The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Choosing and Building a Career
Author: Florina Petre, legal counselor
The artificial intelligence ("AI") revolution is driving one of the fastest societal transformations in history, with a particularly profound impact on the labour market. Unlike previous industrial revolutions, artificial intelligence automates human cognitive functions, which explains the unprecedented scale of the changes we are experiencing.
AI's impact on the labour market includes, among other things, a reduction in the number of jobs available for certain qualification levels, the disappearance of some existing roles, and the emergence of entirely new ones. It is estimated that 92 million jobs will disappear by 2030, while approximately 170 million new jobs will be created. It is important to note that these changes will occur across different industries and will require different sets of skills, making the acquisition of new competencies inevitable.
Understanding how AI is reshaping the labour market has therefore become essential for every student who wants to build a strong professional path and remain competitive in the long term.
Why It Matters for Students Today
Although artificial intelligence is already widely used by both students and educators, formal education on its responsible use has been slow to develop. The rapid pace of technological innovation, combined with the slower adaptation of educational institutions, has created a significant gap: the labour market increasingly demands AI-related digital skills, yet education systems have not systematically integrated this need into their curricula. As a result, students and recent graduates are actively seeking resources and opportunities to develop these increasingly essential competencies. This article aims to address this need, at least in part.
Recent studies suggest that entry-level jobs may be among those most affected by the AI revolution. AI is also expected to have a significant impact on occupations that require higher education qualifications.
What do global data say
Job postings requiring AI-related skills are growing 3.5 times faster than those that do not require such skills. According to the 2024 Work Trend Index report by Microsoft and LinkedIn, 66% of business leaders would not hire a candidate without artificial intelligence skills. Moreover, 71% of them would prefer a less experienced candidate with AI skills over a more experienced candidate who lacks those skills.
According to the Future of Jobs Report 2025, published by the World Economic Forum and based on a survey of more than 1,000 employers representing 14 million workers across 55 countries, the picture is clear: 40% of employers intend to reduce their workforce where AI can automate tasks, while 70% of those same employers plan to hire people with AI-related skills.
The same report shows that jobs are not simply disappearing—they are being transformed. This is precisely the window of opportunity for students who take a strategic approach at the beginning of their careers.
Risks and the European legal framework
AI systems offer numerous benefits, but they are also susceptible to generating real risks, including bias and discrimination, a lack of transparency in decision-making processes, difficulties in assigning accountability, and potential violations of fundamental rights.
The European Union has adopted the first regulation dedicated exclusively to artificial intelligence, namely the European Artificial Intelligence Act, with the aim of ensuring the responsible, human-centric use of AI that both prevents risks and supports innovation. Among the regulation's key obligations is AI literacy, which requires ensuring that individuals who work with AI systems possess the skills, knowledge, and understanding necessary to implement them effectively and responsibly, while being aware of both the opportunities and the risks they entail.
The conclusion is clear: professional success will belong to those who are not only AI-literate but who also use AI fluently, responsibly, and authentically, in compliance with the law.
Which Skills Truly Matter
According to the same World Economic Forum report mentioned above, the most in-demand skills by 2030 include artificial intelligence and big data, cybersecurity, technological literacy, analytical thinking, creativity, resilience and flexibility, curiosity and lifelong learning, leadership, talent management, and environmental stewardship.
It is worth emphasizing, however, that AI literacy alone does not guarantee successful integration into an AI-driven labour market. Psychological and motivational resources—such as openness to change, confidence in using technology, and a future-oriented mindset—play an equally important role in translating technical knowledge into tangible professional outcomes.
Where You Are Now and Where You Can Go: The UNESCO Framework
The UNESCO AI Competency Framework for Students (2024) ("the UNESCO Framework") is the global reference framework that shows what it means to be a competent student in the age of AI. Its purpose is to guide students toward becoming not only responsible users of AI, but also active participants and co-creators of more inclusive and human-centred AI systems.
The UNESCO Framework organizes competencies into three levels of progression, each building upon the previous one.
Understand. A basic understanding of what AI is, what it can do, and the ethical implications of its use. This is the minimum threshold and, according to the AI Act, a legal requirement for all individuals who work with AI systems.
Apply. Using AI actively and responsibly in education, work, and everyday life. Critically evaluating outputs, verifying information, and maintaining one's own reasoning and critical thinking—this is the level that truly differentiates you in the labour market.
Create. Contributing to the design and improvement of AI systems, proposing ethical solutions, and shaping a vision that goes beyond the simple use of AI.
