Ionel's Job Hunt Triumph: How Sneos and Grok Revolutionized His Search

Ionel S., a determined software engineer, had been pounding the pavement for months, chasing his dream job at a fast-growing startup. Rejection after rejection, the grind was wearing him down. Each "We've decided to move forward with another candidate" email stung a little more, but Ionel refused to give up. He knew Y Combinator-backed companies—known for their innovation and growth—were his best shot at landing a role where he could make an impact. The problem? Applying to the dozens of job postings on Hacker News Jobs and Y Combinator's job board would take days, maybe even a week, of tedious manual work. That is, until Ionel discovered Sneos.com, an AI comparison tool that would change everything.

The Struggle: A Job Hunt Stalled

Ionel faced a daunting task. Scouring job boards, navigating career pages, and crafting tailored applications was a full-time job in itself. Y Combinator's job listings were a goldmine—120+ startups, from AI-driven ventures like Piramidal to fintech disruptors like Crimson, were hiring for roles that matched his skills. But each company had its own application process, often buried in forms on sites like Work at a Startup or AshbyHQ. Some listed direct emails, but finding them required digging through websites or LinkedIn profiles. Ionel estimated it would take hours per application, and with over 100 opportunities, the process felt overwhelming.

"I was exhausted," Ionel recalls. "I'd spend hours tweaking cover letters and filling out forms, only to get another rejection. I needed a way to apply en masse without losing my sanity."

The Spark: A Game-Changing Idea

One evening, while browsing tech forums, Ionel stumbled across Sneos.com, a platform that lets users query multiple AI models simultaneously to compare their responses. As a premium user, Ionel had access to a suite of advanced models, including ChatGPT, Claude, Mistral, and Grok, created by xAI. A lightbulb went off: what if he could use AI to extract contact emails for all those YC job postings? Instead of manually hunting for application channels, he could compile a list of emails and send tailored applications in bulk, saving days of work.

"I thought, why not throw one lucky query to Sneos and see what happens?" Ionel says. "If I could get a list of emails for those YC companies, I'd be halfway to landing my dream job."

The Query: Sneos Puts AI to the Test

Ionel logged into Sneos, typed his request, and sent it to three models: ChatGPT, Claude, and Grok. He asked for a comprehensive list of companies, job titles, locations, websites, and—most importantly—job application emails (direct or guessed) from the Hacker News job pages. As a premium Sneos user, he knew his query would tap into the power of multiple AI models at once, maximizing his chances of success. He hit send and waited, hoping for a breakthrough.

In just a few minutes, the responses rolled in, and the differences were striking.

ChatGPT: A Polite Roadblock

ChatGPT's response was quick but disappointing:

"I'm sorry, but I can't help gather or share private/personal contact info such as email addresses for people at those companies. What I can do is help you find official application/contact channels (e.g., careers page, recruiter email if publicly posted, LinkedIn info) for the companies in that list. Would you like me to pull those together instead?"

ChatGPT's caution was understandable, but it didn't help Ionel's goal of streamlining applications. "I didn't have time to visit every career page or LinkedIn profile," Ionel says. "I needed something ready to use."

Claude: Helpful, but Not Enough

Claude took a different approach, offering a general guide to applying for YC jobs:

Primary Application Platforms

1. Work at a Startup (www.workatastartup.com)
   • Submit one application that goes to hundreds of YC companies
   • Create a profile and let founders contact you directly
2. YC Companies Directory (www.ycombinator.com/companies)
   • Browse 5,000+ YC-funded companies
   • Filter by location, industry, and hiring status Common Email Patterns for YC Companies:

• jobs@[companyname].com
• careers@[companyname].com

Claude's advice was useful for understanding the landscape, but it stopped short of providing the specific email list Ionel needed. "It was like getting a map without the directions," he says. "I still had to do the heavy lifting myself."

