However, there is a strong correlation between burnout and the amount of stress in a career, which is why high-tech environments are more vulnerable than most. Vince Amela, vice president of human resources for Avolo in Seattle, says this type of mental and physical exhaustion is extremely prevalent in his sector. Senior management is always pressing downward. Everyone works longer and harder hours. After a while, some people just can't handle it.
Individuals enter the IT industry and dot-com worlds with lofty expectations.
The risks can be as massive as the rewards, but most people are willing to work long hours in pursuit of their goal, whether it is money or conquering new challenges. In general, the intensity at high-tech firms can be unrelenting. People who walk into a high-tech job and assume it won't require extra effort are fooling themselves. Although retention has become an issue at high-tech firms, Bass believes turnover is spawned by people jumping to and from companies within the same sector, rather than individuals leaving the IT world altogether. He also feels that most of the disgruntlement is due to inadequate compensation.