiber broadband deployment and the pursuit of a world where communications are limitless, advancing quality of life and digital equity anywhere and everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers, communities, and policymakers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better fiber broadband networks. Since 2001, these companies, organizations, and members have worked with communities and consumers in mind to build the critical infrastructure that provides the economic and societal benefits that only fiber can deliver. The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance, which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in North America, LATAM, Europe, MEA, APAC, and South Africa. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.

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