Dear [Software Engineering]

You learned to code because they told you to. Now, the entry-level coding job is gone and the new bar is "can you build a whole app and make it cool?"

Clara talks with Chip Huyen, author of AI Engineering and a founder building in AI and robotics, and Swizec Teller, Tech Lead at biotech startup Plasmidsaurus, about what they actually look for in new grad engineers in 2026.

What does an entry-level engineer look like now that AI writes the code? Chip and Swizec break down the new AI-assisted interview, why most hackathon projects look identical, the kind of side project that actually opens doors, and the mentors worth finding before AI talks you into a bad bet.

If you're applying to software roles right now and getting nowhere, this episode calls out what changed.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch on YouTube @dearCChq

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