Do you want to use AI at work, irrespective of your role, age or comfort with technology? When you wanted to save energy and cut travel time, you learnt to ride a bicycle and drive a car. Then, you learnt to use the smartphone and computer to save time in buying groceries and writing documents. Now, AI is here to enhance your expertise and reduce mental effort and time dramatically. Here's how to use common AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Bing Chat or Gemini, as well as specialised AI tools, in your current role every day.
Streamline tasks
Save time and automate repetitive tasks with AI as your go-to intern for e-mails, meetings and documentation. Use Google's Smart Compose or Microsoft Outlook to suggest draft replies, flag critical e-mails and automate follow-ups. Also let AI prioritise important e-mails so that you can respond faster. Concerned about how to respond politely to an angry client or an aggressive colleague? Ask your free AI chatbot to improve your e-mail, suggest better language, change the tone and help you with a desired outcome. Next, use Calendly or Google Calendar's AI assistant to automatically book meetings based on availability and save on coordination effort. Use Google Drive's AI search or Microsoft's Share Point to quickly locate files and folders. Finally, use tools like Otter or Fireflies.ai to record and transcribe meetings and turn discussions into a summary. Instead of taking notes, people can focus on key matters during meetings.
Better decisions with data
Use AI as your personal data scientist to process and interpret data, and make better data-driven decisions. If you are in sales and marketing, AI-driven tools from Hubspot and Salesforce Einstein analyse customer data, forecast trends, and suggest strategies to improve sales and help focus on the most promising leads. If you are in accounts, AI tools like Quickbooks or Xero can predict cash flow and offer insights into cutting costs and increasing investments. If you are in research, tools like IBM Watson let you comb through large data sets, presenting key information rapidly in a usable format. Use it to analyse patient data in healthcare, student performance in education or customer behaviour in marketing.
Creative output
AI is a godsend if you are a creator or if creation is part of your role. Use AI chatbots or Grammarly to correct grammar, improve readability and generate ideas. Once you have written your report or presentation, use AI to give it a professional finish in almost no time. As a designer, leverage AI features of Canva or Adobe Spark to create professional quality output for marketing materials, social media posts and presentations. Use their templates, palettes and layout suggestions to boost quality. If you are writing content or creating copy, AI chatbots and tools like Jasper can provide inspiration and finished product descriptions, social media copy and blog posts.
Manage team outcomes
The larger or more dispersed your team, the more critical it is to manage collaboration and communication. AI comes to the rescue with AI bots in Microsoft Teams and Slack that remind people of deadlines, suggest resources and help prioritise tasks . AI-driven translation through Google Translate or Azure Translator helps you break down language barrier and reduce miscommunication on important updates or feedback due to language differences. Finally, improve collaboration by managing workflow and projects through Trello or Monday to assign tasks, set deadlines and track progress transparently.
Growth mindset
By integrating AI into your workday, you are not just staying competitive, but also setting up for success in a new workplace. The secret is to start small, experiment with different tools and gradually keep enhancing your AI mastery and workplace productivity. The single critical superpower you need is a growth mindset, which is a willingness to explore, experiment and adapt. AI isn't here to replace you. You are the pilot of your career, while AI is your efficient intern or copilot, who multiplies your abilities and lets you win more easily.
HOW TO IMPROVE JOB SEARCH
1.OPTIMISE RESUME
An AI chatbot can help with a draft template resume to kickstart your search. Since large companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan resumes, you can optimise yours for relevant keywords with an AI-powered tool like Jobscan or Resumeworded, or simply use ChatGPT.
2.MATCH JOBS
Platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed use AI algorithms to match a profile to suitable opportunities. For best outcomes, update your profile regularly, including skills, experience and preferences, and set job alerts to get notified. Use AI-driven LinkedIn Insights or Glassdoor to study industry trends and then target growing sectors.
3.PREPARE FOR INTERVIEWS
Use your friendly AI chatbot for employer and industry analysis and prepare for interview. Fact-check the details. Use the chatbot to generate questions and have it rate your typed answers. Alternatively, use video tools like Big Interview for mock interviews and feedback on responses, body language and tone.
4.COVER LETTER
Each role that you apply to has different requirements. Your cover letter and resume need to be tailored to each position for maximum relevance. Input background details and job requirements in your AI language model to get the first draft. Then refine it by hand.
5.BUILD PORTFOLIO
The creators and artists, who showcase their work in a portfolio to prospective employers, can use AI tools like Adobe Sensei or Canva's AI features to build a professional portfolio quickly. From graphic design, to editing videos or creating copy, you can make your portfolio stand out from the herd.
SWITCH CAREERS WITH AI
CHECK GAPS
If you are switching careers, check with an AI chatbot or platform like LinkedIn Learning or Coursera to benchmark current skills against desired roles or industry, identify skill gaps and suggest relevant courses to reskill.
CAREER COACH
Unable to find a suitable career coach? Use tools like FutureFit AI to get customised advice based on your experience and goals. You also a get a personalised career path and specifics on opportunities, industries and steps to take.
NETWORKING
Expand your professional network in a new domain. LinkedIn AI can suggest connections based on target career and goals. Build new ties to help in transition via technical inputs, job options, and introductions.
CURATED NEWS
Stay abreast of latest developments, industry trends and changes in a new field. AI news aggregators like Feedly customise news feeds based on specific interests. Glassdoor's salary estimator or Payscale provide salary insights.
PERSONALITY ASSESSMENT
Traitify or Pymetrics can use AI to analyse your personality traits and strengths to help you understand how they work with your new career. Use these to select roles aligned with your natural abilities and work style.
(THE WRITER IS FOUNDER & CEO, SALARYNEXT.COM, A JOB LOSS ASSURANCE COMPANY.)
