[dfxm12]

When I go on a job interview, I'm interviewing the company as much as they are interviewing me. I've turned down a handful of job offers because their "workplace culture" wasn't what I was looking for. Some were way too dry, some were too much like what you describe above.

Of course, I'm not near an SF/NYC/Berlin type of "scene" though. Is the problem that every good job opening in these hotbeds is with a start up that has this type of culture?

[brightsize]

I can't of course say that every startup company has this sort of culture, but my impression is that most small tech companies in startup hotbeds lean in the direction I describe. The sort of startups that catch my attention seem either to have such cultures or be straining to have them. They seem to think that hipster/dorm atmosphere is important for recruiting (the kind of people they want – 23 year-olds) and actively strive to create, maintain, and advertise it.