Principles of Responsible AI Use
Based on the UNESCO AI Competency Framework (2024), the OECD AI Principles, and the European Artificial Intelligence Act.
Always check the AI output
AI can generate plausible but false information, a phenomenon known as "hallucinations." The responsibility to verify information lies with you, not with the model. When searching for a job, manually verify any information about the employer, salary, benefits, or requirements provided to you by AI.
Be transparent about the use of AI
In the workplace, at university, and in collaborations, be transparent when you have used AI significantly in your work. This is an aspect of professional integrity that also provides legal protection. Transparency is always the safest choice.
Don't upload personal data and sensitive information to AI
Do not upload personal data, especially sensitive information, or confidential information belonging to you, your employer, or your clients, to public AI platforms or platforms that have not been authorized by the appropriate individuals within your workplace. Use the versions approved by your employer in accordance with internal policies, or avoid entering such data altogether.
Use the AI as a thinking partner
Career documents, such as your CV and cover letter, essentially communicate who you are and why you matter to that employer. That is precisely why authenticity is the key priority. A document written entirely by AI and submitted without any modifications can be relatively easy to identify and may close a door before you have had the chance to open it. Use AI as a thinking partner for specific tasks such as organizing ideas and structuring content. Your strengths, your experiences, and your way of thinking are the things employers look for in a candidate, and they are elements that no algorithm can express on your behalf.
Know the limits of the AI model you use
Every AI system has certain limitations or is more effective for specific tasks. Read the documentation of the AI models you use. This knowledge can set you apart from an average user.
Keep learning, because AI evolves faster than any curriculum.
The WEF identifies “curiosity and lifelong learning” as one of the most important skills for 2030. The greatest risk is not failing to know AI today, but believing that what you know today will be enough tomorrow. Allocate a few hours each week to explore new functionalities and real-world AI use cases.
Protect your critical thinking
Critical thinking cannot be delegated to AI. UNESCO emphasizes that truly important decisions—an interview, a career choice, an ethical dilemma—must remain your own. AI is only a tool that enhances learning and career development without replacing a student’s ability to make decisions, think critically, and be creative.
How to navigate the labour market
A transforming labour market requires a different approach from the one we are used to. A few concrete directions can be helpful.
Look for jobs that combine human reasoning with AI. Roles that build bridges between the technical side and business needs will be among the most sought after. You do not need to be an AI engineer for this, but you should understand what AI can and cannot do within your field.
Evaluate your skills around adaptability, not just expertise. Focus on how you learn, how you solve problems, and your ability to adapt quickly. These skills are more valuable in the long term than knowledge of a specific tool that may no longer be relevant in a few years.
Explore niches that combine knowledge from your field of study or profession with AI-related skills. If you are a student of law, medicine, communication, or economics and you add AI to your skill set, you create a distinctive and competitive profile.
How to Use AI in Career-Related Matters
The Five S model for efficient prompting
When formulating a prompt for AI, a simple and effective framework is the Five S model, developed by AI for Education, an organization that provides AI courses. This model suggests following five steps: provide context about your role and the situation (Set the Scene), clearly define what you want with all relevant details (Specific), use simple language without unnecessary jargon (Simplify), indicate the format in which you want the response (Structure the Output), and, after receiving the response, explain what worked and what needs to be adjusted (Share Feedback).
Other useful habbits:
An effective technique, but one that is often overlooked, is to ask AI itself to improve your prompt before obtaining the final response, which can significantly change the quality of the output.
Periodically evaluate how you use AI. AI for Education provides a self-assessment guide for students, a tool that helps you identify when AI truly supports your learning and your authentic approach to a task.
Be transparent about how you have used AI and inform others. Do not forget that you are responsible for the output generated by AI.
CONCLUSION
AI comes with real challenges, but also with opportunities that previous generations did not have. By understanding how it works and adopting a responsible approach to its use, in accordance with legislation and your own values, you can become more competitive in building a professional path that brings you great satisfaction.
Stay open to continuous learning, remain flexible, and remember that, ultimately, AI is a tool. And tools are only as valuable as your ability to use them effectively.
The article was written by Florina Petre. An artificial intelligence tool was used in the process of identifying the sources mentioned in the article. The content, perspectives, and arguments either belong to the author or are presented in accordance with the sources cited in the article. The information is intended for general and educational purposes. An artificial intelligence tool was also used for translating the original Romanian text to English.