10 reasons why people quit jobs in IT industry

Bangalore: With the worst behind and signs of positive demand for outsourcing and offshoring from the U.S. and European markets, which account for about 80 percent of Indian software exports, the IT industry is gearing up for a gradual recovery in the new year. But Indian IT industry still continues to face the problem of attrition, especially when companies are now offering strong pay packages to make up for the lost ground. What really drives employees to jump jobs? Is it only due to bad bosses or there are other reasons involved as well?

SiliconIndia surveyed people from the IT industry to find out top 10 reasons why people quit their job in IT industry. While we were sure that organization and management play a crucial part in the decision, there were many other reasons as well which may have become more relevant in recent times. "While most people including the managers are of the opinion that majority of people leave because they are unhappy with their compensation, nothing could be farther from the truth. There has been enough research done globally and across industry segments to prove that unhappiness with compensation is only one of the many reasons that people think about quitting," said Puneet Jetli, Senior Vice President and Head - People Function, MindTree.

1. Mismatch between the promised job and the situation on hand

Employees are often promised certain things on what exactly the jobs consist of but after joining the company they find out a completely different picture. It becomes painfully clear to the new hire that the company played a bait-and-switch game and now they are trapped in doing something that they don't want to.

2. Limited opportunity for personal growth and skills

"Every ambitious person is looking to further their career in the shortest possible span of time. Hence despite being in a high growth sector if there isn't ample opportunity for reasonably quick vertical or lateral growth; then it is usually time to move on," says Pradeep Thomas Abraham, Managing Director of Paytronic Networks limited. The most successful employers find ways to help employees develop new skills and responsibilities in their current positions.

3. Boss too much to handle

Prashant Hannovar, Manager of Human Resource of NextBiT Computing has had a fair deal of experience in dealing with different kinds of candidates. He says, "Employee leaves the organization because of a manager's leadership style or bad management style. Employee leave because of managers who puts the blame on the other employee, making others a scape goat, a Micro manager-who is known for having no trust/confidence in self and on the team."

4. Lack of recognition of the good work being put-in

Individual accomplishments should be considered by the company and should be pointed out in praise that will help to further increase productivity, make the employee feel appreciated, and create an example for other employees to follow, knowing that they will be rewarded. "Many employees who have quit and answered the exit interviews have revealed on not getting recognized despite of hard work/good Performance," says Hannovar.

5. Management freezes raises and promotions

Money is not always a very important category for people to quit, but it definitely ranks high. Many employees quit the Organization as they get better compensation/salaries with the competitors. Also with the salaries, many of the Techies (engineers) today are offered Onsite opportunity too. This is the normal phenomena in the IT Industry which nothing much can be worked out.

6. Poor work culture/work ethic

Another important factor that results in undesired attrition is the bad work culture. Bad work culture constitutes unhealthy political work environment where you can find lot of rumors/grape wines, partiality, favoritism, lack of trust, lack of good HR best practices like restrictions imposed on the employees on clothing, leaves and many more.