Part 2 of the Job Hunting in the AI Age series
Your resume is probably getting you ghosted.
Not because you’re unqualified. Not because the market is tough. But because you’re speaking a language that hiring managers stopped listening to three years ago.
We get dozens of resumes a week. Let me show you what I mean.
The Resume That Gets Ignored
Here’s what most people send:
Marketing Manager
ABC Company, 2019-2024
- Managed social media accounts across multiple platforms
- Created content for blog and email marketing
- Coordinated with design team on campaign materials
- Tracked analytics and reported on performance
- 10+ years of experience in digital marketing
Looks fine, right?
It’s also why you’re not getting callbacks.
The Resume That Gets Interviews
Here’s the 2025 version:
Marketing Leader | Driving 40% Revenue Growth Through AI-Powered Campaign Optimization
ABC Company, 2019-2024
- Grew Instagram audience 300% in 6 months by implementing AI-assisted content testing and optimization workflows (Claude for research, Canva AI for rapid design iteration)
- Reduced content production time 60% while improving quality through strategic AI integration – maintained editorial oversight while automating first drafts and SEO optimization
- Generated $2.3M in pipeline from thought leadership content by using AI analysis of 10K+ customer reviews to identify high-impact topics
- Built automated reporting system that cut weekly analytics work from 6 hours to 20 minutes, freeing team for strategic initiatives
See the difference?
It’s not about listing what you did. It’s about proving you can deliver exponential results with modern tools.
Why Everything Changed
Here’s what happened while you weren’t looking:
2020-2021: AI is for tech companies and data scientists
2022: ChatGPT launches, everyone experiments
2023: Early adopters integrate AI into workflows
2024: AI becomes table stakes
2025: You’re competing against people who 10x their output with AI
The hiring manager reading your resume? They’re using Claude to screen applications, ChatGPT to write job descriptions, and AI to analyze candidate patterns.
They’re not looking for someone who might adapt to AI.
They’re looking for someone who’s already adapted.
The Three Pillars of Modern Positioning
Pillar 1: LinkedIn That Actually Works
Your LinkedIn is not your resume. It’s your 24/7 billboard.
The headline formula that works:
[Role] | [Specific Result] Through [Modern Approach]
Examples:
- “Sales Leader | $5M in New Revenue Through AI-Powered Prospecting & Personalization”
- “Product Manager | 40% Faster Shipping Through Data-Driven Prioritization”
- “Customer Success Manager | 95% Retention Through Proactive AI-Powered Health Scoring”
What to add to your profile RIGHT NOW:
- Featured section – Your best work. Not just job descriptions.
- Case study showing your process
- Article you wrote demonstrating expertise
- Project with measurable results
- GitHub portfolio (yes, even if you’re not a developer)
- About section – Tell your story in first person
- Lead with your superpower: “I help B2B SaaS companies turn customer data into retention strategies”
- Include your approach: “By combining traditional analytics with AI-powered insight extraction…”
- Add social proof: “In my last role, this approach reduced churn by 23%”
- End with what you’re looking for (if actively searching)
- Skills section – But make it smart
- DON’T: List “AI” or “ChatGPT” as standalone skills
- DO: List skills showing AI integration: “AI-Powered Content Strategy”, “Automated Campaign Optimization”, “Data Analysis with AI Assistance”
- Experience section – Every bullet = Impact
- Start with the result (number, percentage, outcome)
- Explain the approach (including tools/AI)
- Keep it scannable (3-5 bullets per role)
Activity that signals you’re current:
Post once a week. Not motivational quotes. Not company news.
Post about:
- Something you learned (shows growth mindset)
- A problem you solved (demonstrates expertise)
- An industry trend you’re watching (shows you’re paying attention)
- A tool or technique you’re experimenting with (signals adaptability)
Engage 10 minutes daily:
- Comment meaningfully on 3-5 posts from your target industry
- Like and share content from people at companies you want to work for
- Answer questions in your area of expertise
Social media algorithms reward consistency over virility. Show up regularly.
