I do almost all of that stuff (except going to meetups because...) but location matters the most. I live in a small town in India, and I would like to work, but we don't have the kind of job I would like to do here. No one writes good software, there is no startup culture. People here need someone to maintain old java code or write some mundane portfolio website. I need a startup or a proper tech company with products, market, that has exciting cool stuff to work on, I would be more of an intern, but location is I believe the most important factor. I even got a couple of emails back but they declined because they were not supporting visas. But's that's alright, I am not too keen on leaving the country either.

Either it makes sense to have the kind of company you speak of in your area or it doesn't. If it does, start one and you have found yourself a nice niche.

Ashok, is that you?

I am not actually. I guess there are many people in situation like me. haha

join thoughtworks. you will find what you need!

"wear a t shirt and jeans"

I was always told "dress one level above the job you're applying for". Is that different in the tech world or the startup world?

I don't know, I think it's different if you are applying for a job in a big corporation or for a smaller firm/startup. Bigger firms will usually have a more strict dress code (the place where I currently work short pants are frowned upon, except in case of system integrators)

In both cases I usually go for jeans/shirt combo (but not a t-shirt, bigger firms/older people find it unprofessional in my experience), but that's just me.

When people say "dress one level above the job you're applying for", I can't help to imagine what the levels are. I came up with something like this, from high to low:

- 3 piece suit

- 2 piece suit with tie

- 2 piece suit, no tie

- suit pants and dress shirt

- khaki's and dress shirt

- jeans and dress shirt

- jeans and t-shirt

- shorts and t-shirt

- stained shorts and wife beater shirt

I always wonder where the bow tie fits in though, or are they just always inappropriate?

Bow ties are generally considered formal evening wear, not business attire, much like tuxedos.

I'd also actually put the 2 piece suit with tie over a 3 piece suit (with or without tie) in terms of formality/business-attire-ness: 3 piece suits are also not traditional business wear, while 2 piece suit+tie is the IBM/'50s iconic business look, and what you'd see most CEOs/etc. wearing.

I think they mean one level above you in the hierarchy. What are the managers in the company wearing?

I think he meant in general, not at the interview (though more senior people can get away with it in the interview too).