The State of Hiring and Jobs in Elixir with Greg Medland

In Season 15 episode 3, Charles Suggs sits down with Greg Medland, aka “The Elixir Fixer,” to talk about the current state of hiring and the software jobs market in 2026.   Greg shares what he’s seeing from both sides of the hiring process as an Elixir-focused recruiter, from shifting company expectations to the growing importance of specialization, communication skills, and real-world product thinking. We discuss how the market has changed since the 2021–2022 hiring boom, why things feel more uncertain today, and how developers are adapting to a slower, more competitive landscape.   The conversation also explores how AI is affecting hiring workflows, résumé quality, technical interviews, and even the rise of fraudulent candidates. Greg explains why human relationships and reputation still matter more than ever, especially in smaller ecosystems like Elixir where community connections carry real weight.   Along the way, we talk about what junior developers are up against, why senior engineers with domain expertise continue to stand out, and what developers can do to position themselves more effectively in today’s market. Greg shares practical advice for building a sustainable career, developing a clear professional identity, and navigating a rapidly changing industry.   Topics discussed in this episode: The current state of the Elixir job market Hiring trends and market shifts since 2021–2022 How AI is changing hiring and recruiting workflows Fraudulent candidates and AI-generated résumés Domain expertise vs. generalist engineering skills Product thinking and customer-focused development What companies are looking for in 2026 Junior developer challenges in the current market Why senior specialists remain in demand Networking and relationship-building in tech Open source contributions and visibility in the Elixir community Standing out in a crowded hiring environment Résumé quality and application strategies The role of personal branding for developers Remote work trends and geographic hiring patterns Technical interview expectations and evaluation changes Startup vs. enterprise hiring differences Human connection in an increasingly automated industry Career resilience and long-term positioning Building a sustainable software engineering career   Links mentioned: Socially Responsible Recruitment https://sr2rec.com/ Greg’s LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/elixirfixer/ Greg's email address: [email protected]