Category Chapter 2

Dec 6 2025

AI-Proof Your Career

Artificial Intelligence (AI), as with any new technology, creates a changing job market. While news stories may produce fear among workers, be reminded that new technologies always create a need for adapted job skills. In the case of AI, career experts recommend: (1) focusing on skills that humans do best, and (2) adapting to what AI can help you do better.

The skills that humans do best involve activities related to emotional intelligence, ethics, and creativity. For ongoing career success, develop soft skills in the areas of communication, empathy, leadership, teamwork, and negotiation. In addition, enhance critical thinking abilities to question assumptions and analyze complex situations. Also important is improved creativity related to designing, writing, innovation, and generating ideas.

These high-touch human skills, which are harder to automate, are essential in jobs requiring trust, collaboration, and intricate decision-making. Career fields requiring in-person contact and discernment include healthcare, counseling, teaching, mentoring, therapy, customer experience, coaching, legal guidance, technical trades, crisis support, and creative and performance arts.

Since every worker will be affected by AI, basic technical competency is necessary. A well-prepared career person will need to be AI-literate. While you don’t have to be a programmer or software engineer, your AI skills should include:

  • knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of AI.
  • an ability to write clear, complete prompts to optimize responses.
  • using AI tools for workflows and other career tasks.
  • awareness of current AI trends and applications in your industry.

Using AI as your productivity partner means you will be able to leverage it to automate repetitive tasks, brainstorm ideas, develop preliminary drafts, and suggest analyses.

Ongoing learning and continually updating your skills is vital. Actions to achieve these competencies include taking online courses, earning AI certifications, joining online AI forums, starting an AI club, building a personal project, learning a programming language such as Python, and subscribing to AI and machine language YouTube channels.

While AI won’t replace all jobs, it will impact every worker in some way. To best prepare for the future, blend basic tech competency with strong human skills and seek opportunities for learning and growth. The most successful employees will be those who collaborate with AI and do what technology cannot do. 

For additional information on AI proofing your career, go to:

Link #1

Link #2

Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students identify online resources to enhance their AI skills.
  • Have students create a plan to enhance their soft skills for ongoing career success.

Discussion Questions 

  1. What soft skills might be most valuable for a person’s ongoing career success?
  2. Describe actions a person might take to better use AI for their daily activities and work tasks.

Apr 5 2025

STRATEGIES FOR CAREER ADVANCEMENT

For your career development and employment advancement, consider these actions:

  • Show your flexibility. People often believe that being indispensable and irreplaceable will guarantee job security. However, this approach can limit your career potential and opportunities. The key to success is to make yourself valuable but not indispensable. Being vital in doing one specific thing might result in your supervisors not wanting to move you from that position. You need to be very good at your job and willing to teach others the skills you have developed.
  • Take on new challenges. Your ability to adapt to new responsibilities shows your career potential. Seek opportunities beyond your usual job, especially those at the next level of the organization. Going above and beyond expectations may involve taking the initiative to support your manager’s workload or suggesting a plan to address an ongoing company concern.
  • Communicate your ambitions. Discuss your ambitions and abilities with those who make the hiring decisions. Get comfortable talking about your skills, experiences, and accomplishments that set you apart from others. This strategy can help you be considered for a position even before the job becomes available.
  • Use internal networking. Go beyond impressing your direct supervisor or hiring manager. Connect with others within your organization to talk about current projects, industry trends, and personal interests. Consider informational interviews with supervisors and others you don’t work with regularly. These interactions will make you known within the company and provide a better understanding of the overall organization.
  • Understand your personal motivations. Before seeking a promotion, consider what you want in your career. Carefully assess if a promotion is the next appropriate step to your long-term career aspirations and personal satisfaction. Moving from work you enjoy may not be in your best interest.

For additional information on job promotion strategies, click here.

Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students talk to others to learn about the actions they have taken to improve their career opportunities.
  • Use an AI platform to seek guidance for a career development plan. Enter your abilities, interests, and career aspirations and ask for actions for your career path.

