I’ve spent the last year rebuilding how I work around AI. I built a functional app with Lovable in a week, something I wouldn’t have believed was realistic six months ago. That was a bit of a moment.
What’s strange is I feel more capable than ever, but less legible to the market. I’m a systems-oriented PM building operational platforms for internal teams, and AI massively amplifies that skillset. But hiring still filters for logos and titles first.
How do you make AI-native, operational product work legible in a CV-scanning world?
I agree with that statement about hiring. I don't have a proven outcome this works, but I've been spending more time building a clear brand (identifying what problems I solve for companies) and plan to network with target companies directly. Referrals and connections circumvent the ATS resume logo/title optimization route, but you also need a clear online presence so that your outreach lands somewhere and people can clearly see the value you bring.
As a fellow systems-thinker, we don't usually have the standard definitions of 'what industry' or profession you've been in for decades to automatically borrow for legitimacy. But I do believe it exists as a pattern across your career: If you list out everything you've done that's helped teams, what can an AI (Claude) tell you seems to be true in most cases?
That becomes the problem you can solve for companies. The rest is clarifying that message and saying it enough times so people listen. Recommend StoryBrand 2.0 for that exercise.
Good luck! Just learned about this new career navigator AI that can help with ATS and lets you ask about what a company culture is like: https://www.heynavii.ai - they also have a substack at https://heynavii.substack.com
So true!!! Am so eager and drive to deliver stuff, that the company is actually the limit. I started doing everything with AI even if I can manually do it just for the sake of learning a different way or approach. I launched 2 projects one for my wife and one for my church. And in my company I was able to build a tool to migrate from one system to another. Am just a project manager with a design, and coding experience. But folks . I feel this change and is so exciting. What am tired is of the limits people impose you because of your “role” or the bureaucracy.
I am AWARE of this every day and I tell everyone to JUST START! I've been using Lovable since May last year, and I still can't believe everything it can do and how fast it's improving. But not just Lovable, everything else too. For the first time this week I managed to add AI functionality to the app using Tetrate AI. It's wild! The gap is already appearing. Jump in people!
vibe code your resume. create an ai agent that is trained on your knowledge (link it to your resume). create a portfolio of projects that showcases your capabilities.
Ok AI agent trained on my knowledge was not on my radar. You highlighted a virtual impact resume (in an interview I think?) which I just published (obvs using Loveable) and I wholeheartedly agree - I’ve learned so much !
Oh Elena, thank you for this. I’ve been advocating for learning through building and immersion for a while now. To use AI for more than a chat box; to create projects, workflows, micro apps, and real products. It’s becoming a movement in communities like Substack. Organizations are behind, but we shouldn’t wait for them. It's a personal choice.
In 2024, 3 months into my previous job, I realised I wasn't getting the opportunities I wanted so I dived into vibe coding. On a side note: Why do you choose to have a human edit your posts? I'm sure you obviously tried using AI to make the edits. Curious to know your reasons.
Because she's writing for human readers. 🙂 It's still massively a lot of development effort yet still get uneven results to let AI do the editing. The ROI is too low. I'm speaking from a personal experience having spent the last 5 work days manually evaluating AI generated content from a workflow automation.
Ever since AI went mainstream, my personal motto has been "please AI, take my job" (half joke, but also completely serious)
As a marketer, the last three months have been a turning point. I've vibe-coded websites, built workflows and agents, and gotten genuinely comfortable with code (it only takes a bit of time and curiosity)
But the other side of this is just as important: taste, perspective, reading, writing. The ability to see things differently. Reach for that, find your style. AI amplifies that and generates the best opportunities.
Great post. Who should be scared are the middle and bottom performers in GTM. Top performers, leaders and ICs, who embrace AI-native versus AI-aware are becoming more valuable to their organizations and teams.
Always jam packed with lots of practical tips to try out, thank you. 😊
I'm 100% on board with using AI to execute on ideas (I love AI and totally here for the journey) however, I am questioning where to draw the line when it comes to original ideas - as people this is one of our greatest strengths, our creative IP, and yes AI is great for reminding you of what's come before, but is it great at tying together different experiences to create something new and truly unique?
I'm yet to be convinced on this - and this isn't me sticking my head in the sand 😅 just a question I'm asking myself.
It’s not over hyped, it’s over relied upon, especially when creating imagery, the devil has always been in the detail, finding the last 20% to make things special is becoming more and more crucial, never be wowed by the ability of Ai to do something
As a growth designer I used AI mostly as a supporting tool ChatGPT for copy, ideas.
I never seriously believed I could build and ship something independently without developers.
But a few days ago, I decided to experiment. I used Cursor to build my own portfolio website from scratch. Two evenings later it was live.
That experience genuinely shifted my mindset.
Really powerful article.
I’ve spent the last year rebuilding how I work around AI. I built a functional app with Lovable in a week, something I wouldn’t have believed was realistic six months ago. That was a bit of a moment.
What’s strange is I feel more capable than ever, but less legible to the market. I’m a systems-oriented PM building operational platforms for internal teams, and AI massively amplifies that skillset. But hiring still filters for logos and titles first.
