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Careers & workplace advice from Hays

Recent trends indicate that organisations are putting more emphasis on the skills you have, rather than the qualifications or past experiences you possess. At Hays, we believe this trend, known as skills-based hiring, is going to continue in 2024. 

This can be good news for jobseekers, with the door being opened for candidates to show what value they can bring to a company, when previously they may have been put off by the experience required. In this blog, we’ll show you how to show off your skills in a job application, to stay ahead of the competition. 

What is skills-based hiring? 

Skills-based hiring is a process where the recruiting business puts more of the emphasis on the skills a candidate has. What degrees, qualifications or past work experiences you have are less critical in their hiring decision. 

Why is skills-based hiring on the rise? 

There are a number of reasons why companies are looking for skills over qualifications.  

  • Reduced time to hire – In a report by TestGorilla, 91.4% of businesses saw a reduction in their time to hire, by sending candidates skills-based tests. 
  • Reduction in costs – Skills-based hiring can eliminate the need for external recruiters and CV screening software. 
  • Expanded talent pools and improved diversity – We don’t all have the same opportunities to access higher education. Excluding those who don’t have a degree, closes the door to a diverse range of candidates who can plug skills gaps. 

How do I show my skills in a job application? 

All of this points to exciting opportunities for jobseekers and candidates looking to advance their career. Here’s how to show your skills in a job application. 

Know what skills to put on your CV 

The starting point is to update your CV. When it comes to what skills you should showcase, be sure to include your hard skills and soft skills. What does this mean? Your hard skills are those that you have gained throughout your career or through training. These include programme skills like Microsoft Office or Sage, as well as technical skills such as copywriting. You should always tailor your CV and cover letter to include specific skills related to the role, like coding for a Software Development role. Look out for key words in the job description to help you. 

Your soft skills are your personal attributes that allow you to work well with others. At Hays, we’ve seen that agility, resilience, emotional intelligence, adaptability and creativity are amongst the top soft skills employers are looking for. To learn more about soft skills, click here. For further advice on creating a winning CV, click here.

Download your free CV guide from Hays

Consider your transferrable skills 

If you do lack experience and are finding it hard to list what you think are relevant skills, think about the transferrable skills you have picked up in other roles, or whilst studying. You may have honed your listening skills, presenting ability and collaboration with others whilst at university. Perhaps you taught yourself how to use WordPress whilst writing your personal blog. All of these skills are transferrable to many open job roles and can be highlighted during the application process. 

Validate your skills with real life examples  

It’s always great practice to provide tangible examples to the hiring manager of your skillset. If you’ve gained an online qualification or certificate that is relevant to the position, mention it. If you’ve increased sales or website leads in another organisation by implementing some of your technical skills, put the percentage increase on your CV and/or cover letter. Real life examples show the hiring party that you can back up your skills claims and helps paint a picture of what value you can bring to their organisation. 

Upskill yourself 

You may find yourself in a position where you feel you are lacking some core skills to move forward in the career you want. Be sure to look online for courses that are relevant to your ambitions and set aside time each week to complete them. Adopting a learning mindset, where you want to continuously upskill, is another soft skill that employers find attractive.  

All of these tips will help you stand out from a crowded marketplace when applying for jobs. The trend of skills-based hiring is here to stay and should be something that all candidates and jobseekers embrace. 

Are you ready to embrace your skills and apply for a new challenge? Click here to find job openings in your country. 

Congratulations on getting a job interview! But wait – maybe this is nothing new for you. In fact, perhaps you’ve had plenty of experience of this in recent years as you’ve moved from company to company. 

There are a number of reasons that you might change employers frequently. In a recent poll by Hays on LinkedIn, we uncovered that the most popular reason for moving on was an increase in pay, followed by greater opportunities for development. However, it could be getting to the stage where you’re concerned about how to explain this in your next job interview. 

In this blog, we’ll look at the career approach that’s become known as “job hopping”, what your interviewer wants to know about your reasons for this, and how to explain your work experience in the interview. 

What is job hopping? 

Job hopping refers to the practice of changing jobs frequently, typically every two years, or even fewer. It’s become more common among today’s workforce, too – a Hays poll on LinkedIn revealed that 86% of respondents believe it’s acceptable to leave a position within 18 months, with over half having done it themselves. 

