Tips against dissatisfaction in the developer job

Career AdviceWorking Life

work makes you happy. In principle anyway. Studies have repeatedly shown that working people are much happier than people who are registered as unemployed. According to a study by the London School of Economics, 95.1 percent of employees in Austria are satisfied with their job.

For IT jobs, however, the potential for dissatisfaction is actually higher. Most activities here are highly specialized and broken down into work processes that are often far removed from the “finished” product. The opposite is the case for professions that make you happy: Florists are in first place, followed by hairdressers and plumbers. If you still don't want to switch from software development to floristry, we have put together some tips for more fun working in IT.

More sleep for more fun at work

Happiness and well-being are the basis for productivity and good performance in software development. Conversely, this also means that those who are more productive have more fun at work. You too have certainly often experienced that being rested and being productive are closely related. So sleep is a very simple remedy for job dissatisfaction. In any case, this will help you to tackle the challenges of the next working day with renewed strength. Practical side effect: You are guaranteed to get out of bed better in the morning.

Concentration prevents job dissatisfaction

A study by the British iOpener Institute shows that happy employees spend 80% of their working hours fully focused on their tasks. In contrast, dissatisfied employees only spend 40% of their working hours completing their to-dos. In other words: If you are dissatisfied with your job, you should work more concentrated. Easier said than done? The key to success is good time management.

Have you heard of the Pomodoro Technique? It has little to do with pasta. But with clear time management, which can help you very effectively to complete tasks in a focused manner and without distractions. The principle is very simple: each work unit has 25 minutes. Before you start the clock, make a quick note of the tasks you want to complete during this time. And here we go. When the 25 minutes are up, you tick off what you have done and take a 5-minute break. Then the next interval begins. After four “Pomodori” you take a longer break – 15 or 30 minutes, depending on your needs. The inventor of the Pomodoro technique, Francesco Cirillo, used a simple kitchen clock with a plastic tomato look to measure his time – hence the name. If you prefer a digital solution, you will find e.g. B. the Tomato Timer online or choose the right tomato app for your smartphone from the wide range. (But beware: there is a risk of distraction here again!)

Initiative makes happy

Anyone who is always given only uninteresting tasks will sooner or later automatically be unhappy at work. The best antidote: show initiative. If you provide new impetus and bring in fresh ideas, you can also control your tasks better yourself. You should also bring obstacles to the table as quickly as possible and ideally suggest solutions. Because if a lack of information or funds blocks the workflow, this can quickly lead to frustration at work. Incidentally, anyone who thinks that their own initiative increases the workload and therefore makes one less satisfied with their job is wrong: A research group led by Professor Evangelia Demerouti, who works at Eindhoven University of Technology, has found the opposite. High work commitment does not lead to physical or emotional stress. In fact, employees' recovery levels are better after an engaged day than after a less engaged one.

Breaks are necessary

Taking regular breaks promotes well-being in any form of work, including programming. Rest alone is good. Break together is better. Isn't it nicer to drink your coffee break in company and exchange a few words with colleagues at the same time? Those who consciously maintain contact with their colleagues will be less dissatisfied at work, even in stressful times. Because a pleasant atmosphere in the team can absorb many crises. The mutual willingness to help is greater and everyone will have more fun at work if everyone really pulls together. You don't have to find friends for life among your colleagues. But friendly interaction, respect and honest interest in others are a good basis for all interpersonal relationships. Be active yourself and be sociable. Smoking or coffee breaks together are always possible. The after-work beer is also a tradition that is rightly held in high esteem.

The lunch break for more fun and a rested brain

The lunch break must be your oasis. This is where you fill up your reserves to get through the second half of the day well. If you can't concentrate on your tasks, you will be unhappy in your job in the long run. So plan your lunch break in such a way that you can relax as much as possible. If the round with your colleagues is too stressful for you, you should also switch off without hesitation. After all, there are enough other opportunities during the day for employees to chat. Everyone decides individually what exactly the ideal break should look like.

A few suggestions and tips: Your body needs variety to be happy. So don't do what you do the rest of the day - which is sit. Better to go for a walk and get some fresh air. That also clears your head. Eat what you like to eat. Not simply what is fastest. And – this is also a well-known factor – don’t eat too much and not too heavy at lunchtime. This makes your head slow and can bring you frustration at work.

Those who really “switch off” are happier at work for longer

If you can't switch off properly in the evening, you won't be able to gather enough fresh energy for the next day. It has long been known that constant availability or extremely long working days are major stress factors. Those who expose themselves to this will become dissatisfied with their job more quickly.

So try to leave work on time. This will be all the easier for you if you work concentrated during the day. And definitely leave the work in the office.

As one of the flagship companies, Google briefly launched the "Google goes dark" test balloon in its Dublin office in response to an in-house employee study: All employees had to leave their smartphones, tablets and notebooks in the office - were forced to switch them off. Even without external coercion, restricting long-term availability can be an effective prophylactic against job dissatisfaction. Discipline is required here: just leave your business cell phone in the office. Do not check or reply to emails after 6 p.m.

Create your own job

The central factor that decides whether you are satisfied or dissatisfied with your job is the activity itself. Are you dissatisfied with your developer job? The chemistry between your coding colleagues or in the team is just not right? No job profile is set in stone. Talk to your lead developer or manager. Maybe you're just in the wrong room or project team and moving to other colleagues is enough to make your work more fun again. Make an active effort in the areas of responsibility that really suit you. Every boss will also be interested in you being able to contribute your strengths in the best possible way. A changed area of ​​responsibility, a different IT project with a different team composition can work wonders if you are no longer happy at work.

If nothing else helps:

Be honest with yourself and get to the root of the problem. If you are permanently unhappy at work, you have to ask yourself: Am I really in the right job with the right employer? If you have to answer this question with "No", then let's go: Other companies also have nice IT jobs, especially for tech professionals and developers. Think carefully about what the job that makes you happy should look like. And then look around – e.g. B. now immediately on www.devjobs.at or www-devjobs.de