Career Advice Sources with Respective Trust Levels in 2026

Career choices are some of the most serious decisions people make. When the pressure is high, most individuals look for guidance from different places. This may include a close friend or co-worker, a respected professional, or content found online, all of which influence final decisions.

Still, with so much information available today, it raises the question of which advice people actually trust. To better understand this.

Key Insights

· 64% feel sure they know where to look for career advice when required.

· College career advisors rank as the most trusted source, while TikTok ranks the lowest.

· Yet, 25% of Gen Z respondents say they trust TikTok for career advice, double the rate of millennials.

· LinkedIn receives the highest trust score from millennials at 60%.

· One out of three Gen Z respondents trust ChatGPT for career advice, nearly twice the level of Gen X.

· Gen Z places more trust in their direct manager than any other age group.

· More than half of respondents from every generation trust HR professionals.

64% Feel Confident They Can Find Career Advice

One challenge many people face is knowing where to turn for career guidance. Some rely on work contacts, others speak with family, while many search online.

The results below reflect the combined share of participants who said they feel “moderately confident” or “very confident” about finding career advice when needed.

Confidence Levels in Locating Career Advice

· 64% overall say they are confident they can access career advice when necessary.

· Men report higher confidence than women, at 70% compared to 60%.

· Confidence drops as education level rises, from 67% among high school graduates to 58% among those with postgraduate degrees.

· Confidence levels are similar across all age groups when it comes to finding career advice.

Five Most Trusted Sources of Career Advice in 2026

Participants were asked how much they trust 17 different sources of career advice, covering both people and platforms.

The figures below show the share of respondents who expressed a positive opinion, combining “somewhat trust” and “trust very much.”

· College career advisors—77%

· Family members—70%

· Direct manager—63%

· Friends—60%

· Career websites such as Monster or Indeed—55%

Five Least Trusted Sources of Career Advice in 2026

At the other end, the survey also identified which sources are viewed as least dependable.

The results below combine responses from those who trust each source “a little” or “not at all.”

· TikTok—9%

· Instagram—11%

· Facebook—12%

· Social media creators—17%

· GPTs—20%

Beyond ranking sources overall, the data was reviewed by age group. Differences between generations reveal some of the most notable patterns.

Generational views add another layer to how trust in career advice varies.

How Trust Differs by Generation

The largest gaps in trust levels came from age-related differences among respondents.

The percentages below represent respondents who expressed a positive level of trust, including “somewhat” and “very much.”

College Career Advisors Rank Highest for Every Age Group

It has already been shown that college career advisors lead overall trust rankings. For those entering the workforce, early professional guidance remains highly valued.

Across all generations, this group ranked highest, although trust steadily declines with age. The breakdown by generation is as follows:

· Gen Z—88%

· Millennials—78%

· Gen X—75%

· Baby boomers—75%

Gen Z Trusts TikTok at Twice the Rate of Millennials

TikTok is widely known for short videos and trends, but some users also view it as a source of career advice. One quarter of Gen Z respondents consider it trustworthy. Older generations are far less convinced.

Among millennials, trust drops to 12%, while Gen X and baby boomers report trust levels of 5% and 4%.

One in Four Gen Z Respondents Trust Instagram for Career Advice

Instagram, like TikTok, is not usually linked with professional guidance. Still, 25% of Gen Z respondents see it as a reliable option. Trust declines steadily with age.

Among millennials, 13% express trust, while Gen X and baby boomers report trust levels of 6%.

Millennials Show the Highest Trust in LinkedIn

Despite being a professional platform, LinkedIn did not rank in the top five overall. However, millennials trust it the most at 60%, followed by Gen Z at 50%, Gen X at 48%, and baby boomers at 45%.

More Than Half of Gen Z Trust Google for Career Advice

Recent claims suggest Gen Z prefers social platforms over search engines, but this survey tells a different story for career guidance. Over 50% of Gen Z respondents trust Google.

Trust levels fall with older generations, as shown below:

· Millennials—42%

· Generation X—31%

· Baby boomers—28%

One Out of Three Gen Z Employees Rely on ChatGPT for Career Advice

ChatGPT remains a debated tool, yet it is quickly becoming a common option for many types of questions. When it comes to career guidance, its overall trust level stands at 20%, but opinions differ widely by age group, with Gen Z showing far higher trust than baby boomers.

