AI has occupied the first floor of the building
Across industries and continents, the first floor of careers is quietly disappearing. For decades, entry-level jobs were the first step on the ladder to success. They offered on-the-job learning, mentoring, and space to make beginner mistakes. But today, that bottom rung is eroding fast—especially in office jobs.
When a surgeon uses robotics, the junior surgeons do not get a chance to practice under the watchful eye of the experienced surgeon. (Read this)
Why? Because AI is automating the foundation layer of work. Junior coders once learned by debugging—now AI writes and fixes code. Paralegals reviewed documents—AI now does it in hours. Retail associates answered questions—chatbots do it instantly, 24/7.
This isn’t just a tech-sector story. From fast food in the U. S. to banking in India to finance in Europe, early-career tasks are being handed over to automation.
Let’s understand this shift through the Skills Pyramid
I wrote about it here
At the top: Creativity, empathy, problem-solving, leadership In the middle: Collaboration, pattern recognition, communication At the base: Routine, rule-based work (most vulnerable to AI)
AI excels at the bottom. That’s why entry-level roles—once the training ground—are being commoditized. The tasks still exist, but they’re increasingly done by machines.
What does it mean for GenZ
Not despair. Just a different route forward.
Here’s how Gen Z can adapt and thrive:
1. Stop thinking of the “first job” as task-based. Think learning-based.
Choose roles that stretch you, not just keep you busy.
2. Move up the skills pyramid early.
Learn to frame problems, communicate ideas, and collaborate across teams. These are skills AI can’t replicate.
3. Use AI as a co-pilot, not a crutch.
Speed up the basics with AI, then focus on quality, judgment, and improvement. That’s what firms like KPMG and Macfarlanes are doing with their early-career hires.
4. Build a portfolio, not just a résumé.
Projects. Certifications. Side hustles. These matter more than job titles when everyone’s career is non-linear.
5. Trade pay for growth if needed.
A small salary cut today for a bigger learning curve tomorrow is a smart investment. 40% of Gen Z says they’re already willing to do this.
6. Seek roles that teach adaptability—not repetition.
Today’s world of work rewards agility. Don’t aim to be irreplaceable at the bottom—aim to be versatile at the top.
The first job hasn’t vanished. It’s just been redefined.
And those who treat it not as a step but as a springboard will rise faster than ever before.
Let’s help Gen Z see opportunity—not scarcity—in this transformation.
Would love to hear your thoughts. How are you redesigning early-career roles in your organization?
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Gen AI Can Boost Your Game—But Don’t Let It Steal the Joy of Playing
Think of a tennis player with a world-class coach whispering strategies through an earpiece. The player performs better, anticipates the opponent’s next move, and wins more games. But now imagine that same player being asked to switch off the earpiece and play solo. Suddenly, the silence feels louder than before. That’s what’s starting to happen at work—with Gen AI.
We’ve entered a new era where Generative AI is the co-pilot for everything—from writing emails and brainstorming ideas to drafting performance reviews. It’s faster. It’s sharper. And it often sounds better than what we might write ourselves.
But here’s the catch.
When we return to tasks that don’t involve AI, they can feel flat, even boring. In a study involving more than 3,500 professionals, researchers found that people who used Gen AI for one task reported feeling less motivated and more bored when switching to the next task without AI. It’s a bit like watching a Christopher Nolan film and then being asked to sit through a PowerPoint presentation. The contrast is jarring.
The science behind this is simple.
When AI takes over the most mentally stimulating parts of a task—like thinking, creating, refining—we lose some of the satisfaction that comes from solving a problem ourselves. We become spectators in a game we used to play.
Struggling and wrestling is actually part of what engages us in a task. Strange but true. Calvin’s dad had said, “struggle builds character”. Don’t laugh. It turns out that if you are not struggling just a bit at work, or struggling a bit as you try to learn something, you lose motivation. Stuggle builds character AND keeps you motivated !
Fanart from Calvin and Hobbes
Here are five ways to make AI your teammate, not your replacement:
Use AI to warm up, not play the whole match. Let AI help you draft the first version of a document or brainstorm ideas—but do the final pass yourself. That’s where your experience, your voice, and your insights shine through. Design your day like a training regimen. Start your day with creative solo work—like solving a problem, designing a pitch, or making a decision. Use AI later in the day for more structured or repetitive tasks. This preserves your mental energy and keeps you engaged. Be transparent about the collaboration. People feel more ownership when they know their input matters. If you’re managing teams, make it clear how AI supports—not replaces—their thinking. In cinema terms, AI is the editor, not the director. Switch tasks like a good playlist. Mix AI-assisted work with tasks that require human creativity and judgment. Think of it like alternating action scenes with moments of dialogue. You keep the energy up without burning out. Invest in your own thinking muscles. Use AI as a partner to sharpen—not soften—your skills. Just like a chess grandmaster uses practice games to prepare for the real match, treat Gen AI as practice—not the final performance.
Gen AI is a powerful tool. But the magic of work comes from what you bring to it—your questions, your quirks, your connections.
We don’t go to the movies just to see special effects. We go to feel something real.
Let’s make sure the future of work feels just as human.
When you struggle, your brain is forming new connections – YOU ARE LEARNING
Can you teach an old dog new tricks? You certainly can teach anyone a new skill – provided they have the internal motivation to learn. There is a video in this post I have linked here has been viewed 42 MILLION times. You may have missed it. Click anywhere in that para to watch it.