This may come as a surprise to those of us who have been part of the workforce for some time now, but it’s a trend that’s become prevalent among millennials and Gen Z. Last year, 22% of workers aged 20 and above spent a year or less in their job. 

Is job hopping bad? 

Job hopping certainly has its benefits. Whether it’s finding new learning opportunities or an increase in pay, you’ll have your reasons for seeking a new role. Although changing jobs frequently can be a red flag to some employers, the stigma isn’t as widespread as it once was. There’s long been an understanding in tech that people are rejecting the “job for life”, and it’s a mindset that’s becoming more common – and accepted – elsewhere. 

There’s certainly a downside, though. Leaving jobs frequently means that you’re less experienced in tackling different types of challenges, and are less likely to have completed projects or campaigns that will benefit your career. 

Meanwhile, a hiring manager may wonder whether they’ll need to go through the recruitment, onboarding and training process again sooner than they’d like. However, there are definitely ways to explain job hopping that will let your interviewer know you’re right for this role. 

How to explain job hopping in an interview 

The key to ensuring that your interviewer has the right perception of you is in the way you frame your career decisions. Career coach Sarah Doody points out that leaving jobs regularly can be portrayed as a good thing: “I think it will actually make you come across as a more strategic, thoughtful, mindful individual rather than just coasting along for another nine months.” 

There may, of course, be instances where you didn’t choose to leave, but were instead fired on made redundant. If asked about any such example, don’t shy away. This is a great opportunity to explain the situation and, as my colleague, Jane McNeill, writes here, you can still talk about your successes and what you gained from the role. Make sure that you discuss those achievements in a quantifiable way that will reiterate what you can bring to a new employer. 

Lastly, always be sure to mention the skills you’ve gained in recent roles and how they will benefit you in this position. In this situation, you can highlight soft skills such as adaptability and having a learning mindset. 

Here are some examples of questions on job hopping that you might be asked in an interview, and how to answer: 

Question: “Why have you changed jobs so frequently?” 

Answer: “I’ve changed jobs frequently because I’ve looked for new challenges and opportunities for growth. This has given me valuable experience and skills that I can bring to this position, such as X and Y.” 

Question: “Why are you leaving your current job after only X amount of time?” 

Answer 1: “I’ve realised that my current role isn’t the right fit for me since I’m looking for growth and learning opportunities which, unfortunately, are limited here. That’s why I’m looking for an employer that aligns better with my career goals and provides the support I’m seeking.” 

Answer 2: “My company is undergoing significant change which has affected my role. I’m not going to be able to contribute my former responsibilities and projects as I’d hoped, so I’m looking for opportunities where I can make a real impact and grow professionally.” 

Answer 3: “My company’s had to make a series of budget cuts, and my role was made redundant. I’m proud of what I achieved, including X and Y, and I kept up to date on the latest trends and developments in the industry.” 

There are some questions, though, that will require more creativity on your part. As I mentioned above, an interviewer might be sceptical of what you’ve learned from any difficult moments or challenges if you change jobs frequently. They might also question your ability to see the “bigger picture” if you don’t hang around long enough to get exposure to this. Be prepared to address these concerns.  

What to remember when explaining job hopping in an interview 

If your interviewer enquires about job hopping, there are several ways to frame your decisions. Be honest about your reasons for leaving each job, focus on the skills and experience you gained, and avoid speaking negatively about previous employers. By doing so, you’ll give yourself the best chance of landing the role. 

In the heat of the moment during a job interview, it’s understandable to take seemingly straightforward questions at face value. The result? You’re either a little too honest with the interviewer, too unfocused in your answer, or you push too hard to sell yourself.

In every case, you risk giving your interviewer the wrong impression. As such, it’s important to stop and ask yourself: what is the interviewer looking for? What do they mean by asking you about your personality, motivations and failures?

Let’s look at five common job interview questions to help you understand what it is the interviewer wants you to say and how you can give the best answer possible.

What is the interviewer trying to find out with these five questions?

1) “Tell me about you.”

What is the interviewer trying to find out?

This will probably be the first question and will shape how the interviewer sees you for the rest of the conversation. Their purpose is to discover why this opportunity appealed to you, in which ways your education and career have prepared you for the role, and whether you have the necessary skills.  

