How To Get Your First Job In Tech As A Software Developer - The Programming Podcast

In this episode of The Programming Podcast, Danny Thompson (Director of Technology at This Dot Labs) and Leon Noel (Managing Director of Engineering for Resilient Coders & Founder of 100 Devs) explain why the old days of “just apply online and hope” are gone. They break down how local networking opens doors, what your portfolio should really showcase (hint: not just YouTube tutorials), and why you should highlight impact over tasks on your resume. If you’re feeling stuck or unsure about how to stand out among millions of devs, this conversation is for you. Listen to The Programming Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, or anywhere else you listen to podcasts! Spotify link https://open.spotify.com/show/6d59PZ138KeoKfq5hoVvyQ 📧 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 CommitYourCode.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]! Chapters & Timestamps 0:00 Why Local Matters & Getting Started 1:02 Meet Danny & Leon 2:31 Training to Get Hired vs. Becoming a Problem Solver 3:53 Local Networking vs. Competing Globally 7:21 Playing the Hiring “Game” 8:55 Market Shifts & The End of Instant Hires 11:00 Building Projects That Show Real Value 14:17 Networking & Overcoming Self-Doubt 19:08 Leveraging Meetups & Standing Out 22:00 Transforming YouTube Tutorials into Original Work 26:41 Freelancing & Authentic Client Projects 28:39 Resume Tips: Highlighting Impact, Not Duties 33:40 Future Topics & Wrap-Up