[sAuronas]

My first role was in Charlotte - at a startup. It's not everyday that you get to work for a company with fewer that 10 people and less than 10 months old but it happened for me in a market notorious for only having banking mobile dev roles. Ironically, I left the Bay Area to get my first shot because I wasn't young enough for cultural fit most places (apparently). Now, I'm in Chicago and while the weather is shit, there is a lot of energy here and the scene appears to be lifting off. You don't need to build a reputation in SF (or Oakland, et al).

[nobleach]

I think that whole ridiculous "cultural fit" nonsense is why I ignore jobs in the BA. What on earth do I care if my team listens to the same music that I do? or wants to eat the same food I do? Culture is best when it's infused with all kinds of outside sources. Having this homogeneous hive-mind isn't really good for any business. But trying to explain that to your average 20-something is typically not that easy.