How do you make AI-native, operational product work legible in a CV-scanning world?
I agree with that statement about hiring. I don't have a proven outcome this works, but I've been spending more time building a clear brand (identifying what problems I solve for companies) and plan to network with target companies directly. Referrals and connections circumvent the ATS resume logo/title optimization route, but you also need a clear online presence so that your outreach lands somewhere and people can clearly see the value you bring.
As a fellow systems-thinker, we don't usually have the standard definitions of 'what industry' or profession you've been in for decades to automatically borrow for legitimacy. But I do believe it exists as a pattern across your career: If you list out everything you've done that's helped teams, what can an AI (Claude) tell you seems to be true in most cases?
That becomes the problem you can solve for companies. The rest is clarifying that message and saying it enough times so people listen. Recommend StoryBrand 2.0 for that exercise.
Thanks Muxin, good shout on both the brand clarity and the Claude exercise. Adding StoryBrand to my ever growing list.
Good luck! Just learned about this new career navigator AI that can help with ATS and lets you ask about what a company culture is like: https://www.heynavii.ai - they also have a substack at https://heynavii.substack.com
So true!!! Am so eager and drive to deliver stuff, that the company is actually the limit. I started doing everything with AI even if I can manually do it just for the sake of learning a different way or approach. I launched 2 projects one for my wife and one for my church. And in my company I was able to build a tool to migrate from one system to another. Am just a project manager with a design, and coding experience. But folks . I feel this change and is so exciting. What am tired is of the limits people impose you because of your “role” or the bureaucracy.
I am AWARE of this every day and I tell everyone to JUST START! I've been using Lovable since May last year, and I still can't believe everything it can do and how fast it's improving. But not just Lovable, everything else too. For the first time this week I managed to add AI functionality to the app using Tetrate AI. It's wild! The gap is already appearing. Jump in people!
yess. JUMP IN.
Excellent article, not the usual marketing guff
Totally agree, but how you deal with this fear in lovable.
my question is should also vibe coding platforms be afraid from AI.
How would recommend one signals their use of AI as part of what is still and outdated CV format ?
vibe code your resume. create an ai agent that is trained on your knowledge (link it to your resume). create a portfolio of projects that showcases your capabilities.
Ok AI agent trained on my knowledge was not on my radar. You highlighted a virtual impact resume (in an interview I think?) which I just published (obvs using Loveable) and I wholeheartedly agree - I’ve learned so much !
https://tomleenaert-folio.lovable.app/
100% agree! The exact same message I'm telling my students!
Oh Elena, thank you for this. I’ve been advocating for learning through building and immersion for a while now. To use AI for more than a chat box; to create projects, workflows, micro apps, and real products. It’s becoming a movement in communities like Substack. Organizations are behind, but we shouldn’t wait for them. It's a personal choice.
In 2024, 3 months into my previous job, I realised I wasn't getting the opportunities I wanted so I dived into vibe coding. On a side note: Why do you choose to have a human edit your posts? I'm sure you obviously tried using AI to make the edits. Curious to know your reasons.
Because she's writing for human readers. 🙂 It's still massively a lot of development effort yet still get uneven results to let AI do the editing. The ROI is too low. I'm speaking from a personal experience having spent the last 5 work days manually evaluating AI generated content from a workflow automation.
The person editing her posts is also an amazing writer. I wonder what he charges her. Maybe he is a friend.
Paul Graham, the founder of YC, still gets help from his friends before he publishes an essay.
This couldn't come at a better time.
Ever since AI went mainstream, my personal motto has been "please AI, take my job" (half joke, but also completely serious)
As a marketer, the last three months have been a turning point. I've vibe-coded websites, built workflows and agents, and gotten genuinely comfortable with code (it only takes a bit of time and curiosity)
But the other side of this is just as important: taste, perspective, reading, writing. The ability to see things differently. Reach for that, find your style. AI amplifies that and generates the best opportunities.
Great piece, Elena! 🤍
This feels so very true
Could bot agree more! Just start. I wrote today this bost with 14days plan - how to easily start day by day! https://www.linkedin.com/posts/elenaavramenko_vibecoding-beginners-guide-activity-7431375571730915328-6sM3?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAEJ6RwBZyCVkP7ZFQZp6Blyb5AD_8jKM80
Great post. Who should be scared are the middle and bottom performers in GTM. Top performers, leaders and ICs, who embrace AI-native versus AI-aware are becoming more valuable to their organizations and teams.
Always jam packed with lots of practical tips to try out, thank you. 😊
I'm 100% on board with using AI to execute on ideas (I love AI and totally here for the journey) however, I am questioning where to draw the line when it comes to original ideas - as people this is one of our greatest strengths, our creative IP, and yes AI is great for reminding you of what's come before, but is it great at tying together different experiences to create something new and truly unique?
I'm yet to be convinced on this - and this isn't me sticking my head in the sand 😅 just a question I'm asking myself.
It’s not over hyped, it’s over relied upon, especially when creating imagery, the devil has always been in the detail, finding the last 20% to make things special is becoming more and more crucial, never be wowed by the ability of Ai to do something