EP 30 - Stop Spamming Applications: How to Actually Stand Out in Your Job Search
AI has made it easy to write a polished resume and send hundreds of applications. That is also why the old volume strategy is breaking. In this episode, Aaron Makelky and Dan Yu talk about prompt injections in job postings, Aaron's test against four AI models, and why mass-applying can leave you buried in a pile of identical candidates.
They also talk about what works better: referrals, networking, and permissionless projects that show a hiring team what you can do before they hire you. Dan shares his "zero for 200" Wall Street story, where 200 mailed resumes got no response and one softball game led to an internship.
Timestamps:
00:00:43 - Everyone is using AI to apply
00:03:28 - Prompt injections in job postings
00:04:30 - Testing prompt injections on four AIs
00:06:33 - Should companies use AI traps?
00:07:55 - Colleges teaching students to spam
00:09:01 - Why the volume game is dead
00:10:11 - Standing out with permissionless projects
00:13:30 - Why custom work beats AI output
00:18:24 - The power of referrals
00:20:02 - Zero for 200: a networking story
00:23:53 - Connection beats volume
Co-hosts:
Aaron Makelky - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-makelky-m-a-ed-038b852a3/
Dan Yu - https://www.linkedin.com/in/danoyu/
Links:
FutureProof You - https://futureproof-you.com
FutureProof You on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/futureproof-you