How to Build a Career in the AI Era: Combining Soft Skills with Tech Competence

According to the “Towards the Future: How to Build a Career in the Age of AI” report by Experis, the key to maintaining a competitive edge in the job market is to combine human-centric soft skills with technological competencies. The central theme is that while AI can automate many tasks, uniquely human abilities are becoming more valuable than ever.

Key Findings and Arguments:

• Irreplaceable Human Skills: Polish employers believe AI cannot effectively replace skills such as customer service (35%), team management (33%), strategic thinking (31%), situational judgment (28%), and communication (26%). Creativity and complex problem-solving are highlighted as paramount, as AI excels at data analysis but not at generating and implementing novel ideas.
• The Rise of Soft Skills: The report emphasizes that the growing importance of soft skills is a permanent trend, accelerated by AI. Empathy, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and leadership are crucial for building relationships, understanding context, and managing teams—tasks that remain firmly in the human domain.
• Global Consensus: The trend is global, with employers worldwide identifying sound judgment (33%), customer service (31%), and team management (30%) as skills that are difficult to automate.
• Employee Anxiety and AI Literacy: The article notes a strong correlation between low AI literacy and higher levels of workplace anxiety, fear, and stress. It suggests that employers can mitigate these fears and boost security by investing in digital skills training for their staff.

Conclusion:

To thrive in the age of AI, professionals should focus on developing a hybrid skill set. Rather than fearing replacement, the strategic approach is to cultivate creativity, strategic thinking, and emotional intelligence while also embracing technology and committing to lifelong learning. This combination of uniquely human talents and technical know-how will be the foundation for a successful and future-proof career.

Mentoring Question:

Considering the article’s emphasis on uniquely human skills, which of your soft skills (like creativity, strategic thinking, or empathy) do you believe gives you the biggest competitive advantage, and how are you actively developing it alongside your technical knowledge?