Any kind of "fit" should be a two-way street but it usually isn't (or maybe it's nine lane super highway one-direction and pitted gravel road in the other direction). They have lots of money that they might spend on your arguably good skill set. You have a bit of money you might use to hold out until one better fit comes along.
They (for a sad portion of "they") can afford crappy "fits" in terms of competence if it flatters them in one or another fashions or a person shows a willingness to throw umpteen hours into the cause. What can you afford?
> You have a bit of money you might use to hold out until one better fit comes along.
> What can you afford?
I've done contracting work in between W2 jobs. In the full swing of contracting I make ~25% more money but I prefer the stability and simplistically of working a full time salary position (guaranteed two paychecks a month, better health insurance, fully clocked out by 6pm). I absolutely won't go into a full time salary position unless the company and culture is a very good fit and the pay is competitive.
If you know how to code and have something that proves you do (CS degree, work history, github etc) you should never feel stuck at one place. If a company isn't treating you with excellence you can make more money as an independent contractor.
And the overall economic situation - I'm too young to have experience of the job market during the last recession but I can't imagine that switching jobs or starting a career was a great experience at the time.
They (for a sad portion of "they") can afford crappy "fits" in terms of competence if it flatters them in one or another fashions or a person shows a willingness to throw umpteen hours into the cause. What can you afford?