Joint Meetup: Landing the Job: Real Talk from Both Sides of the Table

Join us for our first meetup of 2026, a joint event hosted by REFACTR.TECH, ATL JavaScript, React ATL, and Modern Web.

We’ll kick things off with a career panel on The Current State of the Job Search, featuring perspectives from across the hiring landscape. Hear from folks on both sides of the table as they share insights on current hiring trends, in-demand skill sets, and practical ways to stand out in today’s market.

Panelists include:

• Calypso Hernandez, Executive Operations & Strategy Lead at This Dot Labs (MODERATOR)
• Kelly Vaughn, Sr. Engineering Manager at Zapier
• Debi Creasman, Managing Partner at Insure Technology
• More panelists to be announced

After the panel, we’re excited to host a deep-dive session with Jerome Hardaway, Founder of Vets Who Code. Jerome will walk through his critically acclaimed framework, A Detailed and Systematic Approach to Getting a Software Engineering Job. This session goes beyond generic advice, offering a clear, step-by-step roadmap covering everything from optimizing your GitHub and LinkedIn presence to highlighting your experience and networking with intention.

Whether you’re breaking into tech or planning your next move, you’ll leave with concrete, proven strategies you can actually use.

Agenda

• 6:30 PM: Food, drinks, and networking
• 7:00 PM: The Current State of the Job Search (Career Panel)
• 7:45 PM: A Detailed and Systematic Approach to Getting a Software Engineering Job with Jerome Hardaway

Good to know

• Food & drinks provided
• Parking: Metered street parking available on Spring St and surrounding streets. Paid garages nearby include Tech Square Deck and the CODA building.
• Transit-friendly: Near MARTA Midtown station.

Everyone participating in the REFACTR.TECH conference, events and Discord/Slack community—including, but not limited to attendees, speakers, sponsors and volunteers at REFACTR.TECH, are required to agree to the following code of conduct. Organizers will enforce this code throughout the event.