Looking at those questions:
Your location / commute.
Why, mention cars and roads ? Because issues there will take up a lot, especially San Jose.
BUT, you have to change a lot of thinking right there, as you would want to know, say a year or two out, if things, road conditions, go back to pre-covid.
Right now, BART commuter trains / parking lots, are virtually ABANDONED, at least to a degree.
So, for a new job, you need to know, if to adapt for remote work VS traditional 9 to 5....
Oh, and lots of work-places (had) a culture where you simply did not 'leave' when quitting time...No no no, not like a trade or simple factory work; health effects be dammed, you get to sit, typing in an exhausted burn-out Zombie-like state.
OK, I'm getting silly, sorry just immature sarcasm.
But, truly, you get the commute thing (some were doing incredible hardship), you get the hours, plus 'office politics'. In my case some portion of the managers would drone on about 'necessary overtime', to unhealthy excess, I felt.
As to location, though, this COVID disaster might give some advantages, as, for example, a neighbor here is actually employed by a European company, with a least 4 different country's people work for them. (Have to catch myself, to not say 'they work there').
Certifications
![Huh? ???](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/huh.gif)
We don't seem to talk about that, for software, unless in your resume.
Most important: Can you find s current job recruiter that would, perhaps grab a lunch with you, like once a month, to get better sense of market. Of course you want to be a bit guarded, but the head hunters do know their market, if they want to eat.