It’s a job seeker’s market right now and everyone knows it, which has led to companies and candidates speaking more candidly about perks, benefits and pay.
These are all crucial topics to touch on, but they’re more designed to help candidates pick between offers rather than figure out where they can build their careers. To understand if a company is a place where you can set down roots, we recommend asking a simple question: “Why do employees stay here?” In an industry full of opportunities, this question reveals how companies keep their people happy, motivated and engaged year in and year out.
We recently posed this question to Boston tech workers to highlight the local companies — all of which are hiring — that you can build a career at. We also asked about the coolest projects they’ve recently worked on to give a better idea of what their day-to-day looks like and, of course, made sure to get the details on the best perks or benefits on offer.
What they do: Teachers from kindergarten through high school use Curriculum Associates edtech platform to assess their students’ learning level and provide personalized instruction.
What’s the number one reason you decided to stay at Curriculum Associates and build your career?
In middle school, I was diagnosed with central auditory processing disorder (CAPD), a learning disability that affects how the brain processes spoken language and makes it difficult to understand verbal statements. CAPD made traditional education difficult: I got bad grades, but the school didn’t provide screening to help my family find answers. Thankfully, my parents were able to pay out of pocket for testing, specialists and support, but the lack of comprehensive testing made me realize later the importance and need for the assessment and learning support that Curriculum Associates offers.
After nearly seven years at Curriculum Associates, its mission and work is still a large part of the reason I’m here: It’s rewarding to improve the classroom experience for kids nationwide. But even more than that, the positive work environment and passionate people are what make Curriculum Associates a special place. Curriculum Associates has a unique set of values that both give me the freedom to experiment and attract smart and supportive individuals.
After nearly seven years at Curriculum Associates, its mission and work is still a large part of the reason I’m here.”
What’s the coolest project you’ve worked on recently?
Early in my time here I had the opportunity to help create the digital asset management platform that stores and manages all the files — videos, animations, sounds, etcetera — that make up Curriculum Associates’ “i-Ready” program. It was rewarding work because the project began as a weeklong task to develop a proof of concept and is now a core element of the company’s software. Later, I got to bring the curriculum to life. I helped develop the template for the curriculum’s questions and the tools that help our authors connect questions and responses. We also coded the part of i-Ready that provides interactive feedback and encouragement to students.
What’s even more amazing is that I’ve been able to do all of this remotely for almost seven years. I’ve worked seamlessly with teammates from all over and have been able to advance professionally and contribute in a meaningful way. It’s cool to be part of the glue that combines tech with education.
What they do: Companies use Wistia’s video marketing software to create branded video players, track viewer behavior, optimize videos for SEO, and more.
What’s the number one reason you decided to stay at Wistia and build your career?
I joined Wistia during the summer of 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic when social unrest and protests were taking place around the country, so finding a company whose mission and values aligned with mine was a top priority. I didn’t want to feel like I was going to work to escape the realities of the world. I wanted to be somewhere that made me feel comfortable with being me.
Since joining, I’ve been able to work with some of the most talented, compassionate and creative people in my career. They’ve pushed me to think outside of the box on so many occasions and allowed me to try new things. As a marketer, my role is cross-functional, and at Wistia it’s always felt like a partnership between me and my cross-functional teammates. The senior management team pushes us to produce our best work while also giving us space to be creative in how that work is done.
I wanted to be somewhere that made me feel comfortable with being me.”
What’s your favorite perk or benefit Wistia offers, and why?
The professional development budget. Whether you’re thinking about attending a conference or want to complete a course, Wistia is always open to supporting your professional and personal growth. It’s truly refreshing.
What they do: Immuta’s cloud-based software is designed to make it easier for data engineering teams to implement policies that control who can access a company’s data.
What was the key driver in your decision to join Immuta?
I was most attracted to Immuta’s culture. I love the energy that fills a room — and even a Zoom call — when a team of smart people is focused on solving tough challenges. Immuta brings together smart people with a lot of focus to work on big and complicated problems. It’s rewarding work and a lot of fun!
Immuta brings together smart people with a lot of focus to work on big and complicated problems.”
What’s the coolest project you’ve worked on recently?