Pillar 2: The Resume Rebuild
Stop organizing by responsibilities. Start organizing by impact.
Traditional resume structure:
Role → Company → Dates → Bullet list of tasks
Modern resume structure:
Role + Value Proposition → Company → Dates → Bullet list of quantified results with methods
The formula for every bullet point:
[Action Verb] + [Specific Result] + [Time Frame] + [Method/Tool Used] + [Context if needed]
Examples:
❌ “Managed customer success team”
✅ “Led 8-person CS team to 95% retention (up from 78%) over 12 months by implementing AI-powered health scoring and proactive outreach system”
❌ “Improved sales processes”
✅ “Increased deal close rate 34% in Q1 by building automated lead scoring model (Claude for analysis, HubSpot for implementation)”
❌ “Created marketing content”
✅ “Generated 50K+ organic impressions monthly by leveraging AI for topic research and SEO optimization while maintaining brand voice and editorial oversight”
The AI tools section:
Add a small section near your skills showing your actual toolkit:
Tools & Technologies:
- Content & Analysis: Claude, ChatGPT, Jasper
- Design: Figma, Canva, Midjourney
- Automation: Zapier, Make, GitHub Actions
- Analytics: Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Tableau
- CRM/Productivity: Salesforce, HubSpot, Notion
Don’t just list them. Reference them in your accomplishments.
Format matters:
- ATS-friendly (no fancy formatting)
- PDF only (unless explicitly asked for .docx)
- One page if you have <10 years experience
- Two pages if you have 10+ years (but make every word count)
- Clear section headers
- Consistent formatting throughout
- White space for readability
Version control:
You need MULTIPLE versions:
- Master resume – Everything you’ve ever done (private, for reference)
- Industry-specific versions – Emphasize relevant experience
- Role-specific versions – Tailored to job family (IC vs management, technical vs strategic)
- Company-specific versions – Customized for each serious application
Use a tool like Teal HQ to manage versions. Use Claude to help customize each version.
Pillar 3: Portfolio That Proves It
“But I’m not a developer…”
Doesn’t matter. Everyone needs a portfolio now.
What goes in your portfolio:
For marketers:
- Campaign case studies (anonymized if needed)
- Content samples showing range
- Analytics dashboards you built
- Strategy decks (remove sensitive data)
For salespeople:
- Sales playbooks you created
- Email sequences that converted
- Objection handling frameworks
- Territory planning approach
For customer success:
- Customer health scoring model
- Onboarding process you designed
- Training materials you created
- Case study of account turnaround
For operations/analysts:
- Process diagrams showing improvements
- Data visualizations you built
- Automation workflows
- Before/after efficiency metrics
For anyone:
- Documentation proving you can communicate
- Examples of tools/templates you made
- Evidence of learning (blog posts, LinkedIn articles)
- Open source contributions (even small ones)
GitHub: Not Just for Developers
Here’s what most people don’t realize: GitHub is a portfolio platform for anyone who creates digital work.
Why GitHub matters:
- It’s social proof – “Show me your GitHub” is the new “show me your resume”
- It’s free hosting – GitHub Pages = free portfolio website
- It shows consistency – Your contribution graph proves you ship work
- It’s discoverable – Recruiters search GitHub actively
- It demonstrates modern skills – Understanding Git/GitHub signals technical literacy
What to put on GitHub (non-developers):
- Portfolio website – Your resume, case studies, contact info
- Templates you’ve created – Email sequences, spreadsheets, frameworks
- Documentation – Processes, guides, training materials
- Data analysis projects – Even simple CSV → insights projects
- Learning in public – Notes, tutorials, resources you’ve compiled
Quick GitHub setup:
- Create account (use professional photo, complete bio)
- Create “yourusername.github.io” repository
- Add a simple index.html with your info (use a template)
- Pin your 3-6 best repositories to your profile
- Write README files that explain WHAT and WHY
- Add topics/tags so people can discover your work
Advanced move: GitHub Actions
Show you understand automation by using GitHub Actions:
- Auto-update your portfolio with your latest blog posts
- Schedule weekly data pulls from APIs (stocks, weather, etc.)
