According to recent research, IT jobs are often stressful and demanding. In fact, a large number of IT specialists, including software engineers and software developers, suffer from stress-related health issues due to overworking. While many people might not consider IT jobs as particularly demanding, the truth is that the tech industry sector is growing rapidly which can mean long hours.

There are also many positives for those looking for IT careers, which is predicted to become one of the most popular career paths:

• Unlimited options: There are many different jobs in IT worth considering, and each of them offers different strengths and types of experiences.
• Earning potential: Even entry-level jobs in IT are vital to an organisation’s growth, which drives up wages and salaries. You will start out earning a reasonable amount, and as you gain more experience, this will increase.
• Hiring demand: All organisations across the country (and the world!) need IT staff, whether it is for engineering new products, improving cybersecurity, or helping to manage devices and applications.
• Remote work: Though not everyone likes the idea of working remotely, for many people it is the ideal situation even if just once a week. Not only does it give you more flexibility, it also has the power to improve productivity – and you’ll avoid the commute for a day or two.
• Career flexibility: Many IT skills are transferable, and because there are many IT jobs to choose from, it is generally easy to change roles.
• Upward trajectory: As you gain more experience and knowledge, you will work your way to higher positions and start earning higher salaries. You can even choose to start your own business and become your own boss.
• Sense of purpose: For many professionals, the IT field comes with a sense of purpose. Plus, there are always new things to learn, so you can keep challenging yourself to improve.

Read our blog on How to get your first IT job for more information on starting out in IT.

What makes IT jobs stressful?

One of the primary reasons for the high levels of stress among IT workers is high workload, which means keeping track of a lot of information and tight deadlines. Most IT roles are full-time working hours, with overtime possibly needed. Other factors include having to solve problems in a short period of time and dealing with complex tasks in high-pressure work environments.

Managing the IT Stress

Stress is something everyone feels at times, and there are all kinds of stressful situations that are a part of daily life and any job role. Remember that low-level stress can be helpful or motivational, but it is not good to have to deal with high-stress levels on a frequent basis.

There are plenty of things you can do to help cope with stressful events, and simple steps you can take to deal with feelings of stress or burnout. If you want to survive in this field, it is important that you learn how to manage in this environment. Here are tips to help you cope:

• Understand the stress factors: If you are working in a high-stress environment, it is important that you identify the factors that make it stressful. After you have identified the factors, you can take the necessary steps to reduce stress to gain work-life balance.
• Avoid procrastination: Putting off things for later is a sure way of increasing your stress levels. As soon as you receive a task, make sure that you start working on it, or have a detailed plan so you know when you can fit in everything you have to do.
• Focus: When you are working on a task, focus on the job and try not to think about other things. By doing this, you will be able to avoid getting distracted and this will help you get your work completed efficiently.
• Get physical: One of the most effective ways of reducing stress is to engage in physical activities. If you are stressed at work, walk around, stretch your body and make sure you get away from your desk for regular breaks.
• Relax: Another interesting thing you can do to reduce stress is to listen to music. Music has been shown to be effective in reducing stress. When you are listening to music, don’t try to figure out the lyrics; just let your mind relax and enjoy the music.

IT Positions

The world of IT is not all bad… It has a lot to offer including numerous job opportunities, great teams to work with, competitive salaries and more. And remember that all jobs have an element of stress at some time; it’s how you handle it that counts. Speak to managers, co-workers, HR, and help with creating plans and processes to make your day run smoothly – you may even be able to help your colleagues too!

Let us help you secure an Information Technology job, submit your CV to Cantello Tayler Recruitment here and we’ll be in touch as soon as we can.

How Cantello Tayler Recruitment can help

Cantello Tayler Recruitment offer over 140 years’ experience providing permanent, temporary and contract candidates with roles ranging from office work to accountant roles, across a wide range of industries and sectors.

Our dedicated, friendly and professional team are here to help you every step of the way when applying for IT jobs, and we take pride in offering an exceptional level of service and thoroughly enjoy working in partnership with our candidates to help launch their graduate careers.

We offer a bespoke service to our candidates, offering as much support and guidance as needed, including answering any answer questions you may have on CV building, cover letter writing, job application advice, offer management, and interview tips too.

Are you embarking on an IT job hunt? Check out our job search here. Plus, we have comprehensive jobseekers’ advice here for all career paths. Keep up to date with us on social media via our Facebook feed.