Beyond Coding: the Non-Technical Side of Tech with Tech Talk Founders
Jessie and Shantelle sit down with Roxanne and Joanna, the dynamic co-founders of Tech Talk, whose community has exploded to over 220,000 members across platforms. Discover how these two friends transformed their experiences in marketing, sales, and go-to-market strategy into a movement helping thousands break into the non-coding side of the tech industry.
The message is clear: tech needs much more than coders. Marketing, sales, operations, customer success, and countless other non-technical roles are essential to company growth—and with the right approach, you can position yourself as the perfect candidate, even in 2025's challenging job market.
The conversation delves into the dramatic shift in the tech job market post-pandemic, where remote work has flooded recruiters with thousands of applications for every position. Learn why simply submitting applications is no longer enough and how developing a multi-faceted strategy—including optimized LinkedIn profiles, strategic networking, and personal branding—has become essential for job seekers.
Roxanne and Joanna share invaluable insights on positioning yourself for success, explaining why making it "easy for recruiters" to see your value is crucial in today's competitive landscape. They break down the significant differences between working at startups, scale-ups, and established tech companies, offering guidance on which environment might best suit different career stages and working styles.
The hosts and guests also explore emerging trends in tech hiring, including the growing importance of online presence for customer-facing roles, the rise of AI-generated content in personal branding, and why culture fit has become the deciding factor in many hiring decisions. Whether you're looking to transition into tech from another industry, seeking to advance your current tech career, or simply curious about the non-technical opportunities in the technology sector, this episode provides actionable strategies from those who've successfully navigated these waters themselves.
Timestamps:
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction and meet our guests: Roxanne and Joanna
02:29 - The origin story of Tech Talk: Breaking the "tech = coding" assumption
05:53 - Building a tech community: Growth from 5,000 to 180,000+ followers
07:41 - The post-COVID job market: Too many applicants, not enough roles
09:53 - Job search strategies: Why cold applications alone don't work anymore
12:09 - Making recruiters' jobs easier: The "puzzle strategy" for applications
14:38 - Personal branding beyond LinkedIn: Internal reputation matters
16:00 - AI in personal branding: The automation of online presence
19:19 - Culture fit: The true deciding factor in hiring decisions
22:16 - Company size matters: Navigating startups vs. scale-ups vs. big tech
25:14 - The startup trade-off: Chaos, fires, and tremendous learning
27:44 - Big tech attraction: Prestige, safety, and compensation changes
30:00 - AI in applications: Helpful tool or harmful crutch?
32:15 - The rise of video resumes: Standing out in a crowded market
35:45 - Why impressive candidates still get rejected
39:00 - The hidden job market: How Roxanne landed a job that was never posted
42:46 - Why recruiters have stopped posting jobs publicly
45:00 - "Learn it all" vs. "Know it all": The mindset tech companies want
47:15 - Case studies: How companies really evaluate candidates
49:30 - Next episode preview
Tech careers, non-coding tech jobs, personal branding, tech job market, startup careers, scale-up companies, tech networking, LinkedIn optimization, tech community, tech influencers, culture fit, job applications, tech recruitment, career transitions
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