Career Planning and AI

Student Resources - Career Planning and AI

Using AI in Career Planning: Support, Not a Substitute

AI tools like ChatGPT can be very helpful in guiding you through the career planning process. They can assist with researching career paths, generating resume drafts, preparing for interviews, and identifying skill gaps based on your interests and goals. With 24/7 access, AI offers fast, personalized responses that can save time and reduce stress. However, it’s important to remember that AI is a support tool, not a substitute for your own judgment, creativity, or personal reflection. The information it provides should always be reviewed and tailored to your unique goals, values, and experiences. Career decisions are personal, and your journey deserves more than generic advice.

Additionally, AI has limitations. For example:

• Lack of personal context: AI doesn’t fully understand your lived experiences, motivations, or emotional state unless you explicitly share them.
• No access to real-time job market data: While AI can provide general trends, it might not reflect current local opportunities or specific employer preferences.
• Bias and outdated information: AI is trained on data that may contain biases or may not reflect the most up-to-date career practices or tools.
• Not a replacement for mentorship: Real conversations with the Center for Career and Professional Development staff, faculty, or professionals offer insights and networking opportunities that AI simply can’t provide.

AI can give you a head start, but real success comes from thoughtful customization, ongoing learning, and human connection.

Common Prompts for Career Planning and Research

Career Exploration

• Provide the tasks and responsibilities to be completed as a [career title].
• I’m interested in becoming a [career title]. What are the top five skills I need to develop to succeed in this career?
• Follow-up question: As an undergraduate college student, how can I gain experience developing [one of the top five skills]?
• I want to become a [career title]. What are the educational requirements for this job role?
• Using this webpage [insert university organization website link], which organizations would help prepare me for a career as a [career title]?

Conducting Industry Research

• I’m beginning to search for entry-level positions as a [career title]. Can you share three companies in [location/region/city/country] that hire for this role?
• I am interested in working as a [career title] for [company name]. What are five other companies that hire for similar positions?
• I want to work for [company name]. What are the top three attributes they look for in candidates? Pull information directly from their website.
• I have applied for a company in [industry]. What are the biggest opportunities and threats in [industry]?
• What is the average entry-level salary for a [career title] in [area/location]?

Resume Preparation

• Help me build a resume from scratch. I’m a college student with no formal work experience.
• Create a resume objective for a [insert major] student applying for a [type of position, e.g., internship] in [field of interest, e.g., marketing].
• What are some key transferable skills I can list as a [insert major] student with no job experience?
• Turn this [insert role] experience into professional resume bullet points: [paste description you wrote].

Job Search Support

• Searching this website [insert link], provide key skills, tasks, and qualifications for [career title].
• Based on my [insert degree name] degree, suggest relevant jobs I can apply for in the [insert city] area.
• Pretend you are an applicant tracking system. Review this job listing [insert link to webpage]. Extract important keywords from this job description.

Interview Preparation

• I am interviewing for a position as a [career title]. Give me a list of the most common questions asked in an interview for this position.
• What are five questions I can ask in an interview in [field/industry] that will give me insight into the company’s culture and commitment to equity and inclusion?
• I have copied and pasted my resume below. How should I describe my past work experience in an interview for a job as a [career title]? [Copy and paste relevant resume experience.]
• Give me examples of how I can demonstrate leadership experience in an interview for a [career title].

Informational Interviews

• Write a one-paragraph email asking a [name of your university/college] alumnus working in [field] for an informational interview.

*Adapted from: Professor Heather Nester (2024). “How First-Generation College Students Can Use AI to Level the Job-Search Playing Field.” National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).