Resilience in Job Searching: Sales vs. Software Development

Want to get hired faster? Start thinking like a salesperson.

Developers often struggle with the job search—not because they lack skills, but because they don’t know how to sell themselves. Meanwhile, ex-salespeople seem to land jobs faster, even with less experience. What’s their secret?

In this episode, Jeremy Smith shares how his background in sales gave him an unfair advantage when breaking into tech (without a CS degree or even a high school diploma). From handling rejection like a pro to networking the right way, we break down five key lessons that can help you stop spinning your wheels and finally land a dev job.

Why rejection is just part of the process—and how to get over it

The “numbers game” of job hunting (most devs quit too soon)

Why networking beats cold applications every time

How to position yourself as a top candidate—even if you’re self-taught

Why urgency & persistence will get you hired faster than perfect code

You can connect with Jeremy here:

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Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian-look-a-like)