Discussion Questions 

  1. Which actions in the article might you consider using in the future?
  2. Describe an action plan you might take for your future career advancement.    
Feb 8 2025

MINDSETS AND HABITS FOR IMPROVED FINANCIAL WELLBEING

Warren Buffet, a renowned investor, offers five mindset actions that can contribute to your financial wellbeing and long-term wealth.  These are:

1. Invest in Yourself.  You are your most valuable asset. Critical to financial and professional success is self-improvement and personal growth.  Obtain further education, specialized certifications, and new career skills for increased marketability and earning power.  This can be achieved through online courses, workshops, or working with a mentor.

2. Think Long-Term.  Avoid a get-rich-quick belief, which is very often destructive. Instead, identify investments with the potential to grow steadily over time. Expect market values to fluctuate in the short term so resist the temptation to be concerned about these ups and downs. Focus on your long-term plan to achieve your goal of financial wealth.

3. Develop Financial Discipline. Too often people save what is leftover. Instead, develop good financial habits with a budget that avoids unnecessary spending and emphasizes saving and investing. Live below you means, even as your income increases. Automate your savings with a set amount transferred to an investment account each month.

4. Surround yourself with wise, informed individuals.  You tend to become like those with whom you associate.  Seek those who will motivate you, reveal new ideas and opportunities, and help you develop positive financial habits.

5. Be patient.  Building wealth requires patience, persistence, and staying with your plan despite short-term difficulties.

In addition to these mindsets, other habits that contribute to financial wellbeing include:

  • Set clear goals in writing with action steps and deadlines to achieve savings targets and other financial success.
  • Develop a growth mindset in which you seek feedback, learn from failure, and maintain a desire to improve.
  • Plan for continuing education. Read extensively, take courses, and develop new skills. 
  • Connect with a mentor who can provide guidance based on their experiences.
  • Practice wise money management by tracking spending, using a budget, and maintaining detailed financial records.
  • Start investing early, even with only a small amount. Be consistent with your deposits. 
  • Build a network of successful individuals who can provide financial and career guidance.
  • Volunteer in your community to make connections and gather business opportunities.
  • Consider starting a side business while working full time. 
  • Practice wise time management to prioritize high-value activities and to eliminate time-wasting activities. 
  • For physical and mental wellness obtain adequate sleep, regular exercise, proper nutrition, and stress management. 
  • Stay informed about industry trends, new technology, and economic conditions to adapt to new investment and career opportunities. 

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For additional information on improved financial mindsets and habits, go to:

Link #1

Link #2

Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students talk to others to obtain suggestions for successful investment and wealth-building actions.
  • Have students create a visual (poster, slide presentation, or video) that communicates wise mindset habits for obtaining financial wellbeing.

Discussion Questions 

  1. Which of the mindset actions are you currently using? Which ones might you implement in the near future?
  2. Describe barriers that people might encounter to prevent them from achieving long-term financial wellbeing.   
Jan 4 2025

PERSONALITY HIRES AND MAD SKILLS

Hiring managers often seek candidates who enhance the work environment to reduce on-the-job stress. A “personality hire” is an employee with strong interpersonal skills who strengthens relationships among clients, customers, and coworkers. They also enhance the work culture, boost morale, and contribute to a productive job setting.

Personality hires are offered positions based on their likeability. During the interview, a sense of humor and enthusiasm can overcome experience limitations. An ability to enhance relationships within the organization and get along with anyone is viewed very favorably. Possessing personality skills does not have to be mutually exclusive of technical ability. An ideal candidate will have both job competency and be the right cultural fit.

Traditional hires sometimes resent the personality hire, who is viewed as inexperienced or too sociable for the work setting.  Also, introverts who contribute to a positive environment and high morale may be overlooked for promotions and advancement.

Another job search factor that can be to your benefit are “mad skills,” which are unusual hobbies and experiences. Examples of these rare soft skills might include knowing an indigenous language or participating in a sport played in ancient times.

