Devs Are Losing Job Offers Due to THESE Common Mistakes!

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 journeysWhether 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.NEW SITE https://www.programmingpodcast.com/Stay in Touch:📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?Email us at [email protected]!Danny Thompsonhttps://x.com/DThompsonDevhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDevwww.DThompsonDev.comLeon Noelhttps://x.com/leonnoelhttps://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 / Chapters00:00 – Intro: Why We’re Still Not Monetized01:03 – Do NOT Sign Exclusive Recruiter Agreements02:17 – Why Some Get Jobs Fast (And Most Don’t)03:36 – Reflections on the Biggest Guest Episode Ever05:00 – What Recruiters Really Do & Why They Can’t Mentor You09:48 – How to Prepare for Interview #112:00 – What “Being One of the Two” Really Takes14:45 – Honest Audit: Are You Actually Job Ready?17:00 – How to Strategize Your Resume & LinkedIn for Interviews21:00 – Behavioral Interview Tips That Actually Work23:00 – The Power of “Tell Me About Yourself”26:00 – Why You Must Research Companies Before Interviewing28:00 – Turning Interviews into Conversations30:00 – Asking the Right Questions (and the Wrong Ones)34:00 – How to Practice Behavioral Interview Questions36:00 – The Ball Rolling: Following Up the Smart Way38:00 – Momentum is Everything (Don’t Overinvest in One Job)40:00 – The Sales Mentality Behind a Successful Job Hunt42:00 – Technical Interviews: Think Out Loud or Fail Silently45:00 – The Real Point of the “Soft Tech / Half-Behavioral” Round48:00 – Storytime: Danny’s YouTube Startup Interview51:00 – Salary Negotiation on Your First Job54:00 – Why Your 3rd Job Will Always Outpay Your First58:00 – The Six-Figure First Job Trap (And Why It’s Misguided)1:01:00 – Optimize for the Long Game, Not the Big Number1:04:00 – Listener Question: Finding Your Why & Your Path1:07:00 – Time Management & Tech as a Launchpad1:10:00 – Why You’re Struggling with JavaScript Right Now1:13:00 – Building Something Real While Still Learning1:15:00 – Never Overpromise to Clients1:17:00 – Why Motivation Won’t Save You—Discipline Will1:18:20 – Wrap-Up & Final Thoughts