The question "What do you want to be when you grow up?" doesn't magically disappear when you turn 18. Or 28. Or, let’s be honest, even 48. For many of us, it just gets quieter, drowned out by the daily grind, bills, and the sheer exhaustion of it all. I've spent years in the SEO and digital marketing world, and I love it, but I've met so many people who feel like they took a wrong turn somewhere and are just driving on autopilot. They're not unhappy, exactly, but they're not… lit up.
It’s that quiet, nagging feeling that the website for a new tool called Existential seems to hit right on the nose. Their headline isn't about landing a six-figure job or climbing the corporate ladder. It's simply: "Let's find your true calling." That's a bold promise. In a world overflowing with AI tools that promise to write your emails, design your logos, and plan your vacations, one that claims to tackle your purpose? Okay, you've got my attention.
So, I did what any perpetually curious (and slightly skeptical) digital professional would do. I dove in. Is this another piece of shiny tech-bro vaporware, or is it a genuinely useful AI career coach? Let's find out.
So, What Is Existential, Exactly?
At its core, Existential is an AI-powered career exploration tool. Think of it as a mashup of a classic career aptitude test, a personal development coach, and a GPS. You feed it information about yourself—not just your work experience, but your genuine interests, your skills (both hard and soft), and the values you hold dear. The AI then crunches all that data to generate personalized career recomendations. But it doesn't just throw a list of job titles at you and wish you luck.
The whole point, as they say, is to build a roadmap. To give you a step-by-step plan that feels achievable, taking you from "I feel so lost" to "Okay, I know what to do next Monday." It's designed to give you that spark of clarity and confidence that's often the hardest thing to find on your own.
How It Works: Your AI-Powered Journey to a New Calling
The process laid out on their site is refreshingly straightforward. No jargon, no overly technical mumbo-jumbo. It feels less like signing up for a software and more like starting a conversation.
First, you go through what they call a 'discovery process'. This is the heart of it all. The tool asks you a series of questions about what makes you tick. What do you enjoy doing on a rainy Sunday? What problems do you love solving? What kind of work environment makes you thrive versus what makes you want to tear your hair out? You're essentially building a unique profile of yourself, piece by piece, like the little puzzle graphic on their homepage.
Next, the AI does its thing. It takes all your answers and analyzes them against a backdrop of countless career paths. This is where the magic (or at least, the machine learning) is supposed to happen. It's looking for alignment—the sweet spot where your skills, passions, and values intersect with a real-world job. Then, probably the most exciting part, you get your suggestions. A list of potential career paths that theoretically match your unique profile.
Visit Existential
From there, you choose a path that resonates with you, and Existential generates a custom roadmap. It breaks down the big, scary goal of "starting a new career" into smaller, manageable steps. It’s meant to provide guidance on exactly how to achieve each step, turning a vague aspiration into a concrete action plan. It’s a very attractive proposition.
My Honest Take: Does This Thing Actually Work?
Alright, so the concept is solid. But execution is everything. As someone who has seen countless SEO tools promise page-one rankings with the click of a button, I'm naturally wary of big promises. Here's my breakdown of the good and the, well, things to be aware of.
The Good Stuff
The biggest win for Existential is the personalization. It goes beyond just "you're good at math, be an accountant." I once took a career test in high school that told me I should be a forest ranger. Me. A guy who considers a walk to the local coffee shop a major hike. The failure of those old systems was their lack of nuance. Existential, by focusing on values and interests, feels more holistic. It's trying to find a job your soul will like, not just one your resume fits.
The structured roadmap is also a huge plus. The feeling of being overwhelmed is the number one killer of career change ambitions. Seeing a clear, step-by-step plan can be incredibly motivating. It transforms a dream into a project, and projects have tasks, and tasks can be completed. It gives you that all-important feeling of momentum.
The Things to Be Aware Of
Now for the reality check. No tool is a magic wand. The effectiveness of Existential is entirely dependent on the quality of your input. It's the classic 'garbage in, garbage out' scenario. If you're not honest with yourself during the discovery phase, or if you rush through it, the recommendations will feel off. You have to be willing to do the self-reflection work.
