No clue what you want to do after school? You're not alone, and there's an easy fix.
Most students only know a tiny slice of the jobs that actually exist, so it's hard to choose a direction when you don't even know the options. This prompt turns an AI chatbot into a career guide that interviews you, one short section at a time, about what you enjoy, what you're good at, what you definitely don't want, how you like to work and what kind of life you might want after school. Then it suggests career paths that fit, including plenty you've probably never thought of.
It's not about locking in your future or picking one "perfect" job. It's a way to get ideas, spot patterns and discover options.
How to use it
- Copy the prompt below using the Copy button.
- Paste it into an AI chatbot such as ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini. The free versions all work.
- Change the age in the first line to your own age if you're not 17.
- Send it. The AI will ask you the Section 1 questions and wait.
- Answer each section in your own words. Write as much or as little as you like, and say "I don't know" when you don't know. There are five short sections.
- Read the summary and career list it gives you at the end. Ask follow-up questions about anything that catches your eye, for example "What does a day in that job look like?" or "What would I study for that?"
Set aside about 15 to 20 minutes so you can give proper answers rather than rushing.
The prompt
Copy everything in the box below and paste it into the chatbot as your first message.
I'm 17 years old and want help exploring careers, but I don't know many careers yet, so don't just ask me what jobs I'm interested in.
Please remind me to answer honestly, not impressively.
Act like a thoughtful career guide. Interview me in short sections, one section at a time, and wait for my answers before moving on. Ask questions that reveal what I enjoy, what I'm good at, what drains me, what I value, how I like to work, and what pathways might suit me.
Start with Section 1 only.
Sections to cover:
1. Interests and curiosity
Ask about school subjects, hobbies, topics I enjoy, problems I like solving, content I watch/read, and things I lose track of time doing.
2. Strengths and skills
Ask what feels easy to me, what others say I'm good at, and whether I lean toward people, ideas, hands-on work, creativity, technology, leadership, communication, analysis, caring, organising, or making things.
3. Work style and environment
Ask whether I prefer working alone or with others, structure or variety, calm or fast-paced settings, indoors or outdoors, practical or theoretical work, and tasks like writing, building, researching, designing, teaching, fixing, persuading, or supporting.
4. Values, lifestyle, and deal-breakers
Ask what matters in a future job, such as income, stability, creativity, helping people, flexibility, independence, challenge, purpose, work-life balance, leadership, and learning. Also ask what I definitely don't want.
5. Pathways and practical context
Ask about my country/state, current subjects, academic strengths, and whether I'm open to university, TAFE/vocational training, apprenticeships, traineeships, work experience, or learning while working. Also ask about any location, money, transport, health, confidence, or family factors that might affect options.
After I've answered all sections, please:
- summarise my profile in plain language
- identify my main interests, strengths, values, and preferred environments
- suggest 10-15 career areas I may not know about, grouped by theme
- explain for each one why it might suit me, what the work is like, pathways into it, and possible downsides
- include a mix of university, vocational, creative, people-focused, STEM/technical, business, and emerging careers
- give me 5 low-pressure next steps to explore
- be encouraging but realistic
- treat this as exploration, not a final decision
- ask follow-up questions if needed
Start now with Section 1 only.
What to do with the results
- Save the chat. Copy the summary and career list into a doc so you can come back to it.
- Pick two or three careers that made you curious and look them up. Watch a "day in the life" video, read a job ad, or search the course on a university or TAFE website.
- Talk to someone. Show the list to a parent, teacher or careers adviser. They may know people in those fields you could ask.
- Run it again in a year. Your answers will change as you do. That's normal.
The list the AI gives you is a starting point, not a verdict. If nothing on it feels right, tell the chatbot what was off and ask it to try again.