As AI continues to transform workplace operations, companies are adjusting their hiring strategies to prioritize candidates with AI expertise and adaptable mindsets. According to Microsoft and LinkedIn’s 2024 Work Trend Index, 66% of business leaders said they would not hire someone without AI skills, and 71% prefer candidates with AI knowledge over those with more traditional experience. Experts like Thomas Vick, Senior Regional Director for Technology at Talent and Consulting firm Robert Half noted, “Every organization is—no matter what the skill set might be—looking to see if they can find someone that potentially has some experience with AI, and specifically generative AI, and now you’ve got agentic AI on the horizon, so they’re looking for people who have experience in those areas.” This trend spans departments, from finance to engineering, and is especially visible in roles where AI tools are becoming part of daily workflows.
Companies such as ChargeLab and Caddi have redesigned interviews to assess how candidates interact with AI tools in real-world scenarios. “We care as much about how they solve a problem as we do about the result,” said Caddi CEO Alejandro Castellano. Beyond skills, mindset has become a key focus. Ehsan Mokhtari, CTO of ChargeLab, said the company made using AI tools a formal part of hiring after noticing candidates avoided them out of concern. It began by updating technical tests and later applied the approach across all roles. Employers are seeking individuals who not only use AI competently but who are also open, curious, and proactive in applying it across their responsibilities.
