A recruiter got me all excited about a possible gig, and once I talked to people at the company, a law firm, it largely confirmed what I feared. It's a rigid work hour, shirt-and-tie kind of affair. You can imagine that as someone who is nearly 36 and never even owned a suit that this isn't the kind of place I'd fit in very well.
There's a part of me that wants to believe that these kinds of places still exist and that there's some rational reason for it, but it surprises me in a world that expects more without giving more. I knew things weren't right when the guy I talked to said something about "guys in T-shirt and ponytails." I'll have you know that pretty much describes some of the most brilliant people I've met at more than one job.
I also think this is part of the reason that I'd really enjoy working at Microsoft if I had the chance. The culture, at least in the areas that I would be interested in, is very cool. People are energized, they have offices and they wear whatever the hell they want. VP's do presentations in jeans and red polo shirts (The Gu!). The focus is on getting things done and delivering stuff, not when you got there and what you were wearing. Appearance does not command respect, only not sucking at what you do can earn that.
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