Chat Your Way to a Career: How to Use AI to Explore Your Future
Talking to an AI can help you discover career paths and explore opportunities
Are you interested in learning how to use AI to explore your career path? AI chatbots are becoming powerful tools for students who want quick, personalized help with figuring out their future. Whether you're unsure about your major or curious about what jobs match your interests, chatting with an AI can be a great place to start. Use the following steps to start exploring with the AI chatbot of your choice. Parkland students, take note – Microsoft Copilot is free with your student Office 365 account.
Start with your interests and skills
You don’t need to know exactly what you want to do. Instead, reflect on your interests and skills. Start with what you enjoy – do you like working with animals, solving puzzles, or helping people? Make a short list of 3-5.
Next think of a few things you’re good at. Maybe you’re the person you friends go to when they need someone to resolve an argument; maybe you taught yourself to code playing Minecraft; maybe you’re great at explaining things to others or you love organizing things. Add these to your list.
Last, think about what’s important to you in your future career or life. Do you want to stay in the area you currently live? Do you want to work together with a large team? Do you want to be outdoors as much as possible? Add the important requirements to your list as well.
Ask a chatbot to connect your interests and skills to jobs
Take your list and fill in the blanks of this statement, then paste it into a chatbot.
I’m a student who is interested in (list interests) and great at (list skills). What are 10 specific entry-level roles I could get that also (list important requirements)?
The chatbot will list some options for you. But you don’t have to stop there! You can ask it to adjust results based on additional criteria. For example, you could write “Adjust this list to exclude any jobs that are physically demanding” or “Focus this list on jobs that are in high demand on the East Coast.”
Ask about career paths
Once you find a job that sounds interesting, ask the chatbot how to get there. It can explain what kind of education or training you’ll need, what skills are important, and even what a typical day looks like. For example, you could ask, “How do I become a physical therapist?” or “What does a cybersecurity analyst do?”
Get help setting goals and practice communication skills
AI chatbots can also help you break big goals into smaller steps. If you say, “I want to work in healthcare but I’m not sure where to start,” the chatbot can guide you through options like certificate programs, internships, or entry-level jobs that build experience.
Talking to a chatbot is a low-pressure way to practice asking questions and expressing your goals. It’s also a great way to prepare for real conversations with advisors, mentors, or employers.
Use AI responsibly
While AI chatbots are helpful, they’re not perfect—and they’re not a replacement for doing your own research or talking to real people. Always double-check information, especially when making big decisions. And remember: AI can guide you, but it won’t do the work for you. Your effort, curiosity, and follow-through are what really shape your future.