Ask a career advisor: how to compete with AI models in the job market and whether to stay in the US government

By · Published February 28th, 2025 ·

This week, we answer more of our newsletter subscriber’s career questions!
I’ll tackle:

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Question one: I’m a junior studying computer science at a good state school (3.7 GPA). I’ve done a couple standard tech internships and have decent coding projects, but nothing amazing. Everyone keeps talking about how AGI is going to automate basically all jobs and/or kill us within 3 years.

I’m worried I’m totally screwed — by the time I graduate next year, will there even be entry level jobs left? Should I just give up trying to build a resume and coast through my last year?

I know the standard advice is “just keep learning and preparing” but it feels pointless if I’m going to graduate into a world where AIs can do everything better than me anyway. Help?

Laura: This is a difficult question, but I think it’s important to ask. I certainly don’t have all the answers, because the future is uncertain — perhaps especially now.

That said, I do think there are sensible steps to take to navigate the trajectory of AI and its global impact

First, let’s address the immediate concern about the job market. While AI is already changing the landscape of work, entry-level jobs haven’t disappeared. The 80,000 Hours job board has hundreds of entry-level openings, and other job sites will have many more. I expect there will still be plenty of jobs available when you graduate, even as AI continues to advance quickly.

As technology becomes better at the tasks that human workers perform, there are typically significant delays before it is widely adopted. Still, the economy will likely change as AI gets more powerful, and that may start happening in just a few years. So, my advice is to stay ahead of the adoption curve. Master prompting and evaluation techniques to ensure the quality of outputs. Learn to set up AI task automation systems. Experiment with new tools and applications.

You should still finish your degree, and aim for decent grades, but I wouldn’t prioritise credentials for the sake of credentials. Instead, focus on building skills that will take longer to delegate to AI systems: strategic thinking, decision making, prioritisation, and relationship-building.

While I do expect AI will likely continue to advance rapidly in the next few years, it’s also important to remember that nothing is guaranteed. AI progress could stall, and you definitely still want to be employable if that happens!

But, at some point, AI systems will likely be able to do everything a human can do faster, cheaper, and better. What then?

This will be a wild world, and it comes with tons of risks. We’ve written a lot about the dangers, including power-seeking AI, catastrophic misuse, great power war, and issues around the moral status of digital minds.

I worry we’re not precisely on track to address the risks, so we’ve also written about ways you can help mitigate AI risks, including:

For many people, thinking about how to be relevant in a world with rapidly advancing AI could involve working on efforts to help the transition to a world with transformative AI go well. I recommend staying close to the technology by learning about AI developments, risks, and the proposed solutions.

Focus on reading widely, connecting with people in the field, and forming your own opinions on promising interventions — whether in policy, communications, or technical research. You don’t need to wait until graduation to start. And once you finish your degree, there will still be plenty of questions to answer and ways, both big and small, to contribute.

I wish we didn’t have any work to do. What a great problem to have that’d be!

Question two: With the new administration trying to dismantle the US federal government, what should be my next steps in my career? Should I try to stay in federal service? I have been a federal employee for almost 4 years working in the AI governance and policy space. But now my career opportunities are much less certain.

Even before all of the recent turmoil, I was doubting my effectiveness for making change and upholding responsible AI practices in my current role (I’m not in leadership position). I also have a huge interest in food and food systems so I was considering a lateral move to the USDA. But now I’m wondering if I should move into the private or nonprofit sectors, at least for the next 4 years. Or should I stay steadfast to my federal career until it is taken from me?

Laura: That sounds like a very difficult position. I think staying in federal service, if possible, could be worth it, though there are certainly other impactful opportunities for you.

US AI policy might be the most important lever for reducing global catastrophic risks from AI in the near future.

The US government also doesn’t have many staff with a deep understanding of AI and its risks. Given the current political climate, this shortage may worsen. Your four years of experience in US AI policy is certainly not trivial, so even without a leadership position, I think you likely have a lot to contribute where you are.

It’s been a wild ride in 2025 — and we’re only two months in. While some chaos and uncertainty will likely continue, I also expect some gradual stabilisation in the government.

I understand the frustration of working under so much uncertainty. But if you want to bet on your career having an impact, staying in the government and working on AI policy could make sense.

If you do decide to stay, you should definitely invest in taking care of yourself and avoiding burnout. Job insecurity and a challenging work environment can really take its toll. I’d recommend connecting with others in a similar situation — either in government or in AI policy — for support. It can also be really helpful to discuss your frustrations with friends, family, or a therapist.

That said, I don’t think you should make yourself miserable if this job is unsustainable for you — it’s crucial to take care of yourself and your own needs.

There are also important nonprofits, think tanks, and research institutes with attractive opportunities for you. The 80,000 Hours job board currently has openings with the RAND Corporation, Brookings Institution, and the Secure AI Project, just to name a few. These organisations may value your experience and offer good opportunities for career growth if you need to leave government for now. (Though competition for these roles may be high right now, as other federal employees might also be looking to exit.)

I’d be less inclined to suggest the USDA route — AI policy is already a very important area where you have substantial work experience, and it’s not clear to me you’d benefit from switching paths. I’m not sure the USDA will actually be more stable or impactful than other parts of government in the foreseeable future. Though it’s possible there are other reasons for making the switch I’m not aware of.

Whether you decide to stay or try something new, thank you for your contributions.