15 years experience coding mostly full-stack web apps. Some native C/C++ with QT framework and SQLite. I am the type of engineer who can pick up new languages and frameworks and quickly come up to speed. My passion is working on software that genuinely helps people and is delightful to use.
In my job search, I am optimizing for a good cultural fit. I enjoy working on challenging problems, but more so I love working with smart people who want to do quality work and care about the details. I understand the balance between ideal code and getting software shipped. I like working within a development process that facilitates a tight feedback loop of developing new features and getting feedback. Call it agile, call it whatever.
Thank you all for the great advice. I think the cash out of the 401K idea is really a reaction to how miserable my current position is. The culture is terrible and I want out, now. So I'm going to use my vacation time to send out a ton of resumes, practice some coding puzzles, and hack away on some code that I can provide as polished, well thought out work.
I did apply for a job at Twitter months back, but failed miserably at the two 45 minute online "coding to solve a puzzle" interviews. I was nervous, and also was opposed to that style of interviewing, and it did not do well.
I realize I need to get over it, and just accept that some shops may interview that way. It may let me know that it may not be the place for me, or open a door to a good opportunity.
The number one thing for me is culture. That the culture works for me. For any company that I am seriously considering, I will request working on a small project with the team before I accept any offer. If I had done that for my current position, I would have never come on board.
The "not allowed" refers to sharing some of the best code I've written. I find it hard to reproduce that quality of code in a 45 minute code puzzle, like the time I interview for Twitter.