As a recruiter who has interviewed hundreds, if not thousands, job applicants, I see a number of factors which most prospects look out for in a company before deciding to join.

Many times, salary or a lack of advancement options, or a toxic work culture would have led them to seek new pastures. But it is unlikely that their decision as to which company to join is based solely on those aspects. Rather, there are other factors which companies seeking to employ software developers need to ensure are in place to be able to attract the required talent.

Attitude towards remote working – I calculate that around 90% of candidates I interview want to retain the flexibility of working from home. The questions often asked is whether their new employer will insist that they work from the office. Putting their mind at rest that a company is committed to remote work has become one of the most important things they look out for.

Flexible working hours – while most candidates expect that they should be available for a number of hours daily within the company’s working hours, and work hours agreed with their immediate superiors, they look positively at companies that offer flexibility to allow them to keep up with their other life. This could be a couple of hours in the afternoon to pick up the children and spend some time with them, before returning to work and still work the required daily hours.

Technology Stack – candidates need to ensure that the company is moving ahead with the times, and that they will be working with a stack which allows them to keep abreast of trends in software development. Technology is also about the equipment that the company will provide to work with.

Employee Tenure and Company Ratings – prospective employees can check how the company is being rated by current and past employees. Words such as “toxic culture” or “micromanagement” are definite off-putters.  They can also check, for example on LinkedIn, the average tenure of employees.

Company Size and Growth – similar to the above points, information exists which can indicate a company’s size and whether a company is growing exponentially or not. Some candidates prefer to join a small company or start-up that is going places. Others prefer the stability of a mature company.

Company Values – it is not only about how well the “Company Values” or “Corporate Responsibility” section on the website is written, but also how the company puts these into practice through events, sponsorship, and employee programs. This should not only be evident on the company’s website and social media, put also in the profiles of key people.

Colleagues – looking up profiles on social media can also extend to colleagues. Understanding the type of people, and diversity, that a company employs gives a pretty good indication of the type of company one will be joining.