Dive deep into the realities of technical interviews, networking, and the mindset needed to land a job in tech.We break down real-world one-on-one coaching experiences, analyze why some candidates struggle despite getting interviews, and share practical strategies to level up your job search and technical prep.
🚀 What You'll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ Why networking gets you interviews, but skills land the job
✔️ The importance of coffee chats & how to get them
✔️ How to approach technical interviews (LeetCode, system design & more)
✔️ The one mistake that keeps candidates from getting hired
✔️ Mindset shifts that separate successful job seekers from the rest
0:00 - Intro: Welcome to The Programming Podcast!
0:48 - Meet your hosts: Danny Thompson & Leon Noel
1:21 - Behind-the-scenes: Our approach to unscripted podcasting
2:19 - How networking is the secret weapon for job seekers
4:26 - The power of real-world projects – How to stand out in interviews
7:33 - Why most personal projects fail to impress hiring managers
9:59 - Technical interview mistakes that cost you the job
11:21 - Sponsor
12:26 - The importance of coffee chats & how to make them work
16:00 - Success stories: Breaking out of your comfort zone
20:27 - Why just applying online won’t work (and what to do instead)
25:30 - How to fix your LeetCode & technical interview struggles
31:28 - Breaking the “No Degree” barrier – What companies really mean
37:41 - DSA strategy: The only 14 patterns you need to know
42:00 - How to communicate effectively in a coding interview
46:10 - Ask Danny & Leon: Avoiding burnout & time management tips
52:00 - Final thoughts: The real grind behind success
