🌻The Summer Networking + AI Playbook
With 15 ways to show up, stand out, and build real connections in a shifting job market
💜 Hey M(AI)VENS,
☕ Estimated reading time: 8-9 minutes
🇺🇸 We skipped last Friday in observance of Independence Day, but we’re back with a special summer edition just for you.
If you’re feeling the shifts in today’s job market, you’re not alone. AI is changing how we search for jobs and how companies hire. Whether you're actively job hunting or simply keeping your options open, now is the time to invest effort in your professional network.
💼🌱 It includes tools, strategies, and 15 intentional ways to show up professionally.
I’m sharing this to encourage you to make a thoughtful effort this summer to grow your connections and stay visible in your field. Even if your current role feels secure, the landscape is shifting quickly.
Why? I want you to be prepared, supported, and positioned for what’s next. Below, you’ll find ideas and tools to help you build your network efficiently and intentionally.
Let’s get to it!
⚖️ The New Reality
The job market is shifting fast. AI is not only taking over many entry-level tasks, it’s becoming a key part of the approach to hiring. On both sides of the hiring process, AI is doing more of the talking, and it’s leaving a lot of people feeling frustrated. Recruiters are buried in resumes, many of them written by AI. Job seekers, in turn, are dealing with bots instead of hiring managers. Confidence is low, and job searches are taking longer than they used to.
58% of job seekers are now using AI tools to help with their search, whether that’s writing a resume, tailoring a cover letter, or prepping for interviews.
All of this is making things feel more impersonal. Nearly one in three job seekers says their search has stretched beyond six months. Between the automated screening, long interview processes, and limited feedback, it can feel like no one is really on the other side of the screen.
You’ve probably seen some of these headlines lately:
Entry-Level Job Losses: Multiple reports highlighted that companies are increasingly using AI to automate tasks traditionally performed by junior employees, such as data entry, research, and basic customer service. This trend is making it much harder for new graduates to secure entry-level positions.
Broader Economic Trends: Analysts noted that the rise of AI is a significant factor behind the decline in hiring for entry-level roles, with some companies openly admitting that AI adoption has allowed them to cut large portions of their workforce.
Statistical Evidence: Unemployment rates for recent college graduates have risen, particularly in sectors where AI adoption is fastest. For example, employment for 22-27-year-olds in computer science and mathematical occupations has declined by 8% since 2022.
Global Perspective: The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 found that 40% of employers expect to reduce their workforce where AI can automate tasks, and nearly 50 million U.S. jobs could be impacted in the coming years.
Shifting Skills Demand: While overall job postings have declined, demand for specialized AI skills is strong.
And behind these headlines are real women navigating this shift…
👩💼 Landing a VP Role
One of my closest friends just landed a VP-level job after a full year of relentless searching, networking, and upskilling. Her journey was anything but easy. She faced ghosted applications, AI-driven rejections, and plenty of self-doubt. But she kept showing up, kept reaching out, and leaned into her network for support and advice.
She finally got a great offer (thankfully, one that she feels really good about!). But watching her go through this process, in a new era where AI is screening resumes and competition is fierce, was eye opening to say the least.
While that journey shows the persistence needed at the executive level, other women are navigating different but equally challenging paths, like returning to work after a career pause.
🍼 Reentering the Workforce
Another friend recently made the leap back into the corporate world after years away to focus on raising her children. She confided in me that updating her resume not only felt daunting, but she had lost confidence that her skills were even relevant in today’s market. That was, until she turned to AI for help.
AI helped her find the right words to describe and “package” the leadership, project management, and communication skills she honed through community work and volunteering (there’s no network like the dialed-in mom network). That boost of confidence was the nudge she needed to put herself out there again. She also used AI to role play the entire interview process which she said was instrumental in her success. Ultimately, she landed a great position with one of the largest corporations in her state.
The real turning point? She got an interview with help from a personal connection who already worked at the company.
Whether you’re reentering or simply looking to stay visible, the truth is: meaningful opportunities often come through real relationships. So let’s talk about how to strengthen your network with purpose and ease this summer.
