How AI Can Help You Grow Your Professional and Academic Careers

By Hailey Dickson, Product Marketing Manager at Khan Academy

In this exciting age of emerging technology, it’s only fitting that we integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into our learning process. Khan Academy, the world-renowned online educational platform, has taken this a step further with the introduction of Khanmigo–an AI-powered tutor and teaching assistant, that helps learners achieve academic and career growth. In this blog, we will introduce you to a Khanmigo feature that helps with career and academic coaching. We’ll also provide some tips and tricks to help you leverage Khanmigo’s AI power and discover new opportunities for growth.

Traditional Methods of Coaching Academic and Career Growth

Coaching has long been a fundamental aspect in developing academic and career growth. 

The following are traditional career coaching methods commonly used:

1. Job shadowing: This is a practical method where the person being coached (coachee) follows a professional in their field of interest during a typical workday. For instance, a recent graduate interested in journalism might shadow a seasoned reporter to gain real-world insights into the profession.
2. Interview coaching: This involves preparing individuals for job interviews. The coach may conduct mock interviews, provide feedback on responses, and share strategies to handle common interview questions. An example could be a career coach preparing a job seeker for an upcoming interview at a major tech company.
3. Resume and cover letter review: A career coach may offer feedback on a coachee’s job application materials, helping to optimize these for specific roles or industries. For example, a coach might help an aspiring teacher tailor their resume to highlight relevant skills and experiences for a job application at a local school.
4. Career assessment: This involves the use of tools and tests to help individuals identify their interests, skills, values, and personality traits, and how these align with various careers. For instance, a career coach might use a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) test to help a coachee understand their personality type and suggest careers that could be a good fit.
5. Career path planning: A career coach may work with an individual to map out potential career paths and set short-term and long-term goals. For example, a coach might help a recent culinary school graduate plan their career trajectory, from entry-level roles to owning their own restaurant.
6. Job search strategies: This involves coaching individuals on effective job search techniques, from networking to leveraging online job boards. For example, a career coach might assist a seasoned professional in transitioning industries or advising them on how to leverage LinkedIn for networking and job hunting.

The following are traditional academic coaching methods commonly used in education:

1. One-on-One tutoring: This involves individualized instruction where a tutor works directly with a single student. For example, a student struggling with algebra might meet with a tutor after school for additional practice and instruction.
2. Small group instruction: This method involves teaching a small group of students who are typically at the same skill level. An example might be a reading group in an elementary school where students read a book at their level and discuss it with the guidance of their teacher.
3. Peer tutoring: This is when students help each other learn. For instance, in a high school science class, students might pair up to review concepts or work on lab experiments together.
4. Socratic method: This involves asking probing questions to stimulate critical thinking. A teacher might use this method in a literature class by asking questions that encourage students to think deeper about the text.
5. Direct instruction: This is a teacher-centered method that involves explicit teaching techniques. For example, a math teacher might use direct instruction to teach a new formula, explaining the concept, demonstrating the process, and then assigning practice problems.
6. Mentoring: This approach involves a relationship between a knowledgeable mentor and a less experienced mentee. For instance, in a graduate school, a professor might mentor a student, providing guidance on research and professional development.

Introducing Khanmigo for Academic and Career Growth

Khanmigo is an AI tutor and teaching assistant, developed by Khan Academy. As part of its feature set, it can be used by students, parents, and educators to enhance academic and career growth. For students, Khanmigo provides activities that help them apply what they’ve learned and reinforce their understanding. Parents can use Khanmigo to monitor their child’s progress, help with homework, and create study plans. On the other hand, educators can use Khanmigo to track their students’ progress and provide guidance and feedback.

Here’s an example of how a student might use Khanmigo to start building towards their career:

As you can see, Khanmigo is an innovative and effective AI-powered guide that provides a personalized approach to learning and coaching. Whether you’re a student, parent, or educator, Khanmigo can enhance your learning experience. The features of Khanmigo are designed to promote academic and career growth, so you can learn smarter and achieve more. Regardless of your learning goals, Khanmigo ensures that you receive the guidance and feedback you need to succeed. So why not take advantage of Khanmigo’s AI power and discover new opportunities for growth today?