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