Outside of the paycheck, what is the number 1 thing you look for in a company?

Culture. If you don't like the people you work with, nor the environment you interact with said people in, you will feel miserable during the work week. If you find the right culture, recognition and sense of purpose should both fall into place in due course. As long as I make a livable wage (I define livable as enough to pay for expenses and save for emergencies and retirement), I can do without promotions.

PO3 Jacob Jenkins A meaningful career where I could make a difference.

My sense of the matter is that everyone wants to feel like they 'bring something to the party', if you will. It can't just be a paycheck. I've had jobs that paid very, very well, but the paycheck wasn't worth the the toxic environment where I worked. In the civilian world, where I was a bank Executive Vice-President in a very competitive environment, banks robbed each other frequently of their talent. It was not that hard to do. Just offer a slightly higher salary. They'd moved every time. Unless--unless they felt they were an integral and contributing member of the company and where it was going. I had several department heads reporting to me, and I did everything I could to make sure they--and subsequently the people that worked for them--knew they were appreciated and valued for their role in our company.

When I was a unit commander in the military (Artillery Battery and Armor Company) I would get newly commissioned LT's. I told them their sole responsibility their first year as 2LT's was to (1) listen to, learn from, and take care of their NCO's (and only give an order if their Plt Sgt said it was ok) and (2) whenever we were in the field to make sure they went to every member of their plt/section and let them know they appreciated what they did.

As has been said, culture includes recognition, promotions, sense of purpose, etc. And the fact of the matter is that whether it's the military or civilian community, promotions can only come so often. You better make it more than just about the paycheck.

I typically prefer working 2nd shift, but will work 3rd shift occasionally.