[arenaninja]

So many good comments in this thread, there are several I agree strongly with (these are the highlights, but I agree with these comments entirely):

> Any company that offers me better compensation with the same work-life balance is one I'd jump ship for immediately.

> Oh, I don't have "passion" for the product? Who gives a shit? I have passion for doing the best work I possibly can if I hire on to your company.

> After that 1st phone call it's not about the product or the company anymore, it's all about testing you

> Hiring in software is completely broken.

> I currently work in water management software.

My own take: imagine I wrote all of those interesting tidbits, and eventually I see myself going back to slinging code for physics labs somewhere in the country, which is how I started. My first web dev project was a CRUD lab management application that went on to be used for years after they had bought a solution. That project really mattered and I hope to one day feel that kind of fulfillment from my code again.