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.
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