We’re always exploring new ways of improving the product. We recently updated our front end to implement elegant visuals in line with our upcoming branding to help make the product more accessible. It was a big visual upgrade, but more than that, it marked the launch of Immuta’s design system in the product and the start of a new way of handling UI design and development. Plus, it made Immuta the first product I’ve worked on to offer “dark mode.” The project was a huge success, and it wouldn’t have been possible without effective cross-team communication and collaboration.
What they do: Brands use the Dispatch platform to hire on-demand local contractors to provide home repair and maintenance services and to install appliances, with contractors in turn using the platform to assign jobs, manage their staff and communicate with customers.
What’s the number one reason you decided to stay at Dispatch and build your career?
I have been working at Dispatch for over three years now and the people and opportunities to grow are what keep me here and happy. We have an incredible team that is committed to doing great work and having fun while doing so. I have been fortunate to have so many opportunities to develop my skills and gain exposure to different areas of the business.
The people and opportunities to grow are what keep me here and happy.”
What’s your favorite perk or benefit your company offers, and why?
The monthly Uber credits. As someone who lives in the city and travels often, it’s great to have $100 of Uber credits each month provided by my company completely for personal use. It’s super convenient and I definitely utilize my credits each month.
What they do: Security and operations teams use Devo’s cloud-based platform to log and monitor security events in real time and to conduct analytics to better understand threats.
What’s the number one reason you decided to stay at Devo Technology and build your career?
I have been with the company almost three years and have stayed for three reasons: the people, the product and the opportunity. In terms of people, working at a scale-up and getting to this latest phase of scale has been awesome. We recruit and retain the best and brightest people who are able to work in a dynamic environment while maintaining a positive work-life balance.
Our products truly make an impact on our industry, too. We are delivering significant value to the largest enterprise companies in terms of speed and efficiency. Our product also unlocks greater scaling by automating difficult tasks, allowing organizations to do more at a far greater economic value model.
We recruit and retain the best and brightest people who are able to work in a dynamic environment.”
What’s the coolest project you’ve worked on recently?
A cool project I’ve worked on for a while now is segmenting our organizations to have highly trained groups attack their market in a focused way. We have implemented the pod mentality while putting resources together across functional groups. This has allowed us to gather diverse input and ensure everyone is working toward a common goal, which has enabled us to more effectively build pipeline to the largest accounts in the world. Teamwork does make the dream work!
What they do: Mendix’s low-code platform is used by enterprise companies to build customer portals, mobile apps, accounting tools and more.
What’s the number one reason you decided to stay at Mendix and build your career?
As I approach my three years here at Mendix, one of the top reasons I have stayed is the incredible opportunity. Though we were acquired by Siemens, we continue to operate as our own entity and are growing rapidly across all departments globally. Not only are we backed by a company like Siemens, but we have also been repeatedly ranked a leader in our space by Gartner and Forrester. Because of both the people I work with and the platform we sell, I have been able to wear many hats. I am excited to continue growing personally and professionally as Mendix continues to grow and scale.
I am excited to continue growing personally and professionally as Mendix continues to grow and scale.”
What’s your favorite perk or benefit your company offers?
The virtual-first mentality we all have. It is great to have the flexibility to work from home, but I also like the fact that our office is still available for use. It is great to still have a home base where I can collaborate with peers and enjoy the many perks of office culture, especially our beer tap!
What they do: Linus Health’s platform is designed to provide healthcare professionals personalized insights into their patients’ brain health and give researchers the ability to streamline recruitment for critical trials related to brain health.
What was the key driver in your decision to join Linus Health?
The company’s goal to transform brain health for people across the world. Brain diseases have affected people in my personal life, and I found it meaningful to contribute to technology that could improve both how brain healthcare is approached as well as the interventions provided to those affected by brain illnesses. What really made up my mind was that everyone I met during the interview process was welcoming, which showed me that the team was unified and truly believed in the company’s mission.
During my time at Linus Health, I have continued to be inspired by my colleagues and have stayed because, at the end of the day, it’s a great company. I’m constantly learning and look forward to working with talented people to make a difference and under leaders who truly value their team and have a clear vision of the company’s future. Linus Health has provided me with rewarding experiences to cultivate my career.
I’m constantly learning and look forward to working with talented people to make a difference.”
What’s the coolest project you’ve worked on recently?
