Would an AI Agent Hire You?: The Elevator Speech for the AI Era
Recently, I was invited to speak at the Kuper Academy’s Business program students. When I asked them how many of them looked someone up online before buying their product or meeting with them, almost everyone raised their hands. Then I asked them, if someone looks you up, what would they find? They are students, so nobody had any online presence besides fun social media posts, but they immediately understood my point: they need to start creating their digital presence.
In this article, I’d like to discuss the topic I addressed during this speech: the importance of digital presence in the AI era.
How we apply for jobs, pitch for projects, and even meet new collaborators is changing fast. In the not-so-distant future, AI agents also known as automated chatbots and algorithms will likely vet us before any human sees our resume. If you don’t have a digital presence, getting through these gatekeepers might become nearly impossible.
And no, a polished LinkedIn profile won’t be enough. The future belongs to those who intentionally build their online identity through personal websites, public content, and professional storytelling. If you want to stand out to employers, partners, banks, or government entities, you will need a digital resume that credibly and consistently reflects who you are and what you bring to the table.
“Whether applying for jobs or building a business, your online presence is your new first impression.”
Why a Strong Digital Presence Is Non-Negotiable
Artificial intelligence (AI) is already reshaping the job market and the recruitment process. Systems now scan applications for keywords, check public profiles, and weigh digital footprints in milliseconds , this is why I called it the elevator speech. This trend will only grow more intelligent and automated.
If your presence is thin, or non-existent, you risk being filtered out by algorithms before a human considers you. Even the most talented people are invisible without digital credibility.
Whether You’re Job-Seeking or Building a Business, This Matters
A digital presence isn’t just about applying for jobs. It’s about applying yourself to anything you want to build or attract.
- If you’re applying for jobs: Recruiters, hiring platforms, and AI tools will assess your public footprint long before an interview.
- If you’re an entrepreneur or freelancer: Potential clients, investors, and partners will search for your online presence or portfolio of achievements, as I like to call it. They want a clear signal of your credibility, capability, and consistency.
Yes, you can continue without a personal website or digital portfolio, but it will be much more difficult. AI agents will be built to filter and prioritize for busy decision-makers. If you’re not visible, intentional, and credible online, you will likely be overlooked by both the bots and the humans.
In both cases, your digital presence is no longer optional, it’s your opportunity.
LinkedIn Is Just the Beginning
A well-crafted LinkedIn profile is essential, but it’s not a complete strategy. In the AI era, you need a comprehensive digital identity:
- A personal website with your portfolio, story, and point of view
- Public content that shows your thinking and credibility
- Testimonials and endorsements
- A clear digital speech: what you want AI agents (and real people) to understand about you instantly
This isn’t about personal branding for vanity. It’s about showing up with authenticity and intention in a world that filters before it listens.
Building Your Digital Resume: It’s Easier Than You Think
The biggest obstacle to building your digital portfolio isn’t tech, it’s you. The design is simple. The hard part is deciding what to say about your values, goals, and message.
But once you’re clear on that, the rest becomes beautifully manageable.
What to Include in Your Digital Resume:
- Your Digital Speech – Who You Are, What You Do, and Why It Matters, Present Creatively; Here Is My Introduction Page as an example.
- Portfolio Highlights – Showcase work, projects, or relevant contributions
- Social Proof – Testimonials, endorsements, certifications
- Contact and Connection – Email or social links
- Website – Blog, press, newsletter signup, media kit; you can work on this as you progress in your career or build your business.
This living resume isn’t just for HR, it’s for collaborators, clients, investors, and future AI agents looking for signals of alignment and credibility. And this takes time, so start now.
My Digital Portfolio Toolkit (So You Can Start Yours)
I built this website entirely by myself: design, development, and everything using simple tools anyone can learn, I am not a web designer. Then, I hired a professional web designer on Fiverr to add products to the site as I progressed into a full-on media and e-commerce website.
Don’t get overwhelmed by my website; this is a media platform, not a portfolio. You can create something simple and leave it alone with no regular maintenance required.
If you’re ready to create your own digital resume or online portfolio, here’s what I recommend:
Tools I Use and Trust
- Website builders: WordPress, Hostinger, Wix, and Shopify
- I use Hostinger for multiple sites. It features an AI website builder, making it incredibly simple—even for beginners.
- Need a polished design? Hire a professional on Fiverr.
💡 Tip: Start with your story. Be intentional. Be authentic. The tech will follow.
Control Your Narrative Before AI Does
In this new era, your digital presence is more than a nice-to-have, it’s your resume, your reputation, and your opportunity. The AI tools scanning your name won’t just check for degrees. They’ll look for depth, clarity, and alignment between what you say and what you’ve shown.
Owning your online identity is the best way to future-proof your career or business. Start small, build steadily, and speak with intention.
Ready to Get Started?
-
DIY Option: Use your web service provider’s AI Website Builder to create your first portfolio site in hours—not weeks.
-
Done-for-You Affordable Option: Hire a skilled freelancer on Fiverr to bring your vision to life.
With a strong digital presence, opportunities can find you, ones you didn’t even know existed for your experience and expertise. Let people reach out to you.
What does your digital presence say about you? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments, or share this post with someone ready to own their online identity.
Explore more insights in our Learn & Grow section.
