AI or Human Career Coaching: Which Is Right for You?

Since the introduction of ChatGPT, the number of AI tools focused on career development and career coaching has increased dramatically, providing alternatives to human coaching. There are now a number of tools that help with everything from career exploration to resume building to interview preparation. 

Choosing between AI coaching and human coaching ultimately depends on your specific needs and circumstances. Below, we explore the advantages and limitations of each to help you make an informed decision.

The benefits of AI career coaching

1. Cost-effective and accessible: One of the biggest advantages of AI coaching is its accessibility. Many AI career coaching platforms are either free for individual use, like our AI career coach, or cost less than human coaches (which can cost anywhere between $100 and $150 per session, according to Indeed). AI career coaching platforms are often easy to set up and navigate and quick to provide relevant information. They can also chat passably well in multiple languages. All of these features help expand access to career guidance to a much broader group of people.

2. 24/7 availability: AI career coaches are always available. Regardless of schedule, you can access guidance whenever it’s convenient for you. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for those with busy or unpredictable schedules, including the millions of students who are caregivers and/or work full or part-time. 24/7 availability can also be crucial when timing is tight, like when you need to prepare for an unexpected interview or submit an application on a short deadline.

3. Comprehensive resource database: AI platforms are typically equipped with large databases of resources. Depending on the platform, these might include career exploration, job search strategies, resume templates, interview practice, and/or industry-specific advice. Coach’s own Educational Resource Database, or ERD, includes Q&A threads from CareerVillage.org as well as high-quality resources from our co-design coalition of career development experts. Coach is trained to link out to these resources (as opposed to remixing them into responses without citation), so you have direct access to them.

4. Personalized guidance, delivered quickly: Current AI systems like Coach use the latest and greatest LLMs to provide personalized advice based on your input. By analyzing your career goals, skills, and preferences, AI career coaches can quickly offer relevant, actionable guidance to help you learn and achieve your goals.

AI career coaches can quickly provide personalized advice and relevant resources.

The limitations of AI career coaching

1. Lack of empathy and understanding: While AI can analyze data to provide logical recommendations, it does not understand emotions or complex experiences. Nor can it pick up on context clues or body language. Human coaches can do all of these things! Human career coaches can empathize and provide emotional support and motivation.

2. Limited contextual feedback: Human coaches excel in providing contextualized feedback, no prompting needed. They can adapt strategies based on subtle cues and face-to-face interactions, offering more in-depth advice.

The advantages of human coaching

1. Interpersonal interaction: Human coaches bring experience and a personal touch to career development. They can build a rapport with you, understand your unique challenges, and offer highly customized mentoring. This interpersonal interaction can lead to profound and impactful coaching experiences and positive outcomes.

2. Emotional support: Career challenges like layoffs or transitions are stressful. A human coach can provide needed emotional support to help you stay motivated and resilient. They can also help you navigate personal challenges that might be affecting your professional life.

3. Adaptive strategies: Human coaches can adapt their coaching methods and strategies based on your progress and feedback. They can identify subtle shifts in your behavior and mindset, adjusting their approach to better suit your needs.

Choosing the right path for you

Both AI and human career coaching have their merits. The best choice depends on your learning style, career goals, and personal circumstances. Here are a few considerations to help you decide:

• If you need flexible, quick, low-cost, and/or around-the-clock access to resources and guidance: AI career coaching might be the right fit for you. It’s ideal for structured learning and people who need flexible scheduling.

• If you value context-driven feedback and emotional support: A human coach might be the right fit. While AI tools can provide tailored, adaptive advice, human coaches are much more equipped to provide emotional support that helps you stay motivated.

Combining AI and human coaching

For those who can afford it, a hybrid approach that leverages the strengths of both AI and human coaching can be particularly effective. Using AI tools like Coach for routine guidance and resource access, while engaging with a human coach for deeper mentoring and emotional support, can offer a balanced and comprehensive career development experience.

In conclusion, the decision between AI and human coaching isn't a one-size-fits-all answer. Each option has advantages, and your choice should align with your specific needs and career goals. By understanding the strengths and limitations of both, you can make an informed decision that best supports your career development journey.