How to answer

It can seem easy to talk about yourself at great length, which is exactly where the challenge lies: to keep your answer on topic. You can’t give one-word answers, but neither can you go on for too long. Plan an answer with a clear structure that covers the below points:

  1. Your relevant educational and professional background
  1. The key skills and expertise you have which directly relate to this opportunity
  1. What you are looking for in your next role and why this role appealed to you

2) “Why are you looking to leave your current job?”

What is the interviewer trying to find out?

If you haven’t already discussed your motivations fully in your answer to the above question, your interviewer may want to learn more. Careful, though: even if the question is phrased in this way, do not fall into the trap of badmouthing your current employers. If you talk negatively about your current or past company, it might give the impression that you’ll talk negatively about your future workplace.

Your interviewer doesn’t want to hear that you only want this job because you’re dissatisfied. Put a positive spin on it, show you’re proactive in your career. They are interested in knowing whether you genuinely want this position because of what it offers, and whether you’re the right fit for the team and organisation.

How to answer

Instead of being negative, focus on the opportunities that this role brings, such as developing new skills, or exposure to certain industries or markets. Make sure you’ve researched the hiring company beforehand and mention something that you found particularly attractive.

3) “Tell me about a time that you failed.”

What is the interviewer trying to find out?

The interviewer wants to be sure that you learn from mistakes and that, when you inevitably do make an error in this role, you’ll be able to do so again.

How to answer

This is not the time to tell a story about the time you saved the day. You’ll come across as lacking self-awareness, especially if you don’t accept responsibility for the initial problem. Likewise, don’t make any excuses.

Explain what happened, how you identified what went wrong and what you learned for future experiences. If you later encountered a similar scenario, tell the interviewer what you did differently – this will show that you learned from the previous situation. Breath, smile and tell your story.

4) “How would your friends describe you?”

What is the interviewer trying to find out?

Bringing in a new recruit isn’t just about finding someone who can fulfil the responsibilities of the role. Will they get on well with the rest of the team? Will they be a good fit for the workplace? How will they interact with other stakeholders?

How to answer

Simple first step: share the job description with your friends or family and ask them which of your attributes are relevant. They might be able to offer a fresh perspective on what you’d bring to the role and team.

Try not to use anything generic that won’t mean anything to the interviewer. For example, instead of “fun” or “clever”, try “sociable” or “perceptive”. It’s also an opportunity to mention your emotional intelligence (or EQ).

5) “Are you interviewing with any other companies?”

What is the interviewer trying to find out?

This is often one of the final questions your interviewer will ask, and it’s not because they want to know that you’re a good candidate. They want to know whether you really want this role, and how long they’ve got to offer you the job.

How to answer

In this instance, honestly is the best policy – but don’t reveal the whole picture. Make sure the interviewer is left in no doubt that this role is your preference (ok, that might not always be true!). If you are interviewing with other companies or you’ve already received a job offer, let the interviewer know but don’t give away any names.

Next steps for job interview success

Got an interview coming up? Or maybe you’ve just started your job search? Download our free interview guide today for detailed advice on:

  • How to prepare for different questions
  • Which questions to ask your interviewer
  • What you can do during the interview to improve your chances of success
  • Why your actions matter after the interview is over

Given the growing influence of technology and artificial intelligence in the world of work, it’s easy to think that technical skills are the priority for employers when hiring new people. 

However, if AI is able to handle more tasks, then the perfect candidate will need to offer something else besides their knowledge of programs and software. You’ll need human skills.  

What are human skills? Also known as “soft skills”, these are more transferable across a range of roles and even industries. They also won’t become outdated as quickly as technical expertise, making them more valuable. 

How do you know which human skills to include in your CV? 

Using data from our annual Salary Guides, we’ve uncovered the human skills that employers report that they need the most. Mentioning the top five of these, which we’ll explore below, is a sensible jumping-off point. 

However, it could be that the role calls for other skills. For your application to truly stand out, you should read the job description in detail and extract the soft skills that the hiring manager is looking for. Alternatively, ask an AI tool such as ChatGPT or Copilot to help you find these, either from the job description or from similar ones.  

How to add examples of human skills to your CV 

There are two ways of incorporating these into your application: 

  1. Skills section: this is the quickest and clearest way to include your skills. It can be easily scanned by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) tool and simply requires a bulleted list. 
  1. Employment History section: although the Skills section is useful, you’re not standing out from the crowd or providing any evidence that you have the skills. That’s why it’s a good idea to also weave them into your bullet points on previous roles – however, it is less straightforward. 

