TUANZ Needs You

Yes, you.

You must be able to run a business, put on events, manage a blog and newsletters, book your own flights and accommodation, check your own spelling, drink vast quantities of coffee while retaining your ability to speak coherently, build presentations, present presentations, talk to journalists, front up on camera, on radio and online, read policy documents by the thousand, write policy documents by the hundredweight,

You must be able to cope with hundreds of pages of tedious economic theory and argument.

A sense of humour is quite important.

It’s quite a straightforward job. Is this (whatever this is) good for the consumer? If it is, then you support it. If it isn’t, then you oppose it.

It’s quite a complex job. What should the weighted average cost of capital be? What are your thoughts on TSLRIC as a model and how does section 18 of the Act apply in the real world? Does price elasticity really apply?

It’s quite a fun job too – you get to argue your case with people who really don’t want to hear from customers at all. You get to be a union representative for users everywhere, you get to be an economic development agent of change, helping to focus policy makers at all levels on the issue of communication at its most fundamental.

You will represent the customer at various industry groupings. That means you must be able to put up with countless hours of corporate speak, naked greed and sly sideways glances. Being able to roll your eyes discreetly is preferred, but not essential. Being able to yawn with your mouth closed is also a great help.

Multitasking is a given. Around 90% of your time will be spent on policy matters, a further 30% on reactive media calls, 30% on pro-active media calls, 70% on operating the business of the association itself and 10% on paperwork. Consequently you should be able to fill in your credit card receipts while sitting in a working party meeting, writing a blog post and replying to a media enquiry by TXT message without spilling your drink.

You’ll get phone calls from elderly customers who are being ripped off and don’t know who to turn to. You get to help them out. 

You’ll meet people who can help, meet people who can hinder and meet people who make a difference. Some of the job is about talking but even more of it is about listening. Mostly, your job is to communicate and that, oh the irony, is the toughest bit of being in the telecommunications industry.

If this sounds like you, or you want to know more, send me an email and I’ll pass it on to Pat O’Connell, chair of the TUANZ board. He has a position description that differs only somewhat from what’s written here.

Good luck to you all.