At a time when even EMC is cutting staff, many pundits say storage experts no longer enjoy job security. Heres our take on the job market:
Where The Money Is
From consulting firms to startup storage service providers (SSPs), many companies are hunting for seasoned talent who understand storage-area networks and technologies like Fibre Channel.
Market Size
Worldwide spending in the SSP market will hit $10.7 billion in 2005, up from $153 million last year, says Doug Chandler, an analyst at International Data Corp.
Weigh Your Options
Many senior SSP positions include stock options.
But dont let them seduce you. “Its a tough time to be a pure-play SSP,” says IDCs Chandler. “Theyre short on cash and theyre trying to find customers, even as Qwest and IBM start to offer storage services as part of their hosting initiatives.”
Watch Market Indicators
Even employers in the booming network-attached storage (NAS) market are cautious. Quantum, for one, remains healthy, but recently canceled an IPO for its Snap business because of the stormy economy.