AI job hunting tips, free IWD events, and the women-in-AI list
Three AI-powered job hunting moves that actually change outcomes, plus a call to help build a growing list of women doing interesting work in AI.
By Mollie Amkraut Mueller · · 6 min read
Help me build the women-in-AI list
Some of you may have seen my LinkedIn post last week where I asked people to name women doing interesting work in AI. The response was beyond anything I expected -- over a thousand comments and counting. Hundreds of names.
I'm compiling all of them into one resource and I'll be sharing the full list soon. But I know there are more names that haven't been mentioned yet.
If there's a woman working in AI who deserves to be on this list -- including yourself -- go add her name in the comments.
The more complete we can make this, the more useful it becomes for everyone.
What I'd do if I were job hunting right now
A friend of mine is job hunting. He emailed me with a few specific questions, and I sent him a completely overkill 10-page response (AI x career design = my happy place). My process? I opened Claude, started brain-dumping everything I'd want him to know using Wispr Flow, and 15 minutes later I had the full, structured strategy document: AI Powered Job Hunting in 2026.
It was long. Way more than anyone asked for. But when I looked back at it, three moves stood out as the ones that actually change outcomes and they all use AI in ways most job seekers haven't considered yet.
Whether you're looking yourself or know someone who is, here's where I'd start.
1: Build content around the job you want (not just the work you've done)
The insight: Most job seekers either post nothing on LinkedIn or post generic "open to work" content. The smart move is to reverse-engineer a content strategy from the actual roles you're targeting.
The tactic: Take a job spec you're excited about. Feed it into Claude along with your past work -- old decks, reports, presentations, emails you're proud of. Ask it to generate content ideas that position you as someone already working in that space. Then have it draft 3-4 LinkedIn posts from your existing material, angled toward that role.
The payoff: When a hiring manager checks your profile, they see someone already living in the work -- not just applying to it. And when you follow up after an interview ("I actually wrote about this recently"), it's a very strong signal.
Core point: Your content strategy should be pulled toward where you want to go, not just reflecting where you've been. AI makes this easy because it can bridge the gap between what you've done and what you want to do.
2. Ask for specific intros, not vague favors
The Insight: Most people ask their network some version of "do you know anyone who could help me?" That's too vague. It puts the work on the other person and usually goes nowhere.
The Tactic: Here's what works better. I call it the Friendlies Method.
Make a list of 5-10 people who would happily do you a favor -- close friends, former colleagues, well-connected people in your orbit. For each one, go to their LinkedIn profile and browse their connections. Make a list of anyone they're connected to who would be valuable for you to meet.
Then text your friend: "I put together a list of people I'd love to connect with -- do you know any of these folks?"
The payoff: That's an easy yes. You've done the research. They just have to say "sure, I know Sarah, let me connect you."
The AI part: use Claude to research each person you want to meet. Have it write a short, personalized reason for the intro -- something specific about their work that genuinely interests you. If you're sending more than a few, you can batch the whole thing: paste your list into Claude, give it context about your background and goals, and have it generate a customized intro request for each pairing.
I wrote a full guide on the "forwardable email" format that makes these intros land well -- "The right way to ask for introductions". The short version: write the email so your connector can hit forward, add one line, and send. Make it effortless for them.
Core point: Do the research yourself, then hand your connector something easy to act on. AI handles the research and personalization at scale.
3. Record every conversation and mine it
The insight: Every networking call is an asset -- if you capture it. Most people have a great conversation, send a generic "great to meet you" follow-up, and forget 80% of what was said within a week.
The tactic: Use an AI meeting recorder. I use Granola. After each call, paste the transcript into Claude and ask it to do three things:
- Draft a follow-up email that references specific things you actually discussed. A personalized note that mentions the topics you covered is far more memorable than "great to chat."
- Pull out names and leads. Ask Claude to scan the transcript for every person mentioned, every company referenced, and anyone the other person suggested you talk to. These are warm leads you'd otherwise forget by tomorrow.
- Flag content ideas. You probably said smart things in that conversation. Ask Claude to identify anything you said that could become a LinkedIn post or short article. After a handful of calls, you can write a summary piece: "I've talked to 10 people in [your industry] this month. Here are the 5 things everyone is thinking about." That kind of post invites engagement from exactly the people you're trying to meet and signals that you're already in the room.
Core point: Conversations are raw material. AI turns them into follow-ups, leads, and content -- all from one transcript.
The bigger picture
None of this is new strategy. Networking, building visibility, getting warm intros -- that's always been how people land good jobs. What's different now is the execution speed.
The research that used to take an evening takes minutes. The follow-up emails that used to feel like homework write themselves. The content you never had time to create is suddenly possible because AI can bridge the gap between what you know and what's on the page.
The strategy hasn't changed. The excuse for not doing it has.