☀️ Your Summer Networking Playbook
Despite all this tech, the most meaningful opportunities still come through personal connections. Referrals remain the gold standard for landing interviews, and many of the best jobs are never even posted publicly.
Networking can help you stay visible, relevant, and connected in a rapidly changing world. Here’s how to do it.
1. Embrace the 80/20 Rule: Add Value First
Spend 80% of your networking energy giving to your network. That includes sharing resources, making introductions, and celebrating others, so when you do need help, you’ll get an easy “yes.”
When you consistently show up for your network, you build trust and goodwill. This approach not only strengthens your relationships but also makes it much more likely that your community will support you when you need it most.
How to Add Value:
📚 Curate and Share: Recommend books, podcasts, research papers, and news articles relevant to your contacts’ interests. You’ll find tips on this below!
🤝 Facilitate Introductions: Connect people who could benefit from knowing each other. Use AI tools to help you draft warm, personalized intros quickly.
🎉 Celebrate Wins: Publicly and privately recognize the achievements of women in your network.
🧩 Be a Connector: Host virtual meetups or share opportunities like job openings or speaking gigs.
2. Use AI to Supercharge Your Efforts ⚡
AI can be a powerful ally for networkers, too.
Content Curation: Use platforms like Quuu or Scoop.it to surface and deliver high-quality, relevant content to share.
Personalized Outreach: Let AI help you research contacts and tailor your messages, making every interaction feel intentional.
Track Connections: AI-powered tools can remind you to follow up or check-in after big events. We’ve got some tools for you to try, below.
3. Attend Events — Get Out There! 🪅
Whether it’s a national conference, a local panel, or a virtual roundtable, attending events (big or small) can lead to meaningful new connections. Make it your goal to get some events on your calendar this year! Commit to following up with everyone you meet after every event. Use AI to help you write a warm follow-up message or summarize key takeaways to share with your network.
Interested in a specific event that you can’t attend in person? Look for live-streamed versions or post-event recordings.
4. Join Clubs, Groups, Communities 💬
Find groups that genuinely interest you, whether that’s a professional Slack community, a women-in-tech WhatsApp group, your local Chamber of Commerce, industry associations, and other membership clubs.👋 M(AI)VENS, anyone?
Joining an intentional group gives you regular chances to engage, contribute, and show up consistently, which builds trust over time. Use AI to help you search for niche communities aligned with your field, and draft thoughtful questions to spark discussion once you’re in.
📚 How to Identify Valuable Content to Share
Sharing the right content with your professional network is a powerful way to add value, deepen relationships, and position yourself as a thoughtful connector. Here’s how to consistently find and share content that resonates:
Know Your Audience: Understand your contacts’ professional backgrounds, recent projects, and interests. Think about segmenting your network by industry, geography, career stage, or shared interests.
Curate from Trusted Sources: Follow industry leaders, use reputable platforms (industry journals, respected news outlets, professional associations), and diversify content types (articles, podcasts, books, webinars, events).
Leverage AI and Content Curation Tools: Use Quuu or Scoop.it for specialized content curation. Try tools research tools like Elicit or Semantic Scholar to find, analyze, and summarize the latest studies in any field.
Personalize Your Sharing: Add a personal note, tag or mention contacts, and use AI to help draft more thoughtful and engaging sharing opportunities.
Monitor Engagement and Feedback: Use analytics and ask your contacts what’s helpful to sharpen your future curation.
📅 15 Ways to Strengthen Your Network This Summer
These 15 actions are small but thoughtful ways to build a network that grows with you. Use them throughout the summer to stay connected, offer value, and create space for meaningful conversations, with a little help from AI when it’s useful.
Think of them as gentle nudges to listen, support others, and show up with intention.
Try one each day or choose a few each week that fit your rhythm and personal communication style.
