My youngest is graduating high school this year (cue the proud tears), and one thing caught me off guard: how many “real-world” tasks he hadn’t really practiced yet. Things like writing a resume, crafting a professional email, or preparing for an interview.
Now, to be fair—he’s the youngest. Of course he was babied a bit more than his older brothers and got a little more help along the way (guilty as charged). But still, it made me realize something bigger: we expect students to do all these adult-like things before they’ve been taught how.
It’s not that they’re not capable. And it’s definitely not a knock on their teachers. It’s just that somewhere along the way, we started assuming students already knew how to do these things—especially when it comes to tech. But as my son often reminds me, “Just because I was born into it doesn’t mean I’m automatically good at it.”
And now, as the school year winds down, it’s the perfect time to give students a leg up, whether they’re graduating seniors or just finishing their freshman year. These aren’t just “nice to know” skills. These are need to know skills. And AI can help them build a foundation now that they’ll keep building on later.
Add in the fact that many students haven’t been allowed to use AI tools in school—yet they’re absolutely going to be expected to use them in college, the workplace, and beyond. Giving them thoughtful, guided exposure now? That’s a head start they’ll thank you for later. And honestly? Blocking AI completely isn’t protecting them–it’s just delaying the inevitable at this point. My own kid is a senior. He knows how to write a standard essay. If he’s mastered that skill, why not let him take the next step and learn how to use the tools he’ll actually encounter in college and the workforce? But I digress…
Now remember, these ideas aren’t for a grade. They’re for life. When students use AI to practice communication, reflection, and self-advocacy, that’s future-ready learning. So, here are seven practical ways high schoolers can build real-world skills without losing their voice. Take a look and let me know what you think!
1. Resume Builder and Editor
Ask a high schooler for their resume and you might get a Google Doc with size 14 Comic Sans and a bullet point that says “I worked at a place one summer.” That’s okay—they’re learning!
With AI, students can plug in their experience (even if it’s just babysitting or running the concession stand) and get a clean, well-formatted resume draft. But here’s the real magic: they don’t just hit download. Have them critique the AI’s version. Is the tone too formal? Is it missing personality? What would make it stronger?
And once they’ve got solid content? Head over to Canva, where they can pop that polished text into a modern, eye-catching resume template. It’s a simple way to help their story stand out and look sharp.
2. Cover Letter Drafting
The phrase “Write a cover letter” strikes fear into the hearts of teenagers—and let’s be honest, plenty of adults too. Where do you start? How do you sound professional without sounding like a robot? And what do you even say if you’ve never had a “real” job?
This is where the real-world AI use comes into play. Students can paste in a job or scholarship description, along with a bit about their background, and ask AI to draft a first version. Then comes the most important part: revision. Encourage them to make it personal, specific, and human. What sounds like their voice? What details are missing?
Again, once they’ve got something they’re proud of, they can drop it into one of Canva’s clean and professional cover letter maker. Because great content deserves great design—and formatting shouldn’t be the hardest part of the job search.
3. College Essay Feedback
The college essay is one of the few places students get to show who they really are. So naturally… it’s also one of the most stressful things they’ll write.
Once students have a rough draft, AI can step in as a second pair of eyes. Ask it for feedback on structure, flow, tone, or clarity—just like you would with a peer editor. The key here? Remind students that AI is a coach, not a ghostwriter. The goal isn’t to swap out their voice for a “better” one—it’s to strengthen what’s already there.
This approach helps students become more reflective, thoughtful writers—and makes revision feel a little less overwhelming.
4. Interview Prep
Whether it’s for a job, college, or a scholarship, interviews are a whole different kind of test—and most students haven’t had much practice. Cue the awkward silences, nervous rambling, or the classic “I’m a hard worker” speech on repeat.
With AI, students can plug in the opportunity they’re interviewing for and ask for a list of common or role-specific questions. Then they can practice answering out loud, in writing, or even record themselves to get used to hearing their own voice (cringe and all—totally normal).
Even better? They can ask AI for feedback on their answers. What could be more specific? What’s missing? It’s a simple way to boost confidence before the big day—and teach that being prepared is the best antidote to panic.
5. LinkedIn or Digital Portfolio Bios
Writing about yourself in three sentences or less is weirdly hard. (Even adults agonize over their LinkedIn blurbs. “Strategic problem solver”? What does that even mean?)
AI can help students write a short bio for a digital portfolio, student website, or LinkedIn profile. They just enter a few details—what they’re good at, what they’ve done, what they care about—and ask AI to help them shape it into something polished.
Then comes the important part: revision. Have students edit for voice, tone, and accuracy.
What feels too generic? What sounds like something they would say?
It’s a great mini-lesson in self-awareness, personal branding, and communicating strengths without sounding like a resume in human form.
6. Email Etiquette Practice
If you’ve ever seen a student email that starts with “Yo” and ends with no punctuation, you know: email writing is a learned skill. And one they’re not always taught.
With AI, students can draft a message—maybe to a teacher, future boss, or college admissions office—and ask for feedback. Is the tone respectful? Is it clear and concise? Is there an actual greeting?
AI can offer quick tips on structure, clarity, and format so students can revise—and learn what not to do before hitting send. It’s a simple way to build digital professionalism without the red pen. Bonus: It also reinforces that writing for school isn’t the only kind of writing that matters.
Want to teach this more explicitly? Check out this helpful TCEA blog post on writing emails for students. It’s packed with tips, examples, and even lesson ideas by grade level.
7. Job Description Analysis
Job and internship postings are packed with buzzwords—and for many students, they might as well be written in another language. What does “self-starter with strong synergy skillsr” even mean?
Students can paste a job description into an AI tool and ask it to highlight the key skills or translate the jargon into plain English. Even better, they can ask for suggestions on how to tailor their resume or cover letter to match what the employer’s actually looking for.
It’s like giving them a pair of highlighters for their career prep—one for decoding, one for strategizing. And it reinforces that strong applicants aren’t just qualified—they’re thoughtful about how they present themselves.
Wrapping It Up: Warm Up for Reality with Real-World AI Uses
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from watching my own kid navigate senior year, it’s this: our students are expected to do a lot of adult things before they’re actually adults. And while they’re smart, capable, and wildly adaptable, they still need guidance—especially when it comes to the skills no one explicitly teaches.
That’s why these real-world AI uses matter. Not because they’re for a test, or a grade, or even an assignment—but because they help students build confidence in skills they’ll use long after graduation. We don’t want AI to do the hard thinking for them, but rather give them a nudge in the right direction. It helps them revise instead of freeze, explore instead of guess, and polish instead of panic. It’s not about cheating—it’s about practicing.
Because when the stakes are real (hello, job interviews and college applications), they deserve more than just one shot. They deserve tools, time, and the space to grow.
What real-world AI uses have you discovered with your high schoolers? Let us know in the comments below!
