Most people on the planet will need to make a series of decisions about how they are going to earn a living. And most people lack the networks and access to expertise to help inform those decisions in the best way. You might end up in a career because of social pressure, lack of opportunity, lack of capital, etc. But imagine if you could explore a wider range of options within the limits of your constraints. What other choices could you explore?
One of the ways I think LLMs like ChatGPT and Claude can be incredibly useful for almost everyone on earth, is to use it to explore options for career planning.
Here’s a prompt I tried: “I’m a 15 year old high school student, living in a small farming community in rural South Africa. There are limited options for careers here and I know that I don’t want to go into farming. I know that I can leave and go somewhere else where there are more opportunities, but I actually enjoy the lifestyle and community in my town, so would like to stay for now. I’m doing quite well in maths and accounting at school, and was wondering if you can think of any careers that I could consider going into. Please be creative in your response.”
And Claude’s response:
Here are some potential career ideas for a math-minded 15 year old in a rural South African farming community:
- Accountant – With your accounting skills, you could potentially find work doing bookkeeping and taxes for local farms and businesses. This allows you to use your strengths and stay local.
- Teacher – Math and science teachers are always in demand. You could get a teaching degree and give back to your community by educating the next generation.
- Entrepreneur – Look for needs in your town that aren’t being met and start your own business. For example, a delivery/courier service for local businesses, or tech support/consulting for area farms.
- Banker – The local bank likely needs talent. Start as a teller and work your way up to becoming a loan officer or branch manager. This allows you to build financial skills.
- Tradesman – Consider training as an electrician or plumber. Trades are in demand everywhere and allow you to stay in the area.
- Blogger/Influencer – Share your knowledge of farming, rural living or math topics online to make extra income. Or promote local businesses.
- Government worker – Check if your local municipality or regional government needs an analyst, accountant, budget specialist, etc. Public service allows you to give back.
The key is finding ways to apply your strengths locally. With an entrepreneurial spirit, you can create opportunities. Stay open-minded and make the most of the talents you have!
Those look like a few interesting options that provide a starting point for further reflection and discussion. I followed that up with another prompt: “Let’s say I wanted to explore the idea of becoming a blogger or influencer (because I can start doing that immediately). What kinds of skills should I be developing? Where should I be focusing my attention?”
Claude’s response:
Here are some suggestions for skills to develop as an aspiring blogger/influencer:
- Writing skills – Work on your ability to write compelling content. Take writing classes or read blogs you admire to analyze what makes them engaging.
- Photography/videography – Great visuals are key. Learn how to take high-quality, eye-catching photos and videos using just your smartphone camera. Practice editing them as well.
- Social media skills – Master the various social platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, etc. Study what types of content resonate on each and how to build a following.
- Basic graphic design – Learn to make simple social graphics, banners, thumbnails using free tools like Canva.
- Marketing – Study influencer marketing techniques like affiliate programs, sponsorships, hashtags, etc. Understand your audience and what they respond to.
- Technology skills – Get comfortable with blogging platforms like WordPress and email marketing tools. Be adaptable as new technologies emerge.
- SEO skills – Research SEO and learn how to optimize your content so it can be discovered online.
The most important thing is consistently creating and sharing high-quality content that provides value to your audience. Let your passions shine through. Dedication and persistence are key!
Again, those look like a solid foundation for further reflection and conversation. What I like most about them is that these are transferable skills that could be useful in a wide range of careers. Claude is actually giving very useful and actionable advice. Even if you disagree with the suggestions, they’ve helped you narrow the range of options and reduced the number of variables you need to consider for the decision.
Here’s one more prompt to think about: “I’m currently in secondary school in the UK and starting to think about career options. My school guidance counsellor has suggested I go into nursing, based on our conversations and a few aptitude tests that I’ve taken. It seems like something I could be good at, and I’m drawn to the profession for a range of reasons. However, lately I’ve read a few articles in the news that concern me. It seems that nurses aren’t always paid what they deserve, work long hours, and don’t always get the support they need. What advice do you have for someone considering a career in nursing, but wants to have a realistic picture of what this might entail?”
Claude’s response:
Here are a few thoughts on pursuing a nursing career in today’s environment:
- It’s true that nursing can be demanding, with long shifts and sometimes intense working conditions. However, many nurses find the work deeply rewarding and feel called to serve and help others. Going into it with realistic expectations is wise.
- Compensation varies greatly by location and specialty. Do your research to understand average pay scales in your area and in the type of nursing you’re interested in. Some specialties like nurse anesthesia pay quite well.
- The nursing shortage means job security, but also understaffing at times. Consider how you handle stress and workload before committing. But this also gives you bargaining power.
- Look for hospitals with nursing unions or strong worker advocacy. These provide more structure around compensation, staffing ratios, schedules, etc.
- Talk to many current nurses to get a sense of work-life balance and burnout potential. But know every workplace is different too.
- Consider specializing after getting your RN to increase earnings potential and job options. Many companies help cover further education costs.
- Going into nursing doesn’t have to be forever. You can pivot to related roles like management, education, research, public health, policy, or others.
The bottom line is nursing can be a challenging but rewarding path if you go in informed. Do your homework regarding programs, job outlooks, and workplace cultures to make the best decision. The nursing shortage gives you options too.
I think that these are fantastic, thought-provoking, and insightful comments that any young person would do well to reflect on. They provide talking points that stimulate further conversation with parents, mentors, friends, and other trusted advisors (or even other LLMs).
The conversation about AI in education has to move away from the concerns about cheating if we want to take advantage of the full range of opportunities they provide.