The AI Edge Is Real: Your AI Aptitude Might Just Be Your Superpower

Your co-workers just used it to transcribe their last video call, CEOs are talking about it every day, and hiring managers are adding it to their job descriptions. I’m talking about AI, and when it comes to the ever-evolving world of work, it’s a game changer.?

The job market and workplace are tricky right now, with almost half of professionals around the world considering quitting in the year ahead (that’s the highest since the Great Reshuffle of 2021!) and more than 85% in the U.S. are thinking about a career move. That’s a lot of people looking for a new job or career change all at once, and the question unmistakably becomes, how do you stand out from the rest of the pack? The 2024 Work Trend Index , which 微软 and LinkedIn unveiled in partnership today, can help you really understand how AI is impacting work today and what professionals need to know to get ahead.?

But if you’re looking for a quick insight, it’s pretty clear: arm yourself with the AI Edge.?

What IS the “AI Edge?”

Simply put, having AI aptitude skills are a key differentiator for job seekers – and can be what helps you either land the job, or get passed over. Professionals who embrace AI are going to get ahead of the competition and effectively set themselves up for long-term success in their careers. This includes skills like AI prompting or understanding how to up your writing game.?

Hiring managers are already clued in, with more than half saying they wouldn’t hire someone without AI aptitude skills. Even more telling? The majority of business leaders agreed they’d rather hire a less experienced candidate who has AI skills (for instance, Copilot, ChatGPT, Github) than a more experienced candidate who lacked them. The AI Edge is real!?

Bottom Line: AI Is the Future of Work?

I can hear the rumblings now: “But I’ve worked without AI my whole career, do I really need to learn it now?” The answer is YES!?

The future of work will include AI, full stop. It’ll be woven into most of our tasks, even if it’s hard to imagine that now. In fact, I remember being tethered to my desk when smartphones weren't around yet. Think about how much of an impact that innovation had on what today’s workplace looks like. Can you imagine doing your job without a smartphone? It won’t be too long before we’re saying the same thing about AI.

Staying ahead of the curve when it comes to AI skills gives you an undeniable competitive edge. But it’s more than just AI – the skills needed for jobs are likely to change by 51% by 2030 (with AI projected to accelerate this change to 68%) and more than two-thirds of LinkedIn’s jobs on the rise didn’t even exist 20 years ago. This is incredible! The world of work is changing, quickly, and the sooner you embrace it, the bigger impact it will have on your career.?

By the way, the goal of learning more AI skills isn’t just to stay ahead. It also makes you better at your job by saving time, being more creative, and even helping you enjoy work more. In fact, a recent LI report shared this compelling nugget: globally, 75% of salespeople who exceeded their quota used AI compared to the 25% of those who exceeded their quota but didn’t use AI. What salesperson hears this and doesn’t immediately lean into AI?

Are some of you thinking that AI sounds great, but that it’s not really relevant to your particular job or role? Well, it very likely is relevant and you haven’t realized it yet. But the good news is, it’s not too late and you can catch up quickly.?

Think about how much time you spent last week on mundane tasks like email, taking notes, and doing research. Imagine if you could condense all that time and instead focus on high impact work like strategy, coaching your team, or exploring new ideas. Sounds pretty good, right?

And the proof is in the pudding: our data predicts that AI power users are going to be the top performers over the next decade.?

“I Want the AI Edge! But How Do I Get It?”?

You might feel that AI is overwhelming or that you’ve already missed that train, but I promise, it’s not and you haven’t!?

Here are some ways to get your AI Edge right now:?

• Start using it! If you haven’t already, check out ChatGPT or another online AI tool and play around. Then take advantage of AI learning courses online to familiarize yourself even more. A great place to start is learning how to write a good AI prompt. (Don’t know what an AI prompt is? It’s basically the request given to an AI tool to generate a response or perform a task. It can be as simple as “what’s the weather” or more detailed like, “draft a follow up email that summarizes our customer call” or “compile a list of potential leads based on recent website visitors”). Check out free LinkedIn Learnings courses available, like What Is Generative AI and Tips for Using ChatGPT for Business to learn this skill today.
• Start small: find one thing AI can do for you. I get it, it can be intimidating to adopt a whole new way of working,? so start small. Challenge yourself to figure out one project or process where AI can help. When I first started getting used to AI, I would use the self-guided prompts in CoPilot, like summarizing a meeting. Let me tell you, it’s a game changer. I, like many of us, sometimes get distracted and if I realize I missed an important point in a meeting, I just ask CoPilot to summarize what was said. You can also use AI tools to create to-do lists, proofread documents, or set reminders for meetings or deadlines.?
• Invest in your people skills. I know, I know, this one sounds counter-intuitive but it’s a must-do. As AI automates tasks, it’s those people skills that will become even more important. Make sure while you’re upskilling on your AI, you’re also investing in skills like leadership, communication and flexibility. And don’t forget about the people skills you already have. Trust me, these people skills are going to matter more than ever.?
• Showcase your AI and people skills on your LinkedIn profile. Once you’ve got some AI skills in your pocket, make sure you list them on your LinkedIn profile and can speak to them intelligently and thoughtfully in an interview. Include examples of how you’ve used AI to help with your job, whether it was to be more productive or more efficient. And don’t forget to include those people skills — recruiters and hiring managers are keeping their eyes peeled for those too.

The AI Edge is a real thing in this job market. Like email in the 1990s and mobile phones in the 2000s, AI is the new force de jour that will leave its indelible mark on the job market forever. Take the time to increase your AI aptitude to set yourself apart, whether you’re looking to land a new job, change careers, or set yourself up at your current job for internal success. (And definitely play around with Co-Pilot, it’s seriously amazing.)