AI Could Be Coming for Your Job (But Don’t Panic Yet)
Artificial intelligence is everywhere, including in the workplace. It can be a valuable resource for job seekers, employees, and companies, but it also endangers job security and will make some jobs obsolete. And that’s not even taking into account the environmental impact of the massive amounts of power this technology uses.
Remember, though, that over time, there have been countless jobs that no longer exist. Switchboard operators, telegraph operators, milkmen, and ice cutters are just some occupations that are no longer with us. That will continue to happen, and given the speed at which the workplace is changing, it’s important to be prepared for those changes and to protect your career as best you can.
Regardless of what’s coming next, you can take steps to AI-proof your career, as well as make the most of opportunities to pivot.
AI Workforce Changes
CNN reports that 41% of large employers plan to downsize their workforce because of AI, but 77% also said they were planning to reskill and upskill their existing employees to work with AI.
The Future of Jobs Report referenced by CNN has a list of the jobs that are in the greatest danger, including postal workers, administrative assistants, and clerical workers. There’s also a list of the fastest-growing jobs, and they aren’t all tech roles. In addition to developers, healthcare workers, general and operations managers, educators, social workers, and project managers are on the list.
Also on the positive side, Indeed’s Hiring Lab reports that we have some time, noting that AI isn’t likely to replace workers anytime soon, but it does have the potential to boost the productivity of individual workers. On the other hand, Decoder reports on a paper that will be published in June that shows a significant drop in demand for work that is easily automated, including freelance writing, software and web development, and engineering.
The reality, however, and what might be the scariest part of all this, is that nobody knows what will happen. Ten years ago, many futurists would have told you that truck drivers were more in danger than creatives from losing their jobs to the robots, but that’s not how it’s played out so far. We simply don’t have a crystal ball to see into the future.
What Can We Do?
Before you panic, take some time to consider what you can do to AI-proof your career, and remember that to be successful in a rapidly changing world, we’ll all have to keep learning and growing, whether we stay in our current occupations or retrain for jobs that are being invented or reinvented in the blink of an eye.
News & Noteworthy
Bluesky Job Search Allies: If you’re on Bluesky (it’s our new favorite social site) or thinking about signing up, here’s a Starter Pack of Job Search Allies you can use to get job search advice from HR pros, career experts, and recruiters. If you’d like to connect with us: Jen and Alison.
Text Message Job Scams: Text scams are nothing new, but this is a big one. New York’s Attorney General is trying to recover $2 million for victims lured by a text message remote job scam. One person was scammed out of $300,000, and another lost $100,000. Tip: One of the best ways to avoid getting scammed is to subscribe to Mark Anthony’s Dyson Job Scam Report newsletter.
LA Wildfire Help: For anyone impacted by the California wildfires, the one-week waiting period to collect unemployment has been waived, and you can start collecting benefits immediately.
Those in designated areas may also be eligible to receive money for housing, food, medication, and other emergency supplies, as well as rental assistance and home repairs. Here’s how to apply for assistance.
The Year of the Great Divide: When you look back at 2024 from the perspective of job searching, hiring, and the job market, there was a significant divide between the data and the reality for many job seekers. That divide left many job seekers wondering why it’s so hard to get hired.
Our Favorite Tools & Tips
Don’t Waste Time Searching for Jobs in the Wrong Places: You can write resumes and cover letters, apply for jobs, interview, and get hired without spending money on the (too many) people selling coaching services or mass applying to hundreds of jobs at once (which doesn’t work). Instead, focus your job search using the resources that will work best for your current situation.
Find Local Job Listings: Every state has a job bank where job seekers can post resumes and search for jobs. Employers can post jobs for free, so you may find jobs that aren't posted elsewhere. Here's a directory of state job banks so you can quickly access resources for job seekers in your location.
Get Your Career on Track: If your career is shaky or you’re looking for something new, there are some small changes you can make right now to get things back on track. Here are 8 things you can do that don’t take much time and are easy to do, but will help your career move forward.
Teal: Use Teal’s AI Resume Builder to tailor your resume for jobs, the Job Tracker to organize and manage your job search, and the Chrome extension to bookmark open positions from 40 job boards (the basic version is free).
Our Partners
Jobsearchdb: When you're looking for a job in a specific industry or career field, using job sites that focus on the types of jobs you're interested in can be a time-saver. The Job Search Database includes links to hundreds of niche career sites, organized by category. It’s one of our favorite resources for finding job listings, and it’s free.
Remote Rocketship: Remote Rocketship scans the internet for remote job listings, and you’ll find over 70,000 remote roles, many of which aren’t listed on LinkedIn or job boards. You can search postings by job title, location, type of job, salary, company size, visa sponsorship, and more, and get daily emails when new remote jobs matching your criteria are posted. To access all the job listings, use promo code JOBHOPPER for a 20% discount.
JobLogr: JobLogr is an AI-powered, mobile-friendly, platform you can use to find jobs faster and easier. You can organize and enhance every aspect of your job search, including searching for jobs based on your resume and application history, application tracking, resume and cover letter writing, LinkedIn optimization, and interview preparation. Sign up for a free trial, and if you're interested in subscribing, there's a special discounted monthly subscription rate for Job Hopper subscribers (use promo code Hop20).
Note: We may receive a small commission if you sign up using these links.