Use AI as a career advisor

Time to look for a job after the holidays? Tired of your current one, yet unsure what your next career move should look like? AI might be able to help. Unlike a “real” career coach, using the AI ​​assistants now available is free.

Here are a few tips:

At least in the US, as many as 65 percent of job seekers already report using AI. So, to stay competitive, you need to stand out. Consult an AI assistant—there are several available, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, or Claude. Or, for a bit of variety, why not try the Chinese tool DeepSeek? Each has its advantages, but above all, they provide slightly different answers depending on how you phrase your questions.

To enable the AI ​​assistant to provide you with more personalized advice, you should consider the following:

Try to describe what you consider to be your strengths and interests, as well as what is important to you. Be as concrete as possible when describing yourself, your values, and your background.

Suggested questions for AI:

• I am unsure about my next career step. Can you ask me questions to help me better understand my strengths and interests? Once you have articulated what you are good at and which industries interest you, ask AI to suggest the career steps that suit you best.

Most people nowadays use LinkedIn when looking for a job. Therefore, make sure your background and personal interests are clearly visible there. You can ask AI for help with this, too; for example, upload your CV and ask AI to suggest improvements.

Suggested questions for AI:

• Can you help me write a professional summary of my career and industries? Competition is fierce. Ask the AI ​​to review your LinkedIn profile and suggest improvements to make it more engaging and help it stand out. If you want to apply for a specific job, the AI ​​can help you tailor your application based on the wording of the job advertisement.

Are you still struggling to land a job despite submitting numerous applications? Try asking AI to help identify growing industries or sectors that are currently hiring. It can suggest the best job-search strategy if you are aiming for a specific industry or role. AI can also provide tips on relevant contacts or how to increase your visibility on social media.

Suggested questions for AI:

• Can you help me draft a personal message to better reach the recruiter? You can also get suggestions for other, more creative or unconventional ways to apply for jobs.

Perhaps you are finally ready for your first job interview? Feeling nervous? AI can help you simulate various interview questions that might come up. It acts like a role-playing exercise where you can also ask for feedback on your answers and get suggestions for improvement. For instance, a common interview question is: "Tell us a little about yourself." What does the AI ​​consider a good answer for the specific role? Towards the end, the interviewer often asks, "Do you have any questions for us?" Ask AI ​​for suggestions or advice on what is appropriate to bring up during the first interview. Are you unsure about what salary to ask for? AI can help you conduct market research on this as well.

The aim is not to deceive or manipulate. However, AI can help structure your application more effectively and act as a strategic advisor. Keep in mind, though, that different AI models yield slightly different results; the best approach is therefore to experiment and use various platforms.

Try viewing AI as a colleague. Today, for instance, companies typically use some form of personality test during recruitment. An increasing number of test providers claim to use AI as an aid when designing their tests. However, almost all of them are based on the so-called Five-Factor Model (Big 5). This model posits that every individual can be described in terms of five distinct traits: extraversion, openness, social adaptability, conscientiousness, and emotional stability. Here, too, you can use AI to practice how to answer so that you present the most accurate picture possible of who you are as a person.

Sources:

The Economist, Computational bias. June 27, 2026

Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic.Want to use AI as a career coach? Harvard Business Review, April 15, 2025.