Mentioning these items during a job interview can help a person stand out from other applicants while also bringing something new to an organization that no one else has, resulting in a more diverse talent pool. Obtained as an entrepreneur, through volunteering, hobbies, travel, or sports, mad skills can reflect a person’s desire for professional development or an ability to quickly make decisions in a crisis.

Hiring managers still recommend only listing hobbies and other interests on a resume if they relate to the job for which you are applying. Mad skills might not be mentioned until an appropriate time during the interview. While soft skills and technical ability are still the foundation for obtaining employment, mad skills can be a decisive factor in the hiring process.

For additional information on personality hires and mad skills, go to:

Link #1

Link #2

Link #3

Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students talk to others to learn about successful interview actions they have used.
  • Have students create a video or other visual (poster or slide presentation) with tips for success in a job interview.

Discussion Questions 

  1. What actions are you taking to better prepare your skillset for a career?
  2. Describe hobbies or experiences you have that might enhance your success on the job?
Jul 6 2024

SKILLS FOR FINANCIAL WEALTH

While being rich means different things to different people, certain skills and personal qualities will help you achieve financial success. These competencies include:  

  • Financial Literacy. Ongoing learning of basic money management activities will provide the foundation for wealth building.
  • Leadership and Management Skills. An ability to motivate and guide individuals and teams is required for business leadership and career growth.
  • Decision-making and Problem-Solving. Offering creative and effective solutions, especially in high-stress situations, will always be a valued leadership and career skill.
  • Negotiation Skills. Your bargaining ability will often result in more money in business and career situations.
  • Entrepreneurial Mindset. A vision for identifying and implementing business ideas requires a skillset that can be of value in nearly every life situation. The creativity, curiosity, persistence, and motivation of effective entrepreneurs will result in financial and career success.
  • Self-Discipline and Time Management. Wise time use and consistency in achieving your financial goals are fundamental for long-term money success. Committing saving and investing allows you to build wealth through the compounding effects of time value of money. 
  • Curiosity and Ongoing Learning. Awareness of new trends, technology, and markets provides guidance for both investing and emerging career opportunities.
  • Networking. Connections with others are vital for professional success and personal development. Your network can uncover opportunities and resources. Making friends, especially those in different socio-economic situations can help grow your financial potential. When low-income people interact with those with a higher income, this often results in less-affluent people considering ways to expand their saving and investing.  Bottom of Form

For additional information on skills to build wealth, go to:

Link #1

Link #2

Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students talk to others to obtain suggestions for building wealth.
  • Have students create a visual proposal (poster, slide presentation, or video) to communicate actions that would help people improve skills for building wealth.

Discussion Questions 

  1. Which of these skills are your strongest? Which skills need to be improved?
  2. Describe actions a person might take to improve one or more of these skills.   
Jun 8 2024

Making artificial intelligence (AI) work for workers

AI, like other technological advancements, will transform the way that many of us work. It holds enormous potential both to enhance opportunity and prosperity for workers and to exacerbate inequity, bias and job displacement. 

On Oct. 30, 2023 President Biden issued a landmark Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence. This executive order advances the comprehensive strategy for governing the development and use of artificial intelligence safely and responsibly. A key component of that strategy is the commitment to support our nation’s workers. This commitment involves ensuring that workers not only benefit from AI’s opportunities, such as new jobs and improved job quality, but are also protected from its dangers, including job displacement, discrimination, the undermining of workers’ rights and worsening job quality.

The scope of AI use in the workplace, both now and in the future, is expansive and dynamic. AI encompasses machine-based systems capable of learning human-like tasks, such as making predictions, recommendations or decisions. It can track workers, measure and predict their output, set performance goals, and recommend performance-based rewards or sanctions. AI systems can also process job applications, assess qualifications and identify top candidates for an HR professional. Generative AI capable of creating original content can, for example, draft new emails to clients based on previous exchanges, provide enhanced support to customer service agents and write new software code. While these examples demonstrate AI’s potential to increase workers’ productivity and efficiency, this technology also poses risks of deteriorating job quality, embedding bias or replacing workers altogether.

