ZURICH: AI can do so much when it comes to supporting people who have limited professional experience.
Often it is so effective that it can perform tasks almost as well as experienced professionals, says Melanie Arntz, Deputy Director at the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) in Germany.
But how does this work in practice? It is all about prompts, the commands you give the technology, says AI consultant Sophie Hundertmark.
"AI assistants like ChatGPT can be a great help to get started,” she says. "However, employees still need to acquire certain skills themselves to a certain extent.”
These prompts are chosen so employees learn for themselves or at least understand how a result is achieved.
Working through tasks in a structured way
"How do I go about task "XYZ" step by step? Explain it to me as if I were a layman.”
This is a useful prompt when you are not entirely clear about how a task should be carried out. Also, the AI assistant provides a structure for tackling the task.
Seeking feedback
Prompts: "You are a long-standing employee in the ‘XYZ’ department. Give me feedback on my planned approach to ‘XYZ’,” or "Review this work output from the perspective of a highly experienced specialist. Where would you ask critical questions or seek further clarification?”
Feedback is important. But some, especially those just starting out in their careers, are reluctant to present their work directly to colleagues or their boss. Try using AI for an initial assessment.
It is important to closely follow data protection regulations, though. Avoid entering any sensitive figures or personal data. Do not enter prompts such as: "ChatGPT, I need to analyse the latest sales figures; here are our figures, help me with this…” or "ChatGPT, here is the list of our customers; write an Easter message for each customer.”
Identifying sources of error
Prompts: "What typical mistakes should I avoid in this ‘XYZ’ task?” and "You are a senior employee with 15 years’ professional experience in ‘XYZ.' What do you pay particular attention to in this task that beginners often overlook?”
We learn from our mistakes. But the fear of making mistakes can also hinder our development, so this is an area where AI can give you some reassurance.
Create a training plan
Prompt: "I’m starting a new job at/as ‘XYZ’. This field of work is completely new to me. Create a training plan for me, including 10 training sessions of 10 minutes each, so that I’m well prepared for the start.”
Those who are well prepared are usually more confident. With this prompt, the AI breaks down important information about a job into manageable chunks.
Bear in mind that despite all the convenience and assistance that AI offers, users must remain critical, check results and practice using it. This is a key concern for Hundertmark, as "the system makes mistakes, and if I can’t make sense of them, I’ve got a problem.” – dpa
