Unhelpful

I’ve worked in three spheres of the economy: military, the finance industry, and the tech industry.

One of the key differences is who gives you free clothes:

In the military, you get a few full outfits early on, but after that, the free stuff peters out quick.

In the finance industry, the free clothes angle is very light. Some might not see any at all, and you’d probably best consider yourself lucky if you get a polo t-shirt with your company’s logo on it.

The key to getting clothing and not paying for it is to get into the tech industry. There are companies who will not only clothe you to purchase their products, they’ll clothe you just to read their boxed advertising materials.

There’s a tacit gentlemanly agreement that a casual clothing work environment engenders: I will wear your stuff.

That’s it, frankly. I will wear your stuff, providing I don’t actually loathe your product or your company. I merely prefer another product? I’ll wear you. I tried your product once, and honestly didn’t care for it? I’ll wear you. I’ve never heard of you? I’ll wear you.

One of the advantages (aside from the obvious) is finding out that some company has, out of the kindness of their hearts, decided to push back your laundry day by one day. The only disadvantage to this gravy train of free clothes in the tech industry is that it’s almost completely limited to t-shirts. I know the obvious followup here: “it’s the one thing we can send in extra large and not look ridiculous if it’s too big”

Honestly, I don’t mean to sound like an ingrateful bastard, but this bears re-stating in a more direct manner: