How to Successfully Compete Against AI in the 2024 Job Market
Lori Béen, Career Coach
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NOTE: In 2017, I wrote a post about how advances in technology such as AI would affect the work world in five to ten years. Specifically, how it might take over some jobs, and how to improve your job security and avoid unemployment. Fast forward to now, I’m re-reading that post as I’m writing this one. It’s interesting to see how things have changed since seven years ago.
The impact of AI on the 2024 job market
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing our world, especially our work world. Sometimes for the better, sometimes not. While AI can make our jobs easier in 2024, there is concern it will replace us in our jobs. So, how do we compete?
First, it’s important, especially for employers, to understand that AI can’t completely replace humans. It lacks the creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills humans possess. Companies and employers are being warned not to rely too heavily on the use of AI to justify cutting positions.
However, entry-level jobs are more at risk of being turned over to AI. Especially ones requiring repetitive and routine tasks. Therefore, while employees from all career stages might have concerns, 2024 graduates are the ones facing the most competition from AI.
Regardless of what stage you are in your career, there are a few ways to compete.
Ways to compete with AI in your job search
1. Learn how to work with AI
A few months ago, I attended a class providing an overview on AI and ChatGPT, offered to the Nashville community by a professor at Vanderbilt. It was an hour and a half of my time on a Monday evening, at a nominal cost.
From this course, I decided to sign up for an online Coursera class on the topic of Prompt Engineering (taught by the same professor), to learn how to really use ChatGPT more effectively.
I was able to take the course at an affordable rate and at my own pace, whenever it worked best for my schedule. It only took me a few weeks to complete it. I came away with a lot of great tools and skills for using AI and ChatGPT.
In a recent study, 83% of companies using or planning to use AI in 2024, say there’s more job security for their employees who have AI skills than those who don’t.
By upskilling and taking some courses on how to use AI, you make yourself more attractive to employers. You’re showing them you’re: a) adaptable to changing technology, b) willing to learn new things, and c) competent and able to help them be more efficient. So make sure you add any AI courses to your resume.
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2. Highlight your soft skills
When using AI platforms like ChatGPT, you’ll notice at the bottom of the screen a statement saying, “ChatGPT can make mistakes. Consider checking important information.” So humans are still needed to check for mistakes, among many other things.
Also, AI lacks emotional intelligence and the ability to make independent decisions based on intuition. Unlike in a face-to-face interaction with another human, non-verbal cues can’t be understood by AI.
On your resume and in your interviews, it’s important to show the soft skills you have that AI doesn’t possess. Indicate your success in experience with personalized customer service, emotional intelligence, creative thinking, innovative problem-solving skills, and critical thinking.
Citing specific examples with results will show just how big of a contribution you can provide to a company.
3. Be cautious when using ChatGPT in your job search
While it’s important to show off your AI skills to potential employers, using it for your job search can sometimes backfire. If you’re relying on it to write your resume and cover letters for you, keep in mind ChatGPT has a very consistent writing style.
Employers will likely notice if your resume or cover letter sounds the same as several other candidates’. This can make you appear dishonest in the employer’s eyes.
Instead, I recommend using ChatGPT to assist you in your research of the company and the industry. This will help you best prepare for job interviews and to know if it’s a role worth pursuing.
Getting help
Times are changing, and the job market is tight. Especially in certain industries such as technology, and for certain generations such as Gen Z. But, there are ways to maneuver these land minds. For help, contact me. I’d love to chat with you!
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PS: All of my blog posts are written by me, Lori Béen, owner of paNASH, and select guest writers. Any use of ChatGPT or AI is strictly for research purposes and compiling information to incorporate into my originally-created content.