In this power-packed episode of The Programming Podcast, Danny Thompson (Director of Technology at This Dot Labs) and Leon Noel (Managing Director of Engineering at Resilient Coders) break down everything you need to know to get your first job in tech.

We go deep on:

- Recruiter secrets

- Nailing behavioral interviews

- Technical interview mindset

- Salary negotiation mistakes

- Job hunt strategy

- Real stories from our own journeys

Whether you're just getting started or stuck mid-hunt, this episode is your ultimate job search survival guide—with no fluff, just the actionable truth.

We also share what it's like building free communities like 100Devs and Commit Your Code, why most people aren't prepared for their interviews, and how vibes (yes, vibes!) play a bigger role in hiring than you think.

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Danny Thompson

https://x.com/DThompsonDev

https://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDev

www.DThompsonDev.com

Leon Noel

https://x.com/leonnoel

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/

https://100devs.org/

📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?

Email us at [email protected]!

🎙️ Subscribe for more real talk about tech, careers, and making it in software.

⏱️ Timestamps / Chapters

00:00 – Intro: Why We’re Still Not Monetized

01:03 – Do NOT Sign Exclusive Recruiter Agreements

02:17 – Why Some Get Jobs Fast (And Most Don’t)

03:36 – Reflections on the Biggest Guest Episode Ever

05:00 – What Recruiters Really Do & Why They Can’t Mentor You

09:48 – How to Prepare for Interview #1

12:00 – What “Being One of the Two” Really Takes

14:45 – Honest Audit: Are You Actually Job Ready?

17:00 – How to Strategize Your Resume & LinkedIn for Interviews

21:00 – Behavioral Interview Tips That Actually Work

23:00 – The Power of “Tell Me About Yourself”

26:00 – Why You Must Research Companies Before Interviewing

28:00 – Turning Interviews into Conversations

30:00 – Asking the Right Questions (and the Wrong Ones)

34:00 – How to Practice Behavioral Interview Questions

36:00 – The Ball Rolling: Following Up the Smart Way

38:00 – Momentum is Everything (Don’t Overinvest in One Job)

40:00 – The Sales Mentality Behind a Successful Job Hunt

42:00 – Technical Interviews: Think Out Loud or Fail Silently

45:00 – The Real Point of the “Soft Tech / Half-Behavioral” Round

48:00 – Storytime: Danny’s YouTube Startup Interview

51:00 – Salary Negotiation on Your First Job

54:00 – Why Your 3rd Job Will Always Outpay Your First

58:00 – The Six-Figure First Job Trap (And Why It’s Misguided)

1:01:00 – Optimize for the Long Game, Not the Big Number

1:04:00 – Listener Question: Finding Your Why & Your Path

1:07:00 – Time Management & Tech as a Launchpad

1:10:00 – Why You’re Struggling with JavaScript Right Now

1:13:00 – Building Something Real While Still Learning

1:15:00 – Never Overpromise to Clients

1:17:00 – Why Motivation Won’t Save You—Discipline Will

1:18:20 – Wrap-Up & Final Thoughts