If you want to create a CV that impresses, you should be doing both.

Which human skills are employers are looking for? 

These are the top five in-demand human skills, according to Hays data. In addition to listing them in a Skills section, here are some ideas for integrating them into your Employment History section: 

Ability to adopt change 

  • Instances in your career of when you’ve needed to adapt in your role. 
  • Ways you’ve integrated new platforms into your workflow (and the positive results of this). 

Communication 

  • Responsibilities such as distributing updates or documents to a wide audience. 
  • Achievements in collaboration with other departments and senior or external stakeholders. 
  • Experiences of presenting or public speaking. 

Teamwork 

  • Any projects in which you collaborated with your team (or people in another department or organisation). 
  • Has your role within a team changed over time? Try to add multiple examples throughout your employment history, and the part you played. 

Problem-solving 

  • Resolutions to challenges faced, such as optimising processes 
  • Stakeholders you’ve helped 

Ability to learn and upskill 

  • Names of any software or processes you’ve acquired experience in, and the impact this made. 
  • AI tools you’ve used and how these have helped you. 
  • Qualifications or certifications you’ve earned inside or outside of work (these can also be listed in a separate Education / Qualifications section). 

Next steps 

Once you’ve incorporated your relevant human skills (or soft skills) into the Employment History and Skills section, you’ll have successfully completed these parts of your CV! If you’re still unsure, go back to our advice on action verbs and quantifiable data.

You’re not done yet, though! To learn more about ways to enhance your application, don’t miss our full CV series.

The demand for non-permanent workers has increased over the last few years, making it a lucrative market for people pursuing a career as a contractor. People with the right specialist skills can be of use to a lot of organisations and enjoy plenty of benefits in the process. 

Is being a contractor right for you? Does it provide you with the opportunities you’re looking for? And, if so, how can you get started? 

I recently led a LinkedIn live event in which I explored the world of contracting, discussing everything from the benefits of being a contractor to the skills you’ll need. Here are the key takeaway points. 

What is a contractor and why are they in demand? 

Not only are contractors highly sought after right now, but I expect it to be the same into 2024 and possibly beyond that. How come? 

One of the main reasons is the supply of skilled workers – or, rather, lack of supply. Let’s pick on technology as an example. There just aren’t enough technology workers. Employers need to bring in people with these skills, and contractors are the solution, especially if it takes less time to onboard them. 

Hiring contractors also makes it easier for employers to scale up or down the size of their workforce. There are a number of reasons for this. Here in Canada, it could be that the snowfall means it’s unwise to hire agricultural workers all year round. Meanwhile, in construction, the need for workers is dependent on the length and size of the project. 

Which industries are hiring? 

The simple answer is, pretty much all of them. However, our own insights at Hays show us that there are some areas where contractors are particularly in demand. 

An obvious one to start with is technology. Not only are big tech firms hiring non-permanent staff, but organisations in other sectors, such as banks and government bodies, are looking for IT contractors to support them as they grow or evolve in the digital space. James Milligan, Global Head of Technology Solutions at Hay, has put together some things to consider before you jump in. 

Engineers have specialist skills that appeal to businesses in the sector, as well as those in other areas, and is therefore a profession that lends itself to contracting. We also have vocations that are better suited to shorter projects as opposed to permanent employment, such as mining and consulting.

What are the benefits of being a contractor? 

As alluded to in the title, you’re ultimately your own boss. It’s part of the legal status! This gives you a lot of freedom – you can choose when to work, and who your clients are. According to 41% of the respondents to a recent poll that Hays posted on LinkedIn, this is the biggest advantage of leaving full-time employment behind. 

Then there’s the total compensation. As opposed to being a regular employee who earns the salary offered by your employer, as a contractor, you can set their own rates. If you offer your services on an hourly basis, this could result in a higher annual income. Maybe the hourly worker has a second customer or passion project which could bring in more money. 

It’s much more common for contractors to be flexible workers. Your employer might not need to see you every day, or even at all – just as long as the work is getting completed. 

What skills do you need to be a contractor? 

It probably goes without saying that you’ll need the technical expertise, but what else is important? 

