Start with a free learning route
IBM SkillsBuild offers free learning in AI, technology and career skills. Explore its adult learner options and current credentials; an account may be needed for learning activities.
Microsoft Learn offers free self-paced technical learning. Choose a beginner topic relevant to your target role. Formal certification exams can have separate fees.
Source: IBM SkillsBuild adult learning
Source: Microsoft Learn training FAQ
Try a small, useful project
Our suggested practice activity: create a fictional meeting agenda or a short customer email. Use invented details so you can learn without sharing anyone’s information.
- Write what you need, who it is for, and the format you want.
- Ask an AI tool available to you for a first draft. A paid subscription is not required for the activity; check your chosen tool’s access limits.
- Read the output critically. Check any factual claims against a reliable source.
- Edit for tone, accessibility and accuracy. Keep a note of what you changed and why.
Turn learning into evidence
Keep an anonymised before-and-after sample, a note of your checks, and a short reflection. In an application, explain the task, the tool’s contribution, and the judgement you supplied.
Example wording to adapt only if true: “I used an AI tool to create a first draft, checked the content, and revised it for the intended audience.” List learning credentials accurately; a course completion is different from professional experience.
Use AI appropriately in job applications
For Civil Service recruitment, use AI only within the official rules. Preparation and clarity checks are permitted; fabricated experience, completing assessed tests, and generating interview responses are not. Avoid uploading sensitive organisational or personal information.