📎 Pass Along an Opportunity
Share a grant, job, or speaking event with someone who’d be a great fit.👏 Highlight a Woman in Your Network
Give a shout-out to someone who inspires you and share a quick note about why she stands out.🤝 Make an Introduction
Connect two people who could benefit from knowing each other.💡 Share a Favorite AI Tool, Article, or Podcast
Tag professional contacts who might find it useful.🎉 Celebrate a Recent Win
Whether it’s yours or someone else’s, write a short LinkedIn post to acknowledge and celebrate.🎙️ Ask a Colleague How They're Thinking About the Future of Their Work
Then listen closely and follow up with encouragement or a helpful resource.📬 Reach Out to a Past Contact
Share something you recently learned that reminded you of them.🧭 Ask for Advice (Thoughtfully)
Reach out to someone you admire with one focused question about their career path or a recent decision. Let them know why you value their insight.☕ Schedule a 20-Minute Summer Chat
Invite someone you admire for a short catch-up and ask how you can support them.🥤 Organize a Relaxed Summer Meetup
Host a walking call or iced coffee date for a small group of 3-5 people.🧠 Use ChatGPT to Brainstorm
Explore how your skills translate to an emerging field and then share your thoughts with a trusted contact.🌿 Post a Mini-Reflection
Share something you’ve learned this summer whether it’s personal, professional, or both.🧭 List 5–10 People You Want to Grow With
Take one small step toward building a stronger relationship with each individual.🧑🏫 Offer to Guest Speak or Mentor
Volunteer to do a short talk or Q&A in a community group or team Slack. Great for visibility and giving back.💬 Drop a Voice Note
Instead of texting, leave a short, sincere voice message to reconnect. It adds warmth and intention.
Whether you’re reconnecting, introducing, or following up, staying organized makes a big difference. Once you start putting these ideas into practice, it helps to have a simple system to stay organized. You might want to consider a smart CRM tool…
🛠 Smart Tools to Manage Your Network
Your LinkedIn network is powerful, but staying in touch with your connections and keeping track of meaningful interactions can get messy fast. That’s where a personal CRM can help. A CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tool is a system or app that helps you keep track of who you know, when you last connected, and what you want to follow up on.
Here’s a roundup of smart, user-friendly tools to try. Many of these will sync with or enhance your LinkedIn activity:
Dex: Built for LinkedIn power users. Log notes, set reminders, and track connections, all while browsing LinkedIn. Best for: Anyone looking to bring structure to their existing LinkedIn relationships without leaving the platform.
Monica: A private, open-source CRM for manually logging contacts, birthdays, follow-ups, and notes. Best for: Those who value privacy.
HubSpot CRM (Free): Connects with Gmail and Outlook for tracking LinkedIn message follow-ups, email opens, and notes. Offers a dashboard view of your outreach. Best for: Small teams that want to boost productivity and keep track of outreach progress together.
Clay: Syncs with email, calendar, LinkedIn, and Twitter, using AI to surface who you should follow up with and when. Pulls in public updates from your contacts. Best for: Pros who want their networking efforts all in one place, in real time.
Nimble: Aggregates contact info from LinkedIn, Gmail, and other channels. Suggests next steps and reminders, and helps you craft smarter outreach. Best for: Active professionals who want to capture and enrich sales leads.
Zapier + Google Sheets: Automate logging LinkedIn messages, adding new connections, or scheduling follow-up reminders. Best for: DIY techies who love optimizing their workflow.
If a full CRM feels like too much, start small. A simple tracker in Google Sheets or Excel works just fine. Add columns for last touchpoint, shared interests, and next follow-up date. That’s all you need to get started.
🪴 Give First, Grow Together
AI is playing a larger role in how opportunities are found and filled. But even with all the tech tools, real relationships still open doors. Thoughtful outreach and community-minded networking can make all the difference.
This summer, I hope you’ll use these ideas to stay connected and confident. Let AI support your efforts, but let your generosity, curiosity, and consistency guide you.
I believe women who prepare now will be better positioned for the changes ahead. Build the network you want to grow with.
Your next opportunity might be just one authentic connection away.
👀 Coming Next Week: Real stories from 3 M(AI)VENS using AI in everyday life—from search and rescue to memoir narration to public speaking prep. You’ll leave inspired to try something new.
With you,
Cheyenne 💜
Founder, M(AI)VENS
P.S. 💌 If you found this helpful, please forward to a colleague or girlfriend who’s navigating career growth this summer. Let’s build strong networks together!
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