A key one is being motivated. If a contract ends every few months, you have to be prepared to get out there and find your next assignment. My colleague, Marc Burrage, has written about this at greater length here. 

Are you active on LinkedIn and comfortable in reaching out to your network? Following another Hays poll on LinkedIn, 52% of the 10,045 respondents stated that the most important trait for a contractor is the ability to build and maintain relationships.  

Being your own boss, you need to be able to manage your business. This means keeping a calendar, dealing with insurance requirements and thinking about the best way to actually pay yourself. 

How can I find out more? 

This article only scratches the surface of what I discussed during the event. To watch me go into more detail on all of the topics above and more, plus hear my answers to questions from the audience, I recommend you watch the event back in full here. 

Research conducted by the company behind ChatGPT, Open AI, concluded that 80% of workers in the US could see at least 10% of their work automated in the near future. Similarly, a report published by Goldman Sachs in late March 2023 predicted that 300 million jobs worldwide will be affected by generative AI. The report also noted that, while some job losses would be inevitable, adopting AI could increase productivity in the workforce.

Due to its nature, this wave of automation is going to impact white-collar workers more than ever before. So how can you futureproof your career and ensure your services remain in demand?

Embracing generative AI could enable you to use it to your advantage and be more productive in your role. In this blog, I’ll be explaining how you can get the most out of tools like ChatGPT and outlining the skills to develop, allowing you to stay ahead of the curve.

In case you missed it, I’ve already discussed some of the jobs that these generative AI tools can help in here.

Five tips for increasing productivity with generative AI

1) Think about what you need it for

Which tasks within your role could be automated? Before GPT-4’s release, much of the focus on generative AI’s capability in the workplace had been on copywriting. However, the potential for these tools is fast expanding. For example, they can help you plan presentations, or create and populate spreadsheets quickly with original formulae.

What about as a research tool? The primary function for chatbots was to generate the information you need, and in a format that suits you. There are potentially errors in what it provides, but that is fast improving. The development of Google Bard and Microsoft Bing’s own product means that the gap between AI chatbots and traditional search engines in terms of reliability is closing.

2) Add the right plug-ins

One of the big advancements that came with the launch of GPT-4 was the release of plug-ins that open up a host of new opportunities. You can summarise conversations and draft responses on Slack, analyse real-time data on FiscalNote or generate meeting summaries from Zoom. Meanwhile, the Zapier plug-in allows you to integrate the tool into Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Hubspot and Facebook Ads, among others.

Of course, it’s important to think about the legality and security surrounding this, particularly if you’re accessing or sharing sensitive data from your organisation. However, these all have the potential to save you time and provide useful assets and insights.

3) Get your prompts right

The great thing about a large language model (LLM) is that making a request is intuitive, and we receive a response that’s easy to understand. You don’t need specialist technical skills or knowledge to get started.

To really reap the benefits of ChatGPT and other generative AI, though, you’ll need to perfect your prompts. In fact, there are already businesses hiring prompt engineers to coax the most useful content from these tools.

However, just because we’re seeing examples of this being a responsibility in itself, it doesn’t mean you can’t get involved in your current role. There’s a lot of advice out there on getting your prompts right, which I recommend you look into. Some examples of things you can do include:

  • Be clear in what you want – the best prompts are the ones that clearly define what the output should include, the format it should take and how it will be used.
  • Defining a specific audience for the output – this will tailor the response so it targets the right people.
  • Try multiple prompts – refine the wording of your request will land more suitable output.
  • Break down any requests for longform text into several requests – doing this will make it easier to rewrite or change any sections.
  • Use reverse engineering – Working on a presentation or pitch? Why not ask ChatGPT to predict any questions from the audience? You could even ask it to suggest the answers. Alternatively, create an agenda for a meeting by thinking about the attendants’ needs.

4) Optimise the output

When using an LLM for fact-finding, double-check the results it provides. You could even do this by focusing on one piece of information that you’re unsure about, and asking the chatbot about that specifically. Again, breaking down your questions can help to provide a clearer picture.

As for copywriting or coding, even after multiple prompts and concise briefs, it’s unlikely that generative AI will give you content that’s good to go. Rewrite anything that doesn’t fit your tone of voice, or check the data on your spreadsheet for mistakes.

To be more productive in future, think about how you could improve your prompt for next time so that the output is closer to what you need.