- Auto-generate your resume from a JSON file
- Create automated reports
Even if you don’t write the code yourself (use AI to help), the fact that you SET IT UP shows modern thinking.
Link it everywhere:
- LinkedIn profile (custom URL section)
- Resume (if space allows)
- Email signature
- Portfolio site footer
The Application Strategy
Now that your positioning is tight, here’s how to actually apply:
The old way (doesn’t work):
- See job posting
- Send same resume to 50 jobs
- Hope for the best
The new way (actually works):
- Find 10-15 quality opportunities per week
- LinkedIn Jobs (within 24 hours of posting)
- Company career pages directly
- Warm referrals from network
- Startup job boards (Wellfound, Otta)
- Research each opportunity (15 minutes)
- Company website + recent news
- LinkedIn posts from company/team
- Glassdoor reviews (patterns, not rants)
- Find the hiring manager on LinkedIn
- Customize your application (20 minutes) Use this Claude prompt:
I'm applying for [role] at [company]. Here's the job description: [paste] Here's my background: [paste resume] Please: 1. Identify the top 5 ways my experience aligns 2. Highlight any gaps I should address 3. Suggest which accomplishments to emphasize 4. Recommend any specific language from the JD I should mirror - Adjust your resume
- Reorder bullets to match their priorities
- Mirror their language (but authentically)
- Add any relevant projects they might not see
- Write a real cover letter (yes, really) Most people skip cover letters. That’s your opportunity. Structure that works:Paragraph 1: Show you’ve done research “I noticed [Company] recently [specific thing from news/LinkedIn], which aligns with my experience [specific relevant experience from your background].” Paragraph 2: Demonstrate modern thinking “In my last role, I [specific achievement with numbers] by [approach including AI/modern tools]. I see [Company] is focused on [their stated goal from JD], and I’d approach this challenge by [brief strategic thought].” Paragraph 3: Make it easy to say yes “I’ve attached [specific portfolio piece or case study] that demonstrates my approach to [relevant skill from JD]. I’d welcome the opportunity to discuss how I could contribute to [specific team or initiative they mentioned].” Use AI to draft. Edit heavily for authenticity. They can spot pure AI writing.
- Track everything Use Notion, Airtable, or Huntr to track:
- Company name
- Role
- Date applied
- Hiring manager (if found)
- Customizations made
- Status
- Follow-up dates
- Notes
- Follow up strategically
- Day 5-7: Check application status
- Day 10-14: LinkedIn message to hiring manager (if you found them)
- Day 21: Final check-in before moving on
The Cover Letter in 2025
“Cover letters are dead” is bad advice from people who write bad cover letters. I can’t emphasis this enough. If I don’t get one, I don’t read your resume. I’ll show you why.
Good cover letters are powerful because:
- So few people write them
- They let you show personality
- They demonstrate research
- They prove you can communicate
- They give context for your resume
Bad cover letter:
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am writing to express my interest in the Marketing Manager position at your company. I have over 10 years of experience in marketing and believe I would be a strong fit for this role. I am skilled in social media, content creation, and analytics.
I am a hard worker and team player. I would love the opportunity to bring my skills to your organization.
Please see my attached resume for more details.
Sincerely,
[Name]
Good cover letter:
Hi [Hiring Manager Name],
I've been following [Company]'s evolution in the [industry] space, and your recent launch of [specific product/feature] caught my attention—particularly how you're approaching [specific strategy they're using].
This aligns perfectly with work I did at [Previous Company], where I increased [specific metric] by [percentage] over [time period]. The challenge was similar: [brief context]. I approached it by [your strategy], leveraging [specific tools/approach] while keeping [important principle] at the center.
