5 Good Sources Of Career Advice Other Than AI Or Your Manager

5 Good Sources Of Career Advice Other Than AI Or Your Manager Editors' Pick Leadership Careers 5 Good Sources Of Career Advice Other Than AI Or Your Manager By Caroline Ceniza-Levine , Senior Contributor. Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. How to make a great living doing what you love Follow Author Aug 23, 2026, 10:05am EDT Aug 24, 2026, 07:40am EDT --:-- / --:-- This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . Summary A recent survey indicates 97% of professionals now seek workplace advice from AI over their managers, with 72% finding AI more helpful and 49% considering it more emotionally supportive. Key reasons include AI's superior understanding of work challenges, fear of managerial retaliation, and convenience. While external advice is often beneficial, the article cautions against over-reliance on AI, advocating for diverse input. It suggests five alternative sources for career guidance: a friend in HR for broad insights, a change agent for navigating transitions, a cheerleader for encouragement, a devil's advocate for risk assessment, and a publicist for refining communication. Cultivating a varied professional network and matching the adviser to the specific support needed is crucial for comprehensive career development. Show More 5 Good Sources Of Career Advice Other Than AI Or Your Manager getty More professionals are tapping AI for advice than their own manager. The AI Boss Effect survey of 968 workers, conducted by resume-building platform Resume Now, shows that: 97% of respondents admitted to seeking workplace advice from AI instead of their boss; 72% reported that ChatGPT gives better advice; 49% considered AI more emotionally supportive than their manager. Multiple reasons were given for relying on AI over their managers, with the top three being: ChatGPT having a better understanding of their work challenges (70% of respondents); fear of retaliation for asking the wrong question (57%); speed and convenience (47%). There are times when it makes more sense to get advice from someone other than your manager. For example, if you want to negotiate a request with your manager (e.g., ask for a raise, get an extension on a project deadline), it’s useful to role play that with someone else before the actual meeting with your manager. If you’re considering a lateral move to another department, use someone else to help with strategic career planning if you sense your manager may not be supportive. If you’re feeling unmotivated by your work, brainstorm solutions elsewhere first and go to your manager when you have, not just the complaint, but potential fixes. While it may be warranted to seek career advice from someone other than your manager, don’t over-rely on AI. At the very least, get other input so you can make an informed decision using various perspectives. Here are five other good sources of career advice: 1. Friend In HR You have just one career perspective, but someone in HR has seen many. If they recruit, they’ve seen multiple career paths and how different decisions play out. If they partner with different businesses, they’ve seen how conflicts get settled and how different managers manage differently. If they counsel executives on leadership challenges or planning issues, they can help you with professional development or career planning . Don’t only think of people on your company’s HR team as potential advisers. Think of people from previous companies you work for or friends and family who work or have worked in HR. Having a trusted adviser with an HR background is someone you want in your network anyway (several is ideal!), so start cultivating those relationships now by asking your next what-if question to them, rather than AI. MORE FOR YOU 2. Change Agent If you’re considering a change of some kind (e.g., lateral move, quit or stay), it’s helpful to talk it over with someone who likes change. Someone risk averse may talk you out of a perfectly good opportunity just because they don’t like anything new. A change agent, however, can help you get excited about the possibilities so you can take the next step of due diligence, weighing pros and cons, and getting clearer about what you want . Family and friends who have taken career risks themselves (e.g., career changers, entrepreneurs) might be a good change agent for you. Look for people who have done what you’re thinking about (e.g., lateral move, industry switch). They might even help you with the change after-the-fact, in addition to helping you think through it. 3. Cheerleader Sometimes you need encouragement more than specific advice – i.e., the courage to ask for a raise, rather than actual negotiation tips. In this case, the optimist in your friend group might be the better call than even a master negotiator. If your hesitation is about fear, anxiety or burnout , spending time with someone whose perspective leans to the positive might help offset your worries. 4. Devil’s Advocate On the flip side, sometimes you need to see potential downsides so you can protect yourself before something bad happens . When you want to stress test ideas, tap the devil’s advocate in your network – i.e., that person who brings up the worst-case scenario or whose first thought is what could go wrong. These cynics may be a party killer, but they play an important role when you need to plan for risks. 5. Publicist The everyday professional doesn’t need an actual publicist, but it is helpful to have someone in your corner who knows how to present with polish, communicate compellingly and pitch ideas. This adviser doesn’t need to be a PR specialist or marketer in their day job, though friends and family with that background would be a good source. They can be someone in any field, who is a strong communicator or especially savvy about reading a room and working a room . If you need advice about delivering bad news or asking for something where the likely response is No, then your publicist can help you tailor your message. Decide What Kind Of Support You Need A broad, diverse professional network is a career advantage anyway, so cultivate one that can give you good career advice as well! Just remember to match your adviser to the kind of support you need. If you need career expertise, an HR background comes in handy. If you need to talk things out, then a change agent, cheerleader, or devil’s advocate may be the better choice. If you need to talk effectively, tap the publicist. AI and your current manager can be additional support – just not the only support you have. Editorial Standards Reprints & Permissions LOADING VIDEO PLAYER... FORBES’ FEATURED Video Explore Topic