What Developers Actually Want From Their Next Role

Attract top developers by understanding what truly matters to them. Discover key motivators beyond salary and how to craft irresistible roles.

Understanding What Developers Want in Their Next Role

Hiring developers is no walk in the park. It’s a highly competitive market, with businesses scrambling to secure the best talent. But here’s the thing—posting a job description and hoping for applications won’t cut it anymore.

Developers today have more choices than ever. To attract them, you need to understand what they’re looking for in their next role. If you’re not offering what matters most to them, someone else will.

So, what exactly motivates developers to say “yes” to a job offer? Let’s break it down.

Why Developers Care About More Than Just Salary

It’s tempting to think that a high salary is the golden ticket to hiring developers. While compensation is important, it’s far from the whole picture. Developers are looking for roles that align with their values and career aspirations.

Here’s what often matters more:

  • Growth Opportunities: Developers want to keep learning. Whether it’s access to training, certifications, or working with cutting-edge technologies, the chance to grow their skills is a major draw.
  • Meaningful Work: Writing code isn’t just about punching keys. Developers want to work on projects that solve real problems or make a difference in the world.
  • Work-Life Balance: Remote work, flexible hours, and avoiding burnout are high on their list of priorities.
  • Autonomy: Micromanagement is a deal-breaker. Developers thrive when they’re trusted to make decisions and manage their own tasks.

If your role doesn’t check these boxes, it’s likely to fall flat, even with a generous pay package.

Where Employers Often Miss the Mark

It’s not uncommon for businesses to underestimate what developers want, leading to job offers that fail to excite. Here’s where many go wrong:

  • Outdated Tech Stack: Developers don’t want to work with outdated tools. If your tech stack is out of touch, it signals a lack of innovation.
  • Generic Job Descriptions: Vague or buzzword-heavy job ads don’t resonate. Developers want clarity about the role and its impact.
  • Ignoring Culture Fit: A great developer isn’t just skilled—they also need to fit into your team’s culture. Overlooking this can lead to mismatches and turnover.

When these mistakes happen, it’s no surprise that offers go unaccepted or roles remain unfilled for months.

How to Make Your Role Irresistible to Developers

So, how do you create a role that developers can’t say no to? Here’s the formula:

  • Focus on Growth: Highlight opportunities for learning and development. Mention specific technologies, projects, or mentorship programmes that your company offers.
  • Emphasise Impact: Show how their work will contribute to the company’s goals or solve meaningful problems. Developers want to see the bigger picture.
  • Offer Flexibility: Provide options for remote work, flexible hours, or a hybrid setup. These perks are no longer optional—they’re expected.
  • Showcase Autonomy: Explain how developers will have the freedom to approach problems and make decisions without being micromanaged.
  • Be Transparent: Share as much detail as possible about the role, the team, and the company culture. Developers value honesty and clarity.

By addressing these factors, you’ll dramatically increase your chances of attracting top-tier talent.

How Coburg Banks Can Help You Hire Developers

Creating an appealing role is one thing, but finding the right developers to fill it is another challenge altogether. That’s where Coburg Banks comes in.

Since 2002, we’ve specialised in IT recruitment, helping businesses like yours secure the tech talent they need. Our expert team understands what developers are looking for and how to match them with opportunities that excite them.

Why Choose Coburg Banks?

  • Deep Industry Knowledge: We know the IT space inside out, from software development to data science and beyond.
  • Customised Solutions: Whether you’re hiring for permanent positions or contract roles, we tailor our approach to meet your needs.
  • Extensive Network: Our connections in the tech industry give you access to a wide pool of skilled candidates.
  • Cultural Fit Expertise: We don’t just focus on skills—we ensure candidates align with your team’s values and work style.

With Coburg Banks, you’ll not only attract the best developers, but also hire them faster and with less hassle.

Learn more about our IT recruitment services or book a call today.

Building a Stronger Team Starts Here

Imagine having a team of developers who are not just skilled but also deeply engaged with their work. They’re excited to tackle challenges, grow their expertise, and contribute to your company’s success. That’s the kind of talent Coburg Banks can help you find.

Don’t let the competition outpace you in the race for top developer talent. Partner with Coburg Banks and transform the way you hire, one exceptional candidate at a time.

Coburg Banks IT Recruitment
We help outstanding IT professionals get brilliant jobs in top companies.

Continue reading

View all
Category one
Category two
Category three
Category four
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why Great Engineers Leave Bad Projects

Frustrated by engineers leaving tech projects mid-way? Discover the hidden causes of team mismatches and how to prevent them for smoother, more successful projects.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why You're Still Hiring Developers Like It's 2015

Are outdated IT hiring strategies costing you top developer talent? Discover modern recruitment practices to stay competitive in today’s tech landscape.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

The Dangerous Myth of the Rockstar Developer

The "rockstar developer"myth hinders collaboration and team growth. Learn why focusing on balanced, cohesive teams leads to long-term IT success.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why Recruiters Keep Sending You the Wrong Candidates

Struggling with recruiters sending the wrong candidates? Learn the key reasons behind bad tech recruiter fits and how to fix them.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why Junior Developers Are Failing to Progress in Your Business

Struggling to help junior developers thrive in your organisation? Learn the common mistakes holding them back and how to fix them.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why Freelancers Keep Beating Your In-House Team

Discover why freelancers often outshine in-house teams in productivity and flexibility. Learn how to close the performance gap and unlock your team's potential.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why Job Titles Matter More Than You Think

The impact of job titles in IT hiring is huge—get it wrong, and you risk losing top talent. Learn how the right title can boost visibility, attract perfect-fit candidates, and enhance your recruitment success.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

How to Align Your Tech Hiring with Team Needs

Aligning tech hires with your team’s needs ensures stronger collaboration and success. Discover how mismatches can hinder progress and how to avoid them.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

When to Use Technical Tests and When Not To

Learn when to use IT technical testing in recruitment to identify top tech talent. Avoid common pitfalls and enhance your hiring strategy with effective testing practices.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why Our Structured Hiring Plans Deliver Better Developers

Struggling to hire top developers? Unstructured processes might be to blame. Discover why a structured hiring approach is essential for success.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

How Our Recruitment Tech Enhances Every Step of the Process

Struggling to hire top IT talent in a fast-changing world? Discover how tech-enabled recruitment can transform your hiring process for better, faster results.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why We Don't Believe in One-Size-Fits-All Shortlists

Generic shortlists risk mismatched hires and missed opportunities in IT. Discover how tailored recruitment ensures the perfect fit for your team.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why Clients Ask Us to Handle Developer Salary Negotiations

Struggling to secure top developers during salary talks? Discover how effective negotiation strategies can seal the deal and protect your hiring success.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

What Makes Our Candidate Briefings So Effective

Unprepared candidates can derail your interviews and hiring process. Learn how effective IT candidate briefing ensures confident, aligned, and successful interviews.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why You'll Never Get 'Spray and Pray' CVs From Us

Tired of drowning in irrelevant CVs? Learn how to eliminate spam in recruitment and focus only on top-tier candidates.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why Clients Ask Us to Handle Developer Salary Negotiations

Struggling to secure top developers during salary talks? Discover how effective negotiation strategies can seal the deal and protect your hiring success.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

What Makes Our Candidate Briefings So Effective

Unprepared candidates can derail your interviews and hiring process. Learn how effective IT candidate briefing ensures confident, aligned, and successful interviews.
Coburg Banks IT Recruitment Agency

Why You'll Never Get 'Spray and Pray' CVs From Us

Tired of drowning in irrelevant CVs? Learn how to eliminate spam in recruitment and focus only on top-tier candidates.