5) Stay up to date on trends

The above tips will give you a head start in making generative AI work for you. However, these tools are evolving constantly, and they’ll soon be able to take on even greater responsibility. The truth is that, if you don’t keep up with their capabilities, you won’t be as productive as possible, and that could put your position in jeopardy. ChatGPT and similar models are here to stay, so you need to be able to use them properly.

Which skills will help you use ChatGPT and other generative AI?

As I mentioned above, you don’t need to rely on technical skills to use an LLM or many other generative AI models. That said, those who develop their “soft” skills will be the most productive. For example:

  • Creativity: Given the capabilities of generative AI, we’re getting to the point where the only limit of what it can do is the user’s imagination. Thinking creatively about how to approach a task or challenge will mean better prompts, which means more helpful output.
  • Communication: What makes an LLM unique is the way in which we communicate with it. Whether it’s to carry out research or to create copy,using chatbots in your work requires strong communication skills.
  • Critical thinking: This is going to be useful for those times that chatbots get it wrong. As I said earlier, there will be errors in their research, so it’s up to us humans to decide what’s credible and what requires a little extra digging.
  • Language: Understanding the nuances in the way that you phrase your prompts will allow you improve your wording. Once you can grasp this, it’ll be easier and faster to get the output you need.
  • Learning Mindset: To stop yourself from making the same mistakes, you’ll need to remember what worked (and, just as importantly, what didn’t) when using AI tools so that you can save time in future.

Increasing productivity with generative AI: what to remember

Generative AI is already transforming the way we work. If you’re a white-collar worker, the chances are that it will have an impact on your industry or role.

Even if you won’t necessarily be replaced by AI, you might be replaced by somebody with superior AI skills. Getting to grips with AI tools now will help you to futureproof your career by making you more productive. If you haven’t already, try using ChatGPT and other models and see how they can help you in your role, following these tips.

It’s been a lot of fun watching ChatGPT answer our questions and write full bodies of text in a matter of seconds. So far at work I’ve seen the AI chatbot produce code for programmers and generate ideas for headlines, while people out there are enjoying themselves by using it to pen song lyrics and short stories.

However, its fame, success and efficiency have returned us to the age-old discussion of whether robots can replace humans in our jobs. After all, if it’s so easy and quick to use, what’s stopping your employer from turning to it?

There’s no denying that the advance in generative AI has, even in the space of a few months, transformed the way many of us will work. The recent release of GPT-4, with its improved capabilities in understanding the world, will only change things further. In response to this global poll we published on LinkedIn in January 2023, only 23% of 33,000 respondents are worried that ChatGPT could take their job, with one commenter stating: “ChatGPT’s goal is to assist and provide information to the best of its ability based on the data that this bot has been trained on. It is ultimately up to us (humans) to determine how we will use its capabilities.”

This does not, of course, mean that the other 77% of respondents are correct, and further polls that we run might show a change in sentiment, particularly now GPT-4 has arrived. We know that ChatGPT is not going away and, while it might not supersede you, it definitely has a role to play in the workplace. Let’s look at generative AI’s capabilities, limitations and how it can help you succeed in your career.

Why won’t ChatGPT replace humans in all of our jobs?

Generative AI is certainly impressive, and can do a decent job of the things we ask of it. However, it has several limitations when it comes to human skills, meaning that it won’t be replacing everything we bring to the workplace. For example:

  • Lack of creative or strategic thinking: In a recent interview as part of Hays’ Tech Founders series, leading AI expert and ethicist, Sherin Mathew remarked: “ChatGPT is like the most eager, ambitious kid in the classroom, who’s probably looked at last year’s notes that the professor has issued and is trying to outsmart them. It will never be as smart as the professor, or be creative, or think about the next step.”
  • Missing common sense: As language and psychology expert Steven Pinker points out, the chatbot cannot jump to logical conclusions in the same way humans can, unless the solution has been explicitly (and specifically) provided elsewhere. This limits the impact it can have when managing tasks. However, the team behind GPT, OpenAI, claim that “GPT-4 surpasses ChatGPT in its advanced reasoning capabilities”, so this may become less of an issue for users.
  • Unable to check errors: In response to ChatGPT’s research capabilities, Google pushed ahead with the launch of its own AI-powered chatbot in February 2023. However, the unveiling was marred by the tool generating incorrect information, a mistake that wiped over $100bn from the company’s value.
  • Novelty factor over human touch: Remember how amazed you were when you first watched a 3D movie? Or used a touch-screen device? While we’re all excited by the novelty of what ChatGPT can do now, it’s likely that we’ll stop being so blown away by its capabilities soon enough. Pinker warns that people may even become suspicious or grow weary of AI-produced content, allowing humans to flex their muscles and show off what they can do in return. As one reply to our poll explained: “AI still has a long way to go when it comes to “human-like” text and interactions. Responses generated by ChatGPT still require a decent amount of human intervention and editing to help it escape the “uncanny valley” feeling that you get from AI-generated text.”

