AI And Early Career Growth

    

    I’ve been working since I was 17, but I only really felt like I was making headway at 19. (For context, I’m 21 at the time of writing this.) Ever since then, as a young professional, I’ve always strived to do work to the best of my ability and climb my way up. Not because I “care” deeply about my job itself, but because I believe that in anything you do, you should do it to the best of your ability. That drive, combined with my love of learning, has shaped the way I approach my career.

    Now, you might be wondering, what does this have to do with AI? This blog is my first in over a year, and I’m writing it with a fresh perspective, new skills, and experiences I didn’t have before. Most notably, my experiences working in big tech. That experience gave me a glimpse into how previous generations of career professionals think, act, and communicate. I spent a lot of time speaking with people who’ve been in the industry longer than I, learning about their journeys and reflecting on mine.

    While I resonated with much of what I heard, I also noticed a contrast. And it made me wonder: if these professionals had access to AI at the start of their careers, would their journeys have looked different compared to those of my generation today?

    Setting aside external factors we cannot control, such as hiring shortages, wages, or the broader state of the job market, I want to share my own experiences with AI as an early-career professional. How it’s shaped my journey so far, and how I might begin to answer that question.

My Experience

    I only started using AI in early 2023, and my usage has steadily grown since then. Over time, I’ve developed my own framework for how I use it. I don’t buy into the idea that AI will instantly turn anyone into a 10x version of themselves at work. But I do believe it can help you level up faster.

    Being young in the workplace often means proving yourself daily, making sure no one underestimates you just because of your age. At every company I’ve worked for, I’ve made it a point to be treated like any other employee. I never let anyone talk over me, and I'm always open to asking the hard, uncomfortable questions most don't like to ask. AI has actually helped me with this.

    I began using it as if it were another developer sitting across from me, someone I could ask questions, bounce ideas off, and use to poke holes in my logic. I’ve used it to explain concepts from another perspective, which has accelerated my learning. To me, this is how AI should be used: not as a crutch, but as a thought partner that sharpens your skills.

    It’s not that I couldn’t have gotten to this point on my own. But AI has streamlined the process, pushing me to grow faster. I’d even go so far as to say my knowledge and skills today are 2 to 3 times stronger than they would have been if I had stayed on the regular path. A similar path many of the professionals before me would have walked.

The Downfalls

    Of course, AI isn’t perfect. At the end of the day, it’s still just a statistical algorithm. One of the main challenges I’ve encountered, and nearly fallen into myself, is overuse and over-reliance.

    It’s easy to start by using AI for simple, mundane tasks, but that can slowly evolve into leaning on it for increasingly difficult ones. It’s a bit like a student who mistakes recognition for understanding: they hear an explanation and assume they’ve mastered the concept, when in reality they haven’t done the hard work themselves.

    Had I let AI handle tasks I thought I knew but hadn’t fully internalised, I would have only been digging my own grave. I’ve had to strike a balance: use AI as a learning aid, but make sure I’m still building my own muscle memory, critical thinking, and confidence. It might be tempting to use AI, especially if you are in a high-turnover environment, but it should be treated with care and attention.

    This is the pit I see many fall into. I'm sure we've all heard stories in recent years about how students and even new graduates are using AI. It is often lazily done, the focus being the outcome at any means necessary. Passing the finals exam, job interview, or even just writing an email. I once saw someone open ChatGPT to ask, "What's 3x15?" I had to rethink my day after that. 

    Now I understand, things are getting harder each day, and no one wants to struggle or be unemployed. But there comes a point where the house you've built on toothpicks will come crashing down.

Final Thoughts

    AI is not a magic bullet, nor is it a replacement for genuine skill-building. What it can be is an amplifier, accelerating your learning curve, challenging your thought process, and helping you uncover blind spots.

    As someone early in my career, I see AI less as a shortcut and more as a lever. It helps me reach higher, faster, but only if I’m still doing the climbing myself. If previous generations had access to the same tools, maybe their journeys would have been different. But ultimately, no matter the era or the tools, growth still comes down to the same principles: curiosity, persistence, and the drive to always do your best. It's what makes us humans after all, if not, there's not much that sets you apart from the rest...