If you’re here you might well be considering a career change and feeling uncertain about the right direction – something which AI has now made even more uncertain. It clearly makes sense to be concerned.
Some headlines can make it sound as though every profession is about to disappear when in fact, AI isn’t replacing all jobs – it’s replacing parts of jobs, specifically the routine, repetitive parts.
So, when you’re thinking about a career change, rather than asking yourself, “Which jobs are safe?” ask yourself “What kind of work does this job involve?”
Jobs where AI is already having a big impact
The biggest changes are happening in roles where much of the work involves processing information, following rules or producing standardised content, eg:
- routine administrative work
- data entry
- transcription
- basic bookkeeping
- first-line customer service
- scheduling and diary management
- straightforward coding
- writing standard reports or marketing copy
- document summarising and research.
Organisations are already finding they need fewer people to do these.
Jobs that are likely to remain very human
At the other end of the spectrum are roles where success depends on judgement, relationships and dealing with complexity. Think about jobs involving:
- leadership and people management
- coaching and mentoring
- healthcare
- teaching
- skilled trades
- sales and business development
- negotiation
- consulting
- project leadership
- organisational change.
These jobs all involve reading situations, understanding people, influencing decisions and adapting when things don’t go to plan. AI can support this work, but it can’t replace the human judgment behind it.
So, what does this mean in practical terms? Rather than focusing on job titles, look at the day-to-day work. Find out:
- How much of this role is repetitive?
- How much relies on building relationships?
- Will people pay for my judgement or just my knowledge?
- Does the role involve solving new problems or repeating the same process every day?
- Will AI become another tool I use, or is it likely to become my competitor?
The skills employers increasingly value
The World Economic Forum (WEF) predicts that analytical thinking remains the most in-demand workplace skill, alongside resilience, creative thinking, leadership, curiosity and lifelong learning. LinkedIn’s research also suggests that by 2030 around 70% of the skills used in today’s jobs will have changed, with AI acting as a major driver of that shift.
Employers aren’t simply looking for people who know how to use AI. They’re looking for people who can think.
People who can make good decisions when there isn’t an obvious answer. People who can build trust with clients, influence colleagues, manage change and spot opportunities that aren’t immediately obvious.
In other words, the skills that become increasingly valuable are often the ones we develop through experience.
One final thought…
If you’re considering a career change, don’t rule out a job because AI is changing it.
Instead, ask whether AI is changing how the job is done or whether it’s removing the need for the job altogether. In many professions, it’s the first rather than the second.
The most successful people over the next decade will be the people who know how to use AI well while bringing qualities and skills that AI can’t: empathy, judgement, creativity, adaptability and the ability to connect with other human beings.
Many thanks to Alex Knight for use of his image https://www.pexels.com/@agk42/