Below is how trust in ChatGPT differs by generation:

· Gen Z—30%

· Millennials—25%

· Gen X—17%

· Baby boomers—12%

Career Websites Earn the Highest Trust from Gen Z and Millennials

Career-focused platforms such as Monster and Indeed place advice at the center of their services. As one of the survey’s most trusted sources, this approach appears to be effective. Still, younger groups show stronger confidence in these sites than older ones.

Both Gen Z and millennials report a 61% positive trust score for career websites. Among Gen X and baby boomers, trust drops to 51%.

Gen Z Trust News Sites Twice as Much as Baby Boomers for Career Guidance

Large news organizations often publish career-related articles as part of their wider content. Once again, younger respondents show more confidence in this type of advice.

36% of Gen Z trust career advice from news outlets, followed closely by 35% of millennials. Trust falls to 27% for Gen X and declines further to 18% for baby boomers.

Influencers have a strong role in shaping opinions and trends. While they are not widely viewed as reliable career advisors, they are trusted by 21% of Gen Z respondents and 22% of millennials. Trust drops to 15% for Gen X and reaches just 10% among baby boomers.

Gen Z Shows the Strongest Trust in Inspirational Figures

Inspirational figures often act as role models, helping people stay motivated and work through challenges. This makes them a meaningful source of career advice. The survey examples included entertainers, media figures, business leaders, and athletes.

Trust levels by generation are shown below:

· Gen Z—46%

· Millennials—33%

· Gen X—22%

· Baby boomers—16%

71% of Gen Z Trust Their Manager for Career Advice Compared to 53% of Baby Boomers

Gen Z is often described as hard to manage, yet the data shows they trust career guidance from their manager more than any other group. Millennials report similar trust at 70%, while Gen X shows a 60% positive trust score.

HR Professionals are Trusted by Over Half of Every Generation

HR narrowly missed the top five most trusted sources, but trust levels exceeded 50% across all age groups. HR ranked as the third most trusted source among baby boomers. Their trust level matches Gen Z and is slightly lower than millennials, though baby boomers tend to trust all sources less overall, which explains the gap.

Below is the trust breakdown for HR by generation:

· Gen Z—54%

· Millennials—58%

· Gen X—51%

· Baby boomers—54%

Trust Levels Across All Career Advice Sources

So far, we have highlighted the most notable differences between generations across advice channels. To complete the picture, the list below ranks every source included in the survey. These figures reflect responses from all participants combined.

Trust ranking of career advice sources

· College career counselors—77%

· Family—70%

· Boss—63%

· Friends—60%

· Career websites—55%

· HR—54%

· LinkedIn—51%

· Coworkers—49%

· Google—37%

· Resume builder websites—34%

· News websites—29%

· Inspirational figures—27%

· ChatGPT—20%

· Social media influencers—17%

· Facebook—12%

· Instagram—11%

· TikTok—9%

Key Takeaways

· The survey results make it clear that trust in career advice depends heavily on the source. Several clear patterns emerged:

· Personal relationships strongly influence trust. College career counselors, family members, friends, and managers all provide advice through direct human interaction. While family and friends may lack formal expertise, personal connection appears to be the deciding factor.

· Managers offer guidance from a position of workplace authority. College career counselors stand out as the most trusted source due to both institutional credibility and their role as many people’s first exposure to structured career advice.

· Online platforms generally score lower in trust. These sources lack personal interaction and often suffer from low confidence in online information. A 2023 survey showed that only 8% of people fully trust search engine results, while 6% say the same about social media.

· Some career-focused tools, such as resume builder sites, receive low trust scores. Commercial intent plays a role, but poor-quality advice also contributes. Examples include spreading outdated ATS myths, often due to limited technical knowledge. Applicant tracking systems are software tools, and content creators do not always understand how they function. Many also lack the experience needed to give solid career advice.

· Younger generations show higher trust in online sources due to familiarity. As digital natives, Gen Z and millennials have grown up surrounded by technology.

· Gen Z often relies on sources older generations view as unconventional, such as Instagram and TikTok. Their high usage of these platforms increases comfort and trust.

· In a similar way, LinkedIn is trusted most by millennials, who make up a large share of its active users.

· Baby boomers show lower trust across nearly all sources. As many are late in their careers, past experiences with unhelpful advice may shape this outlook. Research shows trust often increases with age, but this pattern does not hold true for career advice.