Cato Rolea, Tom Newham and Claudia.M. Bordogna, Nottingham University Business School, share a new framework to guide the practical and ethical use of Generative AI in career and employability services.
Introduction
The rise of Generative AI (GenAI) is transforming higher education (HE). Yet amidst this transformation, Career and Employability Services risk being left behind, lacking the structured guidance necessary to use these tools confidently and ethically. From job applications and interview practice to automated CV reviews, GenAI is already shaping student experiences. But without an overarching framework, its application is inconsistent and potentially harmful. Outputs may be misaligned with students’ realities, or even amplify bias.
In response, we have created the CAREERGenAI Framework – a structured model designed to empower employability professionals to use GenAI responsibly and effectively.
Why does this matter?
As global graduate numbers increase, employers expect more than academic achievement. They need digitally literate candidates who can navigate AI-rich workplaces. Simultaneously, HE institutions must ensure their career guidance remains current and inclusive. Yet we are sensing many professionals feel unequipped to harness GenAI’s potential or to mitigate its limitations.
In our view, ‘prompting’ – how users interact with GenAI – is both an art and a pedagogical practice. Poor prompts yield vague, misleading responses, but well-structured ones can simulate nuanced, student-centred dialogue. Our research concluded that there was little to no guidance specific to the career and employability space for how to do this well. This is where CAREERGenAI offers a practical solution.
The CAREERGenAI Framework
CAREERGenAI is built on three foundational pillars:
- Pedagogy:Drawing on andragogy, self-directed learning, experiential learning and motivational theory to guide effective practice.
- AI prompting:Grounded in established methods like Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), Chain-of-Thought (CoT), and UTAUT (Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology).
- Ethics:Informed by guidance from UNESCO and the UK Department for Education, ensuring fairness, transparency and human-centred design.
From these pillars emerge six dimensions – Clarity, Applicability, Reasoning, Engagement, Evaluation, and Relevance (CAREER) – that guide practitioners to structure their prompts clearly, ethically and effectively. Each is anchored in practical outcomes: improved student engagement, reduced AI errors and more meaningful support.
What does this look like in practice?
Let us take an example: a careers team working with Philosophy graduates.
A generic prompt like “Help humanities students find jobs” returns a superficial response. Using CAREERGenAI, however, the team can craft a detailed prompt. By outlining the student skillsets, and using a model like Pearson’s transferable skills framework, coupled with requesting examples relevant to HESA labour market data, and asking the AI to clarify if the user needs further clarification, the output can generate targeted, nuanced outputs that can form the basis for individual or workshop guidance.
Another example: preparing Business graduates for consulting interviews.
CAREERGenAI can guide staff to incorporate industry-specific frameworks (like STAR and McKinsey’s case method), request transparent reasoning and include behavioural scenario questions – all in one refined prompt. This not only enhances the quality of AI-generated material but gives staff confidence in its use.
How has it made a difference?
Initial dissemination of the tool has led to positive feedback from the career and employability community. Feedback indicates staff feel more confident using GenAI when supported by a clear framework. They are better equipped to discern bias, detect hallucinations and adapt outputs to institutional needs. Moreover, staff who learn CAREERGenAI’s six dimensions can scale their practice – applying the framework to student-facing tools, prompt libraries, or even developing bespoke GenAI-enhanced platforms.
CAREERGenAI also aligns well with digital transformation goals in HE. It empowers staff to innovate within safe boundaries, reinforcing trust and transparency while maintaining the personalised ethos central to Career and Employability Services.
So what’s next?
We are currently designing rollout strategies and welcome institutional partners to test the framework in practice. While CAREERGenAI focuses on staff use, future applications could include student training, sector-wide prompt repositories, or integration into platforms like Moodle and Handshake.
As institutions race to integrate GenAI into teaching and support, there is a pressing need to centre pedagogy and ethics alongside innovation. CAREERGenAI offers a grounded, scalable route to do just that – supporting HE professionals to maintain quality, relevance and integrity in a rapidly evolving digital world.
The tool can be found here: https://careergenaiframework.com
