As companies race to incorporate AI into their workflows, it’s not only models and tools they’re relying on for a competitive advantage but, increasingly, people. Across industries, 66% of business leaders said they would not hire someone without AI skills, according to the 2024 Work Trend Index Annual Report by Microsoft and LinkedIn.
Company leaders and professionals in the hiring space say they’re now specifically considering candidates’ proficiency with AI tools and sometimes even prioritizing these skills over professional experience. They’re also reimagining their hiring processes, developing new ways to screen for candidates’ familiarity with and ability to use AI tools. Their approaches range from focusing interview conversations on AI—providing an opportunity to gauge a person’s familiarity with and attitude toward the technology—to having candidates complete tasks with AI tools and observing how they use them.
