Don’t Just Apply — Stand Out: My Favorite AI Hacks for Job Seekers
The job market is tough — but AI can help you stand out. These are the tools and prompts that worked for me.
Long time, no write. It’s been a minute.
Since my last update, I’ve been deep in two worlds: mastering AI and figuring out how to use social media. Because here’s what no one tells you when you write a book:
Finishing the book is just the beginning. The real work is marketing. Building a brand. Creating a community. And honestly, I probably should’ve started all of that long before I hit publish.
It’s a chicken-and-egg thing:
You need a book to market it.
But you need a market to sell the book.
So here I am, learning in real time. Failing forward. AI has helped a lot, and so has finally understanding how social media works (and all the ways I’ve been getting it wrong).
The World Has Changed. So Have the Rules.
Since my last newsletter, a lot has shifted:
DEI is under pressure, and as a woman of color, I feel it.
The job market is tougher, especially if you’re trying to pivot into something new.
But here’s the silver lining. AI is leveling the playing field. It’s helping job seekers personalize their applications, stand out, and compete in ways that weren’t possible before.
There's also many ways to use AI badly and it's getting the scorn of overworked recruiters who are being overwhelmed with unqualified people while qualified people who don't know how to personalize their resumes effectively, aren't getting callbacks.
These are strange times we're living in.
That’s why my book and course matter more than ever.
One Thing I Keep Seeing
Too many people trying to change careers are still listing what they’ve done instead of tailoring their story to fit where they want to go.
Relevance beats experience every time. Especially now. Which is why I'm including an excerpt from my book, "Breaking Barriers: A Woman of Color’s Guide to Thriving in Tech (and Other) Sales.". After years in the making, I've poured every lesson, challenge, and triumph into these pages to empower women of color to join tech sales. and included a link to a FREE 5-day mini job course at the bottom. Below is the excerpt. I hope you enjoy it.
LinkedIn Optimization: I keep my profile up to date. Recruiters use LinkedIn and contact me even when I’m not “Open to Work.” I know the “Open to Work” button is controversial. Lifehacker wrote a good analysis of when to use it, when not, and why.
1. First, I optimized my headline. I plugged in the following prompt to ChatGPT: "Write me a keyword-optimized LinkedIn headline for a [job title] role." By the way, I’ve trained ChatGPT to copy my voice. It doesn’t quite get it, but it’s fun to read.
Empty Experience Section? I rarely had job descriptions as a volunteer, so I asked ChatGPT to help me make one. "Write a job description for a [role]." I chose "festival volunteer" for the role. It came close to the actual duties. Be sure to customize any achievements you have and any numbers you can provide (percentage increase, metrics, etc.). Companies love achievements broken into numbers. We're living in a keyword world, and as job seekers, we need every advantage we can get. On my LinkedIn profile, you can see what it came up with. While you’re there, why not hit the connect or follow button?
Keyword Optimization: ChatGPT can now make resumes (or LinkedIn profiles) better. "Please improve my LinkedIn experience section for [job title], using the following experience." Then copy and paste your profile. It took my existing job responsibilities, used popular keywords, and drew attention to my skills. You’ll likely have to tweak it, but it will give you some good ideas.
Open to Work: After I finish redoing my work experience, I want to make it easy for employers to find me. To do this, I click on "Me" in the upper right corner and then "View Profile" from the drop-down menu. Next, I click on the "Open to" button below my fan count and choose "Finding a new job" from the drop-down menu.
Networking Prompt: For your preferred AI, here's a prompt: "Write a short and thoughtful LinkedIn networking message to [type of person—e.g., 'a woman in tech leadership,' 'a fellow sales professional,' or 'someone working in AI ethics'].
I want to connect because [insert reason—e.g., 'I'm inspired by their work,' 'we share a mission around diversity in tech,' or 'I'm exploring a similar career path'].
Here's a bit about me: [insert 1–2 sentences on your role, goals, or background].
Keep it warm, authentic, and under 500 characters if possible."*
When I turned on the "Open to Work" filter, many employers found me. Because I post on LinkedIn daily, I now receive several monthly job requests for individual contributor roles, even when I'm not looking. I want this for you, too.
Ready to Stand Out in Tech (or Anywhere Else)?
📘 Breaking Barriers: A Woman of Color’s Guide to Thriving in Tech Sales is more than a book. It’s a roadmap for navigating the industry, owning your voice, and building a career with impact — on your terms. Get the book here.
🎯 Want a FREE head start? Grab my Free 5-Day Job Search Jumpstart mini course — a daily email series with AI hacks, resume tips, and mindset shifts to help you land the role you want.
Let’s get you in the room — and at the table.
--Victoria