This scenario showcases how the AI4AL Matching tool can assist job coaches in identifying beneficiaries' skills, and provide personalized career guidance. The experience highlights how digital tools can complement existing processes and empower both job coaches and beneficiaries to engage more effectively in career development.
In this scenario, job coaches from a public authority in Germany tested the AI4AL Matching tool with beneficiaries, many of whom had migrant backgrounds. The tool was seen as a valuable complement to established career counseling methods, helping to map skills and create a clearer picture of career paths. The experience underlined the importance of tailoring the tool's presentation to meet the needs of diverse beneficiaries and ensuring that it was accessible and easy to use. The tool’s ability to highlight hidden skills and provide motivation through transparent results was particularly effective.
W.A.: "As a job coach in Germany, I regularly work with beneficiaries from diverse backgrounds, many of whom are migrants. We have established tools for career orientation, but when introducing a new one like AI4AL, my priority was to convince beneficiaries that this tool could be genuinely useful for them. I used a very simple and clear presentation, knowing that many had limited familiarity with digital tools and might not see how the AI4AL tool could benefit them initially.
I emphasized that everyone has valuable skills, even if they’re not always aware of them. The AI4AL tool was designed to help them uncover these hidden strengths and map out potential career paths. As I demonstrated how the tool could highlight skills they hadn't thought of before, I could see their interest grow. I also reassured them that the results were visible to them, not just to me as their coach, which made them feel more in control and motivated."
D.W.: "Working in a public authority, we already have well-established tools for career counseling, so my initial reaction was to see how AI4AL could fit into this framework. One key takeaway for other public authorities is that AI-based tools like AI4AL can serve as supportive tools in job counseling. In our case, the AI4AL tool was an add-on to our existing potential analysis tool. Its strength lies in identifying skills and gaps that our current systems might not capture, offering a broader view of the beneficiary’s abilities and potential career paths.
We tested the tool with over 10 beneficiaries, ensuring privacy of our beneficiaries and this allowed us to assess the tool's effectiveness.”
The AI4AL tool showed potential as a complementary tool to support job coaching in our public authority. Beneficiaries, especially those with migrant backgrounds, felt empowered by seeing their skill. For job coaches, having this additional layer of insight into each beneficiary's skill set allowed for more tailored advice, helping to bridge the gap between their current qualifications and future career aspirations. The tool’s user-friendly interface and compatibility with our existing tools made it easy to integrate into our counseling sessions.
For public authorities considering integrating AI-based tools like AI4AL, our experience suggests that it can serve as a valuable supplement to established methods. It offers a fresh perspective on beneficiaries' skills and career potential, particularly for those from diverse backgrounds who may not fully recognize their own abilities. Ensuring that the tool is presented in a simple, accessible way is crucial, especially when working with individuals who may have lower digital literacy.
By fostering open, reflective conversations around the results, job coaches can help beneficiaries take ownership of their career journeys, making the counseling process more personalized and effective.
W.A. & D.M., Job Coaches at a Jobcenter, Germany.