> I realized that day that I have every right to inspect all aspects of a company that I might work for, and that I don't really have to make compromises if I see something negative during the process.
I think this is really contingent on your negotiating position.
I've been unemployed for over a year. The lower my savings get, the less picky I can be about potential employers.
I've been ~2 months from missing rent having to move my family into a van. At that level of desperation, you're willing to stomach a lot of non-ideal companies. If I didn't get that (as it turns out, terrible) programming job, my next step would have been to try to get a job stocking shelves at Home Depot.
Holy hell. Wow that's harsh, I'm super glad you are employed now (even a terrible programming job is better than a home depot job) and that ordeal is behind you.
This lousy economic cycle will eventually reverse a bit and we will hopefully all have some more leeway to find better employment.
I think this is really contingent on your negotiating position.
I've been unemployed for over a year. The lower my savings get, the less picky I can be about potential employers.