Considerations when using AI
When considering using AI to support your career-planning, it can be useful for generating ideas and getting started, but using AI can also frequently present challenges for the user. For example, AI might:
- Produce information that is outdated or false (sometimes referred to as ‘AI hallucinations’)
- Create content that is generic, for example if you use it to create an application, it might use the language of the job description, but not include specific evidence of your skills
- Encourage over-reliance on AI without personal reflection (sometimes referred to as ‘cognitive off-loading')
When using AI, consider how you take into account the challenges of AI use. We have outlined an example of how you might navigate a particular challenge below.
It’s also worth thinking about the broader implications of using AI, like data privacy and its environmental impact. For example, submitting personal or sensitive information into an AI system may result in that system storing or unintentionally sharing that information. There is more information about best practice and critical AI use, including considering data privacy, the environmental impact and the University’s policy, here: Generative AI .
The university is currently in the process of rolling out access to Microsoft 365 Copilot licenses to staff and students. More information will be shared by the university soon.
Example of managing an AI challenge when using it for career exploration:
- Action: Researching what career pathways might match your interests and skills.
- Using AI to: Generate starting points and inspiration for further research.
- Risk that AI will: Offer general suggestions that aren’t personalised to you and skip important personal reflection on your skills, interests and priorities.
- How to manage this challenge: Follow the 3 P’s approach. Reflection is an important part of career exploration, allowing you to identify your priorities, skills and interests. Ensure you start at this point, before using AI, as this will allow you to prompt more effectively. Our 'I'm just starting to think about my career’ webpage has some good starting points: I’m just starting to think about my career (The University of Manchester).
Example of managing an AI challenge when using it for job applications:
- Action: Writing a job application in response to a job advert.
- Using AI to: Draft a one-page cover letter.
- Risk that AI will: Create a draft that is generic, for example, that uses language from the job description but doesn’t include personal reflection on why things are important to you or the impact that experiences have had on your skills, interests or knowledge. AI can even sometimes produce false information (this can be referred to as 'AI hallucinations').
- How to manage the challenge: Follow the 3 P’s approach. Proofreading is a particularly important part of the process. It offers you the chance to adapt the AI output to your own personal voice and verify that AI hasn’t invented any experience that you don’t have. Read more about the 3 P’s approach on our main page: AI and you: Careers, jobs and applications.
Remember that AI should complement, not replace, your own effort. Your own experiences, reflections and judgement are what make your career decisions and applications meaningful. If you would like personalised support, you can book a Careers Appointment via CareerConnect to discuss your options, applications or interview preparation in more detail.
