Kinda new player!

[MistakeNot]

To get a job (except for the HW jobs) you need to be level 30 in the main class for that job, and level 15 in a secondary class. You also need to have finished the level 20 Main Scenario Quest "Sylph Management"
For Summoner the requirements are level 30 Arcanist and level 15 Thaumaturge.

The small colors indicate what color the gear is. Many pieces can be dyed to change their color. (There is a quest in Vesper Bay that will unlock dyeing.)

Materia are items which can be added to gear to give extra points on certain stats. Materia can be obtained by converting gear with 100% Spiritbond. There is a goblin in the northern part of Central Thanalan that can teach you how to do this. If you want to do the actual melding yourself you need to have enough levels in some crafting class. (The level 20 crafter quests direct you to that goblin.) As a recent change there are also NPCs in the trade areas of the main cities that can help with melding.

You can only be in one Free Company at a time. There are also Linkshells (LS) that are essentially private chat channels. You can be in up to 8 linkshells.

No global chat

To get your chocobo companion to fight beside you, you will have to do the level 30 quest "My Feisty Little Chocobo". It can be picked up at Camp Tranquil in the South Shroud. (There is a level 30 MSQ which will send you there.)