­­Master AI: pro tips from experts

If you are interested in AI, a recent graduate starting your career or a professional who wants to transition into a new path, in this article, you will find some useful tips and recommendations from AI professionals. These interviews were conducted by the ARISA partners, and you can find them on our Career Guidance page. Here is a short summary of the recommendations: how to start your career, how to find your area and what skills are necessary to build your own network.

How to start?

The start is not always easy but if you are keen to learn new things and ready to upskill, then here are some tips for beginners. It is important that you start reading about e.g. cybersecurity, Internet of Things, data modeling, machine learning, etc. Nowadays, there are multiple online sources that offer affordable or free courses. All you need to do is to sign-up and take online courses on Coursera, Udemy or Class2Go, recommended by the experts. Additionally, there is always the possibility to watch videos on YouTube offered by credible institutions such Stanford or Harvard University. All in all, every expert said that ongoing learning in this field is crucial.

If you are a job seeker in technical roles, the recommendations are to have experience outside of studies and work. It is essential to show interest and stay curious about technologies. Do not hold back and try to start building products or vibe coding. Learn about Model Context Protocol (MCP), build swarms of agents, stay updated with new technological developments, and be self-driven to learn new skills which should be fun for you.

How to find your area?

Those who want to transition into AI should leverage their existing professional background and try to find a way in the middle by learning new skills.  During one of the interviews, the interviewer and ARISA partner, Andrew Tuson (professor at the Warsaw School of Computer Science) recommended a useful book for career changers. The book is called What Colour Is Your Parachute?  written by Richard N. Bolles. 

Another expert recommends that when applying for jobs, you should focus on a specific skill you are great at, recognise which job advertisement is exactly a match for that skill and then apply.

If you do not know how to find your area, one of the experts suggests that working more on real AI projects, using open datasets for testing some algorithms and paying more attention to cybersecurity are essential parts of the experience in AI. According to the expert, Internet of Things (IoT) and AI cybersecurity have great potential at the moment. Do not hesitate and dive into these topics!

Build your network

Networking is a crucial part at the early stages of your career. It is key that you join AI communities and have a strong profile on LinkedIn. Attending conferences, participating in AI Hackathons, and publishing articles is highly recommended. However, these days, recruiters pay attention to soft skills such as adaption and quick learning. Therefore, consider working on these skills as well.

Boosting your AI skills

If you really do not know where to start, do not worry. The ARISA project equips organisations and individuals across different sectors with the skills needed to adopt AI in a responsible, inclusive, and sustainable way – supporting Europe’s wider transition to an AI-ready workforce. The ARISA Academy offers a free, online training programme designed for students, professionals, and educators. With seven expert-led courses, the Academy provides a structured learning path covering AI fundamentals, machine learning, cybersecurity, and more. Whether you’re looking to upskill, reskill, or enhance your curriculum, the ARISA Academy has something for you.