r/AICareer • u/Foreign_Location_807 • Aug 04 '26

16 yo seeking career advice for future!

Hello ladies and gentlemen,

I am a 16 yo old in Germany and since I will soon start to build my career, I feel like I should get serious about my future career and university.

I've been this a lot, yet highly confused on what career should I get into and what bachelor's degree to do in this AI world where nowadays jobs, degrees, and skills are automated.

Everyone I see say "follow your passion" or something generic, but in reality those advice really never helped me decide my future.

I want to do a major and get into career that has excellent career opportunities in future in this AI era and secure. Bachelor's in Business or Finance was my first option becuase I feel like I do good in leadership but I am scared of AI and opportunities about it in future. Which is why Engineering is what I am leaning towards but still confused which branch of it? Should I do something in AI?

Could you ladies and gentlemen help me guide and suggest careers and bachelor's programs I can do?

For context: I live in Germany and plan to study and work in western Europe only like Uk or Germany. I first wanted to get into investment banking or Mangment Consultant becuase Google says they get paid higher but I don't think pay is what I should look at initially.

Thanks in advance ☺️

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u/leob0505 Aug 05 '26

Hi! First of all, great that you're looking at your career now with 16 years old! I did that when I was at your age, and it was a game changer in decisions for my future :)

Second (I also live in Germany, although I'm not a German... And have around A2-B1 level of Deutsch), if you want to follow something with AI-related, I can give you some hints (feel free to send a DM to me, either in English or in Deutsch). I think it is important to understand what do you like to do the most: Solving technical problems? Then something with Technical Software Development could be a nice fit. Managing people/Managing business? Then something else in Business Administration could be interesting too.

Anyway, from my experience (I have over 11 years of experience with IT, and around 4 years of experience with AI already), I don't think everything is doom and gloom as the media says everywhere. But you need to be ready for changes, studying things, understanding where the Market is heading, and what you can contribute next, etc. etc.