My colleague, Tim Olsen, sums it up in his recent article: “So, will AI be taking over our jobs? For now, it would appear not. There’s still a human element required to properly leverage and govern tools like ChatGPT, and the technology hasn’t yet reached maturity”. GPT-4 has only just come out, though, so let’s see what strides OpenAI have made, or whether some of the same problems still arise.

How to use ChatGPT in your job

What I can say is that ChatGPT and other generative AI have the capability to help you in your role, particularly when it comes to repetitive or “template” tasks. Our poll on LinkedIn from January 2023 revealed that 23% of the 14,000 respondents have used ChatGPT in a work capacity, while 30% would consider it. Given generative AI’s relative infancy, that’s a pretty high number, and more and more people are getting involved.

So how can you use ChatGPT in your job?

Copywriter

The chief use case for ChatGPT that has been grabbing attention has been its prose output. Users can request copy based on a certain subject, or telling a certain story, and can receive a pretty good body of text within seconds. You might ask it to write a statement, or perhaps content for a web page, particularly if the text will be unattributed. GPT-4 can even process over 25,000 words of text.

However, human input will be needed to review the content for factual errors and relevance. Although users can ask for the text to be written in a certain style, there are questions of consistency in tone of voice. Copywriters will also know that repeating the same words in quick succession is a no-no unless it’s done for effect – something ChatGPT won’t comprehend. In this sense, generative AI is just the pen, rather than the writer.

Marketing Executive

As Mathew discussed in our Tech Founders event, generative AI is not necessarily creative, but it can do an impression of somebody creative. If you need to write short blurbs or event descriptions that contain the key information, ChatGPT can help.

Lawyer

One legal firm in the UK has already implemented a chatbot based on the GPT technology to assist in drafting contracts. The company have stressed that this was not being introduced to replace humans, but rather to save them time, allowing them to focus on more important and sophisticated tasks.

With the right parameters and instructions, there’s no reason it couldn’t do the same when writing documents, especially in larger volumes. Just make sure to check them thoroughly!

Software Developer

Developers can use ChatGPT to write lines of code, with OpenAI reportedly enlisting programmers to improve its capabilities. While there may be fears among experienced programmers that this could lead to unskilled workers requesting code using simple commands, this approach simply won’t be as effective as a trained coding expert.

However, it has proved useful in fixing any bugs. Given its efficiency in identifying the source of any errors, ChatGPT could save time in solving problems.

Researcher

First, the pros of this: ChatGPT will offer information in arguably a more concise, digestible form than Google or other search engines do, as the way it uses language makes it easy to understand. It will also give you a direct answer to your query – no more sifting through irrelevant links to find what you need.

Now, the downside. I’ve already highlighted the potential errors in generative AI’s search results, and it won’t necessarily be able to provide a source for its information.

What to remember: using ChatGPT at work

We’re going to need to adapt to ChatGPT and other generative AI, learn to harness its capabilities and understand how it can complete many of our day-to-day tasks. Generative AI is always improving, so you’ll soon find that it will be of use.

It cannot, however, take over when it comes to the creativity, innovation and strategic thinking that we humans bring to an organisation. By playing to our strengths here, we can stay ahead of the curve and ensure that ChatGPT and other generative AI becomes a helpful tool, rather than our successor. While the conversation at the moment revolves around how generative AI will take jobs, we can also look at the positive aspect of the jobs it will create. In my next blog, I’ll be looking at the ways in which jobs will evolve, disappear and appear as ChatGPT and other models become a mainstay in the world of work.

You can find out more about the ways in which ChatGPT and other AI tools can help you here.