You also have to be comfortable sharing personal information. For the AI to work, it needs to know about you. While this is standard for any personalized service, it's something to keep in mind. Also, and this is a big one, an AI tool, no matter how smart, may not cover every single possible career path. Especially very niche, emerging, or unconventional roles. It's a fantastic starting point, but it shouldn't be the only thing you consult. It’s a guide, not a gospel.
Who Is This Tool Really For?
So, who should be clicking that "Get started for free" button? I see a few key groups.
- Students and Recent Graduates: If you're staring down the barrel of graduation with a degree you're not sure what to do with, this could be a brilliant compass.
- The Mildly Dissatisfied: You don't hate your job, but the spark is gone. You feel stuck in a comfortable rut and need a nudge or some fresh ideas to get excited again.
- Aspiring Career Changers: You know you want a change, but the sheer number of options is paralyzing. This tool can help you narrow the field and focus your energy.
Who is it not for? Probably someone who already has a crystal-clear vision of their next five steps and just needs to execute. This is a tool for exploration and discovery, not just project management.
Let's Talk Money: What's the Catch?
Right now, the big, friendly button on the homepage says "Get started for free." There's no pricing page listed on the site, which is pretty common for a new tool in its growth phase. My educated guess? This is likely a freemium model. They'll let you get a taste of the platform for free—maybe one basic roadmap or a limited number of career suggestions. Then, for the really deep-dive features, detailed guidance, or ongoing support, there will probably be a subscription fee. This is a standard playbook and a fair one, in my opinion. It lets you see if the tool is a good fit before you commit any cash.
The Bigger Picture: AI's Place in Our Professional Lives
Tools like Existential are part of a fascinating trend. For years, the debate has been about AI taking jobs. Now, we're seeing a wave of AI designed to help us find better, more fulfilling jobs. It's a shift from replacement to augmentation. A human career coach can offer empathy and lived experience that an AI can't, but an AI can process massive amounts of data and possibilities in seconds, offering ideas a human might never think of.
The best approach, I believe, is using both. Use a tool like Existential to generate ideas and build a foundational plan. Then, talk about that plan with mentors, peers, or even a professional coach. Use the AI for data and direction; use humans for wisdom and validation.
Final Thoughts: Is Existential Worth Your Time?
After digging through it all, I'm cautiously optimistic. Existential isn't claiming to have a magical crystal ball. It's offering a structured, data-driven process to help you understand yourself better and connect that understanding to the world of work. If you're feeling adrift in your career, spending an hour on a free tool that could provide a new direction or even just reaffirm the path you're on... well, that seems like a pretty fantastic return on investment.
It won't do the hard work for you. But it might just draw you the map you need to finally start the journey. And sometimes, just knowing the first step is all the motivation you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does Existential actually work?
- It uses an AI algorithm to analyze your answers to a series of questions about your interests, skills, and personal values. Based on this personal profile, it suggests matching career paths and helps you build a step-by-step roadmap to pursue one.
- Is Existential free to use?
- The platform currently offers a "Get started for free" option. This likely allows you to access its basic features. More advanced guidance or in-depth roadmaps might require a paid subscription in the future, following a freemium model.
- How accurate are the career recommendations?
- The accuracy heavily depends on how honest and detailed you are in the initial discovery process. It's a powerful tool for generating ideas, but you should always supplement its suggestions with your own research and intuition.
- Can Existential replace a human career coach?
- Not entirely. It's best seen as a complementary tool. An AI can provide data-driven suggestions and structure, while a human coach offers empathy, accountability, and nuanced advice based on personal experience. Using Existential before talking to a coach could make those conversations much more productive.
- What if I don't like the careers it suggests?
- That's valuable data too! Understanding what you don't want is a huge part of figuring out what you do want. You can likely retake the discovery process or adjust your inputs to see if that refines the results. Think of it as an iterative conversation, not a one-time verdict.
Reference and Sources
- Existential Official Website (Note: This is a placeholder URL as the actual one isn't provided)
- How Generative AI Is Changing Work - Harvard Business Review
