Job Ad..."Extreme pressure..."

Joza

Hi guys! Haven't posted in this part before.

So I've been looking for work since I graduated for over 6 months now, and it's been completely terrible and unfruitful as I'm sure you all know. I recently applied for a software job though and I would like to know what you guys think...

The job description stated "candidates need to be able to work under extreme pressure, to deadline and be able to maintain high standards."

It's the first part of that that kind of bothers me. Is that just something generic that they say? I achieved great results in college and fit the high requirements.....but stress is something I abhor. Has anyone similar experience in a software role?

Money is money, and needed, but I'm naturally a worrier and to be honest a high stress job is something I just don't see worth it...life is to be enjoyed.

What do you think??!!

(Mods: If you think I'd get a better response in a software forum, please feel free to move this thread. I'm looking for a lot of opinions here.)

Triangla

If you can't handle an ad about high pressure, you can't handle high pressure!

Nody

If you don't like stress don't do computer programming (you're very likely to pushed to deliver to deadlines which appears set by a monkey flinging poo on a wall with dates).

omahaid

Hi OP, I'm a software engineer with a number of years under my belt so I can give some advice. A quick google using the phrase in your OP lead me to the job you are looking at.

If you don't fancy high pressure then I would advice avoiding this job, plain and simple. There are plenty software jobs these days and the multinationals I have worked in generally have grad programs where you will get guidance and help, if you are not big on pressure then perhaps avoid financial sectors and look at the tech sector.

My experience has been that companies whose primary operation is not technology tend to under appreciate how difficult software is whereas tech companies generally understand that software engineering is not an area for rushing (unless you want buggy products).

This has been my experience before anyone comes on telling me I'm wrong I'm not claiming this to be 100% correct in all cases.

And I have to add, I generally avoid companies who put CAO points as a requirement, it says to me that they don't really value talent and aptitude . Again, this is just a personal thing, I have been lucky in the last number of years in that I have had my pick of software jobs, it's not all an employers market!!

Mrs OBumble

IMHO it's an odd phrase to put into a job ad - especially now, when it's actually hard for tech companies to get the development staff they want.

If I was you, I'd go for an interview they call (interview experience is always good to get).

But I doubt they'd offer it to you - and if they do, then I definitely don't think you should take it (because they'd clearly be very poor interviewers not to have picked up your issues with the pressure, so I assume very poor managers too).

Mr. Loverman

There are many tech companies who don't want people to work in a horrible "extreme pressure" environment.

I wouldn't apply for this job...

Offy

In my experience an ad like that means the workload is very high. Id want to know at the interview stage if overtime is going to be paid. It sounds like the employer needs more that one person but is unwilling to hire more than one person. If you got the job then you could probably expect silly deadlines and a boss that is less than reasonable.