Fluency in artificial intelligence is increasingly a prerequisite in today’s labor market, with employers across industries seeking AI-literate job candidates. Research from Resume Genius found 8 in 10 hiring managers consider AI skills a priority, and a 2024 Work Trend Index report shows many employers would hire a candidate with AI skills over one with additional years of experience.
Yet employers often aren’t providing the training workers need. Lisa Gevelber, who leads Google’s Grow with Google initiative, says companies aren’t meeting the demand for AI training. Sam Caucci, founder of corporate-training firm 1huddle, adds that employers and academia move too slowly to keep pace with rapid AI advances.
How to level up
Experts say a practical, hands-on approach works best. Start by using publicly available AI tools daily—prompting ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and similar platforms—to build familiarity. Many platforms have free access; paid tiers add features. Some companies also offer free training: OpenAI, for example, provides courses and resources on “prompt engineering,” the skill of communicating with AI to get desired outputs. Short tutorials and courses on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube can also provide baseline knowledge quickly.
Use AI to map your learning
You can ask AI to teach you AI. Christine Cruzvergara of Handshake recommends telling a model like ChatGPT or Claude that you want to learn how to use AI in your role and asking it to create a two-week or one-month study plan. The model can suggest courses, hands-on projects and a schedule to follow.
Demonstrate your skills
Merely saying “I use ChatGPT” won’t be enough. Caucci advises creating an “AI throughline” on your resume: concrete examples of how you used AI to improve productivity, communication, data analysis or presentations, plus any formal training or certificates. Stack credentials to signal focus and competence to employers.
Where to get credentials
Grow with Google offers a Google AI Professional Certificate online for $49 per month; the program has seven modules, each about an hour, and students proceed at their own pace. Other platforms and vendors offer short courses, microcredentials and certificates that can be added to a resume or profile.
What about entry-level jobs?
Some evidence suggests AI adoption may alter demand for certain entry-level roles, but employers are also looking to younger, self-taught workers who are already “AI-native.” As AI reshapes tasks, showing practical, demonstrated AI skills can make candidates more competitive.
Bottom line
Because employers aren’t universally providing AI training and formal programs can lag behind, the fastest path is self-directed, hands-on learning: use AI tools daily, take short courses (including vendor-provided training), ask AI to build a study plan, and translate your experience into clear examples and credentials on your resume. Stack verifiable certificates and tangible examples of AI-driven impact to stand out to hiring managers.