From resume writing to interview prep to daily productivity on the job, AI tools are quickly becoming part of the modern workplace. At Gulf Coast Workforce Solutions, we’re seeing firsthand how important it is for job seekers to understand not just how to use AI, but how to use it wisely.
To explore what this shift means locally, we sat down with Connor O’Sullivan of Lone Star College, one of our key education and workforce partners serving the Gulf Coast region.
First Things First: Strong Foundations Win
At Lone Star College, adult education is about building what O’Sullivan calls “the first rung on the ladder” for students working toward better employment.
Many students are entering high-demand workforce pathways, from bookkeeping certification to law enforcement, CDL training, and entry-level healthcare, but may still be strengthening foundational skills in math, English, or digital literacy.
When asked what advice he would give students navigating today’s AI-driven world, O’Sullivan didn’t hesitate: “Be brilliant in the basics.”
“I could write up the perfect play… and if no one can catch a football, none of it matters,” O’Sullivan explained. AI tools are powerful, but without strong reading, writing, math, and communication skills, they won’t carry you far.
How AI Is Already Being Used
Across the workforce system, AI is being used in practical ways:
- Reviewing written communication
- Improving emails and reports
- Generating ideas during meetings
- Simulating job interviews
- Capturing meeting notes and action items
At Lone Star College, students have access to integrated virtual tools that help refine their writing. Faculty and leadership are also exploring ways to use AI to design better surveys and improve student feedback systems.
As O’Sullivan shared: “It gets you… kind of jump starts your thinking instead of just coming up cold turkey.”
AI, when used correctly, enhances productivity. It helps professionals start at the “90% mark” and then refine the final 10% with their own expertise. And that’s the key: refinement, not replacement.
The Risk: Letting AI Do the Thinking
One of the biggest challenges facing education and the workforce right now is balance. There’s a difference between using AI to improve your work and letting it do all the work for you. Colleges, employers, and workforce leaders are all navigating that line carefully, especially when it comes to academic integrity and authenticity.
O’Sullivan pointed out another concern many professionals have experienced:
“It looks like nothing like how I speak, like how I write. It sort of saps all of your own personal voice out of that.”
Communication is more than polished sentences. Employers are looking for people who can think critically, respond in real time, and bring their own voice to conversations.
Soft skills, like listening, speaking, and problem-solving, still matter. In fact, they matter even more in an AI-enabled workplace.
AI in Interviews: A Competitive Edge
One area where AI is proving especially useful is interview preparation. By prompting AI to simulate an experienced HR leader, students can practice answering industry-specific questions and even receive feedback on the quality and delivery of their responses.
But even here, the skill isn’t just in the answer; it’s in the prompt. Learning how to ask better questions, frame scenarios, and refine responses is becoming its own workforce skill.
And that’s where guidance from trusted workforce partners makes a difference.
Don’t Be Intimidated, Be Prepared
There’s a lot of conversation about AI “taking jobs.” The smarter conversation is about who will be ready for the jobs that evolve. Through partnerships across the region, including institutions like Lone Star College, Gulf Coast Workforce Solutions is focused on making sure job seekers are equipped—whether they’re earning a GED, improving English skills, building digital literacy, or entering high-growth career pathways.
Some students are just getting comfortable with basic computer skills. Others are earning certifications in Microsoft Excel. Many are progressing step by step from adult education into workforce training and even college degrees. And AI is simply another tool along that path.
You can watch the full interview here.
Explore in-demand careers and connect with top employers at upcoming Workforce Solutions hiring events. Register today to secure your spot and access career-building resources.
