From Paper to AI: Mastering the Career Coaster

In 1978 – the dark ages – a roller coaster opened at Great America in Gurnee Illinois called “The Tidal Wave”.  It was a big deal.It was one giant loop, 137 feet high that went 55 mph in 5 seconds. Every radio ad and commercial touted the “wild ride” and I used to stand in long sweaty lines for the privilege of “riding the wave.” Fast forward to 2008, I was looking up at a roller coaster called “Top Thrill Dragster” at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. At a staggering height of 420 feet with a 400 ft drop and a speed of 120 mph in less than 4 seconds, it was – at the time – the premiere ride at the park.  

Each ride had some limitations. The Tidal Wave would shut down in high winds. But the faster, bigger, more advanced Top Thrill would also shut down due to high winds AND the ride itself had a bit of a flaw. If the car carrying the passengers didn’t hit the perfect speed at the perfect time the car would slide back down the track back to the start – or – would not have enough speed to go over the top and the car full of passengers would be stranded at the very top of the loop and the ride would shut down while safety checks were made and the park visitors in the car were rescued from the top of that 420 foot loop.  

The trajectory of career services can be said (because I’m saying it) to mirror the vast changes in roller coasters over the last several years. We’ve gone from providing résumés on paper stock to digital creation, the advent of professional career coaching, and the change from one-on-one in-person interviews to panels and several interview rounds to AI driven interviews.  

And of course, the rise of artificial intelligence and digital tools is fundamentally changing how individuals explore and manage their careers. AI-powered platforms can create a more scalable and responsive model for career development. Career services must now address not only how clients present themselves on paper, but how they show up across digital platforms, virtual interviews, and global networks.

But, much like the development of roller coasters, the technology and the trends can leave your clients sliding backwards or stranded.  

For those of you in the profession, these shifts present both a challenge and an extraordinary opportunity.

At PARWCC, we are uniquely positioned to lead in this new landscape through programs like the Certified Digital Career Strategist (CDCS). The CDCS program reflects a critical truth: digital strategy is no longer an add-on to career services—it is central to it. Today’s clients need guidance on personal branding, online visibility, AI-enhanced job search techniques, and the strategic use of digital tools to accelerate their career growth.

What distinguishes digital career strategy is not just the use of technology, but the intentional integration of human expertise with digital innovation. As the field evolves, the most effective career professionals will be those who can translate complex tools into meaningful, personalized guidance—bridging the gap between technology and human potential.  

In January of this year, “Falcons Flights”, the world’s newest roller coaster opened at Six Flags in Saudi Arabia: it stands at a dizzying 640 ft tall and races at a breathtaking 155 mph. And the only thing we are sure of in the future of rides is that one day there will be another coaster that will add speed or height or more twists and turns.  

Like roller coasters, the trends in career services will continue to grow and change and things will get faster and more complicated. The future of career services will belong to practitioners who embrace high-tech and high-touch. Practitioners like you. By investing in digital strategy skills and credentials like the CDCS, you will elevate your practice to the very first class and ensure your clients remain prepared for whatever comes next.