What We Were Up To This Weekend: Carolina Code Conference

This past weekend, our team was proud to be part of the Carolina Code Conference, an event that brings together builders, engineers, and leaders from across the Carolinas.

Co-Founder Blake Coleman spoke on How AI is Reshaping Hiring, Job Searching, and Careers. Meanwhile, Co-Founder Penn Sanders and Head of Research & Innovation Sam Sanders volunteered, greeting attendees and pitching in wherever an extra hand was needed.

This event is one that should be on every software engineer’s calendar, at least on a regional level.

A Community Worth Celebrating

What stood out most this weekend was not just the focus on AI, coding, or the future of work. It was the sense of community.

Organizer Barry Jones deserves a heap of credit. Pulling off an event of this size and quality is no small task, and Barry made it look seamless. Even with a few last-minute speaker changes, he kept things smooth and set the tone by recognizing five selfless contributors to our tech community – people who consistently give back without asking for recognition. That moment captured what this conference is really about.

And Barry wasn’t alone. The volunteers, MCs, speakers, and sponsors all made the event possible. And let’s not forget the attendees. No attendees, no event. The questions, hallway conversations, after-hours events, and new friendships are what gave the conference its heartbeat.

It takes all of us – organizers, volunteers, speakers, sponsors, and attendees – to create something that feels this connected, welcoming, and inspiring. This weekend proved just how strong the Carolina tech community really is.

What We Shared

Blake’s talk focused on how AI is already reshaping the hiring landscape:

Resumes at scale. AI-generated applications are flooding job postings, leaving employers overwhelmed.
AI in interviews. Deepfakes and real-time coaching bots are changing how candidates approach interviews.
Wage trends. Tech salaries are flattening after years of rapid growth, with AI/ML skills as the big exception.
Automation in hiring. From avatar-led interviews to AI resume screeners, companies are taking the human out of the process in ways that feel colder.

Advice for Job Seekers

We shared practical ways to adapt and stand out:

Use AI to assist, not replace you. Semi-automate, but keep your authentic voice.
Treat your resume like modules. Tailor each part to the job description.
Build meaningful connections. Reach out to CTOs, founders, and engineering leaders.
Show growth. Employers want evidence you are learning and adapting.
Write personalized cover letters. They still work when they are specific and genuine.

Looking Ahead

We also encouraged job seekers to focus on skills that will matter most in the coming years:

Hugging Face, open source LLMs, LangChain, vector databases
Spec-driven development and human in the loop systems
DevOps, testing, security, and context engineering
AI-powered prototyping and product experimentation

Why It Mattered

For us, the Carolina Code Conference was about more than presentations. It was about celebrating a community that shows up, volunteers, sponsors, speaks, mentors, and attends. Everyone has a role, and together it creates something bigger than any single talk or session.

A big thank you again to Barry Jones, the volunteers, the MCs, the speakers, the sponsors, and of course the attendees who made the Carolina Code Conference possible. We left inspired, encouraged, and proud to be part of such a generous and growing tech community.