For more information, click here.

Teaching Suggestions

  • Ask the students to make a list of risks that Artificial Intelligence AI) poses to workers.
  • Ask students if state and federal governments should engage with employers, AI developers, unions, worker advocates and researchers in order to develop best practices of the use of AI.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why is the federal government concerned with the use of AI in the workplace?
  2. What are potential benefits of AI in the workplace?
  3. What might be implications of employers using AI to collect data on workers, including issues such as data privacy, ownership and transparency?
Apr 13 2024

BE READY TO ANSWER THESE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Several CEOs were asked “If you could only ask one question of a prospective employee, what would that be?” Here are some examples designed to quickly assess the important skills and personality traits desired in a new hire:

  • How would you describe yourself in one word? The best candidates know who they are, and take time to reflect before answering this question.
  • What is the last thing you’ve learned? This question provides insight into a candidate’s curiosity and passion for learning – two highly desired skills for many work situations.
  • What didn’t you get a chance to include on your resume? This question allows the interviewer to dig deeper than what is on a person’s resume. 
  • How long are you willing to fail at this job before you succeed? While this question might disorient a person, a good candidate will express perseverance for success as well as seeking guidance to guide their path. 
  • What’s in the news today? A person’s awareness of current events can reveal how interesting someone is as a person, and how effective they might be at work. 
  • What percentage of your life do you control? This question can determine if a person can force change to happen or allows change to happen to them.
  • Tell me something that’s true, that almost nobody agrees with you on. This question can reveal people who aren’t afraid to speak their minds and possess originality of thinking.   
  • So, what’s your story? This question has no correct answer, but requires a creative response related to their character, imagination, and ability to communicate a feeling.

Being prepared for these and other questions requires knowing yourself, communicating your competencies and experiences, and researching the company and job position.  One other question you might consider: How did you prepare for this interview?

For additional information on interview questions, click here.

Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students practice their interview skills using some of these questions.
  • Have students talk to others to obtain suggestions for preparing for an interview and tips for effective interviewing.

Discussion Questions 

  1. What mistakes might a person make when answering interview questions?
  2. What actions would you recommend for a person to improve their interview skills?
Sep 30 2023

MUSEUM OF SAVING

With an increasing influence of finance, credit, and business on our lives, the Museum of Saving is an innovative, entertaining location. Families, adults, teens, and children are provided with a clear-and-simple approach to saving and investing for improved financial literacy. The museum’s mission is “to contribute to spreading financial education to help people make rational and informed decisions and act in ways to achieve the priorities of their lives.”

Through a combination of education and entertainment, the learning through play approach of the museum uses technology and interactivity to offer:

  • An introduction to economic history that includes the role of money, trade, loans, early banking activities, and major financial crises.
  • An overview of the most common financial instruments. 
  • Themed tours with audio-visual and interactive labs.
  • A multidisciplinary (economics, literature, cinema) view of famous people.
  • Gamification videos and apps to test and reward money management knowledge and skills.

While the Museum of Saving is based in Italy, you can access the exhibits online.

For additional information on the Museum of Saving, click here.

Virtual Tour:  

Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students talk to others to obtain advice on how to best learn about saving and investing.
  • Have students take a virtual tour of the Museum of Saving. What features do students consider to be most interesting and informative?

Discussion Questions 

  1. What actions do you recommend for a person to learn more about successful saving and investing?
  2. Describe factors a person might consider when evaluating different savings and investing alternatives.
Jan 21 2023

PREPARING FOR A RECESSION

If you stay ready…you don’t have to get ready!!  Whether or not a recession occurs, certain personal actions will be beneficial for your future.

Job loss is the most common effect of a recession. This can occur due to a layoff, furlough, or company failure.  With many people all experiencing job loss, finding a new job is difficult. For those who keep their jobs, they may experience pay cuts, reduced benefits, and no pay raises. Another major concern is the decline in value of stocks, bonds, real estate, and other assets. 

