Throughout a career in IT or STEM (https://www.ed.gov/Stem), there are many different things to learn. The technology world moves extremely fast, and often times if we do not keep up we fall behind. However, based on this common knowledge it makes sense to diverse oneself to many different types of roles in IT. A developer cannot be just a developer, he/she must be tester as well, a spokesperson, a leader, a decision maker, a problem solver, and most importantly a learner.

Now how does a perspective candidate receive stable employment in the IT realm? That is a hard question to answer. By experience some IT professionals that work by contract are in and out of work from periods to as long as six months or more.

Is there a common duration for assignments?

A typical IT assignment might last about six months, says Jim Lanzalotto, a vice president at staffing firm Yoh. Three-month or year-long assignments are also common.

Source: https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/it-contract-work-faq
This can be very difficult on someone that may not have the competitive nature to jump from job to job. Essentially, according to Monster.com

 

“contract jobs, essentially spending several months on a project with one organization and then moving on to a new assignment elsewhere. Sometimes this work arrangement is by choice; other times it’s a way for techies to earn a living between full-time jobs.”

Source: https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/it-contract-work-faq

Contract jobs are more based on following the existing company’s policies or “contract”, however a consultant bills services to the company which is more ideal for independent worker. The benefit of this independence is that the IT contractor/consultant can use a 1099 form to file their own taxes without have the company provide a W-2. So, there is more control for the IT professional in his/her career upfront.

However, there is another concern to be aware of in job searching in IT. What seems to be more expected for that IT professional to always be looking for work, so they can move to next assignment or project without any gaps. This is incredibly challenging as this could lead the worker to possibly be stepping on the toes of other senior employees or the original manager that hired that employee.

What is more ideal for working in IT or in any STEM field, is to remain independent as possible, and to make that aware upfront to any manager they work with, because it is not guaranteed that the individual that hired you will keep you around. There are many complications in handling these type of situations, so it is best not put your eggs all one basket. This is why a work/life balance is so important.  For those of us that have a lot of compassion or enthusiasm for what we do in IT, it can be quite heartbreaking for a employee when the manager they trusted and when the common belief is that they wanted to invest in you for the long term (which is usually expected when you hired for a job) is negated unfairly. Millennials seem to get a bad name because they seem to be more independent than previous generations, and less trusting or for a lack of better word less loyal. However, this lack of trust could easily be replaced with some type of loyalty in employers given that they take good care of their employees that they hire. The focus is more now on a work/life balance and overall job satisfaction, as with the slump of the student debt crisis and housing issues back in 2008, that may have lead to what is more of a challenging career path in Information Technology today.

“There are vast, and conflicting, amounts of literature and empirical studies discussing the existence of generational differences as it pertains to the workplace.^[79] The majority of research concludes millennials differ from both their generational cohort predecessors, and can be characterized by a preference for a flat corporate culture, an emphasis on work-life balance and social consciousness.”

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennials

So it seems if you born around the 80’s that you may no longer live on basis of loyalty to a particular job, as Bob Dylan, would say the “The Times They Are A Changin'”.

Now what do we do when we need a stable career and do not want to constantly search for a job? Cash flow and savings is another aspect to discuss though probably beyond the scope of this article as that is another method to maintain/survive in a career in IT when looking for work.  Other particular issues arise for IT professionals, which may not have to do with their career or indirectly effect it, such as family issues, health issues, or goal management. This makes the challenge even greater, and it is important for companies and hiring managers to understand that. If not clearly communicated, it could lead to a unnecessary amount of suffering to the employee who much needs a career. Most importantly, those of us in these situations must remain positive as those that may have hired you for a particular job may or may not keep their promises, a word to the wise. So, focus on the fun parts of your job whether it be in software development, engineering, technician work, research or in science. Focusing on future positive endeavors are good way to maintain a good focus on career goals and keep your motivation high when on the job search.