AI: A Free Navigator for Career Guidance Pathways
Author: Anna Puhachova – Career Counsellor, Ambassador of the National Europass & Euroguidance Centres in Ukraine, Director of the NGO “European Social and Economic Institute”.
The search for one’s path is often accompanied by the fear of assessing one’s own capabilities and a lack of understanding of available opportunities. Artificial Intelligence is becoming the ideal “stage zero” of career guidance – a safe space where one can formulate a query without unnecessary stress (which is particularly relevant for Generation Z, who often find it more comfortable to open up to a chatbot than to a stranger) before turning to a specialist.
Generative Self-Exploration
We often fail to notice the connection between our hobbies and potential careers. AI allows us to look at our interests from a “helicopter view”, without being tied to standard job titles.
How to do it: Instead of taking standard tests, describe everything that inspires you to the bot: from favourite school subjects or YouTube topics to tasks you enjoy solving in daily life. Ask the system to generate ten professions at the intersection of these areas. This helps both school students find a suitable field of study and adults discover non-obvious options for career development.
Tip: Don’t stop at the first answer. Engage in a dialogue. For example, write: “I don’t like option #3 because I dislike monotonous work.” The more details you provide, the more accurate the results will be.
Virtual “Job Shadowing”
Perceptions of a profession often shatter when confronted with the reality of routine work. AI allows for a “crash test” of a career choice without risks or internships.
How to do it: Ask the system to model a detailed working day of a chosen specialist: from morning coffee to the evening report. Ask about routine tasks, stress levels, typical conflicts, and the tools they use. This helps you understand whether the pace and rhythm of this work suit you, even before you begin the journey.
Tip: Ask the bot “uncomfortable” questions: “What are the common occupational health issues in this field?”, “Could AI replace this profession in five years?”, or “Why do people most often leave this role?”. This helps remove the “rose-tinted glasses” that can come with romanticising a profession.
Building an Educational Map
Once a profession has been chosen, the hardest part is structuring the chaos of requirements into a clear plan of further learning and action.
How to do it with AI: Formulate a request to create a “skills tree” for the chosen role. Ask to divide skills into priority ones (without which you are unlikely to be hired) and additional ones. Next, ask the system to suggest resources, including free local platforms (such as Prometheus, EdEra, VUM, etc.) and courses on the Europass platform, so you can start progressing without delay.
Tip: Ask AI to turn the list of courses into a calendar-based plan. For example: “I have five hours a week. Create a two-month study plan for me.” This transforms an abstract dream into step-by-step action.
Reality Filter: Trust, but Verify
It is important to remember: AI is a navigator that knows the theory but does not always see the “potholes” on the pathway of the real labour market. It can confidently generate false information (so-called “hallucinations”). Therefore, treat the generated route strictly as a draft.
What to pay attention to:
Localisation: AI often recommends Western certifications, which may be expensive and not required in Ukraine.
Relevance: The bot may use outdated job titles. Always check the names of study programmes and speciality codes on official university websites and in national databases (such as EDEBO).
Human factor: AI cannot assess your emotional maturity, soft skills, or psychological readiness for a specific job.
At this stage, a professional career guidance counsellor becomes indispensable. AI can provide direction and an information base, but final expertise, route verification, and strategic support should always come from a human specialist.