To be ready to cope if an economic downturn occurs, consider these financial strategies:

  • Monitor your monthly expenses. Know what it costs to live so there are no surprises. Be ready to pay items that occur only once a year.
  • Cut unnecessary spending. Look back at your spending to see what you could have done without. Add up what you could have avoided to make sure you spend less than you make. Possible areas to cut include cable TV, streaming services, gym membership, online music subscriptions, and a less expensive cellphone plan.
  • Start or expand your emergency fund.  No matter how small, be sure to set aside funds for poor economic times. To build your fund, have an amount automatically deposited in a saving account each month.   
  • Budget everything. Telling your money where it will go keeps you in control.    
  • Avoid debt. Just like saving, paying off debt can start small.
  • Be in contact with others to discuss possible late payments, reduced costs, cancel services, and other actions to cope financially.
  • Maintain retirement savings. Keep contributing to your retirement fund so it will be there when you need it. 

For career planning during times of recession, consider the following actions:

  • Inventory your skills, especially those that relate to essential work for your current employers and other organizations. 
  • Expand your skills through online certifications, courses, and training programs. 
  • Be adaptable. Step up to take on tasks needed within your company. 
  • Network for freelance work. Connect with others in your industry for consulting opportunities.
  • Be prepared for the unexpected. Despite taking these actions, a layoff may still occur. If that happens, expand your skills, update your resume, and connect to others through LinkedIn and community service activities.

For additional information on financial planning during a recession,

Source #1

Source #2

Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students research current economic conditions to determine the status of employment and inflation.
  • Have students create a podcast to encourage others to act on the suggestions in the article.

Discussion Questions 

  1. What are the benefits of these actions during every type of economic situation?
  2. Describe actions a person might take to better understand potential career opportunities.
Dec 17 2022

Personal Finance Simulations for Budgeting and Investing

Question:  What is a Personal Finance simulation? 

Answer:  A Personal Finance simulation allows students to fine-tune their decisions when they encounter real-life scenarios while taking a Personal Finance course. 

The authors of Personal Finance, 14e and Focus on Personal Finance, 7e have partnered with StockTrak.com to provide students with an interactive learning experience before they leave the classroom.   

The simulation that accompanies the Kapoor Personal Finance texts includes two components–a personal budgeting simulation and an investing simulation.

The Budgeting Simulation

  • Students assume the role of a full-time employee or part-time employee living on their own.
  • Over a virtual 12-month period, students review their estimated income and expenses, create monthly budgets and savings goals, and try to build an emergency fund. Each month takes about 20 minutes to complete.
  • Each month students manage their checking, savings, and credit card accounts as they deal with life’s expected and unexpected events that affect their budget.  
  • Within the simulation, additional personal finance tutorials are available to make sure students are learning about budgeting, banking, credit, employment, taxes, insurance, and more.
  • A class ranking based on net worth, credit score, and quality of life keep the students fully engaged and professors informed of each student’s progress.

The Investing Simulation

  • Students receive a virtual $25,000 in a brokerage account.
  • They can research U.S. stocks, ETFs, bonds and mutual funds and create their own investment portfolio.
  • All investment trades are based on real-time market prices.
  • Within the simulation, interactive tutorials help students get started and provide additional information during the simulation.
  • Students can monitor their performance versus their classmates.  At the same time, professors can track each student’s progress.

And BEST of ALL, with the new partnership between Stock-Trak and McGraw Hill, classes using the Kapoor Personal Finance textbook get a 50% savings when students register for the simulation – only $9.99 per student instead of retail price of $19.99.

Teaching Suggestions

  • Visit StockTrak.com/kapoor to learn more about the Personal Finance Budgeting and Investing Simulation.  You can learn even more by watching a short video or accessing the Kapoor demo materials located toward the bottom of the above site. 
  • It’s easy to get started.  All you need to do is access the above site, register your classes for Spring 2023, and indicate the dates you want your student to have access to the Personal Finance Simulation.  The site will generate a unique link for you to give to your students.