Futurists envision a world in which every device with an on-off switch can be connected to the Internet, meaning everything from children?s toys to pacemakers will be hooked up to the Web. Or, at least they did. Today, that futuristic vision is our reality. More executive search firms are seeking out qualified candidates with experience in this exciting new field, the Internet of Things.
Many Ivy League schools are already offering training for the Internet of Things, while top companies like GE are making sure their high-level employees are up to speed. So if you don?t want executive search firms to pass you over for a younger candidate, you need to understand this field. According to one executive search firm, high level positions that now require an understanding of the Internet of Things include a variety of C-suite positions, as well as information architects, solutions and cloud architects, computer system engineers, product engineers, and industrial/commercial designers.
The Executive?s Guide to the Internet of Things in 2016
We?re already living in the era of smart everything, and even though the term the Internet of Things has been around for 15 years, but in the last few years there has been an explosion in the field. Already, there are more than 13 billion devices connected to the Internet, and research firm Gartner estimates that by 2020 that number will reach 26 billion. Others thing that?s a conservative estimate, and that at least 50 billion devices will be online by 2020.
If you?re a C-suite executive, it?s no longer possible to ignore the Internet of Things, which is already disrupting fields like information technology, energy, public safety, medicine, consumer products, robotics and automation, the food processing equipment industry, biometrics, the government/military, and so many more fields than this sentence has room for. Increasingly, executive search firms say they are looking for forward-looking executives with training and knowledge about the Internet of Things, so you ignore this field at your own risk.
Need More Information?
It?s not just executive search services that have recognized the need for top level talent with a background in the IOT. Forbes recently published their own guide for executives, along with a helpful infographic breaking down the latest developments in the field.
According to Forbes:
Forecasters predict up to 20 billion Internet of Things devices within a few years, which will create more than $300 billion in opportunities for tech vendors, telcos and device makers by 2020.
Overwhelmed? You?re not alone. Many executives find it difficult to get a foothold and develop a strategy. They are already investing significantly, but few have a clear roadmap.
