Key Takeaways
- Many young job seekers now use AI for tasks like crafting resumes and preparing for interviews.
- AI tools are also being consulted for career advice by a significant number of students.
- The rise of AI is leading some students to change their career plans due to fears of job automation.
- While AI creates new opportunities, it also brings anxiety about future job security for many young people.
Gone are the days when young graduates patiently waited for employment doors to open. Today, they’re embracing artificial intelligence, transforming how they choose and pursue careers. This marks a significant shift in the professional world.
The scale of this quiet revolution is becoming clearer. A recent survey by Prospects, involving over 4,000 British students and graduates, highlights this trend, according to thestar.com.my. The findings show a generation widely adopting AI while also considering its impact on their future.
The figures speak volumes. Nearly 39% of young job seekers use AI to revise their resumes or cover letters, while 30% use it to write them from scratch. AI tools also assist 29% in preparing for job interviews and help 23% answer questions on application forms.
This easy access to AI is changing job search strategies. As a result, about one-fifth of young graduates now submit more than 50 applications, an increase directly linked to the convenience of AI. Those aged 25-34 are the most active, with 44% using AI to improve their chances of finding work.
Beyond applications, artificial intelligence is becoming a career advisor. Nearly 18% of respondents consult platforms like ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot for career advice. A significant 84% find these AI tools useful for professional guidance, establishing AI as a legitimate source of information, though human expertise is still valued more.
Artificial intelligence isn’t just transforming job searches; it’s also reshaping career paths. In fact, 10% of students surveyed said they have already changed their career plans because of this technology’s emergence.
Some are abandoning fields they believe are threatened by automation. One respondent shared, “I was going to be a graphic designer, but after the big leap in AI development, I realized that most clients will no longer need my work.” Others worry their skills, particularly in translation and writing, might become obsolete.
However, AI also opens up new career prospects. Some see unprecedented opportunities in areas like cybersecurity and data analysis. As one individual noted, “Technology is impacting the way we deal with and respond to crime. Therefore new and emerging jobs are being created to combat it.”
This rapid change is also causing anxiety. Students who have altered their career plans due to AI report feeling more uncertain about their future (46% compared to 37% of others) and more pessimistic about their prospects (29% versus 17%). “My job will be obsolete within 5 to 10 years, so I need to find something more secure now,” one respondent confessed, highlighting the stress young people face.
Faced with this evolving landscape, educational institutions and companies need to adapt. The challenge is to prepare a generation to work alongside AI without losing their unique professional identities. Artificial intelligence is transforming the professional world, but its overall impact will depend on our collective ability to make it a tool for growth and fulfillment, rather than another source of stress.
