"Will AI take my child’s job?"

And how to prepare them for the careers of the future...

How Students Can Thrive in Tomorrow’s Job Market

AI is no longer science fiction. It's already changing the way we live, learn, and work.

As a parent, you might be wondering: What kind of future are we preparing our children for? And as a student, you might be asking: Will AI take my job?

The truth is, yes. Some jobs will be automated, but many more will evolve, and entirely new careers will be born.

The key is not to fear AI, but to understand it, work alongside it, and focus on developing the kinds of skills that machines can’t easily replicate.

How AI is Changing the Job Market

AI is great at handling tasks that are repetitive, rule-based, or data-heavy. This means certain jobs, like basic data entry, routine accounting, or even customer service chat support, are being streamlined or taken over by machines.

But here’s the upside: AI is also opening doors to new roles that didn’t exist a few years ago. Think of careers like AI ethics consultant, machine learning engineer, virtual reality designer, or even AI-assisted healthcare coordinator.

It’s not about jobs disappearing, it’s about jobs changing.

Will AI Take My Job?

Top Skills That Will Stay in Demand

Here’s the good news: not everything can be automated. Some skills are more important than ever.

Creativity

AI can remix existing ideas, but it can’t dream like humans do. Creative thinkers - whether in art, design, storytelling, or product innovation - will continue to lead the way.

Why Creativity Can't Be Automated

🎨🌟 AI can mimic patterns, but it can’t dream, imagine, or create from personal emotion and experience. Creative minds will always be needed to lead and innovate.

💡 Tips for Parents: Give unstructured time. Encourage open-ended play and ideas. Avoid perfection pressure. Ask ‘what if?’ questions to spark ideas.

Relationship Management

Building rapport and trust, and conveying a genuine interest in customers or clients are human skills that ensure customer satisfaction and retention.

Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

People skills matter; empathy, communication, teamwork, and leadership are traits that machines can’t fake.

Why Empathy Will Always Matter (Even in an AI World)

🧠💛 No matter how smart AI gets, it can’t genuinely feel or understand what it's like to be human. It doesn’t experience joy, disappointment, or love, which means it can’t truly empathise. Empathy is a superpower. It helps people lead, support one another, and make meaningful change.

💡 Tips for Parents: Model kindness and active listening. Talk about feelings - yours and theirs. Encourage diverse experiences. Praise empathy when you see it.

Executive Coaching

Using intuition to ask the right questions, see links between issues, partnering with a client to build their self-awareness and develop their own solutions requires an insightful, human-centred viewpoint.

Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving

AI is only as smart as the questions it’s asked. Students who can analyze situations, think strategically, and solve complex problems will always be in demand.

Why Critical Problem-Solving Is Future-Proof

🧩💡 AI can analyze data and offer solutions, but humans ask the right questions, make judgment calls, and adapt under pressure. Critical thinking is essential in a changing world.

💡 Tips for Parents: Let kids struggle a bit with problems. Ask open-ended questions. Play logic and strategy games. Celebrate effort, not just correct answers.

Adaptability and Lifelong Learning

In a world that’s constantly changing, the ability to learn new things quickly is a superpower.

Tech Fluency (Not Just Coding!)

You don’t have to be a programmer to work with AI, but understanding how digital tools work, and how to use them, will be essential. Technical specialists who can explain technology concepts to non-technical clients are valuable to an employer!

Why Tech Fluency Is Here to Stay

💻🚀 AI still needs people who understand, guide, and use it wisely. Tech fluency gives young adults an edge in nearly every field.

💡 Tips for Parents: Let your child explore creative tech tools. Ask them to teach you something techy. Promote active over passive tech use.

Advice for Students

Explore Different Interests:

Don’t feel boxed in. The future job market will reward people who have flexible skill sets and diverse experiences.

Build Human Skills:

Join clubs, volunteer, play sports, or take on leadership roles - these all build communication, confidence, and collaboration.

Get Comfortable with Tech:

Play around with tools like ChatGPT or Canva, learn basic coding, or experiment with online courses.

Stay Curious:

Ask questions, read widely, and never stop learning. Know who you are - your values, skills, interests, work style, and what motivates you (this is where my tools and coaching service is a game changer!). The future belongs to the curious!

Helping Parents Move from Fear to Confidence in the Age of AI

The fear is real: Will my child have a secure job? Is everything being taken over by machines? What if they’re not ready for the future? Here’s the good news: the future isn’t about fewer opportunities; it’s about different ones. And with support, today’s young adults can absolutely thrive in an AI-powered world.

💡 Tips to Help Parents Overcome AI Anxiety:

1. Shift from fear to curiosity.

2. Learn alongside your child.

3. Focus on what AI can’t do (empathy, creativity, leadership).

4. Trust in adaptability—humans have always evolved.

5. Keep the conversation open and encouraging.

The world of work is changing, but it’s NOT hopeless. It’s full of new potential.

When parents approach AI with curiosity, openness, and resilience, they give their children the best foundation to grow, adapt, and succeed.

Pro Tip:

Many of the best future careers will be a blend of human and tech skills.

For example:

• A nurse who uses AI tools for diagnostics

• A teacher who integrates AI into personalized learning

• A designer who uses AI to speed up idea generation

Ready to support your young adult in exploring their career options? Book a FREE Discovery Call with me, to see if I'm the right person to help you explore your career and study options.

I'm Tracey Beard, a Career Coach and Strategist - I've been coaching young adults for 13 years, and the process works (6500 clients and counting!). I bring data, science, a bit of humour, and a passion for helping young adults see their uniqueness and purpose in the world of work!

Book a Discovery Call here!