🎯 Why CAREERGenAI?

We maintain no current GenAI framework exists to support the needs of frontline colleagues working to enhance student employability.

Higher education is facing dual pressures:

  • ✓ Equip graduates with practical, future-focused skills.
  • ✓ Empower staff to adopt and adapt to advanced technologies like GenAI.

CAREERGenAI bridges this gap, offering a structured, ethical, and practical approach to integrating GenAI into employability services — without sacrificing student-centred values.

The Three Foundational Pillars

Pedagogy

  • Adult Learning Theory
  • Self-Directed Learning Theory
  • Experiential Learning Theory
  • Self-Determination Theory

AI Prompting

  • Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
  • Chain of Thought (CoT)
  • Unified Theory of Acceptance
  • Use of Technology

Ethics

  • UK Department for Education (2025)
  • UNESCO's Principles for Responsible AI
  • Human Centred Learning

The CAREER Framework Structure

Six dimensions organized under three guiding questions:

The What: Clarity (C) & Applicability (A)
The Why: Reasoning (R) & Engagement (E)
The How: Evaluation (E) & Relevance (R)

The Six Dimensions of CAREERGenAI

The What
Clarity

Emphasizes precision in formulating AI prompts. Clear and unambiguous prompts reduce interpretative effort.

Key: Who is your audience? What is their skill level? What do you need to create?

The What
Applicability

Embeds prompts within practical, real-world contexts aligned with employability frameworks.

Key: What frameworks enhance output? What data should be considered?

The Why
Reasoning

Requires transparent, step-by-step rationale in AI outputs for trust and accountability.

Key: Need clarity in examples? Should responses link to specific pathways?

The Why
Engagement

Promotes interactive, role-based dialogues between users and the GenAI system.

Key: How should the LLM engage? What are your expectations?

The How
Evaluation

Establishes mechanisms for ongoing assessment and refinement of AI outputs.

Key: How should responses be presented? Need validation or evidence?

The How
Relevance

Ensures outputs remain aligned with intended subject matter and institutional priorities.

Key: What is the overall objective? What context must be maintained?

Build Your CAREERGenAI Prompt

Use the framework dimensions to create a comprehensive prompt for career and employability services.

Your CAREERGenAI Prompt:

Help Shape the Future of AI in Career Services!

Join our research team to contribute to the development of this open source framework and stay updated on best practices.

Case Examples

Example 1: Humanities to Industry Employment

Context: Guide students from Philosophy and History backgrounds into viable industry roles.

"Draft a consultation plan for a cohort of humanities students majoring in Philosophy and History who are preparing to enter the job market. These students have developed strong critical thinking, analytical, and writing skills through their studies but they have limited direct industry experience (C). Using Pearson's transferable skills framework and the latest industry trends, include as part of the consultation plan, five structured examples, demonstrating how a philosophy thesis incorporates project management, research synthesis and problem-solving in professional contexts (A). Ensure each of the five examples are clearly explained, emphasizing its relevance to specific career pathways and the rationale behind selecting them (R). In case you need further clarification, ask first for further information instead of going off assumptions (E). Present the draft in an easy to follow and evaluate format, in case we need to make any corrections (E). Lastly, ensure the consultation plan is aligned with the latest HESA labour market data, ensuring reference to your findings (R)."

Example 2: Business Graduates - Consulting Interview Prep

Context: Equip business graduates with skills for management consulting interviews.

"Draft an interview preparation plan for a cohort of business graduates targeting management consulting roles. These graduates possess strong quantitative and communication skills but have limited experience with case-based interviews (C). Using the McKinsey case interview framework and STAR methodology, include three structured mock interview scenarios that simulate real consulting cases and a set of related behavioural questions (A). Provide a clear, step-by-step rationale for each scenario and question, explaining how it reflects consulting industry practices (R). In case any scenario requires further clarification or contextual adjustment, ask for additional details before proceeding (E). Present the interview preparation plan in a structured, easy-to-follow format that clearly delineates each scenario and its assessment criteria for further review (E). Finally, ensure the plan is aligned with the latest consulting recruitment data and industry benchmarks provided in the attached dataset, with references included to support your findings (R)."

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🤓 Join the Research!

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