The Programming Podcast

HUGE Software Developer Mistakes That COST You Job Opportunities!


Listen Later

In this episode, Danny Thompson (Director of Technology at This Dot Labs) and Leon Noel (Managing Director of Engineering at Resilient Coders and Founder of 100Devs) dive deep into how to stand out in today’s competitive tech job market. They discuss common mistakes, the importance of qualifying yourself before you even get to the technical interview, the power of referrals, and what hiring managers are really looking for.

They also share practical tips on:
Customizing your résumé for every job application
Leveraging LinkedIn and networking strategically
Building real, impactful projects instead of generic tutorials
Using volunteering and freelancing to strengthen your credibility
Navigating Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
If you’re frustrated by endless applications and zero callbacks, this conversation is a must-watch. It’s time to learn how to play the game—rather than be mad at it—and land that role you’ve been dreaming about!
Highlights:
Why being “mad at the game” isn’t going to help (and what to do instead)
How to ensure your résumé, GitHub, and portfolio align with your desired role
Why networking and asking for genuine referrals can change your career
The importance of real-world projects and problem-solving in your job hunt
A preview of the Commit Your Code Conference, benefitting charitable causes
📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?
Email us at [email protected]!
Danny Thompson
https://x.com/DThompsonDev
https://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDev
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]!
Chapter Timestamps
0:00 – Intro & “Learn to Play the Game”
0:36 – Meet Danny & Leon
1:07 – Why Job Seekers Are Frustrated
2:03 – Common Mistakes with Résumés & Portfolios
3:19 – How to Stand Out Quickly
5:00 – Why Generic Projects Hurt You
9:02 – Referrals & Building Proof
11:45 – De-Risking Yourself for Recruiters
14:01 – Freelancing vs. Volunteering vs. Open Source
18:02 – Networking & Meetups: The Game-Changer
24:00 – ATS: Applicant Tracking Systems Explained
26:57 – Customizing Your Résumé (Stop Spray & Pray!)
32:01 – Insights from CEOs & CTOs on Hiring
36:02 – Qualifying Yourself Beyond Skills
38:04 – Commit Your Code Conference & Final Thoughts
39:55 – Wrap-Up & Next Episode Preview

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Programming PodcastBy The Programming Podcast

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

65 ratings


More shows like The Programming Podcast

View all
Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Freakonomics Radio

32,143 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,732 Listeners

Marketplace by Marketplace

Marketplace

8,764 Listeners

Software Engineering Radio by se-radio@computer.org

Software Engineering Radio

273 Listeners

The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source by Changelog Media

The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source

292 Listeners

Software Engineering Daily by Software Engineering Daily

Software Engineering Daily

624 Listeners

Talk Python To Me by Michael Kennedy

Talk Python To Me

585 Listeners

Syntax - Tasty Web Development Treats by Wes Bos & Scott Tolinski - Full Stack JavaScript Web Developers

Syntax - Tasty Web Development Treats

983 Listeners

The freeCodeCamp Podcast by freeCodeCamp.org

The freeCodeCamp Podcast

483 Listeners

CoRecursive: Coding Stories by Adam Gordon Bell - Software Developer

CoRecursive: Coding Stories

189 Listeners

Practical AI by Practical AI LLC

Practical AI

212 Listeners

My First Million by Hubspot Media

My First Million

2,633 Listeners

The Stack Overflow Podcast by The Stack Overflow Podcast

The Stack Overflow Podcast

62 Listeners

The Startup Ideas Podcast by Greg Isenberg

The Startup Ideas Podcast

206 Listeners

The AI Daily Brief: Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis by Nathaniel Whittemore

The AI Daily Brief: Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

591 Listeners