In this article, we explore:
- Why A-level results don’t have to determine future success.
- How AI is changing the future of work and creating new roles.
- Which skills will employees hire for in the future?
- How young people can prepare for a changing job market.
- What parents can do to support their children going through A-levels
Getting your results back after an exam has to be one of the most nerve-racking moments of your adult life. After months of revision and exams, not getting the grades you were hoping for can also leave you feeling confused about your future career.
For parents, it can be just as difficult, but the reality is that very few careers follow a completely straight path
Technology is changing how organisations work; AI is creating new roles, and existing jobs are evolving. Employers are increasingly looking beyond traditional university degrees at skills like adaptability, communication, critical thinking, problem-solving and AI fluency.
So, if your results didn’t go to plan, don’t panic. There are several routes you can take, and there are opportunities to develop the skills that can help you throughout your career.
The world of work is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the rapid advancement of technology, particularly artificial intelligence. As a result, new job roles are emerging, and existing ones are evolving to incorporate AI-driven skills. In this changing landscape, employers are no longer solely focused on hiring individuals with traditional university degrees. Instead, they are placing greater emphasis on candidates who possess essential soft skills, such as adaptability, effective communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
Moreover, as AI becomes increasingly integral to organisational operations, having a basic understanding of AI concepts, or AI fluency, is becoming a highly valued asset.
What does the future of work look like?
It’s hard to know what the job market will look like in five, 10 or 20 years, but one thing is for sure: it will look very different. In fact, the World Economic Forum predicts 170 million new jobs will be created by AI globally by 2030, and companies already using AI are seeing huge improvements and expect a 38% performance increase.
To keep up with these changes, companies are looking for people who are skilled, flexible and able to work with AI, especially those who are just starting their careers. This means that young people who are entering the workforce need to adapt quickly and work well with new technologies like AI.
Think about how quickly technology has developed over the past 5 to 10 years. Generative AI has gone from being a relatively specialist technology to something many people now use for writing, research, coding, analysis and everyday tasks.
As technology keeps changing, young people will need to adapt to new tools and machines. This means that new jobs are being created that didn’t exist before, like:
- Prompt Engineering
- AI and Machine Learning Engineering
- AI Governance and AI Ethicists
- AI Coaches and Trainers
Young people should focus on developing skills which can allow them to adapt to many different opportunities/roles, not just one specific job.
How can young people prepare for a changing job market?
Think bigger than your current qualifications or formal title.
Strengthen adaptability: Continue learning and be ready to pivot whenever new opportunities arise.
Build on your soft skills: Communication, teamwork, critical thinking and problem-solving are important in every industry.
Improve your AI confidence: AI is used in almost every workplace, so don’t be afraid to experiment with new tools and understand how they can support your work.
Using AI the right way: Develop an understanding of how AI tools work, where they can help and why their outputs always need to be checked.
Get hands-on experience by taking on part-time jobs, volunteering, or doing work experience – it’s a great way to learn new skills and figure out what you’re really passionate about. And don’t stop learning, keep expanding your knowledge and skills to stay ahead.
Your first qualification or job won’t necessarily be your last. Build a habit of continuous learning as it can help you stay relevant as industries evolve.
Kate Hawthorn, Director of Consultant Talent at FDM Group, shares “The way we work is changing really quickly – with AI becoming a normal part of our daily lives, most jobs will have to adapt. The more we use AI, the more comfortable we’ll become with it. “
Kate also shares, “Experimenting with AI tools, gaining entry-level certifications such as Microsoft Learn AI courses or Google AI essentials programmes and reading about the use of AI in your chosen industry are all good starting points.”
What skills do employers look for beyond qualifications?
Learning how to use AI also means learning when not to trust it. AI can produce inaccurate information and misunderstand context. Check information, ask good questions and apply independent judgement, as it’s just as important as knowing how to use the tools themselves. The future workforce needs people who will know how to work with AI effectively but also have human skills.
Young people can build AI confidence and stay competitive in an AI-driven job market by:
Get comfortable with AI-supported platforms and languages: Learn how to use Python, Power BI, and cloud platforms, as they are highly sought after in tech roles.
Sharpen data literacy: Being able to understand and work with data is important in almost every job. You can learn how to read and make sense of the information on dashboards and even find patterns and trends in the data. This is a valuable skill that can help you make informed decisions and stay ahead in your career.
Recognise AI’s role in business: Young people should recognise where AI adds business value, from automating tasks to improving customer experiences.
Refine soft skills: Being able to communicate well, adapt to new situations, think critically, and work together with others is just as crucial as having technical skills.
These skills can help you navigate modern technologies, express your ideas clearly, and build strong relationships with others.
By developing these skills, you can stay ahead of the curve and achieve your goals. You don’t necessarily need to learn these skills in a classroom.
What can parents do to prepare their children?
For parents, the uncertainty around the future job market can be daunting. It can be tempting to focus on which subjects children should study, which university they should attend or which careers are likely to be “safe”. But trying to predict the safest career may become increasingly difficult as technology changes the workplace.
Parents can help by developing the confidence to explore different interests and learn from experiences. Another tip is for parents to teach how AI tools work and experiment with them.
For example, young people could use AI to:
- Explore unfamiliar topics
- Brainstorm ideas
- Practise explaining concepts
- Improve their understanding of a subject
- Explore different career paths
- Develop or test ideas for personal projects
Encourage them to ask questions, try new things and understand what they enjoy.
Your career doesn’t have to follow a straight line
It’s easy to believe that your A-level results determine what happens next. You work hard to get good grades, then you go to a university that’s a good fit for you, and study something you’re really interested in. After that, you get a job in your field and start your career, usually following a path that’s already been laid out.
In reality, careers are rarely that straightforward. People move between industries, retrain, learn modern technologies and take opportunities they couldn’t have predicted when they were 18.
At FDM, we’ve noticed that people often take unusual paths to get into tech and business. To celebrate Girls in ICT Day this year, our Delivery Director, Rachel Lintott, helped put on a community event in Leeds. The goal was to get more young women interested in tech careers. We worked with Dan Cohen, the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Allerton High School, and The Leeds Jewish Free School to make it happen. Thirty students came to learn about the tech industry and all the cool things it has to offer. Laiba Z. and Sehrish Mustafa, who started their tech journeys through our Apprenticeship Programme, shared their stories with the attendees.
Rachel shares “As a woman in tech, I feel passionate about reducing the gender gap and providing opportunities. Today was a great community event to be part of.” Elaine Silson, Head Teacher of Allerton High School, says, “In delivering this event, not only have we hopefully inspired future employees to enter the tech sector, but we have evidence to demonstrate that we’re providing highly effective careers education, in line with the Gatsby Benchmarks.”
Explore how our FDM Consultants have succeeded in an AI-powered world.