Hi All,

Unsure if this is the right place to post this question.  But I'll go ahead anyway.

I'm currently going through the application process for a systems/network engineer position at Woosh Wireless.  Having always been interested in the wireless, telecommunications and internet component of IT and technology, and having worked in IT for a few years, it seemed like a great career move, in order learn and simply get into the industry.  Really, it seemed like a no brainer.

But from the research I've done about Woosh Wireless, I'm concerned about the stability of the role, due to financial position of Woosh, now and in the future.  All the media pundits have categorically placed Woosh in the "sinking ship" category, and many of them still do, despite Woosh still managing to survive over the years.  In many ways, there is reason too.  In the last financial year, they lost $21 million, which was in line with the previous years losses.  But some say Woosh is improving, with them having a profitable month for the first time last month.  Also, another article posted yesterday gave hope: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10572902.  But there are other reasons for concern for me:

- Woosh has only made financial losses (in the order of $20 million / year) since it was created.
- Woosh has a WiMax network that is due to go live in 2009, which is promising.  However, Telecom and Vodafone have invested a near half a billion dollars in upgrading and improving their 3G and 4G wireless networks, which competes directly with the WiMax network.  The investment that Woosh has made in WiMax is a drop in the bucket, comparatively.
- The upper management appears to have been decimated recently.  The CTO, COO etc have left.
- The staff numbers have dropped from 150 to 90 over the years.

It these things that concern me regarding working with Woosh.  Did the upper management leave because of the inevitable? Did the person in the role previously, leave for similar reasons? Or was the role created due to expansion?  I could ask the interviewer of course, however, naturally they would paint a rosy picture (its their job to do that).  So I'm looking for an unbiased and objective opinion from the community.

Really, what I'm asking is the following:

1) What is it like to work at Woosh?  Does anyone have any current or previous experience? and what would you have to say about it?  Particularly if its in a similar technical position.

2) Do you think it is a wise to make a move, if given the opportunity?  Or should I stay with my currently (** touch wood **) stable job, which I do enjoy, and wait for another opportunity as the market improves?

Taking into account that I do see a long term future for myself in the telecommunications industry because I'm really interested in it.  But is now the right time? and with Woosh?  Just out of interests sakes, the remuneration is very similar.  For me, its not about the money, its about advancing my career and getting greater experience and exposure to an industry I see myself in, in the future.  If Woosh was in a stronger position, I'm sure I wouldn't be here asking these questions :).

Of course this all becomes irrelevant if I'm not offered the role (which is highly plausible), but its better to the research beforehand, just in case.

Thanks again for your thoughts an opinions.