Episode 219: How to Navigate AI and the Changing Job Market, with Dr. Joan Palmiter Bajorek

"My work directly acknowledges that anxiety (around AI) and talks about what actions we can take to take care of ourselves, our families, our communities, during a time that's high opportunity but also really high volatility."

~Dr. Joan Palmiter Bajorek AI Expert and Author of: Your AI Roadmap: Actions to Expand Your Career, Money and Joy"

Are you afraid of AI? 

Artificial Intelligence has long been the stuff of science fiction, with the "artificial" becoming real and taking over the world. Yikes. But AI is here to stay, and according to AI expert, Dr. Joan Palmiter Bajorek, there ways to both utilize this amazing tool to work and live more efficiently and effectively, as well as to prepare for the changes, particularly in our work lives, that are to come.

In her book, Your AI Roadmap: Actions to Expand Your Career, Monay and Joy, Dr. Bajorek speaks directly to the fear and uncertainty that many professionals feel as AI transforms the job landscape. Yes, it can be scary, but AI also offers tremendous opportunities. Her first tip: get curious about AI. Acknowledge what's happening and play. 

Play? Yes. Simply opening Chat GPT or trying AI with a friend can not only decrease anxiety, but shift the mindset from fear to learning and intention. 

Further, it's essential to elevate your own profile or brand to become well known for your skill set--and AI can help to create a powerful online profile. It's also important to recognize that human relationships are still a major part of finding opportunities. Dr. Bajorek cites that 70% of post-COVID job seekers landed their next role through personal introductions—not job boards. Take control of your own narrative and actively engage with relationship building while utilizing AI as a tool. And AI is a tool, not a replacement. Humans still bring the creativity, strategy and discernment behind the machine. 

Here at Brilliantly Resilient, we recognize the value of imperfect action--the playing in this scenario--to learn and build confidence. Play, and use AI as a tool to grow, enhancing your value and impact as we all move forward in this strange new world. Tune into this episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast for more of Dr. Bajorek's wisdom and listen for these additional bits of Brilliance:

• "We don't have to be alone… Maybe you do it with a friend. Honestly, just having community around it—we don't have to be alone."
• "The number one thing I get is, 'How do I get a job in AI?' … In my book, the first part is about actually personal brand—being known for the work you've already done and being known for it online."
• "Your network—how do people know you? … That's the main route [to the next opportunity, not the side route."
• "Even if you are in a supposedly stable career… take on some side projects, take on mentoring, because you never know when that kind of thing is going to lead to something else."
• "Document your prompts in a Word doc. Keep those things—next time you do this task, here it is. You can do the next job more efficiently and well."
• "I think the way I really see it...is that people who aren't using these tools may be the ones first impacted by layoffs versus the ones that are working to augment, upskill, etc."

Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together!

XO,

Mary Fran