Red Gate: Next Best Thing To Google?

As the general public is not that aware of this tech company, I hardly think that we can compare Red Gate to Google in this aspect. However, Red Gate has come to the forefront with an interesting move to attract talent to their flock: they’re offering people iPad units just for them to show up at interviews.

Yes, you read that right – just show up for the interview, and you can take home an iPad for FREE. Co-founder Simon Galbraith justifies this seemingly excessive gesture by emphasizing the fact that there is a “talent” war in Cambridge, where the company is based. He says that the only thing that’s really holding back their activities is the lack of software engineers and testers. Of course, when you want to get the cream of the crop, you have to make sure that you make it worth their while. True, an iPad is definitely not enough compensation for a full time job, but if they’re giving them away for interviews, heck that says a lot about this company!

So what’s Red Gate all about anyway? It’s a relatively young company – formed in 1999 – that creates tools for other developers. These tools help other developers create their own applications. The platform is primarily Windows.

If a free iPad is enough to entice you, think about their other employee perks. They may seem small (free lunch, smoothies on tap, social events, etc.) but they have a way of adding up. Want to go in for an interview now?