Yes, I was laid off. Despite the circumstances, I consider myself lucky. I knew I was getting laid off. The owners of the company told me in advance. Not everyone gets that kind of notice. Though there are a thousand things that race through your mind.

You have to get strategic in your approach. I know people who have been applying for a job faithfully and have not gotten hired yet. There are so many applicants to choose from it is unlikely they will find you whether you try and work the AI bots or not. 

Sure, AI can do things faster, but they can only do what they are told, but they still get things wrong (shocker!) and even if you try and correct them, they still might not get it right. What is the saying?  "If you want something done right, do it yourself."  AI can help organize ideas, summarize information, and put you on the right track, but ultimately you cannot replace a human.

Here’s the strategy… You have to think like a businessperson who is making a pitch to a larger company. Really, we are micro businesses whether we think we are or not. Your resume should not be about you, but about them. Think about how you can solve a problem for them and how you will do it. You don’t need them as much as they need you. They have a problem, and they need to have it fixed yesterday.

What do humans have that bots don’t? Experiences aka stories. Stories trigger feelings and emotions, they are remembered. You see this all the time in advertising. If you make your application a story, YOU will be remembered.

Humans are also imperfect. We have quirks and that authenticity makes you relatable. Talking about your hobbies and interests can lead back to a story… which is remembered!

As an applicant you are advertising your services, and your ultimate client is your potential employer. The key in advertising is making your target audience feel seen, heard, and understood. You need to build trust and show them you can do the job… this is how advertising gets you to buy their product.

Start thinking about how a company markets to you and eventually sell to you. Ever been to an expo or even in the grocery store where they do a little demo? It makes it more compelling when you can see it work in front of you. Think about creating a mockup of work you can do for them, or a demo video based on what they are asking for.

Your resume should be clean and clear. Skip that opening paragraph because it’s not about them. Make your resume as easy for them to navigate as possible, insert hyperlinks in your resume so they can go directly to what you want to show them.

Extra note from a hiring agent: follow up even if you get an automated “no” from the bot because bots make mistakes.

Whatever you do, you need to get yourself together. Set yourself up for business. Have the right mindset, surround yourself with the people that will help you and not drag you down, and of course have a clear idea of what you want. It’s hard to hit a blurry target. Having goals and a vision create clarity in the message you are sending to a potential employer/client. 

As a micro business, you need to think about what it costs to keep YOUR business running. This would mean the cost to run your household. Ultimately you need as long a runway as possible while you are looking for work. Yes, unemployment can help, but that only goes so far. They often don’t replace what you were paid, and they usually give you a set amount that eventually runs out after about 6 months.

Cutting out extra expenses can help. My friends and I call this a ramen budget, a cheap yet workable budget like we had in college. List all your expenses then see what you can cut out or revamp.