The most interesting project has been our initiative to achieve our SOC2 certification. As a cloud security engineer, ensuring that our company exemplifies best practices and maintains a robust security program is at the forefront of my responsibilities. Leading the SOC2 initiative has given me the opportunity to validate Linus Health’s security stance and the work I have done here and gain invaluable experience.
It’s rewarding to know that the company values my contributions toward security and has given me the responsibility to drive this project to completion. It has always been important to me that, wherever I work, I am given the proper autonomy and trust to deliver on the goals I have set. Linus Health has provided that environment for me, and I am looking forward to seeing how the company will continue to innovate and grow in the future.
What they do: BlueConic’s customer data platform is designed to provide marketing teams a single solution for storing, accessing and acting on first-party customer data.
What was the key driver in your decision to join BlueConic?
My role puts me in the unique and enviable position of working daily with our talent team, whose mission is to make connections far and wide with potential “BlueCrew” members. What stood out about my candidate experience was the authenticity from everyone I met during the process. Living the SaaS life means being part of a company that’s growing fast, offers challenging work and is often changing. Our talent partners, hiring managers and teams share what it’s like to be part of BlueConic with every candidate.
I’m grateful to have shared the personal events that have shaped me as a leader with my team.”
What’s your favorite perk or benefit your company offers?
Most Fridays we end the day with “dream.” We gather on Zoom, and one of the BlueCrew shares a story of family, failure, themselves or their dreams. Every dream creates connections and empathy amongst us. I clearly remember the dreams of my teammates from my first Friday here. I was moved, and each dream since then has made me feel even more connected with the team. What has struck me is how much we share about ourselves because we feel safe to do so and trust each other.
My turn came recently, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to share personal events that have helped shape me as a leader, team member, friend and colleague. How we show up to our jobs is how we show up to our lives, and having the chance to give people the floor to share themselves deepens our connection and reminds us we’re all in this together.
What they do: Flywire is a fintech company that provides payment technology for companies in education, health care and travel.
What was the key driver in your decision to join Flywire?
I developed broad career experience at a large tech company with fully matured systems in place. This provided little opportunity to evolve and grow my role, and being a little fish in a big pond no longer gave me enough purpose. I needed to be more impactful, so I chose to go to Flywire to apply my skills and experience in a dynamic, growing environment. During the candidacy process, I engaged with several Flywire employees, or “FlyMates,” including the CEO! This was a green flag that demonstrated just how valuable each FlyMate is to the company.
I’ve been able to test and apply my knowledge throughout the company as we continue to grow. Being on this side of the curve has reinvigorated my outlook and I am invested in our success. It’s also important to note that while I do feel valuable, I do not feel indebted or irreplaceable, feelings that can make an employee stay in the wrong place for too long. Instead, I feel empowered by my own capabilities.
I needed to be more impactful, so I chose to go to Flywire to apply my skills and experience in a dynamic, growing environment.”
What’s your favorite perk or benefit Flywire offers, and why?
I’ve worked at companies so oversaturated with swag that I became desensitized to its true objective of brand awareness. It was not until I learned about Flywire’s 2015 rebrand that I truly understood the value of swag. FlyMates, customers and clients are excited and proud to promote our brand. The pride I see when FlyMates represent our company by wearing Flywire shirts, backpacks, hats or socks goes a long way in keeping Flywire top of mind in the fintech industry.
Flywire-branded swag is sort of a physical embodiment of the hard work and dedication of FlyMates. It’s fulfilling to be a part of the team that puts these gifts in the hands of so many people.
What they do: Jellyfish’s engineering management platform is designed to give dev teams a better idea of the work they’re doing and what specifically is driving value for the business.
What was the key driver in your decision to join Jellyfish?
I was drawn to Jellyfish because of the culture, people and the unlimited potential of the product. I am passionate about growth marketing and scaling businesses and am thankful every day to be surrounded by incredibly talented, kind people who are all striving for excellence.
I was drawn to Jellyfish because of the culture, people and the unlimited potential of the product.”
What’s the coolest project you’ve worked on recently?
Jellyfish hosted its first customer summit GLOW, last month. Leading this event and partnering with my teammates to pull it off was an honor. We put on a great event where engineering leaders could learn and connect while fostering brand advocacy, community and customer retention. I can’t wait for the next one.