Looking at [Company]'s trajectory and the challenges mentioned in the job description, I see opportunities to [specific strategy you'd employ]. I've documented a similar approach in this case study: [link to portfolio piece].
I'd love to explore how my experience with [specific relevant area] could support [specific team/goal from job description].
Best,
[Name]
See the difference?
The good one:
- Uses the hiring manager’s name (you found it on LinkedIn)
- References something specific about the company
- Leads with results, not generic qualities
- Shows your thinking process
- Links to proof
- Makes it conversational, not formal
- Gives them a specific discussion topic
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Mistake 1: The generic resume Sending the same resume to every job is like wearing the same outfit to every occasion. It may be technically covered, but it is not optimized.
Mistake 2: Hiding your AI usage They know you use AI. They use AI. Show how you use it strategically.
Mistake 3: No portfolio “My work is confidential” isn’t an excuse. Anonymize it. Create case studies. Build something new.
Mistake 4: Outdated LinkedIn If your last post was in 2022, you’re signaling desperation. If your headline says “Seeking opportunities,” you’re signaling irrelevance.
Mistake 5: No customization They can tell when you didn’t research them. It shows in generic cover letters and irrelevant examples.
Mistake 6: Forgetting to show personality Everyone can do the job. Not everyone fits the culture. Let them see who you are.
Your Week 1-2 Checklist
LinkedIn (2-3 hours total):
- [ ] Update headline with value proposition
- [ ] Rewrite About section in first person
- [ ] Add Featured section with 3-4 pieces
- [ ] Update experience with quantified results
- [ ] Add AI tools to skills (integrated naturally)
- [ ] Turn on Open to Work settings
- [ ] Set up 10-15 job alerts
- [ ] Post one piece of content
- [ ] Engage with 10-15 posts in your industry
Resume (4-5 hours total):
- [ ] Rebuild with impact-first structure
- [ ] Add AI tools section
- [ ] Quantify every accomplishment
- [ ] Create 3 versions (master + 2 targeted)
- [ ] Test through an ATS checker
- [ ] Get feedback from 2-3 people in your industry
- [ ] Save as PDF with clear naming
Portfolio (3-4 hours):
- [ ] Set up GitHub account
- [ ] Create basic portfolio site OR
- [ ] Use Webflow/Wix/WordPress for portfolio
- [ ] Add 3-5 case studies/work samples
- [ ] Link from resume and LinkedIn
- [ ] Make sure it’s mobile-friendly
Application System (1 hour):
- [ ] Set up tracking system (Notion/Huntr/Airtable)
- [ ] Create cover letter template
- [ ] Save Claude prompts for customization
- [ ] Set up job alerts on 3-4 platforms
Target companies (2 hours):
- [ ] List 20 companies you’d want to work for
- [ ] Follow them on LinkedIn
- [ ] Find hiring managers for roles you want
- [ ] Note any connections you have
What Success Looks Like
After implementing this strategy, you should see:
Week 1-2:
- Profile views increase 2-3x
- Connection requests from recruiters
- At least 2-3 quality applications sent
Week 3-4:
- First recruiter screens scheduled
- Response rate of 10-20% on applications
- Growing confidence in your positioning
Week 5-8:
- Multiple interview stages happening simultaneously
- Clear feedback on what’s working
- Offers starting to come in
Optimizing Your Resume & Portfolio for the AI Job Market
Here’s what all this comes down to:
Stop trying to convince them you can do the job.
Start proving you’ve already done work that matters.
Your resume isn’t a list of jobs you’ve had. Your LinkedIn isn’t a place to network. Your portfolio isn’t optional.
They’re all proof—evidence that you understand the new game and you’re already playing it.
The companies that get this will hire you quickly. The companies that don’t get this aren’t worth your time anyway.
About Baur Software
We help professionals leverage AI to multiply their impact. Whether you’re job hunting, building a business, or just trying to work smarter, we believe the right tools (and the right approach) can change everything. We solve your problems fast.