What drives software engineers and developers to quit their current companies? According to a new survey, sometimes it’s something as simple as unsatisfactory compensation—but sometimes it’s also due to a micromanaging team leader or a lack of transparency about a company’s strategy.
HackerEarth’s latest State of the Developer Ecosystem report, drawn from “thousands” of responses from developers, hiring managers, and tech recruiters, broke down the reasons for software developer attrition. Here’s the full chart:
Unfortunately, not all organizations seem aware of the various factors driving developers to quit. “It’s important to note that when we asked recruiting teams what they thought was driving attrition among developers, they mostly chose compensation,” the report added. “While they are cognizant of the other factors mentioned by devs, there is a lack of understanding among the recruiter community as to the true nature of a developer’s expectations for their role, and the company.”
Although the tech unemployment rate has ticked up slightly, and the so-called “Great Resignation” is losing steam, tech professionals with the right mix of skills and experience still have significant leverage when it comes to everything from finding a new position to negotiating salary. For mission-critical positions such as software developer, data scientist and cybersecurity expert, there’s still significant demand; if management isn’t giving you what you want (or needs to stop something you dislike), you have the power to discuss change.
For example, the most recent edition of Dice’s Tech Salary Report found a significant gap between the benefits that tech professionals have and want. Seventy-two percent of tech pros told the Report that employer-sponsored training and education were important, and yet only 46 percent received it. If you’re planning on quitting your job over a lack of training and educational opportunities, sit down with your manager and ask for employer-paid classes and seminars; you might be pleasantly surprised at how quickly they give you what you want.
Of course, not all untenable situations are easily solved. If a manager is micro-managing your workflow in a way that’s unworkable, you may have to seek out a new position with an environment more conducive to your sanity. During the interview process, you can get a sense of the company’s perks and benefits, as well as insight into its culture.
