Artificial Intelligence is no longer a distant idea talked about in science fiction movies. It is already part of daily work life, quietly changing how businesses run, how decisions are made, and how people build their careers. For students and fresh graduates, this shift raises a real and pressing question: what does the future of work actually look like, and how can they prepare for it today?
This is exactly the kind of question that came up in a recent session led by Devika Ghosal, an AI Consultant at Northern Trust. Drawing on her experience helping global organizations think through AI strategy and digital transformation, she offered a grounded look at where jobs are heading and what young professionals should focus on right now.
AI Is Not Replacing Work, It Is Reshaping It
One of the biggest misunderstandings about AI is the fear that it will simply wipe out jobs. The reality is more nuanced. AI is automating specific tasks, not entire professions. A financial analyst might spend less time building spreadsheets by hand, but more time interpreting results and advising clients. A marketing executive might use AI to draft content faster, but still needs to bring in the strategy, tone, and judgement that a machine cannot replicate.
Across industries such as finance, healthcare, retail, and technology, the pattern looks similar. Repetitive, rule based tasks are being handed over to automation. What remains, and often grows in value, is the human part of the job: making decisions, solving unusual problems, and working with people.
Careers Are Evolving, Not Just Disappearing
Some roles are shrinking because AI can now do the routine parts of them. Data entry, basic customer support, and simple content generation are good examples. But at the same time, entirely new roles are appearing. Positions like AI trainers, prompt specialists, automation analysts, and AI governance experts barely existed a few years ago.
This is an important point for graduates to sit with. The job you eventually take might not exist yet in its current form. Instead of trying to predict the exact title of a future role, it makes more sense to build a strong, flexible base of skills that can adapt as roles change around you.
The Skills Employers Actually Want Now
As AI takes over more technical and repetitive tasks, employers are placing greater weight on skills that are harder to automate. These include:
- Critical thinking and the ability to question and interpret information rather than just accept it
- Clear communication, both written and verbal
- Leadership and the ability to guide teams through uncertainty
- Adaptability, or the willingness to keep learning as tools and expectations change
- Collaboration across different teams and disciplines
These are often called human skills, and they are becoming more valuable precisely because AI cannot easily replicate judgement, empathy, or original thinking. A graduate who combines technical familiarity with AI tools alongside these human strengths will stand out far more than someone who only has one or the other.
Using AI Responsibly as a Student
AI tools can genuinely support learning when used well. They can help summarise dense material, explain difficult concepts in simpler terms, or assist with early drafts of assignments. The key word here is support, not substitute.
Students who rely on AI to think for them, rather than to think alongside them, often end up weaker in the long run. The habit of struggling with a problem, working through it, and arriving at understanding is what builds real capability. Used responsibly, AI can speed up learning. Used carelessly, it can quietly erode it.
Building a Future Proof Career
There is no single formula for staying relevant in a changing job market, but a few habits consistently help.
Keep learning continuously. Treat your education as ongoing rather than something that ends with a degree. Short courses, certifications, and hands on projects all add real value.
Stay curious about new tools. You do not need to become an AI expert, but understanding how these tools work in your field will make you more effective and more employable.
Focus on transferable skills. Communication, problem solving, and leadership carry across almost every industry and every stage of a career.
Build a track record, not just a resume. Practical experience through internships, projects, or freelance work often speaks louder than qualifications alone.
Common Misconceptions Worth Letting Go
A few myths tend to cause unnecessary worry among students. One is the idea that AI will simply take away all entry level jobs. In reality, entry level roles are changing in nature, not vanishing altogether. Another is the belief that only people with a technical or coding background will survive in an AI driven economy. In truth, every field, from law to healthcare to design, is being touched by AI, and each needs people who understand both the tools and the human context around them.
Meet the Speaker
Devika Ghosal is an AI Advisor at Northern Trust, where she works on AI advisory, corporate strategy, and Generative AI transformation projects for leading global financial institutions. Her work centres on helping organisations shape AI strategy, spot high-impact use cases, set up AI governance frameworks, and guide leadership teams through technology adoption and organisational change.
A graduate of Warwick Business School with a BSc (Hons) in Accounting and Finance, Devika brings together strategy consulting experience with hands on AI transformation work. Sitting at the intersection of business, technology, and innovation, she has a close view of how organisations are getting ready for an AI driven future, and what that means for the next generation entering the workforce.
What Graduates Should Do Today
The practical advice that comes out of sessions like this one is refreshingly simple. Do not wait for certainty before you start preparing. Build comfort with AI tools relevant to your field. Sharpen the human skills that machines cannot replace. Stay open to roles and industries you may not have originally considered. And keep treating learning as a habit rather than a phase that ends at graduation.
The age of AI is not about humans losing their place in the workforce. It is about the workforce redefining what value looks like. Those who understand this shift early and prepare for it with intention will be the ones best placed to thrive in whatever the future of work turns out to be.
Don't Miss the Live Session
If these questions matter to you, this is a conversation worth being part of. Join Devika Ghosal live on 31 July 2026, from 12:00 to 13:00 BST, as she unpacks how AI is reshaping employment and answers your questions directly during the live Q&A. Reserve your spot today and take the first step toward building a future proof career.