HiI am an RF engineer working for a major Telecommunication company. However, I'd like to move on. At work I deal mainly on Radio Network optimisation (in plain english increasing coverage efficiency of mobile network).However, at the moment, most of the vacancies I see (and being notified by recruitment agencies) are related with another type of RF Engineering - Power amplifier design, usually for satellite communication. Ironically this is what I did my MSc in 7 years ago and not in the one I am currently working on.This type of RF also interests me but I do not have sufficient working experience in this field. Should I decline these offers? If no, what should be my approach?Thanks for your responseFaisal ...

They are totally different jobs, as I am sure you are aware, so unless that's what you want to move into then yes you should say no.It sounds like you need to clarify your skill set and expertise with the recruitment agents and give them a better idea of what you want. The more info the have the better chance they have of finding the correct role for you.However if you know anything about RF planning / optimisation you will know that the Uk market is basically dead right now. Orange and vodafone all activities on hold pending the RAN share discussions. Three / ESL all guys in redundancy pool. o2 recently kicked out WFI unsure of future plans. T-Mobile RF planning permanent jobs recruitment freeze.Staying in telcomms optimisation / planning in the UK at the moment your best chance is to move over to the core side.if you do want RF optimisation try David judge at Hudson he is very good and is looking for roles currently I think

At work I deal mainly on Radio Network optimisation (in plain english increasing coverage efficiency of mobile network). Do you really do optimisation or are you a RF planning guy trying to hype their CV. Do you look at pm counters, call traces, fault investigations, Cell, RNC, BSC parameter configuration? or just a few drive surveys and a couple of antenna tilts?

Hi Telco guyI started the job with 3G RF Planning (7 years ago). For the last 4yrs, it has been mainly:pm counters, call traces (mainly packey), fault investigations, Cell, RNC, BSC parameter configuration, parameter optimisation ...However, I want to change career (partly becasue as you said, it's dead market) and quite like to get to amplifer/filter/oscillator designing at mm wave.You are far more knowledgeable than most recruiters I have talked to (Y)

Thats because i am not a recruiter.to answer your point. it will be almost impossible to transition accross to amplifer/filter/oscillator designing unless you want to go back to the start and earn £18k.Do you have much management (team leader project manager) experience? if so then you could potentially transition accross at a PM level if you sell your ability to manage people, budgets and deliverable and your basic / reasonable understanding of the technology

I really wouldn't use your real name especially if you have a linkedin profile too?

I realised after having submitted the message. I do have project management experience but was looking at other possible options as well (hence the question of RF). After seven years, I just want to move on but not in RF planning and optimisation; 1) because it's a dead market 2) I don't like it anymore - i hope that I do not get to the point of leaving the job first then search another.

Faisal, you should post under the pseudonym MR. X. That should solve it. Defo.

Thanks