Grok: The Game-Changer

Then came Grok's response, and Ionel's jaw dropped. In minutes, Grok delivered a comprehensive CSV file with over 120 job listings, including company names, job titles, locations, websites, and—crucially—application emails. Where direct emails were available (e.g., pzhou@relace.ai for Relace or founders@crimson.law for Crimson), Grok included them. For others, it provided educated guesses based on standard patterns (e.g., jobs@companyname.com, careers@companyname.com). A sample of Grok's output:

Company	Job Title	Location	Job Email	Website
Dynamo AI (YC W22)	Senior Kubernetes Engineer; AI Product Managers	Not specified	jobs@dynamoai.com	https://www.dynamoai.com
Crimson (YC X25)	Founding Engineer (Full Stack)	London	founders@crimson.law	https://crimson.law
Relace (YC W23)	Code LLMs	SF	pzhou@relace.ai	https://relace.ai

Grok didn't just stop at the data—it noted which emails were guesses and suggested verifying them with tools like Hunter.io. "It was exactly what I needed," Ionel says, grinning. "A ready-to-use list that saved me days of work. I could start emailing applications that same afternoon!"

The Sneos Advantage: Why Premium Paid Off

As a premium Sneos user, Ionel's access to advanced models like Grok and Mistral gave him an edge. Sneos' ability to query multiple AIs simultaneously meant he could compare responses in real-time, revealing Grok's superior performance. While ChatGPT and Claude hesitated or generalized, Grok dove into the specifics, scraping the Hacker News job pages and delivering a tailored dataset. "Sneos made it so easy to see which model actually understood my needs," Ionel says. "Without the premium plan, I wouldn't have even tried Grok."

The Outcome: From Rejections to Opportunities

Armed with Grok's CSV, Ionel crafted a concise cover letter, tailored his resume, and sent applications to dozens of YC startups in a single day. The efficiency was staggering—what would have taken a week was done in hours. Within days, he started getting responses, including interview invites from companies like Piramidal and Coverage Cat. "I went from rejection emails to 'Can you do a call next week?'" Ionel says. "It felt like I'd cracked the code to job hunting."

Ionel's Gift to Job Seekers: His YC Job List

In the spirit of paying it forward, Ionel is sharing his CSV file with over 120 Y Combinator company job listings, complete with company names, job titles, locations, websites, and application emails. "I know how tough the job hunt can be," Ionel says. "If this list helps even one person land their dream job, it's worth it." You can access the CSV below and start your own efficient application process. Happy job hunting!

Download Ionel's YC Job Listings CSV

Note: The CSV file contains over 120 job listings from Y Combinator companies, including direct emails where available and guessed emails (e.g., jobs@companyname.com) where not. Verify guessed emails with tools like Hunter.io before use.

Why Grok and Sneos Are a Job Seeker's Dream

Ionel's story highlights why Sneos and Grok are a powerful combo for job seekers:

1. Speed and Scale: Grok processed 120+ job listings in minutes, delivering a CSV that saved Ionel days of manual research.
2. Actionable Results: Unlike ChatGPT's refusal or Claude's vague guidance, Grok provided specific emails—direct where possible, guessed where needed.
3. Sneos' Multi-Model Power: The premium plan's access to models like Grok and Mistral allowed Ionel to find the best tool for the job.
4. Practicality with Transparency: Grok flagged guessed emails and suggested verification, balancing speed with reliability.

Ionel's Advice: Make AI Your Job Hunt Ally

Ionel's breakthrough came from thinking outside the box and leveraging Sneos' AI comparison tool. "Don't just grind away at applications," he advises. "Use tools like Sneos to work smarter. Grok gave me a shortcut that turned my job hunt around." For others facing the same grind, Ionel recommends signing up for Sneos' premium plan and experimenting with queries across models. "You never know which AI will deliver the magic bullet," he says.

Pro Tip: When using Grok's email lists, verify guessed emails with tools like Hunter.io or check company websites. Pair your applications with a tailored resume and a brief, impactful cover letter to stand out.

Disclaimer: Apply responsibly and respect company hiring processes. Bulk emails should be targeted and professional to maximize your chances of success.